#belief gap

[comradechristo]

See the promise in every child

Our kids are capable of so much more than we think.

[yayaboozle]

The "positivity project" spreads the power of appreciation

The “positivity project” spreads the power of appreciation

There is nothing more powerful in the world than gratitude and positive mental attitude. Students at Oak Park High School in Kansas City recently were targets of the power when their teachers hatched a plan to deepen the teacher-student bond.

They created the “Positivity Project,” a personal challenge to identify individual students…

View On WordPress

[missheardmedia]

“And I guess because my teachers thought that I was a bad kid, they didn’t pay attention to me. What they didn’t know was that I couldn’t accept learning my mother was a drug addict and was making bad choices in her life. It hurt me so much inside and I showed it by acting crazy…. But it wasn’t until we had a lesson on forgiveness and Nelson Mandela that I understood what I needed to do. Even though he was in prison for 27 years, Nelson Mandela forgave the people who put him in there. He had dinner with one of his prison guards. He had lunch with the man who wanted him to get the death penalty. He was not bitter. I didn’t want to be, either.”

See what happens when a school and its dedicated staff reach out to a child acting out and let her become who she is. It’s magical. It’s also hard work. The belief gap, the gulf between what students can achieve and what others believe they can achieve, will only end when brave educators like those of Perspectives forge connections to the Kim Wilborns of the world, the neglected students who want to be helped and recognized. - See more at: http://missheardmagazine.com/close-belief-gap-educationpost

[missheardmedia]

This video is a message of hope for every Kim Wilborn out there, who believes in her ability to excel despite the many barriers she faces, and for the committed educators who push her farther than she ever imagined. 

Like Kim, not all students will be able to find the support and encouragement they need within their homes. Children without ideal conditions at home still have the ability to reach their full potential. A great place for students to find an advocate to assist in their educational journey, is school itself. Seek out the teacher who challenges you in class – s/he knows you have the ability to do more. Join a mentorship or tutoring program – former students can help you gain insight on different education journeys. Talk to your counselor – s/he can point you in the direction of more opportunities to become more involved within the community. Start off the conversation about wanting to do and achieve more in your education, you might be surprised about the support you have right in front of you! 

- See more at: http://missheardmagazine.com/close-belief-gap-educationpost/

[yayaboozle]

The stakes are very high for first generation college students

The stakes are very high for first generation college students

Today is Proof Point Day: a celebration of first-generation college students with the goal of igniting an important conversation about the serious financial burdens and lack of support they often encounter. In the following post Tequilla Banks, Executive Vice President at TNTP, shares her experience of being the first in her family to go to college and reflect on the pressing challenges facing…

View On WordPress

[yayaboozle]

The public schools have labeled my grandchild before he's uttered his first word

The public schools have labeled my grandchild before he’s uttered his first word

My grandson Amyis was almost a week old when I wrote about the labeling of black children on April 23, 2014. The sad reality is this one fact. The words I wrote two years ago still hold true for being a black boy, in many traditional public schools, in America today.

His whole world from birth to high school graduation will be dependent upon his parents, grandparents, educators, peers and the…

View On WordPress

[blackcatsandredballoons]

Whether or not teachers truly hold high expectations for students matters

This article doesn’t use the term “Pygmalion Effect,” but it does provide a good summary of how that effect can disadvantage students of color.

Studies have shown that a teacher’s belief about a student’s ability to achieve can directly affect that student’s achievement. The literary term for it is self-fulfilling prophecy. (Pygmalion is a Greek myth that became the basis of the George Bernard Shaw play that became the basis for the movie My Fair Lady. Bonus life points to you if you are a teenager and you already knew any of those three references - if not, give them a shot!)

If you are a student, and you can tell your teacher doesn’t believe in you, prove them wrong. How do you do that? Depends on the situation. 

Sometimes all it takes is you calling the teacher out. If they really do believe in you, and they’re just subconsciously adhering to a ingrained prejudice or bias, that might be all it takes. Preferably don’t be hostile about it - there’s a big difference between assertiveness and hostility, and authority figures almost always respond better to the first one. (Everyone does.) 

Also, remember that actions speak louder than words. Be a leader at school. Help your peers. Engage in classroom dialogue. Join a club. Start a club. Do all your work. Do all your work to the best of your ability. Ask for help when you need it. Ask a lot of questions. Even if you don’t get answers. Keep asking questions. Set goals. Find people at school who can help you reach those goals. If that person is not your teacher, find someone else at school to mediate for you. I bet if you look hard enough you can find at least one adult at school who truly believes in your full potential. It’s their job to help you get there. Hold them accountable for that. 

[yayaboozle]

So, this happened...

So, this happened…

//storify.com/Citizenstewart/the-big-white-lie-in-education-crashes-on-a-saturd/embed?border=false[View the story “The big white lie in education suddenly crashes on a Saturday” on Storify]

View On WordPress