In response to It's Elementary: K-6 Ideas Could Keep Students From Dropping Out of School Later By Markeshia Ricks, Montgomery Advertiser, Ala. (MCT)- Education Week
Michigan’s Dropout Prevention Efforts, was an article I read and blogged about during EDU 590. The article addressed how Michigan is trying to keep high school students from dropping out. I responded to that article by stating it starts at the elementary level.
The article, It's Elementary: K-6 Ideas Could Keep Students From Dropping Out of School Later, addresses that very concern. This article stated two Alabama elementary schools are excelling despite their odds.
These school employ strategies such as using data about student performance to make decisions, having teachers mentor each other and collaborate on lesson plans to help them achieve their goal. One of the principals also stated that “the teachers have a standard to live by called the three R's. They stand for rigor, relevance and relationship. That means the schoolwork is challenging, it relates to the lives of the students and the students know their teachers care about their well being.”
If all schools, even ones in low-economical area, had the same vision as the two Alabama schools, students would understand from a young age that dropping out was not an option. They would hold a high regard to their education and understand that they should take advantage of a good thing, education.
At my current school, which is much like the two Alabama schools in demographics, our motto is Riverdale Elementary Students are College Bound. We let students know from day one we have high expectations of them, no matter what their background. We instill in them that if the put their minds to it they can graduate elementary, middle, high school and college.
My principal lives by the word “rigor” and we try to build relationships with our students and parents on a constant basis. I know as a whole we are pushing our students to graduate and when other schools realize it starts at the bottom, great things will happen at the top.
My school also stresses rigor and relationships. I believe that when teachers and parents can connect, the positive relationship can encourage students to stay in school. Ultimately, we as educators need to show students the need for graduating from high school and attending college. Getting a student to be motivated to learn is the biggest struggle. If we can accomplish this, students will stay in school.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of keeping the idea of college in our student's minds at a young age. In my 3rd grade classroom, we spend sometime discussing what we want to achieve when we grow up. Much of our discussion focuses on what steps we take (college, staying in school, good grades) to achieve these goals.
ReplyDeleteIf possible, take it a step further and take the students on a field trip to the local college.
ReplyDeleteI took my Kindergarten class to the city college, we had lunch in the cafeteria and looked in the different departments lecture halls. The students thought that they were in a big amazing new world.
Before visiting the school, each student talked about their dream job, so I made sure to take them to that department. We used a color coordinated picture map to show the steps needed to be successful in life. Stay in school, High school diploma, pick a school, admission process, college, Job. They had a blast.
When I spoke my own children and my students about college, I always said "when you go", not "if you go". I believe in planting the seed early!
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