GSU Blogger - Dr. S. Kahrs
Saturday, November 14, 2015
What do you do?
My project is working with 9th grade students in supporting them academically. I have a group of 70 students that I identified in the summer as being at risk. These students receive a great deal of support through teachers, administration, peer support, and community support. I am concerned, even frustrated, with many of these students. I do a weekly grade check and this week there are many of these students failing 3 or more classes. I do realize they have been identified At-Risk, however, there seems to be no motivation with them at all. In meeting with these students this week, I had one student tell me that he is "going into the music industry so I don't need to graduate" and another tell me that he is "gonna have my own business so it don't matter about my grades." It seems that nothing I do or that the school does is motivating these students. There seems to be no intrinsic motivation. Any suggestions on how to covey to these students the importance of their education? How do I spark a fire? I know we are not the only school that deals with this. I am interested in hearing what other schools have in place to help students.
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ReplyDeletePaula,
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you are in Gwinnett. If you are, a motivator for your student who is interested in the music industry may be Grayson Tech. They have a program there that involves music technology. Students must have earned enough carnige units to be a junior to attend the program. This may be a motivator for the student to be more successful now so they can work towards getting in to an interesting program in two short years.
T. Braddy
T. Braddy, good idea and thank you. I actually forgot about that. I work with 9th graders right now but this would be a good motivator. I do have 4 students in my program that are interested in the music business. I will do a little research and give them some info.
ReplyDeleteTHANKS
T. Braddy, good idea and thank you. I actually forgot about that. I work with 9th graders right now but this would be a good motivator. I do have 4 students in my program that are interested in the music business. I will do a little research and give them some info.
ReplyDeleteTHANKS
a few years ago, I was in the same positioned as you. I was one of three 9th Grade APs'. One of the ways that I tried to get them motivated was through their peers. I would do award ceremonies to celebrate their achievement. My twist was that I would do the ceremony with gifts and giveaways in front of the entire Academy. They always wanted what their peers were getting.
ReplyDelete