Road to Success Course Units

The units are cumulative and recursive—that is, lessons learned in Unit 1 are reinforced, used, and re-taught as needed in Unit 2, and so on. For many learners with learning difficulties explanations, demonstrations, and one or two practice opportunities are frequently not enough; practicing a new skill just once a week is equivalent to learning the skill anew every week.

1. Discovering My Path
2. Charting the Course
3. Making Decisions & Moving Along
4. Responding to Roadblocks
5. Reaching My Destination

---

Discovering My Path

 
• Getting acquainted with other learners in order to start building a supportive network
 
• The Paraphrasing Strategy to be able to understand and succinctly talk about what you have read and heard
 
• Class standards and procedures
 
• Using positive language
 
• Interacting as a community
 
• Seeking personal success through self-determination, urgency, action, and a positive attitude
 
• Personal and employment rights and responsibilities
 
• Creating and communicating about a personal inventory
 
• Strengths
 
• Weaknesses
 
• Interests
 
• Preferences

Topic One: Getting Acquainted
I.    Provide Overview of the Course
II.  Introduce Unit One
III.  Opening Activity
IV.  Completion of Registration and PRE Questionnaire

Topic Two: The Paraphrasing Strategy

Topic Three: Establishing Standards and Procedures
I.    Introduce and Discuss Watch your Language
II.  Watch your Language
III.  Review Previous Content and Prepare for the Next Session
IV.  Establish Classroom Standards
V.  Course Goals
VI.  The Four Steps to Personal Success
VII.  Course Goals Activity

Topic Four: Rights and Responsibilities
I.    Introduction to Topic Four
II.  Complete Rights and Responsibilities Activity
III.  Transition focus from Rights to a focus on Responsibilities

Topic Five: Creating a Personal Inventory
I.    Review and Preview Content
II.  Read and Discuss Boyd Article
III.  Transition from Boyd Article to Strengths Inventory
IV.  Making an Inventory of Strengths
V.  Begin Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses
VI.  Identify Preferences and Interests
VII.  Introduce the Topic of Learning Disabilities
VIII. Discuss the Definition of Learning Disabilities
IX.  Introduce FACTS (An acronym for Communication Skills)
X.  Discuss Using FACTS Skills
XI.  Review

Charting the Course

 
• Goal setting: a process that begins with values and dreams and ends with actionable goals
 
• Where are you now?
 
• Where do you want to go?
 
• What are the potential roadblocks and alternative routes?
 
• Time management
 
• Prioritizing
 
• Organizing
 
• Delegating
 
• Positive thinking
 
• Knowing your successes and building on them
 
• Recognizing the negative things you can change and those you cannot
 
• Surrounding yourself with people who encourage future successes
 
• Being an encourager for others

Topic One: Goal Setting
I. Transition from Unit 1 to Unit 2
II. The Importance of Setting Goals
III. The Starting Point: “You are Here”
IV. Roadblocks: “Stuck in Traffic” vs. “Finding a Different Route”
V. Life Values
VI. Creating a Mission Statement
VII. Write your own Success Story
VIII. Turning a Mission Statement into Goals
IX. Setting Goals
X. Review

Topic Two: Time Management
I. Introduction
II. Time Management
III. Packing Another Suitcase: Relying on Others

Topic Three: Positive Thinking
I. Introduction
II. Knowing your Successes
III. Journal of Success
IV. Charting your Life So Far
V. Surrounding yourself with Positive People
VI. Being a Positive Person for Others
VII. Productivity = Self-esteem

Making Decisions and Moving Along

 
• Decision making
 
• Surface Counseling Strategy for talking through day-to-day problem solving and decision making
 
• Developing supportive networks
 
• Identify benefits of a supportive network
 
• Practice social skills needed to develop and maintain one (e.g., telephone skills such as leaving a message with a receptionist or on voice mail)
 
• Communication
 
• Practice positive communication skills (e.g., listening, making eye contact)
 
• Identify and work to extinguish barriers to communication (e.g., interrupting, harsh criticism, fear of asking questions)
 
• Teamwork
 
• Getting along with co-workers
 
• Dealing with our differences

Topic One: Decision Making
I.    Review and Introduction
II.  Introduce the Surface Counseling Strategy
III.  Discuss the Scenario with the Participants
IV.  Decision Making Scenarios
V.  Making Real Decisions and Solving Real Problems
VI.  Review
   
Topic Two: Developing Supportive Networks
I.    Introduction
II.  Developing Networks
III.  Fact Finding Interviews
IV.  Interviews
V.  Let the Phone be your Friend
VI.  Initial Job Interview
   
Topic Three: Communication
I.    Use Unit Organizer to Review Previous Material
II.  Introduce Communication Skills
III.  Review FACTS
IV.  Contributing to the Team
V.  Review Communication Strengths and Weaknesses
VI.  Listen Effectively
VII.  Introduce Barriers to Communication
VIII. Review
   
Topic Four: Teamwork
I.    Use Unit Organizer and Review Participants’ Progress
II.    Introduce Teamwork
III.  Complete Story Roulette Activity
IV.  Getting Along with Co-workers
V.    Scenarios Illustrating these Skills
VI.  Understanding Our Attitudes
VII.  Dealing with Different Beliefs
VIII.  Review

Responding to Roadblocks

 
• Dealing with stress
 
• Identify what creates stress in you life
 
• Coping with stress in a positive way
 
• Being assertive
 
• Verbal communication
 
• Nonverbal communication
 
• Conflict situations
 
• Maintaining a strong work ethic
 
• Dependability
 
• Trustworthiness
 
• Punctuality
 
• Staying on task
 
• Being courteous
 
• Being honest
 
• Maintaining a positive attitude
 
• Having a neat, clean appearance
 
• Understanding job qualifications and accommodations

Topic One: Dealing with Stress
    I.    Review and Introduction
    II.  Knowing what Stresses You Out
    III.  Coping with Stress
    IV.  Managing Stress Carefully
    V.  Using Language to Deal with Stress Positively
    VI.  Complete Stress Management Activities
   
Topic Two: Assertiveness
    I.    Introduction and Review
    II.  Silent Communication Activity
    III.  Assertive Communication
    IV.  The three ways to Cope with Conflict
    V.  Assertive Nonverbal Communication
    VI.  Cooling Conflict Activity
   
Topic Three: Maintaining a Strong Work Ethic
    I.    The Basics
    II.    The Extras
   
Topic Four:
    I.    Review Unit Organizer
    II.    Qualified Persons
    III.    Essential Functions
    IV.    Accommodations
    V.    Types of Accommodations

Reaching My Destination

 
• Responding to employers’ expectations
 
• Job interview
 
• On the job
 
• Job performance review
 
• Understanding the work environment
 
• Written rules and procedures (e.g., work hours, attendance policies, timekeeping, lunch and break times, training periods, performance reviews, pay periods)
 
• Work climate (e.g., relaxed vs. rigid.)
 
• Staying on track once in a job
 
• Organization
 
• Communication
 
• Stress management

Topic One: Responding to Expectations
    Unit Organizer at work
    I.    Review and Introduction
    II.    The Job Interview
    III.  The First Days
    IV.  Performance Reviews
   
Topic Two: Understanding the Work Environment
    I.    Introduction
    II.    Written Rules and Procedures
    III.  The Work Climate
    IV.  Review
   
Topic Three: Staying on Track
    I.    Introduction and Review
    II.    Evaluation