Habits of a working adult
Students start the year practicing the basics of showing up: being on time, following through, and acting with honesty at school, work, and in the community. Parents may notice more talk about responsibility and reputation.
What does a student learn in
This is the year career planning gets real. Students map out steps toward college, training, or work that fit their own interests and budget. They practice the habits adults expect on the job: showing up, working with people from different backgrounds, writing a clear email, and thinking through a problem before reacting. By spring, students can talk through a realistic plan for after graduation and back it up with the skills they have been building.
- Career planning
- Workplace skills
- Teamwork
- Clear communication
- Problem solving
- Money and health
- Ethics at work
Year at a glance
How the year usually goes. Every school and district set their own curriculum, so treat this as a guide, not official pacing.
- 1
- 2
Communicating and working with others
Students practice speaking, writing, and emailing in ways that fit the audience. They also work on teams with people from different backgrounds, which is closer to a real job than a group project.
- 3
Thinking through hard problems
Students take on problems without an obvious answer. They break them into parts, research from trustworthy sources, and try new approaches when the first one stalls.
- 4
Using tools and fresh ideas
Students use technology to get work done and pick up new tools as they appear. They also practice creative thinking, taking something that already exists and adapting it for a new purpose.
- 5
Planning life after high school
Students map out a path after graduation that fits their interests, college or training options, and money realities. They also think through health, budgeting, and how their choices affect other people and the planet.
Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 12.
Career Ready Practices
Career Ready Practices
- High School
Plan an education and career path aligned to personal goals, interests
Students map out what school, training, or work comes after graduation based on what they actually want and what jobs realistically look like. They connect their own interests and goals to real options available to them.
- High School
Use technology to enhance productivity, communication
Students learn to pick the right digital tool for the job, whether that means a spreadsheet, a presentation, or a messaging app, and stay flexible when new tools replace old ones.
- High School
Work productively in teams while using cultural and global competence to…
Students practice working on teams with people from different backgrounds, learning to listen, share responsibilities, and get the job done even when teammates have different perspectives or experiences.
- High School
Act as a responsible and contributing citizen and employee, taking personal…
Students take ownership of their choices at school, at work, and in the community. That means following through on commitments, admitting mistakes, and showing up as someone others can count on.
- High School
Apply appropriate academic and technical skills learned through career and…
Students take skills from class and use them to solve actual problems they might face on the job or in everyday life.
- High School
Attend to personal health and financial well-being and make decisions that…
Students practice making real decisions about their health and money, thinking about what works right now and what sets them up well over time.
- High School
Communicate clearly, effectively
Students practice getting their message across in writing, in conversation, and online by matching what they say and how they say it to who's listening and why.
- High School
Consider the environmental, social
Before making a plan or building something, students think through how their choices could affect the environment, other people, and money. They weigh those trade-offs before deciding what to do.
- High School
Demonstrate creativity and innovation by generating new ideas and approaches…
Students come up with original ideas and find new ways to use familiar tools to solve problems at work and in real life.
- High School
Employ valid and reliable research strategies to gather, evaluate
Students learn to find trustworthy sources, weigh what those sources actually say, and pull the most useful information together into a clear picture of a topic. This is the research habit that follows them into any job or college course.
- High School
Use critical thinking to make sense of problems and persevere in solving them…
When a problem feels stuck, students break it into smaller pieces and work through more than one possible solution before giving up.
