Florida Department of Education
Curriculum Framework 

Course Title:	Fundamentals of Careers in Education
Course Type:	Orientation/Exploratory
Career Cluster:	Education & Training

Secondary – Middle School	
Program Number	8409100	
CIP Number	0713129905	
Grade Level	6-8	
Course Length	Semester	
Teacher Certification	Refer to the Course Structure section.	
CTSO	FCCLA	
CTE Program Resources 	http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu/program-resources.stml	

Purpose 

The purpose of this course is to assist students in making informed decisions regarding their future academic and occupational goals and to provide information regarding careers in the Education & Training career cluster.  The content includes but is not limited to the development of leadership skills, communication skills, and employability skills; resource management; exploration of careers in the field of education; the importance of health and safety in the learning environment; children’s nutritional needs; developmental stages of children and appropriate learning activities; observation of children; and the use of technology in education-related careers.  Instruction and learning activities are provided in a laboratory setting using hands-on experiences with the equipment, materials and technology appropriate to the course content and in accordance with current practices. 

Course Structure

The length of this course is one semester. It may be offered for two semesters when appropriate. When offered for one semester, it is recommended that it be at the exploratory level and more in-depth when offered for two semesters. 

To teach the course listed below, instructors must hold at least one of the teacher certifications indicated for that course.

The following table illustrates the course structure:

Course Number	Course Title	Teacher Certification	Length	
8409100	Fundamentals of Careers in Education 	FAM CON SCI	Semester	

Additional Information relevant to this Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is provided at the end of this document.  

Standards

After successfully completing this program, the student will be able to perform the following:

01.0	Demonstrate skills for success.
02.0	Analyze careers in the field of education.
03.0	Demonstrate career decisions as they relate to the teaching profession.  
04.0	Demonstrate the skills involved in effective resource management.
05.0	Practice health and safety in the learning environment.
06.0	Analyze the nutritional needs of children.
07.0	Analyze physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of children.
08.0	Exhibit best practices for learning environments.
09.0	Demonstrate effective communication skills.
10.0	Recognize age-appropriate learning activities.
11.0	Identify and understand basic observation techniques and how they are used to evaluate children’s developmental milestones.   
12.0	Utilize technology as it relates to the field of education. 
13.0	Describe and use communication features of information technology.

Florida Department of Education
Student Performance Standards

Course Title: 	Fundamentals of Careers in Education 
Course Number: 	8409100
Course Length:	Semester

Course Description:

This middle school course covers leadership, employability, communication, and resource management skills.  Students will research careers in the field of education.  Students will learn the importance of health and safety in the learning environment, all stages of the developing child, appropriate learning activities, and techniques for observing children.

