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Narrative: The occupational role-playing project at Liberty Elementary in Franklin Special School District began after first grade teacher, Ann Kimbler, assessed the importance of career planning for all students, regardless of age or grade. With help from others, an occupational role-playing project was developed. The school conducts an annual book sale, in which students bring in their used books and the school re- sells them to other students. This provides a fund-raising opportunity for the school and utilizes the students for employees for the event. The process for selecting students included filling out an application and interviewing for the positions. The students gain experience and exposure in graphic art, publications, inventory management, display and presentation, sales assistance and cashiering. The objective is to expose students to real-life employment situations. Teachers saw this as an excellent opportunity for them to gain real world experience and cover important aspects such as neatness, grammar, spelling, proper business attire and proper behavior and manners. The initiation of this project was a direct response to information gathered from employers within their community about skills needed in the workplace.
It Works! This project was an all-encompassing process, from the first publicity to generate interest, to the final sale. Sixty-nine (69) students participated in the occupational role-playing project. The book sale was the most successful ever, with over 3,000 books collected and virtually all were sold. It also gave a large number of students an opportunity for practical, hands-on experience in a controlled environment and could easily be adapted to similar activities in other schools. The project provided early exposure to occupations which students otherwise would not likely have obtained.
Contact:
Annie Sawyers
Franklin Special School District 507
New Highway 96 West
Franklin, TN 37064
(P) 615-794-6624
(F) 615-790-4716