Essential Workplace Skills

Students should take every opportunity to develop the skills that will be essential to them throughout their lives, both in the workplace and in their every day lives. Such skills help people to adapt quickly to new situations, rise to ever greater challenges and achieve their own definition of success.

1. Reading Whether in the form or emails, books, street signs, reports, journals, pay checks or brochures, a vast amount of information is communicated through written language. Anyone can access five thousand years of wisdom by learning to navigate sentences and paragraphs. e-mail, magazines, morning reading time.
   
2. Document Use Paperwork doesn't have to be tedious or boring. It allows workers to take a step back from their tasks, assess what's been accomplished, and reflect on the best way forward. Encourage your students to develop their organizational skills, and put them to work when handling documents. grades, 2Coats bills/money, collecting papers.
   
3. Numeracy Basic math skills are fundamental to every occupation. From calculating taxes and estimating distances to determining how many hours will be needed to complete a task, everyone needs to use numbers to make important day-to-day decisions with confidence. mancala, paying bills, managing books
   
4. Writing Writing is one important way we share our thoughts with the world. Your students will need to fill in forms - like those needed for a driver's license, credit card, job application or to mail a parcel - type on a computer and express themselves clearly through written words. e-mail, blogging, facebook updates
   
5. Oral Communication Speech is the fastest, most direct and often the most persuasive form of communication. It is the primary method for workers to exchange thoughts and information. Encourage your students to be in on the discussion and learn to articulate their ideas verbally. teaching, preaching, conversation with others.
   
6. Working With Others In the workplace, as in life, people are always interacting with other people. Whether over the phone, by email or in person it is important to respect your colleagues and clients, and learn to work with them to achieve common goals. teachers, students, mrs. hindy
   
7. Continuous Learning Once people know how to learn, they can gather the skills and knowledge they need for any job, at any point in their career journey. First, they need to know their preferred learning styles - to discover how they learn best. Second, they need to know their environment - learn how to find resources, find information and identify opportunities. school, church, youth group, small group
   
8. Thinking Skills With practice, we can all think faster, more accurately and more creatively. Encourage your students to train their mind to solve problems, make decisions, think critically, plan and organize, enlarge their memory and gather information. Then they will be better able to identify the root causes of problems - both at work and at home - and find lasting solutions. creating lessons, organizing outreaches, dreaming
   
9. Computer Use Twenty years ago employees prepared documents and office records by hand, or used a typewriter. Now with advances in technology and the rapid evolution of the work environment, most jobs involve regular computer use. e-mail, prezi, facebook
   

Character Traits

Character transcends national, ethnic, cultural, gender, political and religious boundaries. People who develop good character enjoy more success in all aspects of their lives - work, family and community. Ten "global" character traits follow. As students role play adult characters in The Real Game, encourage them to be aware of these traits, and give their character good character.

1. Respect Be polite, courteous and caring. Value yourself and others. Treat all people with dignity and uphold their rights. Protect property and the environment. I can be more respectful and tolerant of those who disrespect me.
   
2. Responsibility Be responsible for your thoughts, words and actions. Be accountable for your choices. Admit mistakes and work to correct them. Honor your commitments. Demonstrate active citizenship. I can be more responsible in managing my time during my 6th period prep time.
   
3. Honesty Be sincere, truthful and trustworthy. I can be more honest with my students and their parents.
   
4. Integrity Behave in an ethical and honorable manner even when no one else is around. Be genuine, so your actions match your words. I can show and grow in my integrity when it comes to my eating habits.
   
5. Empathy Respect the feelings of others. Try to understand what others are thinking to appreciate their perspectives. Listen and consider their views even if you do not agree. Act with kindness and compassion. I can be more empathetic to my students who have tough home lives.
   
6. Fairness Be sensitive to the needs of others. Include them and value their uniqueness. Celebrate diversity. Treat people with dignity and consideration, as you would like to be treated. Gather enough information to make decisions that are just. I can be more fair to those in the community who have less than.
   
7. Initiative Be eager to do what needs to be done without being prompted by others. Seize opportunities and willingly take the steps necessary to achieve a goal. I can grow in my initiative when it comes to eating right.
   
8. Perseverance Finish what you start even when it is difficult. Don't give up when faced with obstacles. Complete all tasks and assignments to the best of your ability. I can grow in my perseverance when it comes to finishing my literature review.
   
9. Courage Face challenges directly. Speak up for yourself and others even when it may be unpopular. Ask for help when you need it. Recognize risks and dangers and do not take unwise chances to please others. I can show and grow in my courage by taking more risks with my faith!
   
10. Optimism Have a positive attitude. See challenges as opportunities. Think, speak and act to make the world a better place. Have hope for the future. I can be more optimistic when it comes to my students and the outcomes I desire from them.
    

World of Work Survey