Quick summary:
Integrated student-centered year-round education is the way to go.
Shift emphasis from student endurance to student competence.
Shift matriculation from units of time to units of learning.
Shift matriculation from birthdays to demonstrations of competence.
Read the full article here.
What’s the best predictor of success in a person’s life?
Dr. Angela Duckworth says it’s “Grit” in this June 2013 video/TED Talk,
You should watch it.
“I had plenty of great resources and educators,” said Zak Malamed of his Long Island high school. “My dissatisfaction came from the lack of ability to be an individual.”
Zak noticed how #EdChat had quickly become a community that gave teachers a voice. He thought students needed the same and launched #StuVoice Twitter chats last May. During Teacher Appreciation Week, the first chat was “What makes a great teacher?”
His #StuVoice Twitter chats (Mondays, 8:30 EDT) grew quickly, “A few months after launching I was connecting with renowned educators.” He knew he was onto something and has started the process for Student Voice (Check it out!) to become a nonprofit.
During his freshman year at the University of Maryland, Zak said he probably spent more time on Student Voice than his school work but he “learned more from that than anything.” Zak said, “I learned how to work with and manage people, formed relationships, and had an incredible experience.”
Student Voice has expanded beyond Twitter to bimonthly Google hangouts. “We recognized the value of face-to-face interaction–it’s often less about the topics and more about the relationships formed.”
Lisa Nielsen (The Innovative Educator) introduced us to Zak. She noted that “He recently put together their first conference (sponsored by Dell) which was a terrific success.”
An added benefit of promoting student voice is that it “helps develop entrepreneurial mindset,” said Zak. He was frustrated with the limitation of his political science major
so he created his own major in social engagements–a study of social, media, business, civic engagement.
The young organization is supported by dozens of volunteer students like Zak. Like Zak, they are convinced that the “idea of student voice, as individual and organizational level, needs to be promoted.” He noted that “plenty of teachers inspired me, but I recognize how much work needs to be done.”
I found this article on http://gettingsmart.com/
This thought provoking question and the comments that follow are almost an education in themselves. You certainly don’t have to be a rising high school senior to enjoy the real-life insights, appreciation. and wisdom from these sharings.
You might even want to pass this link along.
There is a strong link between bullying and suicide, which is just one reason why it is an issue to be confronted. (Flickr/Thomas Ricker)
While this article is largely Frida Berrigan’s story, her last four paragraphs provide some good, supportive, solution-oriented thinking.
You can read Frida’s full article here.
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – A new plan to cut crime in New Mexico looks at getting more kids to graduate from high school.
One economist estimates if five percent more young men graduated in New Mexico, It could save the state $38 million in prison and jail costs.
Nobel Prize winning economist James Heckman says kids who graduate are less likely to be arrested and sent to jail.
Heckman also adds if that same five percent of high school grads also went to college, their combined income would be $20 million higher than if they hadn’t gone to college.
Read complete article here