The Calais School may have put a temporary pause on Work-Based Learning outings, but 12 Plus Program students continue to build workplace skills in a variety of ways.

Through a curriculum developed by Calais’s Speech Language Pathologist, Ms. Holly Bracken, 12 Plus Program students continue building on their confidence, success, and independence on the job and in other non-academic settings. Most recently, students have been focusing on learning about how typical workplaces operate and on strengthening their ability to problem solve in the workplace.

Ms. Bracken explains that her curriculum for this year has focused on “the process of problem solving and critical thinking related to situations our young adults will commonly encounter in the workplace…. Each week problem solving situations — involving interpersonal interactions, scheduling, and routine — are introduced and students are guided through the steps to develop a few solutions to the problem.” 

So far, our students have worked together to determine the best course of action for situations such as leaving their cell phones at home or accidentally shrinking their only uniform in the dryer. The process that our students are learning includes taking perspectives, weighing pros and cons, making inferences, and planning alternative options. Repetitive practice is essential, as Ms. Bracken explains: “Solutions from one problem can often be used to tackle a new one. Students’ anxiety and stress when faced with a problem begin to decrease as they recognize their familiarity with the process and past solutions.” 

In recent lessons, the class has taken problem solving a step further by learning to identify the best methods for communicating with coworkers and supervisors. Ms. Bracken has developed scenarios in which students must decide whether to use text messages or emails to voice workplace-related questions and concerns. Additionally, other exercises have familiarized students with the role of the Human Resources department in a workplace and when to use it.

Certain situations posed to the class often lead to beneficial discussions when students have questions about how a typical workplace operates. For example, some students have faced confusion about the differences between work and school. When Ms. Bracken described a scenario in which an employee wanted to request time off for a four-day vacation with family, some students considered it impolite to take off without that time being given to everyone at once (like for a school’s winter break) and felt that their absence would be a bigger burden to their employer than it would be in reality. By having these discussions and working through the problem solving process together, our students are gaining familiarity with important employment concepts even while not attending a job site.

About The Calais School 12 Plus Program:

The Calais School 12 Plus Program was created for students ages 18 – 21.  The program is designed to offer students the skills they need to move successfully from school into the adult world. 

This post was written by Katie G., Marketing Intern for The Calais School.