Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2009 - (Page 32)

middle ground for the middle grades It’s Your Education, Isn’t It? by Jim Delisle, Ph.D. ou know the drill: You show up in your social studies class and again—again!—you are being instructed on the distinctions among the three branches of the federal government. You’ve already learned this stuff and can’t believe you’ll be spending the next few weeks on it. So what are you going to do about this situation? Are you planning to: a. sit back and wallow in self-pity, rolling your eyes at every mention of the Electoral College? b. dutifully complete the basic worksheets in stunned amazement that your classmates don’t remember this stuff from previous years, previous teachers? c. pretend to ignore your teacher’s lessons, only to show that you know the answer to her every question? The correct answer? None of the above. Each of the “solutions” presented above ends up with the same sad result: non-learning and frustration on your part. But isn’t early adolescence a time to be assertive, feisty, opinionated, individualistic? Of course it is. The trick is to use these attributes to your advantage. By middle school, you know what works for you in school and what doesn’t. By approaching your teacher(s) with a plan that will get their attention, you might just get some social studies (or math, or science) instruction that actually engages and educates you. Here’s how to get started. Make an appointment with your teacher. Ask your teacher if there is a time when you can talk about an issue that is important to you. If the teacher asks, “What’s this about?” simply answer, “I have an idea for increasing my learning that I’d like to discuss with you.” Plan ahead. You can’t just walk into your meeting and say, “I’m really bored in your class. What are you going to do about it?” Instead, write imagine Y a proposal that outlines what you already know about the topic under study (for example, the three branches of government) and be ready to provide evidence that you do know what your teacher needs you to know. Then, provide an alternative set of assignments you will do instead of what your classmates are doing—a mock election, perhaps, or a “trial” about an issue of concern to you and your classmates. If another of your friends shares your knowledge and your ambition to learn new stuff, corral him or her into this meeting. Follow through. The worst thing you can do is to make an agreement with your teacher and not follow through. If your teacher has to hound you about whether you are spending your time learning anything, then you are not living up to your end of this bargain. Give your teacher a weekly (at least!) update on your progress, along with a final project to evaluate—a class presentation, a PowerPoint that overviews your topic, or a oneon-one interview with your teacher highlighting what you have learned. Express your gratitude. Middle school teachers are responsible for the learning of at least 100 students a day. If your teacher is willing to cut you a break from the ordinary, thank this teacher for the freedom you’ve been provided. If you do the work you said you would do, your teacher will tell other teachers of this success—and you are on your way to paving an educational path that is definitely worth walking. The only way change happens in middle and high schools is if students take the initiative to make it occur. So start with a teacher whom you believe will listen to your legitimate concerns about your education. If you earn this teacher’s vote, other teachers will follow. Consensus reached. Case closed. Everybody wins. i Jim Delisle is a retired college professor and middle school teacher. His 14 books, including the best-selling Gifted Kids’ Survival Guide: A Teen Handbook, have been published in multiple languages worldwide. January/February 009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2009

Imagine Magazine - John Hopkins - January/February 2009
Contents
Letters
Big Problems
In My Own Words
Witness to a Pandemic
An Ounce of Prevention
Of Math and Measles
Predicting the Next Pandemic
Medicine, Medicine Everywhere
Food Matters
Looking for a Challenge? Try Summer College!
CTY: The Real Deal
Hot Topic
Selected Opportunities & Resources
Off the Shelf
Word Wise
Middle Ground
One Step Ahead
Exploring Career Options
Planning Ahead for College
Students Review
Creative Minds Imagine
Sudoku
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2009