Future Tracks Counselor Guide Grade 9 Counseling Unit CT Student Success Plan (SSP)
Future Tracks: Career Exploration Guide
Navigating Career Clusters & Personal Pathways with SchooLinks
Lesson Length
45-50 Minutes
Classroom Advisory / Guidance
Counseling Domain Career Development
Digital Platform SchooLinks Suite
Instructional Setting 1:1 Device Advisory
State Mandate CT GS Sec. 10-221a
ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors
M 4: Self-confidence in ability to succeed and adapt.M 6: Postsecondary education and lifelong learning are vital for long-term career success.B-LS 7: Identify long- and short-term academic, career, and personal goals.B-LS 9: Gather evidence and explore multiple perspectives to make informed career decisions.
CT School Counseling Framework
C:CD.1: Investigate the world of work in relation to self-knowledge and make informed choices.C:CD.2: Employ strategies to achieve future career goals through course planning and pathway choices.CT SSP Goal: Formulate initial Career Interest Profile and add minimum 3 target occupations to 9th grade SSP portfolio.
Essential Questions
How do my current interests align with emerging career pathways?
How do 9th and 10th grade course choices create bridges to my future goals?
What postsecondary options (degrees, trade certifications, apprenticeships) fit my career matches?
Learning Objectives (SWBAT)
Complete or review the SchooLinks Find Your Path career interest assessment.
Analyze two career clusters and favorite at least three prospective careers.
Identify educational pathways and high school electives matching their top career interest.
Pre-Session Setup & Counselor Checklist
Tech Check: Verify student Single Sign-On (Clever / Google) to SchooLinks.
Materials: Print double-sided Pathway Compass worksheets for all students.
Projection: Display lesson slide deck and open counselor live demo account.
Instructional Sequence: Part 1
Pacing Phase Counselor Actions & Student Milestones 5 Mins 1. Hook & Mindset Launch Slide 2 (Career Myths vs. Realities). Pose question: "How many of the fastest-growing careers in CT didn't exist 15 years ago?" Clarify that 9th grade is for exploration, not committing forever. 10 Mins 2. SchooLinks Navigation Demo Project SchooLinks dashboard. Demonstrate how to navigate to Explore > Assessments > Find Your Path . Model reading personality matches, exploring top career cluster tags, and clicking the Heart/Favorite icon on careers.
Continued on Page 2: Independent Exploration & Debrief
Facilitation Protocol & Implementation
Future Tracks: In-Class Guided Workflow
Part 2 of 2
Pacing Phase Counselor Actions & Guided Prompts 20 Mins 3. Student SchooLinks Quest Students log in, take/review Find Your Path , and complete Sections 1-3 of the Pathway Compass worksheet. Counselor: Circulate with clipboard, assist students with login resets, prompt students to examine salary vs. education tradeoffs. 8 Mins 4. Pathway Bridge & Course Alignment Direct students to the Majors & Programs tab. Facilitate Part 4 of worksheet: connect 10th-12th high school electives (CTE, AP/IB, Dual Enrollment) to their top career cluster. 7 Mins 5. Debrief & SSP Reflection Pair-Share (3 mins): "What is one career that surprised you, and what education does it require?" Whole-group quick share (3 mins). Collect completed worksheets as artifacts for CT SSP verification.
SchooLinks In-App Navigation Quick-Guide
1. Find Your Path
Left menu > Explore > Assessments . 60 visual scenario prompts. Takes 5-7 minutes.
2. Explore Clusters
Left menu > Careers > Career Center . Filter by education level, cluster, and growth rate.
3. Heart & Favorite
Clicking heart icon saves careers to student profile and updates counselor administrative reports.
Multi-Tiered Support & Differentiation Strategies
Emerging Readers / MLs
Toggle SchooLinks Spanish/multilingual interface. Utilize visual icons and the built-in video day-in-the-life spotlights.
IEP / 504 Accommodations
Provide graphic organizers with pre-filtered cluster choices. Partner with co-teacher/paraprofessional for 1:1 navigation support.
Advanced / Fast Finishers
Investigate SchooLinks College Search or Apprenticeship tabs to compare starting debt vs. anticipated mid-career earnings.
