Practical Lessons for Career & Education Readiness
Did you know that 75% of high school students report feeling unprepared for college or career decisions?
Between testing, grading, and tackling a million “other duties as assigned,” it’s hard for teachers to carve out time for thoughtful career readiness instruction. Especially when many students think “college” means boring lectures and a mountain of debt.
But once they realize there are certificates, apprenticeships, trade schools, military careers, and other paths that fit them, everything changes.
At Life Beyond High School, I create real-world education and training resources that make this work easier for you and way more engaging for your students.
Ready-to-Use Lessons for Real-Life Planning
These resources are designed to help students:
Understand the full range of education and training options after high school
Learn the true costs (and value) of different paths
Set actionable education, employment, and life goals
Compare college, community college, military, trade school, and more
Discover new possibilities they may never have considered
For example, one of my students couldn’t wait to finish high school and leave education behind for good, until he completed the Career Scavenger Hunt and discovered a commercial diving program at the Divers Institute of Technology. That spark turned into a real plan. It’s moments like that that inspired me to create these resources.
Try the Bingo Game That Gets Students Talking
Postsecondary Pathways Bingo is a free, discussion-based icebreaker that gets students thinking and talking about what comes after graduation. It’s a quick win for the first week of school, transition workshops, or advisory time.
“This was fun! I used it in a digital format for a fun Friday!” ~TPT Review
✨ Featured Lessons & Activities
Some top resources in this category:
Exploring Life After High School: College, Career & Training Options – Bestselling lesson that walks students through their postsecondary options
Financial Aid Roadmap – Helps students plan how to pay for school or training
College Transition Lesson – Teaches students how to access supports and services in postsecondary settings
Letters of Recommendation Lesson – Guides students in requesting strong letters for education or employment
Postsecondary Pathways Bingo – Great intro or icebreaker activity (and it’s free!)
Simple to Use, Powerful in Impact
✔ Plug-and-play format
✔ Minimal prep required
✔ Great for IEP and transition planning
✔ Builds confidence, clarity, and independence
Whether you're short on time or navigating multiple support needs, these lessons help you teach life-changing content without overwhelm.
Perfect for All Learning Environments
These flexible, accessible lessons work well for:
General education and special education classrooms
Counselors and transition coordinators
Adult education programs
Homeschooling families
Students with IEPs, English Learners, and anyone who needs support exploring their future
You don’t need to be a career expert, just hit print (or open Google Slides) and get students exploring.
From One Teacher to Another…
I’ve taught general ed, special ed, and adult ed. And I’ve had so many students tell me something along the lines of “I’m done with school once I finish this.” But then they start exploring hands-on careers, certifications, or training programs and suddenly they see a path they want to take.
That shift? That spark? That’s what these lessons are about.
Ready to Help Your Students Plan Their Next Step?
✅ Try Postsecondary Pathways Bingo for free
✅ Explore the full collection on Teachers Pay Teachers
Let’s help students get excited about their future and make a plan to get there.