Class of 2008 – The CRLS Reflection

 

The Career-Related Learning Standards Reflection should be written as a first person narrative (using “I”).  The reflection should convey your communication skills through acceptable conventions.   The experiences you describe to tell how you met each CRLS should be from your high school years, and should not be limited to the items on the checklist.  Instead, they should tell how you have extended these skills outside the classroom and also use experiences from jobs or activities as examples.  While writing this paper, be sure you have a copy of the CRLS Reflection Scoring guide which lists the criteria for each of the Oregon Career Related Learning Standards required for graduation from an Oregon high school.

 

Format: Typed or word processed, double spaced, one inch margins, using 12 point font such as Arial, or another easily readable font.  Length should be 3 to 4 pages.   

The centered title should be:     Career Related Learning Standards Reflection

 

Introductory Paragraph

Introduce yourself – tell us what you are like and what you enjoy doing.  Briefly, (since you will go into more depth with CRLS # 6) tell what you plan to do immediately following high school and one or two potential career goals.

 

Body Paragraph One – Personal Management and Work Ethic Skills

Tell us about how you have learned and exhibited personal management skills and appropriate work ethic and behaviors in school, community and/or workplace.  Use as many of the Personal Management criteria (the bulleted items on the scoring guide) as possible while describing your skills in this area, including examples from your experiences in classes, in various activities at school, while at work, and in the community.

 

Body Paragraph Two – Problem Solving Skills

Explain how you have learned and applied decision-making and problem-solving techniques in school, community, and/or workplace.  Using an experience, take us through the steps of your solving of a problem.  Use as many of the Problem Solving CRLS criteria (the bulleted items on the scoring guide) as possible while describing your skills, including examples from your experiences in classes, various activities, at work, and in the community.

 

Body Paragraph Three – Communication Skills

Describe how you have learned and demonstrated effective communication skills to give and receive information in school, community, and/or workplace.  Discuss your interpersonal skills, your writing, listening, and public speaking skills, and your use of technology to locate, process, and present information.  Use as many of the Communication CRLS criteria as possible while describing your skills, citing as examples your experiences and achievements from school, community or work.

 

Body Paragraph Four – Teamwork Skills

Tell about times you have functioned as a member of a group or team, the roles that you have played on different teams, and discuss the team skills that you developed that helped to make your teams work effectively.  Use the Teamwork CRLS criteria (the bulleted items on the scoring guide) to describe your skills, using experiences from classes, ensembles, sports, or other group activities at school, at work, or in the community.


Body Paragraph Five – Employment Foundations Skills

Explain the ways in which you have demonstrated academic, technical, and organizational knowledge and skills required for successful employment.   What kind of ‘employability’ skills do you have, and how did you develop and demonstrate them? Tie in as many of the criteria from the Employment Foundations CRLS (the bulleted items on the scoring guide) as are applicable to your experiences.  Cite knowledge and skills learned through classes that you took, events or activities that you have experienced, major projects you have been part of or coordinated, or jobs that you have held.  This is where you can list practical items like tools and equipment you’ve used, licenses such as a food handler’s permit or Red Cross card, your computer skills, CAD skills, verbal and written communication skills, math skills, construction skills, ‘people skills’, your work with children or the elderly, volunteering and job experiences, etc . . .

 

Body Paragraph Six – Career Development Skills

Tell how you have demonstrated career development skills in planning for your post high school goals.  Describe your interests, current career goals and ambitions.  Why is this career field interesting to you?  How did you investigate it (job shadow or internship, CIS research, or personal contact)?  What aspects of your personality do you think would help you to succeed in this field?  What have you done so far to get ready, and how do you plan to become qualified to work in this field?  It is okay to be undecided, but you must tell about some careers you have considered, and what you could do to get there from where you are now.   You should be able to connect things that you have already listed in your PEP, such as goals you have written, activities you have participated in, honors you have received, classes you have taken, schools to which you have applied, training you have received, and/or your work experience, that show you have made plans for your future and are following through with them.     

 

Concluding Paragraph:

Include a few sentences on how you have prepared for life after high school, and the people and experiences that have helped you or influenced you the most in that preparation.

 

Your Extended Application will be assessed from the entire paper, especially looking at how you have demonstrated the CRLS knowledge and skills in new situations in the work place or in the community, and your reflections on the relevance of what you have experienced so far to your future.

 

Semester graduates – due November 30, 2007

June graduates – due February 15

 

*During your exit conference with your advisor, you will use this reflection, your senior checklist and the supporting documents you have collected in your Advisory folder to show how you have met each of the Career-Related Learning Standards required for graduation in Oregon.  Your Advisor will turn in your passing CRLS Reflection with your official senior checklist.

 

*If you need school computer time to work on this paper, you can use the Library computers or computers in 122.  For help with this reflection see your advisor, your teachers, or Mrs. Swan in 122.