working on fridays
i work at a school and while i’m a college and career counselor, i still have to be in the classroom and teach. but seeing as i didn’t go to school for teaching, nor do i have a teaching certificate (only a school counseling one), i make my class as easy as possible. my students don’t have any quizzes, tests, or homework. i only give them one assignment every monday-thursday and give them over an hour to complete it. it’s usually pretty simple like writing a resume, filling out a fake job application, stuff like that to prepare them for the life outside of high school. but fridays are days where they can work on any assignment that they missed. if they didn’t submit an assignment from this week or last they can work on it on fridays. i love just giving this time for my students and having some time to just advise kids on their post secondary plans in the classroom while also having some time to just not be a teacher.
Teaching methods can greatly impact student engagement and success, especially in settings with unique challenges. Assignments that focus on real-life skills, such as resume writing and job applications, offer students practical experience crucial for their future endeavors. Implementing flexibility, particularly by allowing catch-up days, can alleviate stress and encourage dedication to learning. Fridays can serve as valuable opportunities not just for completing unfinished work but as formative moments for students to engage in discussions about their aspirations. Educators can integrate career counseling fundamentally by turning these catch-up days into mentorship experiences. Such strategies not only support academic responsibility but also strengthen the school-to-career pipeline, fostering a deeper understanding of post-secondary plans. Schools are increasingly recognizing the importance of balancing structured learning with the time for students to reflect and engage with their personal goals.