While I have encountered all three types mentioned, Alice is the one I see most often in my classes. The child who sits in class like a lump, doesn't turn anything in, parents appear to not know what to do. And my reaction, after weeks or a couple months of encouragement, is the same as the counselor gave Alice's parents - just let them fail. They'll learn the consequences, they'll be motivated by failure. That hasn't worked yet - and wow, did this author point out how wrong I am in just shrugging my shoulders.
Trouble is - we as teachers need to help get to the root of the problem. If the difficulties are feelings of inadequacy, or need for approval, or the fact that certain attitudes are modeled at home - how to discover those within the student? Prompt 2 asks if children are aware of these behaviors. I struggle with this. My gut instinct is yes. These kids know what they're doing, they make conscious decisions to not turn things in or to not complete their work at home. How could they not? But the author relates the story of the kid (p. 42) who truly didn't know why he didn't hand in a project, but after leading him through the choices, he acknowledged he didn't think his was good enough. I can see a couple of current students reflected in that story. But it's hard for me to look at the underachievers I have and say that they're unaware of their behavior.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Post #1 Chapters 1-3 Prompt A
Of the three underachievers which one do you identify with or deal with most often?
(A Nice Young Man, Talk Show Host or The Silent Child)
(A Nice Young Man, Talk Show Host or The Silent Child)
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