CTE Standards and Benchmarks	
01.0	Demonstrate skills for success.  The student will be able to:	
01.01	Identify different types of professional and community service organizations, including career and technical student organizations that relate to the child and education.	
01.02	Identify roles and responsibilities of members of professional and community service organizations, including career and technical student organizations.	
01.03	Develop human relationship skills such as a positive work ethic, positive attitudes towards others, and manners in the workplace.  	
01.04	Identify and utilize the planning process to accomplish personal and professional goals.	
02.0	Analyze careers in the field of education.  The student will be able to:	
02.01	Describe available careers in education.	
02.02	Classify careers from entry level to professional level.	
02.03	Explore entrepreneurship opportunities in the field of education.	
02.04	Research and present information on careers in Education to include the roles and responsibilities, opportunities for employment, and requirements for training and certification.	
03.0	Demonstrate career decisions as they relate to the teaching profession.  The student will be able to	
03.01	Demonstrate employability skills as they relate to teaching.	
03.02	Identify personal interests, aptitudes, talents and abilities that can contribute to positive self-esteem and success in the work place.	
03.03	Practice teamwork skills.	
03.04	Practice positive work ethics and identify negative work ethics, including influences of social media on job performance.	
03.05	Apply math, reading, science, and critical thinking skills as they relate to the field of education.	
03.06	Describe and utilize different job search skills available	
03.07	Develop short-term and long-term goals for personal and professional achievement.	
04.0	Demonstrate the skills involved in effective resource management.  The student will be able to:	
04.01	Identify steps of the decision-making process.	
04.02	Distinguish between a need and a want.	
04.03	Explain how values and goals affect decisions.	
04.04	Develop a budget and savings plan.	
05.0	Practice health and safety in the learning environment.  The student will be able to:	
05.01	Describe the indicators of a healthy child.	
05.02	Recognize the indicators of childhood illnesses, their causes and preventive measures.	
05.03	Identify common indicators of child abuse and neglect.	
05.04	Research laws that relate to reporting suspected child abuse.	
05.05	List community agencies that provide help to abused children.	
05.06	Identify safety guidelines to follow when caring for children.	
05.07	Create a response plan for emergency situations.	
05.08	Research available certifications for babysitters.	
06.0	Analyze the nutritional needs of children.  The student will be able to:	
06.01	Identify nutritional needs of children.	
06.02	Research foods that may be harmful to children, i.e., food allergies.	
06.03	Research long term effects of childhood obesity and poor nutrition.	
06.04	Plan and prepare nutritious snacks for children using appropriate safety and sanitation procedures.	
07.0	Analyze the physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of children.  The student will be able to:	
07.01	Describe common physical, emotional, intellectual and social milestones for children.	
07.02	Create and demonstrate an age appropriate activity to promote a child’s growth and development.	
07.03	Research and demonstrate adaptations appropriate for a “special needs” child.	
08.0	Exhibit best practices for learning environments.  The student will be able to:	
08.01	Arrange learning centers that provide for a child’s exploration, discovery and development.	
08.02	Develop guidelines for establishing activities, routines and transitions for children.	
09.0	Demonstrate effective communication skills.   The student will be able to:	
09.01	Describe why communication is the basis for all relationships.	
09.02	Distinguish between non-assertive, assertive, and aggressive communication. 	
09.03	Demonstrate communication skills that promote positive relationships with children.	
09.04	Define and explain appropriate discipline and guidance procedures for children.	
09.05	Practice active listening skills.	
09.06	Utilize conflict resolution skills.	
10.0	Recognize age-appropriate learning activities.   The student will be able to:	
10.01	Identify age-appropriate learning activities.	
10.02	Evaluate games, equipment, activities, books, and play materials for age appropriateness.	
11.0	Identify and understand basic observation techniques and how they are used to evaluate children’s developmental milestones.   The student will be able to:	
11.01	Compare and contrast basic observation techniques in relation to the learning environment.	
12.0	Utilize technology as it relates to the field of education.   The student will be able to:	
12.01	Identify technology utilized in the field of education.	
12.02	Analyze technology trends impacting education.	
12.03	Apply technology for efficient operation of the learning environment.	
13.0	Describe and use communication features of information technology.  The student will be able to:	
13.01	Identify and categorize usage of different forms of storage devices and backup media.	
13.02	Recognize essential database concepts such as bookmarking, web browsers, caching and cookies.	
13.03	Identify and describe types of file systems and classify common file extensions based on software application programs used in the workplace environment.	
13.04	Define important internet communications protocols and their roles in delivering basic Internet services.	
13.05	Identify security issues related to Internet clients including ethical issues using social media.	
13.06	Identify and use principles of Personal Information Management (PIM), including common applications.	
13.07	Efficiently transmit text and attachments using email systems used in the workplace environment.	
13.08	Conduct a webcast and related services.	
13.09	Represent technical issues to a non-technical audience. 	

Additional Information

Laboratory Activities

Laboratory investigations that include scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, emerging technologies, tools and equipment, as well as, experimental, quality, and safety procedures are an integral part of this career and technical program/course. Laboratory investigations benefit all students by developing an understanding of the complexity and ambiguity of empirical work, as well as the skills required to manage, operate, calibrate and troubleshoot equipment/tools used to make observations. Students understand measurement error; and have the skills to aggregate, interpret, and present the resulting data. Equipment and supplies should be provided to enhance hands-on experiences for students.

Florida Standards for English Language Development (ELD)
English language learners communicate for social and instructional purposes within the school setting. ELD.K12.ELL.SI.1 

English Language Development (ELD) Standards Special Notes:
Teachers are required to provide listening, speaking, reading and writing instruction that allows English language learners (ELL) to communicate for social and instructional purposes within the school setting.   For the given level of English language proficiency and with visual, graphic, or interactive support, students will interact with grade level words, expressions, sentences and discourse to process or produce language necessary for academic success. The ELD standard should specify a relevant content area concept or topic of study chosen by curriculum developers and teachers which maximizes an ELL’s need for communication and social skills. For additional information on the development and implementation of the ELD standards, please contact the Bureau of Student Achievement through Language Acquisition at sala@fldoe.org.

Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is the co-curricular career and technical student organization providing leadership training and reinforcing specific career and technical skills.  Career and Technical Student Organizations provide activities for students as an integral part of the instruction offered.  

Accommodations

Federal and state legislation requires the provision of accommodations for students with disabilities as identified on the secondary student’s Individual Educational Plan (IEP) or 504 plan or postsecondary student’s accommodations’ plan to meet individual needs and ensure equal access.  Accommodations change the way the student is instructed.  Students with disabilities may need accommodations in such areas as instructional methods and materials, assignments and assessments, time demands and schedules, learning environment, assistive technology and special communication systems.  Documentation of the accommodations requested and provided should be maintained in a confidential file.

In addition to accommodations, some secondary students with disabilities (students with an IEP served in Exceptional Student Education (ESE)) will need modifications to meet their needs.  Modifications change the outcomes or what the student is expected to learn, e.g., modifying the curriculum of a secondary career and technical education course.  Note: postsecondary curriculum and regulated secondary programs cannot be modified.