Attendance Part 2
My last post looked at a student’s reasons for wanting to go to school (or not wanting to go). We need students to choose school. When a student wants to go to school, that headache/stomach upset/scratchy throat is annoying but not debilitating. When students are intrinsically motivated, there are no excuses. When intrinsically motivated, an alarm clock may not be required, let alone slept through.
How can we help students find that intrinsic motivation? That inner drive that outside forces can’t hold back (or keep away)?
From what I have read, Engagement and Relevance are not only key, but non-negotiables.
Great! So what is holding us back? Change. Change is scary. Especially when we are talking about applying it someone else’s kid. No one wants to be the one who ruined a child’s future. I mean, what if we are the only trailblazers and we are wrong and end up terribly lost somewhere out in edu-babble-land?
Yet, change must happen. What we are doing is not working. Dropout rates are increasing--who is responsible for that ruined future? Students are becoming disillusioned with systemic education and are not pursuing it on their own (ie. college). Can we make a collaborative effort to put aside our idea of how students should be? Can we embrace who they are and meet their culture in education? Can we make these changes daily? Yearly? No matter how great the lesson was last year, if it doesn’t work this year, can we be willing to adapt? What does this look like?
I do not presume to have the answer, but I am actively seeking for one. I want to hear what is working for you. I want to hear what the students believe would turn the tide. What is it that they believe is worth learning? What is worth spending an 8 hour day on? Do we trust them with this?
