September 16, 2025

Social-Emotional Skills: As Important as Academic Skills

Social and emotional learning plays a vital role in developing resilience, empathy, and strong interpersonal skills—qualities that help individuals manage challenges and form meaningful relationships. Within the Career Choices series curriculum, this social-emotional skill-building has also been applied to encourage student accountability and personal growth.

At River City High School in West Sacramento, the freshman course has become a cultural cornerstone, serving not only as career preparation but also as a tool for improving school climate, identity, and equity. When the school recently faced an increase in hate speech incidents, teacher Marlaina Spivey turned to the Career Choices series curriculum.

“We asked students to revisit what they wrote in Chapter 2 about their personal values and mission statements,” Spivey says. “It gave us a framework to say, ‘If this is who you want to be, does this behavior align with that?’”

Fall Workshops: Fresh Strategies for Student Success

This fall, take advantage of professional development that goes beyond the basics. In October, November, and December, our workshops will not only prepare you to implement the Career Choices series and Building a Bridge to Your Future but also introduce proven teaching strategies, planning tools, and classroom practices you can apply right away. Choose from a focused 2-hour Middle School Workshop designed to support the transition to high school, or dive deeper with the 6-hour Career Choices Series Implementation Workshop, featuring hands-on curriculum training, My10yearPlan.com® integration, and expert guidance from a certified trainer. With instructor materials included, these sessions are a practical way to expand your toolkit and set both you and your students up for long-term success.

You can also contact Sandy Ward at sandy@academicinnovations.com or book a one-on-one planning session to find out about additional dates or custom PD options.

Get Ready—Something Exciting Is Coming This Fall!

This fall, we’re launching Lifestyle Math, a groundbreaking one-semester curriculum that turns financial literacy into a real-world adventure. By blending money skills, everyday math, and personal goal-setting, Lifestyle Math helps students picture their future—budgeting, exploring careers, and managing essentials like pay stubs and taxes—with confidence. It’s not just a course; it’s a life toolkit designed to prepare students for adulthood. Stay tuned for launch updates. For now, be among the first to preview this exciting new program!

More Than a Capstone: Recognition, Rewards, and Ready-to-Use Tools

The Student Testimonial Video Project is more than just a capstone—it’s an opportunity for students to reflect on their growth, build confidence, and strengthen essential communication skills. Their voices may even be featured on the Academic Innovations website, giving your program valuable recognition. On top of that, participating students receive a goody bag, educators earn a $50 Amazon gift card, and we provide all the tools you need—lesson plans, rubrics, and permission forms—to make implementation simple. It’s a meaningful way to celebrate student achievement while showcasing your program’s success.

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