WXXI

Go Public

Resources: Rochester Exploring

 

Rochester EXPLORING is a program for high school students  to check out careers they are interested in.  Through a variety of available career programs, groups of students learn more about a particular field through hands-on activities led by people out in the real world.

Did you ever wonder what it’s really like to be a veterinarian or vet tech? Or a firefighter or EMT? What it’s like to be an attorney and try a case in front of actual judges? Do you like to work in cars and wonder if auto mechanics is the career for you? So, you think you want to be an engineer – do you know that there are many different kinds of engineers out there?

EXPLORING CAREER FIELDS INCLUDE:
Arts & Humanities
Aviation
Business
Communications
Engineering & Technology
Fire & EMS
Health Care
Law & Government
Law Enforcement
Science
Skilled Trades
Social Services

Why wait until after high school to find out what it’s like in a career field?   Learn about the Rochester Explorers Program

Example Rochester Explorer Programs

Resources: New York State Apprenticeship Programs

 

Apprenticeship programs offer a wide range of opportunities to learn a specific skill and use it toward a new career, such as skilled trades or advanced manufacturing positions. A successful apprentice will often be offered a position if they are successful in the field they are training in.

Youth apprenticeship programs allow students to connect with apprenticeship opportunities while still in high school beginning at age 16.   New York State Apprenticeship require that you finish high school or attain a high school equivalency such as passing the TASC exam.  Youth Apprenticeship and CTE programs can give you are head start to getting professional certifications for New York State Apprenticeship. 

Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program provides opportunities to receive training in skilled trades and advance manufacturing. Learn more about the specific positions and companies participating. Students can be enrolled in CTE programs such as BOCES but it is not required to apply. Learn More: 

The NY State  Department of Labor Apprenticeship Programs provides the process of learning a skilled occupation through:

  • Paid on-the-job training; apprentices train under the guidance of experienced journey workers
  • Related classroom training
  • Here are some of the trades/career sectors

To become an apprentice, you must be:

  • 18 years old
  • 16 years old with parental approval

The length of training varies from one to six years, depending on the occupation.

There is a written contract between the apprentice and the employer that acknowledges their shared commitment to the training process. This agreement is approved and registered by the New York State Department of Labor. Learn More at New York State Apprenticeship Overview: 

Raising the Future, The Child Care Crisis On-Demand

PBS NewsHour presents an indepth look at how the lack of affordable, quality child care is affecting American families. The COVID-19 pandemic transformed life for millions of parents and pushed the nation’s childcare system to the brink of collapse. A heated debate has emerged over what can be done to better meet the needs of parents and children. In this hourlong documentary, PBS NewsHour explores the burden costly childcare places on families, travels to cities and states experimenting with new ways of providing childcare, and delves into the political battle brewing over the idea of federally funded, universal childcare.

Local Childcare Challenges: 

Listen to childcare challenges in our region from these two WXXI News Connections shows

About WXXI Education’s American Graduate

During the past 10 years, WXXI has collaborated with regional partners to advance education and career readiness in the region by building awareness of career pathways to attain “good jobs.” WXXI has produced over 40 local content videos focused in-demand career sectors that require training beyond high school but less than a four-year degree to get started in the field. Many of these careers have alternative pathways including getting professional certificates in a job skill, apprenticeship, career and technical education while still in high school, community college and on-the-job training or additional training at local university paid for by the employer.