- High School
Model integrity, ethical leadership
Acting with honesty and fairness matters at school, at work, and in the community. Students practice making decisions that hold up under pressure and treat others with respect.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Plan an education and career path aligned to personal goals, interests High School | Students map out what school, training, or work comes after graduation based on what they actually want and what jobs realistically look like. They connect their own interests and goals to real options available to them. | MA-CDOS.CRP10.9-12 |
| Use technology to enhance productivity, communication High School | Students learn to pick the right digital tool for the job, whether that means a spreadsheet, a presentation, or a messaging app, and stay flexible when new tools replace old ones. | MA-CDOS.CRP11.9-12 |
| Work productively in teams while using cultural and global competence to… High School | Students practice working on teams with people from different backgrounds, learning to listen, share responsibilities, and get the job done even when teammates have different perspectives or experiences. | MA-CDOS.CRP12.9-12 |
| Act as a responsible and contributing citizen and employee, taking personal… High School | Students take ownership of their choices at school, at work, and in the community. That means following through on commitments, admitting mistakes, and showing up as someone others can count on. | MA-CDOS.CRP1.9-12 |
| Apply appropriate academic and technical skills learned through career and… High School | Students take skills from class and use them to solve actual problems they might face on the job or in everyday life. | MA-CDOS.CRP2.9-12 |
| Attend to personal health and financial well-being and make decisions that… High School | Students practice making real decisions about their health and money, thinking about what works right now and what sets them up well over time. | MA-CDOS.CRP3.9-12 |
| Communicate clearly, effectively High School | Students practice getting their message across in writing, in conversation, and online by matching what they say and how they say it to who's listening and why. | MA-CDOS.CRP4.9-12 |
| Consider the environmental, social High School | Before making a plan or building something, students think through how their choices could affect the environment, other people, and money. They weigh those trade-offs before deciding what to do. | MA-CDOS.CRP5.9-12 |
| Demonstrate creativity and innovation by generating new ideas and approaches… High School | Students come up with original ideas and find new ways to use familiar tools to solve problems at work and in real life. | MA-CDOS.CRP6.9-12 |
| Employ valid and reliable research strategies to gather, evaluate High School | Students learn to find trustworthy sources, weigh what those sources actually say, and pull the most useful information together into a clear picture of a topic. This is the research habit that follows them into any job or college course. | MA-CDOS.CRP7.9-12 |
| Use critical thinking to make sense of problems and persevere in solving them… High School | When a problem feels stuck, students break it into smaller pieces and work through more than one possible solution before giving up. | MA-CDOS.CRP8.9-12 |
| Model integrity, ethical leadership High School | Acting with honesty and fairness matters at school, at work, and in the community. Students practice making decisions that hold up under pressure and treat others with respect. | MA-CDOS.CRP9.9-12 |
Common Questions
What is this subject really about in high school?
Students practice the habits adults use at work: showing up, communicating clearly, solving problems, working on a team, and thinking about a career after graduation. It is less about one job and more about being ready for many.
How can I help my teenager start thinking about a career?
Talk about your own work at dinner. What you did, what was hard, who you worked with, how you got paid. Ask what they noticed about jobs they saw that week. Five minutes of real conversation beats a worksheet.
My teen says they have no idea what they want to do. Is that a problem?
No. Most students at this age do not know. The goal right now is to try things, notice what they like and dislike, and learn how to research options. Interests will narrow with more experience.
How should I sequence this across four years?
Early grades focus on self-awareness, work habits, and exploring broad career areas. Later grades focus on a specific path, applications, resumes, interviews, and a plan for after graduation. Build research and teamwork skills every year.
What should I do at home to build work-ready habits?
Hand over real responsibilities: a weekly chore, a bill to track, an appointment to schedule, a meal to plan. Let them follow through and feel the result. Practical responsibility at home transfers directly to a job.
Which skills tend to need the most reteaching?
Professional communication by email and phone, working with people they did not choose, and following through on a multi-step task without reminders. Build these into routine assignments rather than one-off lessons.
How do students practice research and good sources?
They learn to find information from more than one place, check who wrote it, and compare what different sources say. Ask them at home where they heard something and how they know it is true.
What does a strong end-of-year look like for a senior?
A senior should leave with a concrete next step: a college, a training program, a job, the military, or an apprenticeship. They should have a resume, can speak about their strengths, and know how to apply.
Should my teen get a part-time job or internship?
If the schedule allows, yes. A real paycheck, a real boss, and real coworkers teach things no classroom can. Even a few hours a week builds confidence and gives them stories to tell in future interviews.