paraphrase for Oct. 10th
"Help Us Care Enough to Learn" by Kathleen Cushman
Article found in the February 2006, Vol. 63 No. 5, of Educational Leadership Journal
(I can redo this/add the correct APA citation/bibliography later, when I've got my book in front of me.)
This article, "Help Us Care Enough to Learn," examines the lack of truly meaningful curriculum in an urban high school. It begins by discussing the feelings of Bernice, an 11th grader, who was one of 65 high school students who spoke with the author as part of a study on school leadership. Students are always working on establishing their identity, and this study conducted by Cushman explores ways of promoting and maintaining a high motivation level among students. The author found that teachers need to integrate aspects of the students' lives into the curriculum that they teach, make the material in class relate to real-life situations. Another suggestion given during the study was to treat students like people, not just as students in a class. Cushman also discovered that the students view their community as a great resource and motivating factor in their learning. It engages students and connects them to the world outside of the school setting. The author concluded the article by saying that meaning sparks motivation. If we, as educators, can find even some small way to make classroom activities meaningful, interesting, and exciting for students, a more positive and stronger school culture will be formed.
Article found in the February 2006, Vol. 63 No. 5, of Educational Leadership Journal
(I can redo this/add the correct APA citation/bibliography later, when I've got my book in front of me.)
This article, "Help Us Care Enough to Learn," examines the lack of truly meaningful curriculum in an urban high school. It begins by discussing the feelings of Bernice, an 11th grader, who was one of 65 high school students who spoke with the author as part of a study on school leadership. Students are always working on establishing their identity, and this study conducted by Cushman explores ways of promoting and maintaining a high motivation level among students. The author found that teachers need to integrate aspects of the students' lives into the curriculum that they teach, make the material in class relate to real-life situations. Another suggestion given during the study was to treat students like people, not just as students in a class. Cushman also discovered that the students view their community as a great resource and motivating factor in their learning. It engages students and connects them to the world outside of the school setting. The author concluded the article by saying that meaning sparks motivation. If we, as educators, can find even some small way to make classroom activities meaningful, interesting, and exciting for students, a more positive and stronger school culture will be formed.
posted by Tanya Loewen at 4:46 PM
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