Thursday, August 9, 2012
I'm not doing enough...
I've had a few rollercoaster moments while reading this book and I've just experienced another. I was very optimistic and motivated by the individuals who have found opportunity in dark moments. In this same section, though, I have finished reading that "despite rising educational attainment and $18 billion spent annually by the federal government on job training, employers say they cannot find workers with specific skills...[students also] lack a clear picture of which jobs to prepare themselves for." This is scary and nerve-racking. As I prepare for another school year, I am excited to meet my students and begin teaching. But, what am I really teaching? And what skills am I REALLY developing that will help my students in a future that is unclear in which they have no cut agenda? We are encouraged to begin with the end in mind when we teach a lesson or unit. Our students are also encouraged to begin with the end in mind when it comes to their own goals. How will they get there when there is no clear picture of what is ahead? How can we help this and contribute to making America sharper, more competetive, and less mediocre?
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Diane,
ReplyDeleteHelping students be "less mediocre" is part psychology and part personal trainer. As a math teacher, I have heard, "I can't do this stuff", more times that I can count. My response is always to try to find something that the student can do and work from there. This past year, I had to try new ways to teach basic math and I realized that different methods work for different students. Once a student has some self-confidence, they have the start they need to be more than mediocre. The next step is for them to continue to work. Eventually, the honus moves towards the student.
I think the best skill we can give our students is the abiblity to adapt and to be proactive. We have all heard that we need to teach students to be problem solvers. They need to know how to identify a problem and how to attain the knowledge and skills to fix the problem. We don't know what lies ahead; however, the one thing we can count on being ahead is problems; whether political or economical or otherwise. We need to teach our students to care. I think one reason America is in it's current state is because people are apathetic. I know I catch myself feeling the same way sometimes (so what if China becomes the next superpower, Canada has never been a superpower and they seem to be doing just fine).
ReplyDeleteHey Manser!
ReplyDeleteI had a similar "Aha! moment” while reading that section of the book. In the midst of a dramatic read aloud of Beowulf, or dressing up for roles in Macbeth I wonder if they are taking away "skills." Sometimes we need to remind ourselves and our students that there is a skill they are taking away from that learning experience.
One vital skill I can impart on my students is confidence. I want my students to feel confident among peers, and adults--even if it is a moment of silliness, because one day they will have to face a much tougher audience. If my students have the confidence in being able to communicate, they can address that group of investors, managers, or clients.
The only problem is, confidence is not a skill that appears on the standards. While we can address the list of things we need to teach our students as outlined by a set of standards, sometimes standards ignore the most important job survival skills. As teaching professionals maybe we need to examine how our lessons connect to a job-related skills.