The Texas OnCourse Educator Blog

For many career and technical education (CTE) teachers, the sudden move to online learning is particularly challenging. CTE, after all, is often hands-on in nature. Here, we gather updates, tips, suggested practices, and resources around CTE online lesson plans into one place. Use them to supplement official guidance provided by your school or district. Our hope is to help you strengthen your online teaching skills as they relate to delivering CTE instruction remotely.  

The current moment presents plenty of challenges as we figure out how to support, instruct, and counsel our students remotely. Among those challenges is how to communicate effectively in online classes. Fortunately, this is an obstacle that presents opportunities for growth and learning for our students, and ourselves. 

Webinar Highlights: Making Careers Matter in Middle School

No time to watch? Below, we summarize key information and include links to resources from the webinar.

Texas graduation requirements state that students must select an endorsement and draft a four-year graduation plan before starting ninth grade. They can revise this plan every year. The process helps students identify education and training opportunities for after high school. It also helps develop employment-seeking skills.

How well do you think your middle school students understand endorsements and graduation plans?

Okay, middle school parents and guardians. It’s never too soon to help your child dream about college and career success after high school. Starting around seventh and eighth grade, you’ll  need to know about Texas graduation requirements and help your child craft a four-year high school plan. Don’t panic – you’ll have help. That’s what counselors and advisers are here for! 

As college and career readiness educators, you may have a good feel for what endorsements your local students are choosing, but have you ever wondered how that might compare to statewide academic trends?

In education, time is a commodity. Educators need time to teach, plan, and connect and engage with students. Our time impacts lives; therefore, it must be managed well. Time invested in the Texas OnCourse Academy is truly an investment worth making, because the strategies and resources presented allow educators to save LOTS of time later.

As educators, we know that having buy-in at home is imperative when it comes to college and career readiness. Parents and guardians have enormous influence when it comes to deadlines, timelines, and planning for the future.

Transitioning from elementary to middle school is challenging whether you’re a student or a parent/guardian. Aside from the change in educational demand, the pace of the school year often feels as if it quickens. The relationship dynamic between parents/guardians and teachers also evolves. Teachers in middle school can have anywhere from 100 to 250 students, as compared to the 25 to 50 in elementary. It can feel like there isn’t as much time for personal attention.