Sixth Grade Business/Education Partnership
The COMPACT currently works with over 100 local businesses to form partnerships with every single 6th grade classroom in McLean County. This was one of the original programs developed by the COMPACT. It began in 1989 with four businesses participating and has grown to where we are now able to provide a business partner for every 6th grade classroom in McLean County. The businesses work with the class for a period of 6 to 8 weeks using a variety of activities to increase the awareness of the students concerning the "world of work". The partnership provides information regarding the specific businesses, workplace readiness skills, and career education to over 2,700 McLean County students. The teachers and businesses are able to integrate curriculum into the businesses practices. This helps to show student's the correlation between both the education and real world business applications.
As evaluations for the spring 2011 6th Grade Business/Education Partnerships come back to the COMPACT, we are learning just how appreciated and educational these partnerships have been for the 6th graders, their teachers, and the business partners alike. When asked how the students received the partnership, one teacher commented, "The students LOVED it. It was an exciting and interesting experience they won't forget". Another teacher responded, "Our students enjoyed this program and seemed very receptive and enthusiastic about their tasks".
Among some of the culminating projects and final sessions that various 6th grade classrooms completed in the 2010-2011 school year were a book drive for the New Orleans Public Library, a fieldtrip to Schnucks grocery store, putting together a 'job fair' with a hospital, a tour and behind-the-scenes view of operations at the Chateau Hotel, and a mock election with the County Clerk.
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A program of the University of Illinois Extension.