WXXI’s American Graduate work emphasizes:

• Thousands of in-demand jobs that go unfilled in our region
• Accessing careers through training, apprenticeship, professional certificates,
associates programs, and on-the-job training
• Sharing inspiring stories of how people found their career pathway
in our region and how individuals can get started pursuing a career and continue to learn
• Connecting to resources to research new career options
• Local hands-on career events, industry tours, career days and job fairs
• Connecting with career counselors at educational sites and one-stop job centers and workforce resources to make connections for students

• WXXI connects schools, libraries, out of school programs, parents, youth and young adults with career exploration resources in the region that are free to all such as: 

 

Learn More from Our Local Panel with panelists from workforce and education to react to related issues facing our 9-county Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes Region and reactions to the national event content, moderated by Marion French, WXXI’s Vice President, Education & Interactive Services. (From June 8, 2021)

Panelists in the local discussion:

  • Atwan Williams, Director of Youth System Services for RochesterWorks!
  • Charisma Travis, M.S., Program Director of Afterschool Academy, Urban League of Rochester, N.Y. Inc.
  • Jay Lazarony, Executive Director, Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties GLOW Workforce Development Board
  • Jill Slavny, Executive Principal, WEMOCO Career and Technical Education Center Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES

2021 Regional Event Partners included:

  • Young Women’s College Prep Foundation, Inc.
  • PathStone Corporation Workforce Program & National Farmworkers Jobs Program,
  • Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES Career and Technical Education (WEMOCO)
  • Livingston County Area Chamber of Commerce | Livingston County Education Alliance
  • GLOW Workforce Development Board
  • NYMAT Machine Tool Corp
  • Finger Lakes Works Youth Programs of Finger Lakes Workforce Investment Board & Sodus Central School District with Wayne County Consortium Schools
  • Genesee County Job Development Bureau 
  • Genesee Valley BOCES: CTE schools in Batavia & Mt. Morris, NY
  • Optimax Systems
  • Explorers Program, Scouts of America
  • RochesterWorks!
  • LandPro Equipment
  • Livingston Associates
  • Urban League of Rochester, After School Academy

Sesame Street In Communities Digital Story Books

Sesame Street in Communities provides a variety of resource types for grownups to use with young children – one type is digital storybooks. 

Use this page and the downloadable list below to explore and share the different Sesame Street in Communities storybooks (on a variety of topics) with young children. WXXI Education created a downloadable and clickable document to help find and select digital storybooks that are available from Sesame Street in Communities. Each storybook is available in both English and Spanish. To toggle between English and Spanish resources, click “Espanol” or  “English” in the top left corner of the site. Below the downloadable list is a few of WXXI Education Team’s favorite digital storybooks – check them out!

Please note: All of the resources listed below and available through Sesame Street are designed for co-viewing, co-learning, and co-participation – meaning that to create the most meaningful experience and takeaways, adults and children should use them together.

Digital Storybook List of Titles
Click the image below to open the clickable document. 

WXXI Education Favorites
Here are a few of our favorite digital storybooks and the Big Ideas that they touch on:

  • No Matter What: When the world around us looks and feels different, it’s important to remember the things that always stay the same, no matter what…like the love within a family!
  • Abuela’s Story Quilt: Art can tell important stories… and bring us closer to others.
  • A Blended-Family Celebration: Meet Sesame Street’s new Monster-Fairy Family—and celebrate the new possibilities that a blended family can bring.
  • Circle of Good:  It helps to remember that, even in the darkest times, people come together to help.  
  • Breathe, Buddy, Breathe!: Meet Buddy the monster, who feels anxious in the dark and needs to think through a solution. Kids will learn Buddy’s “Breathe, Think, Do” plan.
  • Furry Fuzzy Hugs: Hugs from people who care can help kids feel safe, loved, and more comfortable taking on challenges.

Sesame Street in Communities provides hundreds of bilingual multi-media tools to help kids and families enrich and expand their knowledge during the early years of birth through six, a critical window for brain development. Sesame Street’s resources engage kids and adults in everyday moments and daily routines—from teaching early math and literacy concepts, to encouraging families to eat nutritious foods, to serious topics such as grief and food insecurity. Through ongoing collaboration, training experiences, and local partnerships, the Sesame Street in Communities initiative evolves and helps make a difference. Sesame Street in Communities provides different topics, each with resources that help kids (and parents!) with what matters most in young lives. All are critical to children’s healthy development and together they build the foundation for a happy, healthy life. To learn more about Sesame Street in Communities and WXXI’s local work with this project, visit SSIC.org

Sesame Street: Songs, Activities & Videos

Want to have even more fun with your Sesame Street friends? Try listening to a Sesame Street playlist of music or watching some fun video shorts!

