This book is written for parents and teachers to help them guide students (Kindergarten through college), preparing them for the next steps of their education and getting into the workforce. The goal is to have students take charge of their own education and develop the career skills they need to succeed. The book provides ideas for parents and teachers to help their kids and students improve their critical thinking skills and creativity, communication skills, team and leadership skills, flexibility and adaptability, work ethic, and social skills. Also covered are suggestions on how to navigate getting a job, from online research about the field all the way to the job interview. The end of the book includes several success stories of people who took ownership of their education.
Foreword by Emily Halvorson-Otts
Foreword by Stephanie Codd Anderson
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1: Figuring Out What to Do in Life
Chapter 2: The Three Most Important Skills in Life
Chapter 3: The Importance of Creativity
Chapter 4: Communication Skills
Chapter 5: Social Skills
Chapter 6: Work Ethic
Chapter 7: Collaboration and Team Skills
Chapter 8: Leadership Skills
Chapter 9: Flexibility, Adaptability, and Agility
Chapter 10: Other Life Skills
Chapter 11: Staying Physically and Mentally Healthy
Chapter 12: Choosing the Right Schools, Programs, and Teachers
Chapter 13: Mastering Study Skills and Study Habits
Chapter 14: Choosing a College and Paying For It
Chapter 15: Checking Out the Job
Chapter 16: Getting the Job
Chapter 17: Critical Thinking Revisited
Afterword
Success Story 1: I Homeschooled Myself
Success Story 2: Grit, Resolve, and Determination
Success Story 3: I No Longer Feel Worthless
Success Story 4: I Got My Dream Job
Success Story 5: Young People Are Just as Able to Change the World
Success Story 6: The Paper Microscope and the Paper Centrifuge
About the Author
Mike Tveten has been a college biology teacher for over 30 years. He previously published two books, Imperative Narratives: Storytelling Secrets for Teachers, Staff, and Administrators, and Biology Stories: 50 Stories for Teaching and Learning Biology, both with Rowman and Littlefield. You can visit him at www.miketveten.com and www.imperativenarratives.com.