For this lesson we were asked about pressures facing youth today. We were then given questions for our opinions on how can schools and teachers help these kinds of pressures. This lesson was really interesting to me, and probably my favorite so far. This lesson is to teach future educators how to handle students' pressures in our classroom and our school system.
EDUC 2110 – Lesson 1 – The Economics of Education
Evaluation
What roles do families and society play in the pressures facing youth? Describe.
Some parents expect tons out of their children while still in high school. They expect them to make nothing but A’s and if they make lower, it calls for consequences. Parents with this kind of attitude, could either help, or destroy the way that child participates in school. Personally, I would never do this to my children (in the future) just because this wasn’t done to me while in school and I still graduated with honors. Some students just want the support from their parents and their teachers to do well in school.
What can schools and teachers do about these external forces? Describe.
Instead of teachers and parents getting on to their students and their children about school and about their bad grades, maybe they could sit down and talk to them about why they have the grades they do, instead of disciplining them from the get-go. They should understand why all of the bad grades are happening and then give them a second chance, and if they continue to do the same, or even get worse, then discipline them.
Why is it important to graduate from high school and go to obtain a degree? Describe.
I think it’s important to graduate from high school and go to obtain a degree for your own future. Everyone deserves a bright future and to make something of themselves, and it all starts with a high school diploma. Not only for yourself, but making a future for your future family and achieving the dreams that you once longed when you were just a child.
What are some barriers to educational success in high school? Describe a few.
Some barriers to educational success in high school can be caused by many things, but the one I find most important would have to be the student engagement. Most students describe school as boring. They say teachers don’t do enough to engage them into their lessons. So this causes a huge issue and brings students to thinking that dropping out is the best solution. Students say a teacher’s attitude makes a huge difference in their educational success, also. If a teacher as a bad attitude towards her students, then that’s going to make students feel as if the teacher doesn’t care whether they pass or whether they fail, so they don’t care. A lack of parental involvement holds a huge part in a student’s educational success, also. If a student doesn’t have that support they need to get through school at home, nor at school, they don’t have any. School rules are another barrier. Students say they hate the dress code, or they hate this or that, and this will play a part in the lack of success for students in high school.
Why do some high school students drop out of school before they graduate?
Some high school students decide to drop out of high school because “it’s too boring” or “it’s a lot of work”. Most students, who say this, don’t go through with dropping out, speaking from experience and hearing it out of all of my friends mouths, but some of them do. Some students aren’t dedicated enough to waking up early in the morning and then staying up late at night to finish homework for the next day. Another reason why some students drop out is because they don’t see a future for themselves, so they don’t see a point in continuing something they hate anyways. Teachers also play a huge part in student drop out. If a teacher gives the wrong signal, or if the teacher isn’t helpful enough to a student, the student will take it offense, and take matters into their own hands and drop out. They say it’s too stressful.
Describe what you, as a teacher, can do to help reduce or eliminate these barriers?
As a future teacher, I want to motivate my students in any way possible to make them feel needed. I want to encourage them to keep pushing and to never give up, because even though it may be hard right now, and boring, in the end it will all pay off. I want to make sure my attitude is the same towards each student that walks through my doors every morning (good attitude). Not only do I want to be my students’ teacher and mentor, but also their friend.
Summary
This lesson was overall good and helpful. It’s great knowing about the things that are pushing students further and further away from school, so I’ll know what to avoid and maybe know how to help them when I become a teacher. I think all students have some type of future ahead of them, and I want to be the type of teacher to push them and to motivate them along the way, to never give up. I’ve had teachers who pushed me throughout my high school career, and I appreciate every one of them.
Research Question
What are some strategies that teachers can use to re-engage their students in the classroom?
Reference: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/reengaging-students-andrew-marcinek
Research Analysis
Some strategies that are mentioned in this article is to, number one, have fun with your school work. Do you what you have to do to learn and enjoy what you are learning in your classroom. Number two; learn beyond the walls of the classroom that you are in. Go outside, take a step back and learn. Number three; expand your audience. Today, it’s all one person-the teacher. Expand your audience and get more than just your teacher’s opinion on your work. Number four; connect with one another and learn from one another.
The classroom is only one learning environment. There are many other places outside of the four walls of the classroom that you can learn from. Connecting with students can be one of the hardest things. All students learn differently and are interested in various things, it’s just up to the teachers to prepare their lessons carefully and prepare for the hardest.
Research Summary
I thought my research was interesting and very helpful. While I was reading this article, I automatically went to thinking about Mr. Feeny on Boy Meets World and how he connected with his students and kept them engaged. He made references to their real lives on what they were learning, and not only were they learning about history, or whatever the subject may be, they were also learning about life in the process.