I deal with all of these types of underachievers but the most is the "silent child. I think in middle school is when this sticks out. A little in 6th grade by the 8th grade it is a "train wreck."Moving to different classes, having to be organized, having a locker plus all the social "stuff." Their grades are like yo-yo's. They do the work but do not turn it in. Then the lies start. Only tell parents/teachers what they want to hear. I think the underachiever knows how important school is, tries hard for a while then back to the old habits. Punishments and rewards do not work. Do we let natural consequences play out?
I think we have a lot of kids who aren't trying due to fear of failure when they do try. It's a lot wasier to get a D or an E, knowing you didn't try, then to put yourself out there and not do well. Even if they would have succeeded, fear of not doing well is holding them back, and they can always tell themselves, "well, I know I didn't do well, but I didn't really try. I could have done better if I wanted to."
In the media center, I see all of these types of underachievers, but early in the mornings or during lunch recess, more often it's the "silent child," that pops in. They may be racing to complete an assignment that is due that day, or to redo something that was lost or not turned in. These kids seem to continue the pattern over and over, regardless of being prodded by teachers or hounded by anxious parents who call and email school. Red books get signed, or rewards or punishments are put in place. Nothing seems to change for long. I'll see the same kids back, in the same predicaments. It's such a frustrating cycle.
I agree with both Leann and Barbara that the silent child is the one that pops out often. I believe all students come to us wanting to learn no matter how heavily disguised and students have learned they can hide in our classrooms through silence. I hope we continue to work hard at reaching out to the silent ones.
I also agree with Lori that many of our students do have a fear of failure and it is way easier to get a D or E than to put forth real effort and fail. I encourage us to continue to build in safe, risk taking opportunities so our students may experience offering a wrong answer/failing and yet be able to come back with a right answer. Hopefully we can help our students experience success through failure and learn to view failure as a stepping stone rather than an end or stumbling block.
I agree that the silent child is the one that I see most. Most of my kids are terrified to take any kind of risk at all no matter what it is. If they do the bare minimum, then they have taken no risk.
I agree with the previous statements. In my first two years I can say the only under achiever I dont see is the talk show host. I feel we have, for the most part, excellent parents. Even if they get on our nerves I dont think that children have a need to be just like their parents. I think students set there own goals. From what Ive been exposed to I see both the silent type and the nice young man. I identify with the nice young man the most and feel I "encounter" him the most at West. Students who constantly ask "whats the point in this". I feel these students need to know exactly how its going to effect them. If not currently then down the road. I felt the same way in middle school but due to a good sit down by the parents I still did it. Now after all these years I finally truely see all the connections. The students that Ive encountered with severe motivation issues look at everything as "how is learning this going to effect me right now".
I deal with all of these types of underachievers but the most is the "silent child. I think in middle school is when this sticks out. A little in 6th grade by the 8th grade it is a "train wreck."Moving to different classes, having to be organized, having a locker plus all the social "stuff." Their grades are like yo-yo's. They do the work but do not turn it in. Then the lies start. Only tell parents/teachers what they want to hear. I think the underachiever knows how important school is, tries hard for a while then back to the old habits. Punishments and rewards do not work. Do we let natural consequences play out?
ReplyDeleteI think we have a lot of kids who aren't trying due to fear of failure when they do try. It's a lot wasier to get a D or an E, knowing you didn't try, then to put yourself out there and not do well. Even if they would have succeeded, fear of not doing well is holding them back, and they can always tell themselves, "well, I know I didn't do well, but I didn't really try. I could have done better if I wanted to."
ReplyDeleteIn the media center, I see all of these types of underachievers, but early in the mornings or during lunch recess, more often it's the "silent child," that pops in. They may be racing to complete an assignment that is due that day, or to redo something that was lost or not turned in. These kids seem to continue the pattern over and over, regardless of being prodded by teachers or hounded by anxious parents who call and email school. Red books get signed, or rewards or punishments are put in place. Nothing seems to change for long. I'll see the same kids back, in the same predicaments. It's such a frustrating cycle.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both Leann and Barbara that the silent child is the one that pops out often. I believe all students come to us wanting to learn no matter how heavily disguised and students have learned they can hide in our classrooms through silence. I hope we continue to work hard at reaching out to the silent ones.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Lori that many of our students do have a fear of failure and it is way easier to get a D or E than to put forth real effort and fail. I encourage us to continue to build in safe, risk taking opportunities so our students may experience offering a wrong answer/failing and yet be able to come back with a right answer. Hopefully we can help our students experience success through failure and learn to view failure as a stepping stone rather than an end or stumbling block.
I agree that the silent child is the one that I see most. Most of my kids are terrified to take any kind of risk at all no matter what it is. If they do the bare minimum, then they have taken no risk.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the previous statements. In my first two years I can say the only under achiever I dont see is the talk show host. I feel we have, for the most part, excellent parents. Even if they get on our nerves I dont think that children have a need to be just like their parents. I think students set there own goals. From what Ive been exposed to I see both the silent type and the nice young man. I identify with the nice young man the most and feel I "encounter" him the most at West. Students who constantly ask "whats the point in this". I feel these students need to know exactly how its going to effect them. If not currently then down the road. I felt the same way in middle school but due to a good sit down by the parents I still did it. Now after all these years I finally truely see all the connections. The students that Ive encountered with severe motivation issues look at everything as "how is learning this going to effect me right now".
ReplyDelete