TEACHERS
Middle School
7th and 8th Grade

Help middle schoolers plan for high school and beyond!
Big changes are on the horizon! Explore possible futures and
meet TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) college and career exploration requirements by playing MiddleGalaxy with your students and using the accompanying curriculum guide. Find other tools to help you as you prep your students
for high school, all right here.

Select endorsements.
In Texas, the high school graduation plan is tailored to what students want to do. In eighth grade students pick an area of skill or interest (called an endorsement) that they want to focus on in high school. Let us help with these tools you can provide students to explore!

Plan for high school.
Students are gearing up to take more control of their own schedules. How exciting! How scary! MapMyGrad can help you assist your students make the right choices and plan their high school personal graduation plan.

Explore all options.
Some jobs students have heard of – doctor, teacher, lawyer, detective – but some they may not have! They might make a really good actuary or phlebotomist. Our game, MiddleGalaxy, can help students learn about these options.

Let your students game their way to success.
You’re helping students plan for a future that they can’t even imagine. Our Middle School Curriculum Guide will help you guide students through our MiddleGalaxy career exploration game and more, all with plug-and-play lessons to make it simple for you.
Featured tools for middle schoolers:
LESSONS AND CURRICULUM
Texas OnCourse Curriculum Guide
This guide includes lesson plans aligned to TEKS for college and career readiness and investigating careers.
JOBS AND CAREERS
MiddleGalaxy
Lead a space voyage in this web and mobile game exploring the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for a variety of careers.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
MapMyGrad
Students zero in on skills and interests to explore careers and endorsements and plan a path through high school.
ENDORSEMENTS
High School Endorsements and Career Paths
Prepare students to select high school endorsements with labor market and career information.
Important dates and deadlines:
DEC-
JAN
GRADE 8
Prep for personal graduation planning and high school registration
JAN
GRADE 8
Choose your endorsement!
FEB
GRADE 8
Select your courses for next year!
All Resources for Middle School
Endorsements
High School Endorsements: The Basics
BLOG
For Texas parents and guardians, hearing that their eighth grader will have to select an endorsement can be confusing. Learn more about endorsements and college and career readiness here!

Join the Crew – We're on the Quest for Middle School Success!
ENDORSEMENTS
You know the old adage about the middle child always getting forgotten? When it comes to paving the way for success in high school and beyond, the middle school period couldn’t be more important, and it definitely shouldn’t be overlooked.

Your Student's Future is a Family Matter
ENDORSEMENTS
If you haven’t downloaded it yet, we suggest you check out our Middle School Family Guide. For parents and guardians of middle school students, this guide can be a huge asset that keeps students and parents on track and in communication with their counselors and teachers.

Engaging Your Middle School Students Starts with the Right Tools
LESSONS & CURRICULUM
It’s important for students to really take a deep dive into understanding which endorsement pathway is right for them. Read on for more details on how Texas OnCourse’s Middle School Resources (free for all and available for immediate registration/download) can help them do just that. And once you’re ready, we challenge you to join us by having your students register for MiddleGalaxy and MapMyGrad.

MapMyGrad: Using and Implementing the Website in Schools
ENDORSEMENTS
This webinar walks you through using MapMyGrad, Texas OnCourse's interactive website, for endorsement selection and graduation planning. It starts with a simple quiz for your students that reveals their passions, leads to an endorsement, and ends with suggested courses at your actual school! We'll also discuss suggestions for implementing the tool in the classroom and point out some helpful lesson plans that integrate MapMyGrad.

MapMyGrad: A Course Planning Game Changer
ENDORSEMENTS
In my experience, using MapMyGrad in the classroom has been a game changer. Students are engaged in their futures, and counselors find it easier to guide students toward their desired futures. The best part? MapMyGrad is only part of a portfolio of middle school resources from Texas OnCourse designed to help educators ensure college and career readiness for all students.

Using MiddleGalaxy in the Classroom
LESSONS & CURRICULUM
This webinar will walk you through setting up and playing MiddleGalaxy, Texas OnCourse's space-themed career exploration game. We'll also discuss suggestions for implementing the game in the classroom and point out some helpful lesson plans that incorporate the game.

MiddleGalaxy: An Intergalactic Mission for High School Endorsements
ENDORSEMENTS
If you’re a Texas middle school teacher or counselor, asking your eighth- grade students to choose an academic path can seem like a demanding task. Thankfully, Texas OnCourse will get you up to the challenge! We have many free tools designed to demystify endorsement selection and position career exploration as an engaging adventure for students. After all, who doesn’t love a space-themed career exploration game? That’s where MiddleGalaxy comes in!

Course Planning and Endorsements
ENDORSEMENTS
Find out everything you need to know about effective course planning and endorsement selections for your students. We'll hear from professionals from Keller ISD about their proven best practices in these areas.

