Paula's Sped Resources

Work Exposure Class Description

Work Exposure Class, replicates in part, a real work environment. The students have opportunities to learn appropriate work behaviors and social skills necessary for work environments, plus exposure to career awareness and job skills development.

Students are taught the basic work procedures of clocking in, filling out a time sheet and accepting and completing a work assignment each class period. Students are paid a work stipend for completing work assignments to the best of their abilities demonstrated by compliance with assigned task and honest effort.

Many of the work tasks come from our participation in the recycling and food service programs. Along with a variety of other real and simulated work tasks to develop job skills.

Students also participate in individual and group activities in the area of introduction to work, career awareness and social skills on the job.

Areas covered include:

1. Career Awareness

Students explore their personal preferences in regard to working conditions, personal values, and interests. Careers are studied for general knowledge and to illustrate worker specific job duties and responsibilities. Monetary and non monetary reasons people work are explored. An individual's career is examined as a lifelong process involving social roles ( ie. family life, employment, hobbies and role as a citizen…).

Topics:

  • Introduction to Work
  • Getting Ready for Work- ( activities of daily living related to grooming and time management
  • About Workers: Tool, Places of Work, and Job tasks.
  • Interest Inventories- interests, skills, work environments, values…

2. Prevocational Work Skills-

  • Get time card from time card rack ( find name)
  • Clock In
  • Get time sheet - (sample) from board, and fill it out ( name, date, time, job), optional ·-
  • Clock Out
  • Receive weekly stipend for honest effort and compliance

Hands on Tasks in the areas of :

  • Recycling: - wash, collect, sort, paper shredding, pick up around school- aluminum cans, #1 plastic, paper, batteries, and ink cartridges.
  • Mail Recycling- picked up from local post offices
  • Food Service related- weigh, measure and bag cereals and snack foods, label bags, deliver product.
  • Other real and simulated work tasks in the areas of, sorting, packaging, and assembly
  • Small machines - heat sealer, air bagger, and paper shredder

3. Developing appropriate Work Behaviors

Using the Work Behavior Rating Form, Working 1 and 2 video series along with other curriculum materials, teacher designed activities checklists, task analysis, modeling…

    10 Most Important Work Habits

    1. Be On Time
    2. Dress Right, Neat and Clean
    3. Be Honest
    4. Have a positive attitude
    5. Get along with Others
    6. Listen and Follow Directions
    7. Be able to take criticism
    8. No fooling around when working
    9. Stay on task
    10. Have good behavior

4. Pre-Employment Skills Training

    School to Work Topics ( Modified High School Curriculum)

    1. About Me - self awareness, values, working conditions
    2. Attendance and Punctuality
    3. Appearance
    4. Good Worker Character Traits
    5. Communication Skills
    6. Interacting with Supervisors
    7. Interacting with Co-Workers
    8. Income Taxes and Pay Check Math
    9. Job Seeking Skills
    10. Budgeting/Managing Money

Students keep Vocational Notebooks which contain pictures and job descriptions of successful work tasks they've completed, other materials illustrating personal accomplishments (academic awards, sports etc). Other material in the book may include general work information ( work behavior info and career awareness info), and school to work materials. These books are portfolios that students will take with them when they graduate.

updated 2/25/06