Students Learn ‘Real World’ Skills at Jones Elementary

Fourth-graders at Jones Elementary were busy Wednesday morning. They were dressed in their best attire and diligently interviewing for jobs such as mayor, reporter and CEO.

The students were gaining real-world interview experience thanks to a program called Junior Achievement BizTown, which teaches students about the skills they need to land a job and survive in the workplace.

“JA BizTown provides work readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship programs for students in kindergarten through high school,” said Kim Fabian, senior vice president of the junior achievement of central Maryland.

Kerri Lambert, a fourth-grade teacher at Jones, said students have gone though curriculum focused on learning about the economy, writing checks and what makes a good business.

The students are now interviewing for jobs, electing a mayor and preparing their town. All of the work is in preparation for their May 20 trip to BizTown, where they will present and execute the skills they have learned.

“Once the kids are assigned jobs based on their interviews and job applications, they will work in the business,” Lambert said. “They will complete loan applications, get newspaper and radio ads and put together their business packet for the BizTown trip. They are running the town on their own.”

Of the many jobs the students were interviewing for, Lambert said one of the most popular choices was the town mayor. Lambert said 15 kids want to be mayor; they will be going through a primary and general election to determine the winner.

Ten-year-old Amy Sobocinski was one of the fourth-graders who interviewed for the mayor gig. She said the interview process went well.

“It was fun,” Amy said. “They asked me why I would be a good mayor out of 15 other people. I said I am good at standing up in front of crowds and I am very organized—I like to color code everything.”

Teachers, principal Sara Pickens and school volunteers interviewed the students Wednesday morning. After they elect a mayor, the fourth-graders will find out what jobs they landed.

Besides from being a lot of fun, Lambert said the students learn valuable skills through the BizTown program.

“It’s great for the kids,” Lambert said. “It is real world experience. They can see how the math they learn pulls into the real world and they are applying the skills. Plus they love the idea of running a town and being adults. They are like ‘OK this stuff we are learning really has a purpose.'”

See Also:

• SP Elementary Students Practice Life Skills