Focus on the Future Newsletter - February 2006

Tips and strategies for classroom teachers from the publishers of the Career Choices curriculum.

Great Conference Opportunity -- Reach 'em, Teach 'em, Keep 'em
March 6-7, 2006
The Historic Menger Hotel
San Antonio, TX

This "nuts and bolts" conference focuses on reducing dropout rates and increasing graduation rates, and the presentation schedule is chock full of educators who have rolled up their sleeves and made positive change happen!

Here's just a few of the distinguished presenters associated with this conference.

• Dr. Rebecca Dedmond, Director of the Freshman Transition Initiative at George Washington University
• Cynthia Jensen, Director of Educational Partnerships, Teachers College Innovations (a unit of Teachers College, Columbia University)
• Mindy Bingham, Co-Author of the Award-Winning Career Choicdes Curriculum and Educational Activist
• Lynn Anderson, National Professional Development Provider
• Rick Kriesky, Director of Henry County Schools (pioneers in the freshman transition concept and implementors of one of the nation's first ninth-grade school)

If you have questions about the conference or would like additional information, you can contact Lynn Anderson at lyasmin@aol.com or (865) 660-4999 or Phyllis Stewart at pastewart@charter.net or (812) 882-1876.

Critical Thinking about Salaries in the Media
We came across an interesting tidbit on the CareerBuilder web site: "Are TV characters' salaries realistic?"

As your students are working through the budget activity in Career Choices or the extended budget in Lifestyle Math, you're asking them to idealize their future lifestyle -- and then you ask them to think critically about the commitment to education and training necessary to achieve it. Here's a chance to invite them to critique the "fiscal reality" of the lifestyles they see portrayed on television.

Visit the CareerBuilder web site for to view this interesting article.

Workshops Coming to Your Area!
Participants in these fast-paced, hands-on professional development workshops will discover how to help students develop effective and realistic career-inclusive education plans. They'll also explore how to use Career Choices to initiate a course that dramatically changes students' attitudes about learning while integrating academics and career planning into the curriculum.

South Carolina
March 28, 2006 -- Charleston
Quality Suites Convention Center

March 30, 2006 -- Greenville
Phoenix Greenville Inn

Texas
March 8, 2006 -- San Antonio
Menger Hotel

March 21, 2006 -- Midland
Hilton Midland & Towers

March 23, 2006 -- Arlington
La Quinta Arlington Conference Center

Washington
March 3, 2006 -- Olympia
Olympia High School

Get detailed information or register online.

And, we still have room in our 2-Day "How To" Workshops in Santa Barbara, CA.

• March 13-14, 2006
• April 24-25, 2006
• June 26-27, 2006

Join us for an intensive two days as we discuss and explore the many benefits of integrating classroom-based comprehensive guidance into your school -- whether as part of your Smaller Learning Communities, Freshman Transtition Course, or in existing Career/Technical courses.

Visit our web site for details on this dynamic workshop.