Teachers, counselors, youth leaders
Many students have no clear idea of ways in which they excel. For these teens, choosing a career may be difficult. Helping
The I Built It – Youth campaign is designed to expose youth to the possibilities of working in the building construction trades. It takes talent and a willingness to learn to be a skilled craftsperson. State-registered apprenticeship programs give a specific course of study and requirements for on the job training that develops the skills in an individual that will allow him/her to build a lifetime career. It is work to be proud of and as California’s recovery progresses and our infrastructure is built or rebuilt, the skilled workforce needs to be developed. As you look around at the incredible buildings and highways you can see it takes more than a strong back to create them.
You can bring this effort into your school by creating an “I Built It – Youth Day” at your school.
Suggestions for I Built It – Youth Day
- Invite the local apprenticeship programs to visit your school and give hands on demonstrations or talk with the students. You can find contact information for them in the finding opportunities section of this web site.
- Invite a Division of Apprenticeship Standards Consultant to speak to your school about careers begun through apprenticeship or to ask more about how to bring I Built It Day to your school.
- Show the I Built It – Youth DVD to pique the interest of the students
If you would like a copy please contact the Division of Apprenticeship Standards. It is also downloadable from this web site.
Take a few minutes to think about the questions and strategies below to see how they might apply to your work with teens.
Strengths and Prospects of Students |
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Do you know what percentage of your students will either not attend or not graduate from college? |
Do you ask your students whether they prefer to learn by watching, listening, doing or by reading instructions? |
When you discuss learning strategies, do you include whole body, action techniques? Do you encourage students to visualize material not usually learned in that way? |
How often do you introduce a new concept using mapping skills or a graphic depiction? What about a three-dimensional model or one with moving parts? |
Do you ever incorporate review techniques that include fine or gross motor skills? What other ideas do you use to help students who are not usually among those who excel? |
If you teach basic math or basic life skills, how often do you devise problems that might apply to construction work? Do you have students apply simple geometric shapes to visualizing designs meaningful to them? |
If you are a language teacher, do you ever have students try putting together a small appliance, toy or piece of furniture, without, and then with written directions? Are there students in the group who can figure out how pieces fit together without instructions? Are you surprised by who these students are? |
Here are some other ideas to think about as you present this DVD and Apprenticeship to your students
Knowledge of Construction & Apprenticeship |
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If a student asks you about the challenges and rewards of a career in building construction, how much are you able to tell him or her? Do you have specifics, or would you rely on a general schema you’ve inherited or absorbed? |
How many construction trade occupations can you name? |
Have you been on construction sites? Talked with construction workers about their jobs? |
Could you name four work processes an electrician will master on the job during apprenticeship? What about a plumber? |
How much do you know about the classroom subjects a carpenter will study during an apprentice program? A drywall finisher? An elevator mechanic? |
Do you know the length of state-certified apprenticeship programs for different trades? |
If you were asked to recommend students for a construction trade apprenticeship program, what criteria would you use? |
