Why Introducing Work Comes First in a
Career Readiness Curriculum
Have you ever found yourself wondering how to prepare your Special Education students for work after school? Then you’re not alone.
Career readiness is one of those skills that can feel overwhelming to teach, especially in special education, where every student’s path looks different. You know how important it is to prepare them for jobs, but where do you even start?
When I first started teaching job skills, I thought the best place to begin was with practice. I had timesheets, mock interviews, and even simple job-related classroom tasks. While all that is important, something was missing. Many of my students didn’t yet understand what work actually is! Without that foundation, everything else felt disconnected.
That’s why I now believe every career readiness curriculum should begin with an “Intro to Working” stage.
Before students can apply skills in the community or practice job-specific tasks, they need to know why people work, the types of jobs that exist, and what it looks like to be on the job.
Continue reading to learn more about why the concept of “work” comes first when introducing a career readiness curriculum!
Why Do You Need to Teach About Work?
For our students, the world of work can feel like a mystery. Some of my students have never seen family members in traditional jobs, while others assume their only option is fast food or grocery stocking.
Career readiness simply means helping students understand jobs, responsibilities, and the skills they need to succeed at work. Without this foundation, working after school feels out of reach. That’s why teaching career readiness isn’t optional.
Traditional schools often focus heavily on academics, leaving gaps in life and job skills. Our students can’t afford that gap.
They need opportunities to explore careers, learn workplace expectations, and practice essential skills like communication, time management, and self-regulation.
Introducing "Work" to High School and Transition Students
Students in special education often need the “big picture” before the small details. If we jump straight into skills like filling out applications or practicing interviews, it can feel random or meaningless.
That’s why it’s so important to first explain what work is and why people have jobs. They’ll better understand the meaning and purpose of working.
So, how do we introduce work in a way that’s simple and engaging? Here’s what worked in my classroom:
Start with an Animated Video
Animated videos grab attention, especially for students who need extra support with comprehension. I’ve used short animations that explain why people work, like to earn money, to buy things they need, and to have a routine.
My students often repeat back lines from the video later, which shows me the idea is sticking.
If you need a custom video for introducing work, here’s my free “All About Working” video on YouTube!
Use a Visual Lesson
For most neurodivergent students, simple and visual lessons work best. I use an “Intro to Working” lesson using a Google Slides presentation with clear images, short text, and discussion prompts.
We’ll talk about the concept of work, types of jobs, and some career-related vocabulary. It helps them easily understand why people work and what they need to get employed.
Use Easy Activities to Reinforce Your Lesson
Once your students have been introduced to the idea of work, they need simple, hands-on ways to practice. Don’t make complicated worksheets! Just have consistent and fun activities that reinforce the concepts.
One way is through cut-and-paste activities (These are a crowd-favorite!). Vocabulary match helps students connect new words like job, boss, or paycheck with the right pictures or definitions. Job interest cut-and-paste takes it further, letting students match what they enjoy with possible roles, like connecting a love for animals to a vet assistant.
Another thing I like to do as a follow-through for my “Intro to Working” lesson is career exploration. I like to use job exploration activities in different engaging formats, like Boom™ Cards, Task Cards, or Google Slides™.
These easy activities might seem small, but they help the students understand the language of work and picture themselves in future roles.
Supporting Teachers with Ready-Made Lessons
Transition skills don’t start with a job application—they start with the small, daily lessons that prepare students for work. Learning what a uniform looks like, practicing how to greet a boss, or exploring different job settings are the kinds of steps that add up.
That’s why I created my Intro to Working Special Ed unit! It includes a Google Slides lesson, video, vocabulary cut-and-paste, and interest-matching activities, all designed to help you teach career readiness.
With ready-made materials, you can focus more on guiding students through meaningful practice instead of spending hours prepping!
