How can I help my most resistant students find empowerment in their education?

Question

I want to impassion all of my students with a desire to learn and intellectually grow. I feel like I already employ every trick in the book, so are there any new ideas out there?

Answer 1

Build on their strenghts. Find out what they are good at and encourage them to pursue that. The class clown frequently acts up because he feels inadequate in the primary areas of study. Assign him to figure out what makes a joke funny. There is a lot of science to humor.

If a student is irreverent, ask him why there are curse words in every language. There must be a reason for them. What function do they serve?

If a student thinks the dress code is too onerous, have her do a study of fashion. What does your attire say about you? How do people use fashion to portray image? What image does the student wish to portray and how can she do a better job of it?

In general, you want to make sure kids are not working at too high a reading level. This leads to frustration, which in turn leads to anger and apathy. Teach them to pick books that are at the right level for them. Then the research will be more interesting and fruitful to them. Also, the experience of comprehension is the best way to improve reading comprehension. It's a virtuous cycle.

Best regards,

emeka
Work hard. Be nice.

Answer 2

I face this every day; I teach in a high school that serves communities in which not having an education is seen as some sort of proof that you are not kowtowing to "whitey".

If education is not valued, you are not likely to make them value it -- at least not in numbers. Remember the old adage, you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink?

We have had a number of students, here, who won basketball scholarships -- a very respected thing in their communities -- but they were unable to take them up because they had done such a poor job academically. In one case, even with a year and a half or one on one tutoring a student was unable to successfully complete the SATs; in other cases, the colleges backed off as soon as they saw their academic preformance.

It is very sad, but still a good percentage of students would prefer to spend their time in the hall or the parking lot.

You can only do what you can do; nothing that any ONE teacher can do will work for ALL students. That is the kind of out-and-out lie they impart to people in teachers' college. However, real world experience is very different. Not every student will respond to you, or your methods; not every student will be reachable at the particular moment when you have them in your class -- the real world has a way of intruding into and disrupting education.

Do what you can; give students every chance that is reasonable to succeed. You can do no more, and sghould do no less.

And, remember that, even among the students you feel you have NOT reached, and have NOT impassioned, you may have done some good that you are unaware of.

Answer 3

Many times these students have had negative experiences in the past... Tricks can't change their attitude.

When I taught middle school math, there were so many students that struggled. At the beginning of the year, I would always do an inventory and discovered that most students that felt that they "weren't good" in math and struggled, had been told something negative at one time or another. Worse, many times this attitude was reinforced year after year:
"Math just isn't your best subject."
"Don't feel bad, it must be genetic. Your Dad wasn't good at math either."
"Math isn't important until you get to high school."
Yadda, yadda, yadda...

It takes little successes to undo these mental roadblocks. Once you build the capacity in a student, only then will they accept academic challenges. Like anyone else that feels defeated, why try? Who wants to feel like a failure all over again?
1. Find your students' instructional levels. Students gain the most from differentiated instruction. Make sure that they understand that it's okay to struggle; we all go through it. Sometimes they are like this because they need more of a challenge.
2. Provide daily opportunities for success; this can be done via manipulatives, discovery activities, appropriate level games, etc.
3. Give credit where credit is due... I told my kids that they began EVERY quarter with an "A" and that it would be very easy to maintain it. Do your work! If they ask for support and you find ways to help them along, the worse grade they could earn was a "C". (For many of these kids, it's a definite step up from a "D" or an "F".)
4. Look at how many different learning styles you are using on a daily basis. Many times change of pace can make all the difference in the world.
5. Really get to know your kids... especially the ones that aren't responding. Usually, they are the ones that need more love. Have a special lunch once a week with only 3 or 4 students at a time. They are more likely to feel comfortable sharing with you and building friendships with their peers.

It's not the easiest thing to do... and this is after 10+ years!
There will be those that fall through the cracks; it's unfortunate but true. If you can go to bed at night with the honest self-assessment that you tried your best, then that is all you can do. Too many times people underestimate the power of listening and caring for the children that are the most challenging to love.

Confidence --> Competence --> Challenge!

Best of luck to you,
Mon :-)

Answer 4

One of the latest studies has found that toddlers learn best by working out the meaning of words for themselves.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070315213151.htm

Perhaps this way of learning is best for everyone, including older children and adults. I learn best this way too not just words but everything that there is to be learned.

Give your students problems where they have to figure out solutions for themselves. And they will learn a lot better than if you simply lecture them.

Answer 5

you may want to check out this website:

www.disciplineassociates.com

it's the website of Mendler and Curwin, who focused their efforts in classroom management and motivation of difficult and often violent students. violence doesn't seem to be your problem but their approach focuses mainly on helping students find hope that they can change their lives and find the power to take control of their future in education. You might want to browse their website for ideas you can use in your own classroom.

Answer 6

My teacher came from the NAVY, and if students fall asleep in class, he straight up yells at them, and sends them out because this isn't no hotel inn. If they aren't willing to learn, send them outside so you can teach the kids who want to learn.

Answer 7

Go to www.behavioradvisor.com
Hilarious and practical info.

Answer 8

show them the homeless and poor people in other countrys to let them know what agreat chance they have 2 be succseful if they apply themseles

Answer 9

add a little humour .Make them want to come back for more

Answer 10

Get them to have fun!!!!!!!!! We always learn more if it's really fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:-D