Life Skills: Teens Learning to Navigate the Real World

On any given day in Liberty Hill ISD, teens might be focused on anything from health science to law and public service to hospitality and tourism.

Equipping these future industry leaders is the goal of these CTE programs, which consist of 14 career clusters that provide students with the opportunity to learn important college and career readiness skills like teamwork, problem-solving, organizational skills, decision making, and professionalism. Furthermore, students can choose to sit for certification exams, offered in select fields, that equip them with the necessary credentials to kickstart their professional careers as soon as they graduate.

Teens can also get a glimpse of possible futures through websites like Texas Reality Check, where they can view an example of monthly living expenses, choose a lifestyle level, determine the salary requirements to fund that lifestyle, and then explore occupations in that salary range. Another site, Texas GEAR UP, provides answers to college questions as well as stories about teens who have overcome challenges.

TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS: Leave it to Liberty Hill ISD to teach students life skills under the guise of fun. Even parents can glean valuable insights from the experts on how to equip their teens with the essential life skills required to thrive in the real world.

Financial Competence

When retired bank executive Marjorie L. Anderson decided to write a book as a legacy for her grandchildren, she never imagined so many parents and grandparents would encourage her to publish it. After interviewing 100 middle and high school students, she was motivated to provide a simple, basic understanding of money management.

Her book, "The Key: Wise Money Choices for Teens," available in English and Spanish, is divided into five different chapters/lessons and includes a glossary of financial terms and a list of resources.

 What is finance

 Money management

 Personal responsibility/philanthropy

 Saving and investing

 Credit/debit cards

By presenting strategies for saving and earning money, advocating against compulsive spending, and offering a beginner's guide to navigating the stock market, her book not only piqued the interests of teens, but also earned the coveted title of "2019-2020 Best of the Best" in the Children's Nonfiction category at Austin's Reader Views Literary Choice Awards.

by Linda A. Thornton

Domestic Skills

Infusing music into family food preparation or turning sewing and cleaning lessons into fun-filled events are other strategies that can help elevate mundane chores to en tertaining family activities. Encouraging your teen to cook a meal as a gift can be a great motivator, and imparting essential laundry skills can also prove beneficial — some sports teams even rotate jersey cleaning duties among their members.

Driving/Auto Maintenance

Social Skills/Manners

Practicing good manners goes beyond saying “please” and “thank you.” Learning important social graces—making eye contact, shaking hands when greeting someone, coughing into an elbow, and refraining from texting when in a social setting—can start at home. Consider having your teen dress up and accompany you to social events or make an appointment for a local college tour and encourage your student to see the student tour guides as role models.

Create a comprehensive driving contract for your teen, emphasizing the significance of safe driving practices and their monetary responsibility for any traffic violations. Additionally, consider taking your teen along for car servicing sessions to learn the basics of automotive maintenance.

Organizational Skills / Time Management

Let your teen know where you stand on being the backup for last minute projects. Encourage each to use his or her time well by providing some ideas for project management—using a white board, scheduling due date phone reminders, creating a to-do list, or using a task app. Set an example by demonstrating how you plan for your upcoming week.

Goal Setting

If your teen shows an affinity for a certain career, act on it! Request college brochures and have them mailed to your teen. Also, when convenient, make an appointment to meet with a local business owner. A formal setting will make a teen feel important and excited about future prospects. It is also important to set a meeting for parents and students to meet with a counselor together to discuss how to proceed and create realistic objectives.

FROM

A PARENT:

Among the practical and sentimental gifts for a graduate, consider a gift-wrapped tube of toothpaste accompanied by the following note, “Decision making is like a tube of toothpaste. Once it’s squeezed out, there is no way it’s going back into the tube!” Hopefully your graduate will remember your sage advice and smile each time he or she prepares to brush.

For more information about Liberty Hill ISD or Texas Gear Up, scan the QR codes or visit: libertyhill.txed.net txcte.org