I've been asked to give a motivational talk to a 9th grade inner city class. At that age, what's important?

Question

The teacher asked for volunteers to speak about different careers, colleges, and anything else that may inspire the students to achieve. We are a white family from rural New Hampshire (not even a stoplight in my town) that moved to the city. So my life's experience is very different from an inner city student. I don't want to bore, annoy, or insult these students. At that age who do you look up to? What are some favorite TV shows or movies? What do you NOT want to hear from an adult?

Answer 1

Don't keep going forever. 1/2 hour is more than enough before they will be bored.
Keep it entertaining. Say jokes, use examples that they can relate to.

Girls like: shopping, reality tv (like antm), dating...
Boys like: video games, sports...

Answer 2

you could talk about rural New Hampshire. It's probably something new to them coming from a large urban area. I think what a student that age needs to really "get" is that there is life outside where they live and a live outside of high school. Just because they might not feel inspired in high school doesn't mean they can't be successful in life.

School does a real disservice to some students, especially the hands-on learner type of student. They don't generally test well and their learning style is different, hands on. They are the artists, the chefs, the car mechanics, the kids who like shop class or sewing.

Answer 3

Hi, I'm in 9th grade. Whatever you do, DON'T try to act gangsta, like my 50something year-old teacher, it's wierd, it might be insulting if there was more that 3 black people in that class or real gangstas. Don't pretend a telephone is a knife and act like a suicidal emo because that's wierd too. I guess the dorkiest line in the world you could say is "Don't do drugs, stay in school!" Probably half the kids you talk to will be high, I mean, it is an inner city school. The most popular TV show for teenagers is South Park probably but I don't get to watch it that much, as I have trouble with the locks on my TV, just don't try to talk with a south park accent because it will confuse them.

Answer 4

Do not preach! One of the best things you can do is to get the students involved somehow. As a teacher, I know that whenever they students are actively involved in a lesson, they retain more info, they enjoy it more, and it keeps them from drifting. Try to think of something everyone can do, maybe a handout and work in groups of two, maybe list some things and have them prioritize them, make the activities quick ones, ask them what they might have done for fun if they lived in a place like N.H., group them into 2 groups, those who would and would not want to live there, then have them brainstorm what they would miss from the other place (stressing the importance of accepting others, or something like that), throw in a sense of humor, and you've got it made!
Good Luck!

Answer 5

Find out what they know about rural New Hampshire. Ask them to tell you what they know, to describe people from small towns, etc. Challenge them a bit, but chat with them like they are equals. (You're a guest so you don't have to worry about control. That's someone else's job!)

What are they worried about? LOL Hair, makeup, clothes, the opposite sex...

Answer 6

Write about a destiny international the position Governments around the international took steps to stave off international warming. yet, using organic events and overkill, the international plunged right into a devastating ice age. the significant personality is the right scientist who unearths the answer to international warming. Now that international cooling has surpassed off and ninety% of the worlds inhabitants has died off, he's charged with reversing this catastrophic climate fashion.

Answer 7

Whatever you say, keep it SHORT and SIMPLE. They have a short attention span. Maybe start by asking them beforehand in a questionnaire a couple of days before the talk, WHAT they want to study and build upon that.