Educator Newsletter * April 2020
SAVE THE DATE!
**As of right now**, the 5th Annual JA JobSpark will still take place on September 22-23, 2020 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds
Thank you for participating in JA JobSpark 2019!
An event of this magnitude is possible because of educator support with student preparation and on-site participation . You made a difference by being
part of this experience and we look forward to seeing you at JA JobSpark 2020!
During these challenging times for our partners, schools and youth, JA is more focused than ever on our mission - helping students own the​ir future economic success. It is critical that we reach out to our youth and give them hope and guidance in the areas of financial literacy, work readiness, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy. We have dedicated volunteers who are reaching out and asking, "What can I do to help make a difference during these unsettling times?"

We at Junior Achievement and our volunteers have been working on a few resources found below to help you continue the amazing work you are already doing in the classroom to help students prepare for their future careers.
Junior Achievement: My Career Journey
In  JA My Career Journey , a virtual volunteer shares a video testimonial about his or her career journey highlighting their education background, interests, career, and work experiences. These videos cover career readiness concepts and are targeted for students in middle and high school. The 5-10 minute videos cover 8 career clusters from companies such as Salesforce, Microsoft, Ascension Health, Republic Airways, etc. You as a teacher can post the webpage designed specifically for  the  student to access, or you can post only certain videos you want to be viewed in a targeted career cluster. This program can be tailored to meet your curricular needs. There are questions for students to answer and submit once they are finished viewing the video. We have also included a link on the student page where they can ask questions to the presenter. Their question will be submitted and then the presenter can reach out to them with a response. 

Please click on the link below if you are interested in getting the webpage link to these exciting career videos and curriculum or if you have questions and would like more information. A JA staff person would be happy to connect with you!  
Junior Achievement: Finance Park Virtual
In  JA Finance Park Virtual , there are 20 sessions all focused on financial literacy. As a teacher, you can pick and choose the lessons you deem appropriate for your educational needs. Once students have completed the financial literacy lessons you have shared with them on your e-learning platform, then they can complete the online simulation. In the simulation, the students receive a real-life avatar who has a job, salary, and a pre-established life situation. They will be required to make a series of life decisions around housing, food, savings, transportation, healthcare, entertainment, clothing, education, investments, and much more. Students receive points in the simulation based on their positive decisions made in their avatar life. 
 
If you are interested or have a question, please register at the link below. A JA staff person will be in contact to answer your questions or get you set up for implementing with your students. 

New Companies joining JA JobSpark
We are excited to welcome new partners to our 8 Industry Clusters. Our new and existing companies are hard at work planning fresh and exciting hands-on experiences for your eighth graders in September!

Agrinovus- Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP)- Business & Finance
CH Robinson- Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering & Logistics
Early Learning Indiana- Government, Law & Public Service
First Databank- Technology
Heartland Film Festival- Hospitality & Tourism
Indianapolis Public Library- Government, Law & Public Service
IU Health School of Dentistry- Health & Life Sciences
IU Kelley School of Business- Business & Finance
Markey's Rental & Staging- Hospitality & Tourism
MSD Lawrence- Government, Law & Public Service
Purdue Veterinary Medicine- Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
Shiel Sexton- Architecture, Engineering & Construction
Stoops Freightliner-Quality Trailer- Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering & Logistics

Student Resources Spotlight
My American Farm
My American Farm is a gaming platform for elementary classroom teachers to use while exploring and discovering our food, fiber and energy. This may look elementary, but older students can get basic ideas while playing games! Click HERE to check it out!
PBS Kids Design Squad
Be creative and help people with engineering at  DESIGN SQUAD  GLOBAL. Watch videos, play games, try activities, and share designs with the community. Click here for more.
Journey 2050

Take a look at Journey 2050 HERE . Journey 2050 is designed for middle school and high school students to virtually farm while exploring the world food supply and maintaining sustainability. This is a fantastic game with lesson plans!
Partner Spotlight
High school will be right around the corner for JA JobSpark participants...and college is not far off either! Indiana middle school students may qualify for a scholarship that can help pay for college tuition. Students can apply for the  21st Century Scholars Program   as early as 7th grade, but no later than June 30th of their 8th grade year.

Students need to keep their grades up, take a pledge to do their best, and complete activities each year of high school. All eligibility requirements, along with  teacher and student resources  can be found at  Scholars.in.gov .

Why JA? Because helping kids make the connection between what they learn in the classroom and future success is what we do.
For more information on JA JobSpark, please visit www.jajobspark.org
or contact Molly at molly@jaindy.org .