What is Learn to Earn?
Learn to Earn offers a way for 8th - 10th grade students to learn about emerging fields of work while encouraging them to cater their coursework to these opportunities. More specifically, the program emphasizes the importance of math, science, communication, and technology coursework and its relation to the emerging job opportunities in Vermont.
The main component of the program is dynamic in-school presentations by professionals from the local business community that are in growing career fields. According to the Vermonts Next Generation Commissions 2007 Report, this includes but is not limited to: healthcare, sales, community and social services, high-tech and information technology, and manufacturing and engineering occupations.
How does Learn to Earn work?
Local business professionals give interactive in-class presentations to students in dynamic teams. The presentations are a way for students to personally connect with area businesses, learn what a typical work day might entail, and better understand the job opportunities that are available to them in their very own state. The business presenters are trained by the Learn to Earn Coordinator in order to ensure that the goals of the program are met.
The 3 major objectives of Learn to Earn are:
- To encourage teens to consider careers in emerging and growing occupations (e.g. healthcare, high-tech, communication, and manufacturing careers).
- To highlight how math, science, communication, and technology skills are used daily on the job.
- To show teens how their current coursework choices relate to their future career goals.
Why is Learn to Earn important?
Research continually shows that high school students consider math and science courses the most challenging. Students are often not interested in pursuing related careers until they learn more about these fields. A key factor in Learn to Earns success is reaching students early enough to affect their course selections in high school. As a result, students are inspired to take more math, science, communication, and technology courses. The program also emphasizes the link between their current coursework choices and their future career goals.
How do I get involved?
Businesses: Businesses can give interactive presentations at a local school(s).
Schools: Schools can host the Learn to Earn program. This can happen in a variety of ways in a classroom, at a career fair, etc.
Students: Youth can request the Learn to Earn program at their school.
For more information, contact:
Lindsey Lathrop at (802) 951-8849 or llathrop@bsdvt.org
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