Submitted by Bill Betzen (not verified) on September 23, 2007 - 10:35.
The fragmentation of education by breaking the K-8 years into two different schools has helped contribute to many problems: gangs, apathy, poor performance, and ultimately a high dropout rate. Our student see too little connection with to their futures in their middle school work. They focus on the present as a painful reflection of our culture. But think of how that may change in a school wherein a teacher says: "I look forward to seeing you at your 10 year reunion." How would such statement, made common in a school, change a child's self image and connections with the future?
Too many students live exceptionally fragmented lives with no vision of their futures. Our schools must work to overcome that motivational handicap. We must connect students with their own futures in as credible a manner as is possible.
For our middle school a simple 10-year time capsule and class reunion system helps achieve the future focus. We bolted a 350-pound vault to the floor in our school lobby and put it under spotlights in an obvious place of respect. It holds letters from every 8th grade class until their 10-year class reunions. (See www.studentmotivation.org.)
At the 10-year reunion returning former students know they will be invited to speak with then current students about their recommendations for success. Students are told to prepare for questions that may be asked by the younger students 10 years in the future, questions such as: "Would you do anything differently if you were 13 again?"
Thinking now of answering such a question helps current students see current work differently, they may work harder and stay in school. Knowing that their plans for the future are so important as to lock them into a fire-proof vault bolted to the floor in their middle school lobby will help create a sense of belonging. It is a very real and physical connection to the future.
Once the reunions start happening in 7 years, our middle school students will also have new information to use in planning for their future, the advice from the returning former students who share with them as they come to their 10-year reunions to retrieve the letters they had written 10 years earlier.
Teachers will also have a new feedback source to help them in keeping their lesson plans up to date in preparing students for the ever changing world!
Our dropout rates appear to be improving! A revolution in education is evolving.
Bill Betzen
Dallas, Texas
www.studentmotivation.org
Improving Middle Schools
Submitted by Bill Betzen (not verified) on September 23, 2007 - 10:35.
The fragmentation of education by breaking the K-8 years into two different schools has helped contribute to many problems: gangs, apathy, poor performance, and ultimately a high dropout rate. Our student see too little connection with to their futures in their middle school work. They focus on the present as a painful reflection of our culture. But think of how that may change in a school wherein a teacher says: "I look forward to seeing you at your 10 year reunion." How would such statement, made common in a school, change a child's self image and connections with the future?
Too many students live exceptionally fragmented lives with no vision of their futures. Our schools must work to overcome that motivational handicap. We must connect students with their own futures in as credible a manner as is possible.
For our middle school a simple 10-year time capsule and class reunion system helps achieve the future focus. We bolted a 350-pound vault to the floor in our school lobby and put it under spotlights in an obvious place of respect. It holds letters from every 8th grade class until their 10-year class reunions. (See www.studentmotivation.org.)
At the 10-year reunion returning former students know they will be invited to speak with then current students about their recommendations for success. Students are told to prepare for questions that may be asked by the younger students 10 years in the future, questions such as: "Would you do anything differently if you were 13 again?"
Thinking now of answering such a question helps current students see current work differently, they may work harder and stay in school. Knowing that their plans for the future are so important as to lock them into a fire-proof vault bolted to the floor in their middle school lobby will help create a sense of belonging. It is a very real and physical connection to the future.
Once the reunions start happening in 7 years, our middle school students will also have new information to use in planning for their future, the advice from the returning former students who share with them as they come to their 10-year reunions to retrieve the letters they had written 10 years earlier.
Teachers will also have a new feedback source to help them in keeping their lesson plans up to date in preparing students for the ever changing world!
Our dropout rates appear to be improving! A revolution in education is evolving.
Bill Betzen
Dallas, Texas
www.studentmotivation.org