The High School Readiness Report
RESEARCH
The High School Readiness Report presents benchmark data from Texas OnCourse regarding middle school students’ knowledge and awareness about endorsements and graduation planning. In general, the findings from this report suggest that students lack knowledge on these topics. Texas OnCourse seeks to bridge this gap.

Roadtrip Texas: Choose Courses for High School!
GRADUATION PLANNING
Exploring your passions in middle and high school is key to making your future plans. In this video, understand how to choose classes for high school, and what the word "endorsement" means for your studies.

Career Clusters and Endorsements
BLOG
What are the differences between Career Clusters and Endorsements, and how do they hang together?
This is the second in a series of posts on high school endorsements.

MiddleGalaxy
JOBS AND CAREERS
Lead a space voyage in this web and mobile game exploring the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for a variety of careers.

Texas OnCourse Academy
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Texas OnCourse Academy provides comprehensive learning on college and career advising to educators.

High School Endorsements and Career Paths
ENDORSEMENTS
Prepare students to select high school endorsements with labor market and career information.

Texas OnCourse Curriculum Guide
LESSONS AND CURRICULUM
This guide includes lesson plans aligned to TEKS for college and career readiness and investigating careers.

Grad Requirements
High School Endorsements: The Basics
BLOG
For Texas parents and guardians, hearing that their eighth grader will have to select an endorsement can be confusing. Learn more about endorsements and college and career readiness here!

An Introduction to Advising Highly Mobile Students
COLLEGE PLANNING
Students who move frequently, including children of military families or migrant workers, face unique needs and challenges. In this webinar, we walk you through our free online module to help you advise and support highly mobile students all over the U.S.

Highly Mobile Students: Strategies for Smooth Transitions
LESSONS & CURRICULUM
We’ve all been there. No matter our education, experience, or awards, starting over and being "the new kid" has its challenges. Read on for tips on how educators can best welcome and serve highly mobile students, or students that move more than six times in their K–12 career.

New Tools for Supporting Highly Mobile Students
LESSONS & CURRICULUM
Do you have highly mobile students? Texas OnCourse has the resources to help you best serve this unique group.

Advising Migrant Students
LESSONS AND CURRICULUM
Migrant students (not to be confused with immigrant students) are highly mobile children and youth whose families work in agriculture or in fishing. Do you know how to properly advise them?

Roadtrip Texas: Choose Courses for High School!
GRADUATION PLANNING
Exploring your passions in middle and high school is key to making your future plans. In this video, understand how to choose classes for high school, and what the word "endorsement" means for your studies.

Career Clusters and Endorsements
BLOG
What are the differences between Career Clusters and Endorsements, and how do they hang together?
This is the second in a series of posts on high school endorsements.

Texas OnCourse Academy
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Texas OnCourse Academy provides comprehensive learning on college and career advising to educators.

High School Endorsements and Career Paths
ENDORSEMENTS
Prepare students to select high school endorsements with labor market and career information.

Texas OnCourse Curriculum Guide
LESSONS AND CURRICULUM
This guide includes lesson plans aligned to TEKS for college and career readiness and investigating careers.

DataDive
DATA AND ACCOUNTABILITY
View and compare Texas school performance and college readiness data at the click of a button.

Jobs and Careers
March's Share Your Road Theme: Architecture and Construction Plus Hospitality and Tourism
JOBS & CAREERS
In March, our career focus is architecture and construction along with hospitality and tourism! We look to educators like you to help us collect stories for Share Your Road based on these specific career clusters. Do you know any fellow Texans working in these fields?

Bringing Careers Closer to Home: Hosting a Middle School Career Fair
JOBS AND CAREERS
In addition to giving students a better understanding of various careers, a middle school career fair can show how specific careers fit with each of the five endorsements offered in high school. If you've decided to plan a career fair, Texas OnCourse has a new resource to help! The Middle School Career Fair Toolkit will guide you in coordinating this event.

Advising and Teaching Career Pathways
LESSONS & CURRICULUM
In this webinar, we explore resources to support instruction on career clusters. Lori Knight of the Texas Workforce Commission discusses helping students research and select career pathways.

February's Share Your Road Challenge: Manufacturing & Transportation
JOBS AND CAREERS
In February, our career focus is Manufacturing and Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics! We look to educators like you to help us collect stories for Share Your Road based on these specific career clusters. Do you know any fellow Texans working in these fields?

Join us in Celebrating Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month!
JOBS AND CAREERS
We’re just a few short days away from February and the kickoff of CTE Month! Career and technical education pathways are so important for Texas students because they prepare them for high-wage, in-demand careers. CTE Month is a way to raise awareness of the values of career and technical education and celebrate the achievements of CTE programs nationwide.

