STRATEGY
Keep Your Eyes on the Stars, but Your Feet Firmly Planted on Earth
When I was a counselor, a young lady came to see me.
I asked her what she planned to do after graduation.
She said that she wanted to be a psychiatrist.
I said that the first requirement in being a psychiatrist was knowing how to spell it.
Without a blink, she asked if she could be a nurse instead.
I said, "You could be anything that you want to be.
But you do not like math or science, two requirements for becoming a nurse.
And you do not like school.
Do you have any idea how long it takes to become a nurse?"
Many young people do not have any idea what they would like to be after they graduate nor do they have any idea of the requirements to obtain their dreams and goals.
While we should not shoot down their dreams, it is our responsibility as educators to educate them as to the demands of the job and the training it will take.
A young man on our football team came to see me about life after graduation.
I asked what were his plans and he said that he was a "superb football player" and
would be chosen to play in the National Football League (NFL) upon graduation from college.
He expected to obtain a full football scholarship to college because he was such a good player.
I said to him, "Let's play a scenario.
You get accepted to college on a full football scholarship.
Is that possible?"
"Absolutely," was his
response. "You go out for your first football practice and you rip your Achilles tendon and cannot play football again.
Is that possible?" "Yes", he replied.
I then asked, "What is your fall back position? What do you do next?"
Our young people do not make contingency plans.
They do not think beyond the next visible hurdle.
They do not think that they are vulnerable and susceptible to disease, accidents, and whatever life may bring.
Frequently, they think they can cram their way through life as they do for examinations.
Our at-risk learners are the most vulnerable.
They most often lack role models to guide them in making decisions.
It is our responsibility to connect the world of school to the world of work.
152 Ways to Keep Kids in School: Effective, Easy-to-Implement Tips for Teachers by Franklin P. Schargel,
©2008 by Eye On Education.
All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission from Eye On Education.
Co-Marketed with Eye On Education and EverythingAboutLearning.com.
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152 Ways to Keep Students in School
Product ID: 97815966708773
by Franklin P. Schargel
Price: $29.95
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Speaking from years of experience, author Franklin Schargel provides 152 field-tested ideas about working with at-risk students.
Designed to be read and implemented quickly, these are concise snapshots of what educators can do to keep students from dropping out.
You can apply these practical tips in your classroom today.
Order by September 1, 2008 and get 20% off. Use promo code "LEARN" at checkout.
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