CT Student Success Plan (SSP) Evidence
Connecticut mandates every Grade 9-12 student maintain an individualized SSP. This lesson fulfills:
Annual career interest assessment benchmark
Selection of high school pathway cluster
Postsecondary exploration artifact in student dossier
Counselor Post-Lesson Follow-Up
Admin Dashboard: Pull SchooLinks completion report for 9th grade advisory roster.Targeted Follow-Up: Schedule 10-minute check-ins with students lacking saved favorites.Course Registration: Sync career favorites into spring 10th grade elective advising.
Connecticut Comprehensive School Counseling Framework • ASCA National Model 4th Ed. School Counseling Department • Future Ready Series
Pathway Compass Student Worksheet Student Name:
Date:
Counselor / Advisory:
Period:
Connecticut Student Success Plan (SSP) • Grade 9
Pathway Compass: SchooLinks Career Exploration
Platform Tool Find Your Path • Careers
1 SchooLinks Interest Profile (Find Your Path)
Navigate to: Explore > Assessments > Find Your Path
Record your top 3 personality/interest themes identified by the SchooLinks assessment (e.g., Builder, Thinker, Creator, Helper, Persuader, Organizer):
Top Trait #1
Top Trait #2
Top Trait #3
Reflection: How well do these results match your actual passions and skills? Give a specific example.
2 Career Cluster Face-Off (Compare 2 Pathways)
Go to: Careers > Explore Career Clusters
Select two career clusters recommended for you on SchooLinks and compare their details below:
Exploration Metric Career Cluster A Career Cluster B Cluster Name
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| Work Environment
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| Typical Education Needed
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| Average Salary Range |
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| Job Outlook / Growth
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| 2 Specific Occupations |
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Remember to click the ♥ Heart icon on SchooLinks to save careers to your profile! Flip Over to Complete Page 2 →
Pathway Compass • Page 2
Student Name:
3 Spotlight Career Profile (My #1 Match)
Favorited in SchooLinks
Target Career Title
Associated Career Cluster
Required Education Level
Median Annual Salary
Job Growth Rate (10-Yr)
2 Key Daily Responsibilities / Tasks
2 Critical Skills Needed for Success
4 High School Pathway Bridge: Connecting Courses to Careers
Review the SchooLinks Majors & Programs section for this career. What can you pursue at our high school to prepare?
High School Courses / Electives to take in 10th-12th Grade (e.g., CTE, STEM, Business, AP/ECE):
Co-Curriculars, Sports, Clubs, or Leadership to join (e.g., Robotics, DECA, HOSA, Art Guild, Student Council):
Pathway Discovery Slides Grade 9 School Counseling Connecticut Student Success Plan (SSP)
Future Tracks:
Unlocking Your Career Blueprint
Discover your unique strengths, navigate career clusters, and explore postsecondary pathways on SchooLinks.
SchooLinks Exploration Session 45-50 Minutes • Advisory Class
Mindset Check
Why Explore Careers in 9th Grade?
You don't need to choose your forever career today—you are discovering possibilities and opening doors.
Discover You
Uncover what energized tasks fit your natural skills and interests before choosing courses.
Course Pathways
Connect high school electives, CTE, and AP courses directly to real career requirements.
CT Job Growth
Learn which emerging industries in Connecticut and nationwide offer the strongest futures.
Key Takeaway: High school is your low-risk playground to test interests. ASCA Mindset 6
Platform Power
Meet Your SchooLinks Hub
SchooLinks is your all-in-one college and career planning platform from Grade 9 through graduation.
Find Your Path Assessment
Interactive visual scenario questions.
Uncovers top Holland personality profiles.
Takes only 5 to 7 minutes to complete.
Career Center & Clusters
Compare median wages and CT job outlooks.
Discover required college degrees or trade credentials.
Click the Heart icon to bookmark your favorites!
Everything you save today connects directly to your school counselor's advising portal.
Step-by-Step Instructions
How to Log In & Navigate
Follow these 3 simple clicks to begin your assessment on your Chromebook or laptop.
1
Single Sign-On
Open your district portal (Clever or Google) and click the SchooLinks icon.
2
Explore Menu
On the left navigation menu, click Explore , then click on Assessments .
3
Find Your Path
Click on Find Your Path . Answer honestly based on what you actually like to do!
Already took Find Your Path? Review your results and head straight to Careers > Explore Clusters !
Student Mission
Your 20-Minute Quest Goals
