11. Organize a career day relevant to the subject matter taught

Relevance is the key to this idea.  As a teacher today, you have many forms of media and entertainment to compete with, in regards to capturing the attention of your students.  You can use this to your advantage by building awareness about careers that utilize the skills and knowledge you are teaching.  In my experience, students seem to understand the sense in this approach.

Organizing a career day is not difficult to do.  It may even help to recruit the help of your school counselor(s).  They can often be a tremendous help.  The local Chamber of Commerce is usually more than willing to oblige as well.  Professionals like to talk about themselves; it’s an image builder for them.  If you teach at a rural school where there may be a lack of guests to present at a career day, try assigning a career as a research/presentation.  Your students become the presenters (and may even learn more).

I am very lucky in regards the concept of career days.  I mentioned in idea number one that I have an organization called the Career Development Council (http://www.sctboces.org/stw/), to help arrange events such as this.  They actually organize monthly career panels that focus on different themes that students from area schools can attend. 

Regardless of the approach you take, this will capture the interest of your students and may motivate them towards a career choice.  At the very minimum, they will figure out what they don't want to be, after they graduate (optimistic approach).