When you were picking your elective in sixth grade, you probably saw an option called CTE Wheel and wondered what it meant , and what it actually is.

The CTE Wheel stands for Career and Technical Education Wheel. It’s designed to help students explore different careers and interests by giving them a new elective each quarter. Not only does it help you discover what kind of career might interest you in the future, but it also helps you decide which elective you might want to take during your next two years at GEMS.

Some of the classes you might experience on the wheel include Band, Art, and AVID. The CTE Wheel is a great option if you can’t decide between a few electives. It gives you a little bit of everything so you can experience multiple subjects in one school year.

You’ve probably heard of skills like problem-solving or critical thinking. In most classes, each subject focuses on one area like math focuses on numbers, and history focuses on the past. But in the CTE Wheel, each elective emphasizes different types of skills, helping you build a variety of strengths along the way.

I asked Mr. Noonan how the CTE Wheel benefits sixth graders, and he explained, “The wheel was set up to give many 6th graders the opportunity to gain exposure to the electives offered at GEMS. That way, they are able to make better choices in 7th and 8th grade when it comes time to choose an elective.”

I also asked why only sixth graders can take the CTE Wheel, and he responded, “It was set up for 6th graders as an introduction to many electives. 7th and 8th graders already have that experience, so a wheel is not necessary.”

So, if you’ve ever wondered why you took the CTE Wheel as a sixth grader or how it helped you now you know! It’s all about giving students a chance to explore, learn, and find the elective that fits them best.