Reward Yourself with Leisurely Learning and Earning this Holiday Season
LESSONS AND CURRICULUM
If you find yourself with some extra time this holiday season, we recommend getting comfy, preparing a hot drink, and settling down with your laptop -- this could be a great time to earn up to $450 and complete CPE credits with the Texas OnCourse Academy!

The October Share Your Road Challenge
JOBS AND CAREERS
Each month, we ask educators like you to recruit career stories for Share Your Road based on specific career clusters. This month’s career clusters are Arts, A/V Technology & Communications and Information Technology.

Follow Along as Texas Students Hit the Road to Find Their Future
JOBS AND CAREERS
We’re excited to announce the premiere of Room to Grow, the Roadtrip Nation documentary fueled by Texas OnCourse. With four half-hour episodes, Room to Grow will air on public television throughout Texas starting in September.

Career Clusters and Endorsements
BLOG
What are the differences between Career Clusters and Endorsements, and how do they hang together?
This is the second in a series of posts on high school endorsements.

College and Career Advising in Texas
RESEARCH
Texas OnCourse administered a survey to K-12 counselors and advisers throughout Texas to better understand the state of college and career advising. Feedback from school counselors is crucial to maximizing the impact of our counseling and advising resources. Texas OnCourse is committed to using the data supplied in this survey to maximize the services we provide to our community.

The College and Employment Outcomes of Career and Technical Education (CTE) Concentrators
RESEARCH
For our Data Note No. 2, we investigated how college and employment outcomes vary based on whether students concentrated in CTE (defined as taking three or more courses in the same CTE subject) and in what discipline they concentrated.

MiddleGalaxy
JOBS AND CAREERS
Lead a space voyage in this web and mobile game exploring the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for a variety of careers.

Share Your Road
JOBS AND CAREERS
Discover opportunities you never knew existed! Texans share their career journeys. Explore their stories and get inspired.

Texas OnCourse Academy
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Texas OnCourse Academy provides comprehensive learning on college and career advising to educators.

Roadtrip Nation
JOBS AND CAREERS
Students travel across the nation to talk to their heroes and job crushes and understand college and career decisions along the way.

Texas OnCourse Curriculum Guide
LESSONS AND CURRICULUM
This guide includes lesson plans aligned to TEKS for college and career readiness and investigating careers.

Lessons & Curriculum
Movers and Shakers in Texas Middle Schools
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Get to know this group of leader fellows who excel in college and career counseling at their Texas middle schools.

Middle School Lesson Plans for College and Career Readiness
LESSONS & CURRICULUM
Let's review some middle school lesson plans perfect for engaging and supporting your students in their journey toward college and career readiness.

A Former Teacher’s Fave Summer Recommendations for Inspiration and Preparation
LESSONS & CURRICULUM
Texas OnCourse team member and former middle school science teacher Jamie Bell shares her favorite ways to refresh and energize teaching practices for the upcoming school year.

What Do Superheroes Do on Vacation?
LESSONS & CURRICULUM
We wanted to know how superheroes (also known as educators) spend their time when they take off their capes for summer break. Check out what a few of our leader fellows had to say!

Earn $175 and Support Your Fellow Educators!
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Earn $100 for pilot testing a new module for the Texas OnCourse Academy and $75 for reviewing a new middle school curriculum guide for social studies.

Educator Minute with Mrs. Spencer of Wylie Junior High
LESSONS & CURRICULUM
We know that the personal stories of our educational community – our teachers, parents, and students – are what matter most. That’s why we’re always happy to share a peek into academic life at public schools across the state! Please meet Ms. Kristian Spencer, a seventh-grade science teacher at Wylie Junior High School in Abilene Wylie ISD.

Educators, Enter to Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!
LESSONS & CURRICULUM
Register 30 new students for either MapMyGrad or MiddleGalaxy before March 31, snap a pic, share on Twitter, and you’ll be entered to win one of three $50 Amazon gift cards. If your class hasn’t used our products yet, now is the time! We challenge to you incorporate MiddleGalaxy or MapMyGrad into just one class period.

Engaging Your Middle School Students Starts with the Right Tools
LESSONS & CURRICULUM
It’s important for students to really take a deep dive into understanding which endorsement pathway is right for them. Read on for more details on how Texas OnCourse’s Middle School Resources (free for all and available for immediate registration/download) can help them do just that. And once you’re ready, we challenge you to join us by having your students register for MiddleGalaxy and MapMyGrad.

Advising and Teaching Career Pathways
LESSONS & CURRICULUM
In this webinar, we explore resources to support instruction on career clusters. Lori Knight of the Texas Workforce Commission discusses helping students research and select career pathways.

Reward Yourself with Leisurely Learning and Earning this Holiday Season
LESSONS AND CURRICULUM
If you find yourself with some extra time this holiday season, we recommend getting comfy, preparing a hot drink, and settling down with your laptop -- this could be a great time to earn up to $450 and complete CPE credits with the Texas OnCourse Academy!