It’s not secret that we love Sesame Street – who doesn’t!? Here are some songs and short videos that you can have fun with wherever you may be. Listen to some Sesame Street songs in your car, on your phone, at home, in school – anywhere using Sesame Street’s Spotify channel. And access even more Sesame Street videos on their YouTube – have a Sesame Street dance party or sing-along with your favorite Sesame Street friends. Our WXXI Education team pulled together some of their favorite playlists too!

Please note: All of the resources listed below and available through Sesame Street are designed for co-viewing, co-learning, and co-participation – meaning that to create the most meaningful experience and takeaways, adults and children should use them together.

Sesame Street’s YouTube Channel
Sesame Street’s YouTube Channel is FULL of fun short videos – songs, dances, silly moments, and lots of learning.

WXXI Education Favorites
Here are a few of our favorite Sesame Street playlists:

Sesame Street’s Spotify Channel
Is it music you’re looking for? Sesame Street’s Spotify channel is full of your favorite new and classic music! Click the link above or image below to head to the Sesame Street Spotify Channel:

WXXI Education Favorites
Here are a few of our favorite Sesame Street music playlists:

Sesame Street Websites: Games, Printables and More

SesameStreet.org

PBSKIDS.org/Sesame

Sesame Street in Communities provides hundreds of bilingual multi-media tools to help kids and families enrich and expand their knowledge during the early years of birth through six, a critical window for brain development. Sesame Street’s resources engage kids and adults in everyday moments and daily routines—from teaching early math and literacy concepts, to encouraging families to eat nutritious foods, to serious topics such as grief and food insecurity. Through ongoing collaboration, training experiences, and local partnerships, the Sesame Street in Communities initiative evolves and helps make a difference. Sesame Street in Communities provides different topics, each with resources that help kids (and parents!) with what matters most in young lives. All are critical to children’s healthy development and together they build the foundation for a happy, healthy life. To learn more about Sesame Street in Communities visit https://sesameworkshop.org/resources/

Sesame Street in Communities: Helping Families Cope with Parental Addiction

Children may have tough questions when it comes to parental addiction, but there are age-appropriate ways to respond. Learn about Parent Addiction Resources from Sesame Street in Communities with some questions children might ask, and ways you might consider responding.

When a family member struggles with addiction, the whole family struggles. Children often think it’s their fault; they feel shame, embarrassment, guilt, and loneliness; they may feel invisible. It takes special effort to start important conversations and answer children’s questions. But parents, teachers, caregivers, and other caring adults can comfort children and guide them through difficult moments. With love and support, the family can cope with the challenges of addiction together.

Find Resource Toolkit Here: https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/topics/parental-addiction/

Learn More:

Remembering Pearl Harbor Electronic Field Trip On-Demand

In the WYES and The National WWII Museum Electronic Field Trip geared to grades 5-8, REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR—HOW STUDENTS LIKE YOU EXPERIENCED THE DAY OF INFAMY, student reporters hear first hand from eyewitnesses who were 11-20 years of age during the time of the surprise attacks. Also sharing their stories are military survivors who were at Pearl Harbor during the attacks. These recollections will bring the experience to life and serve as an excellent primary source in teaching students.

Students Julia Bresnan from Hawaii and Eliana de Las Casas (2016 winner of “Chopped Teen” on the Food Network) report from The National WWII Museum in New Orleans as well as on location in Hawaii.

The video is is approximately 50 minutes in length.  Additional Resources from WYES

Sensitive: This resource contains material that may be sensitive for some students. Teachers should exercise discretion in evaluating whether this resource is suitable for their class.

Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage

Keep informed about what’s happening in your community and WXXI by signing up for our newsletters.

Sign Up