Highly Mobile Students: Strategies for Smooth Transitions
LESSONS & CURRICULUM
We’ve all been there. No matter our education, experience, or awards, starting over and being "the new kid" has its challenges. Read on for tips on how educators can best welcome and serve highly mobile students, or students that move more than six times in their K–12 career.

Advising Migrant Students
LESSONS AND CURRICULUM
Migrant students (not to be confused with immigrant students) are highly mobile children and youth whose families work in agriculture or in fishing. Do you know how to properly advise them?

My Top Resources to Sharpen Your Career and Technical Education Skills
BLOG
Did you know that February is Career and Technical Education Month? CTE Month is a public awareness campaign initiated by the Association for Career and Technical Education.

High School Endorsements and Career Paths
ENDORSEMENTS
Prepare students to select high school endorsements with labor market and career information.

Texas OnCourse Curriculum Guide
LESSONS AND CURRICULUM
This guide includes lesson plans aligned to TEKS for college and career readiness and investigating careers.

DataDive
DATA AND ACCOUNTABILITY
View and compare Texas school performance and college readiness data at the click of a button.

College Planning
High School Endorsements: The Basics
BLOG
For Texas parents and guardians, hearing that their eighth grader will have to select an endorsement can be confusing. Learn more about endorsements and college and career readiness here!

How Texas OnCourse Follows Through
COLLEGE PLANNING
Educators, picture this: You’ve attended an inspiring professional development session that left you energized and excited to use the tools you just discovered. When you get back to the office, however, your excitement fades because you have no idea how to implement these great new ideas in your district.

A Great Head Start on Personal Graduation Plans: MapMyGrad and the Grad Planner
COLLEGE PLANNING
Eighth-grade students in schools across Texas are getting ready to choose their endorsements and the graduation plan they intend to pursue in high school. It’s an exciting time, even though these choices can feel daunting. Fortunately, Texas OnCourse has a number of resources, like MapMyGrad and the Grad Planner, to make the experience meaningful and engaging.

New Year, New Goals!
COLLEGE PLANNING
At Texas OnCourse, we love the new year as a time for reflection and intention setting. This doesn’t necessarily mean out with the old, in the with the new – rather, what’s been working well and what are some new things to try? With that in mind, we tapped our dedicated community of leader fellows to see what their visions are for themselves and their students in 2019.

Sharing Our Gratitude
COLLEGE PLANNING
With Thanksgiving around the corner, we’re mindful of all of the things we’re grateful for. In particular, we are thankful for you, Texas educators. As of last week, more than 10,000 of you have registered for the TexasOnCourse Academy, our free online resource offering premium content for educators. Thanks to you, countless students across the state are equipped to plan for success after high school.

New Tools for Supporting Highly Mobile Students
LESSONS & CURRICULUM
Do you have highly mobile students? Texas OnCourse has the resources to help you best serve this unique group.

Advising Migrant Students
LESSONS AND CURRICULUM
Migrant students (not to be confused with immigrant students) are highly mobile children and youth whose families work in agriculture or in fishing. Do you know how to properly advise them?

Follow Along as Texas Students Hit the Road to Find Their Future
JOBS AND CAREERS
We’re excited to announce the premiere of Room to Grow, the Roadtrip Nation documentary fueled by Texas OnCourse. With four half-hour episodes, Room to Grow will air on public television throughout Texas starting in September.

Roadtrip Texas: High School Courses Impact College
COLLEGE PLANNING

College and Career Advising in Texas
RESEARCH
Texas OnCourse administered a survey to K-12 counselors and advisers throughout Texas to better understand the state of college and career advising. Feedback from school counselors is crucial to maximizing the impact of our counseling and advising resources. Texas OnCourse is committed to using the data supplied in this survey to maximize the services we provide to our community.

MiddleGalaxy
JOBS AND CAREERS
Lead a space voyage in this web and mobile game exploring the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for a variety of careers.

Share Your Road
JOBS AND CAREERS
Discover opportunities you never knew existed! Texans share their career journeys. Explore their stories and get inspired.

Texas OnCourse Academy
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Texas OnCourse Academy provides comprehensive learning on college and career advising to educators.

College for All Texans
COLLEGE PLANNING | FINANCES
Find out your options on how to pay for college education costs. Understand tuition and fees, financial aid, and scholarships and loans.

Roadtrip Nation
JOBS AND CAREERS
Students travel across the nation to talk to their heroes and job crushes and understand college and career decisions along the way.

Texas OnCourse Curriculum Guide
LESSONS AND CURRICULUM
This guide includes lesson plans aligned to TEKS for college and career readiness and investigating careers.
