Manifesto "Impacting Young Minds by Creating Lifelong Learners"
by Cherie Laglois
After recent test results from the Program of International Student Assessment, which is an exam given every three years to 15 year olds around the world, it is concluded that we tested below average in math, average in science, and average in reading. Shanghai-China tested better than the US in all three categories. Clearly the US education system is not the best in the world, and there is plenty of room for improvement. Improvement takes a lot of work and for many people it can seem hard to help, but it isn’t. Because I am an instructor, student, and a very active Aunt, I see different learning styles all day. Some are great, while others are lacking. I believe a big reason for these poor test scores are because of the learning styles in America. Everyone learns differently and that’s perfectly okay as long as you are learning. In the US many students aren’t motivated to learn, and don’t set goals. Lifelong learning is one of the many ways to impact young minds, which will help the education system. You can’t just rely on the students to fix their learning styles. It takes a whole community of people, including teachers, students and parents. If all three play an active role in creating lifelong learners, young minds will change. Below is a list of simple steps that teachers, students and parents can do.
1) Provoke
Teachers, get students interested with what you are teaching. What interested you to want to learn? Challenge them! Think back to what your favorite teacher did to get you to learn. My favorite teacher would give little fun facts or goofy facts about what we are learning. It could have been completely irrelevant but because he said them it made me retain the material and I would remember it for my test.
Parents, its important to know what they are learning so you can stay connected and if needed help with homework. By doing this, you are provoking your child to stay interested in the topic. If you know what they are learning you can bring in your own ideas to help them remember it. It will help because eventually they are going to ask for your help and you will already be set to go. A great way to provoke your child is to review what they learned. My family would go around the table saying one good thing and bad thing that happened during the day. You could try this or try one thing you learned and one thing you taught. This may seem little but it can spread into a great conversation, which will help them remember what they learned.
2) Create relationships
Teachers, all kids come from different backgrounds and its effects the way they learn and think. Get to know them and they will respect you more. Don’t be afraid to express your own background. Once they feel like there is a teacher/ student relationship, it will be easier for them to learn and easier for you, as the teacher, to teach.
Students, the same goes for you. Your teacher has a hard job, and it makes it much easier for both of you, if you have some sort of connection. Small talk shows you care and it will help in the long run when you need help on something.
Parents, this is crucial for you to stay connected with both the teacher and your child. In the next step, it will tell you things you can do to stay connected with your child teacher, which will help build a good relationship.
3) Stay Connected
Teachers, whether you want to or not this is crucial in a student’s growth. Their parents play a huge part in their lives and its important to know they are connected with what you are doing in class so they can help and reinforce outside of school. Staying connected can happen in many ways. For example, through a letter home, an email, a phone call, or even a text message in this day and age. For younger students (elementary school), a weekly update would be good because that time is very important for parents to stay involved. For middle and high school every week might be too much but it really depends on the student. These updates should include behavior reports, a little outline of what they learned, and any concerns you may have.
Students, don’t be afraid to ask your teachers for help. Not all schools have help centers you can go to but if you do, take advantage of it! Your teachers give you their contact info for a reason and its there for you to ask for help! They want you to get what they learn and if that means some extra time they’ll do it! A good way to stay connected with your family is to teach it, which will also help you learn. This may seem like something that doesn’t work but it definitely does! I use this all the time and I always remember it after. Teach what you learned to a friend, or parents! It’s interesting to hear what they have to say about the topic, which may help, you retain it better.
Parents, stay in touch with your child’s teacher! This is one of the most important steps to improving young minds. Stay connected with the teacher by email, text message, or phone calls. The teacher knows what really happens at school and can have great suggestions on what to do at home to help out. For young children it’s very important to regularly talk to teachers. Staying connected can be happen in many ways and my favorite it volunteering. I know this can be hard for some parents but it really means a lot to your children. Schools will always have fundraisers and it’s always good to participate in any way you can. The best way to volunteer is to spend a day at school in his/her class. This works best with elementary grades. By spending a day at school, you create relationships with both the teachers and the students. You learn about the students and create great relationships.
4) Decision making
Teachers, encourage choices and teach your students to learn from every mistake. Choices will impact every child’s life no matter how big or small. If younger kids learn decision-making at a young age, it will help in their teenage years. It’s okay for young minds to make some mistakes, as long as they know they made a mistake, and they learn and grow from it.
Students, I personally know how hard decisions can be and these are two good decisions I have made that will help you. Review at the end of the day. This only takes 5 minutes. The best way to retain what you learned is to quickly skim what you learned. Go over the test or quiz you learned. Read out loud the notes you took in class! This may seem like a hassle in the beginning but once you make a habit of it, you’ll be amazed how easy studying can be! My second decision is to start studying ahead of time for that big test. Instead of waiting for the last second to study for the test start the day you find out you have a test. I am sure you’ve heard this tips million times but it is because it works! I start studying for just 10 minutes a day and the night before I have a big review, and by then I know everything.
Parents, be aware of there behavior for at home and at school. They may act very differently in school then they do at home but it is good to know because it effects their learning. The way you act can effect the way they act in school. If you have a grasp on their behavior will also help the teachers.
5) Repair Learning Styles
Teachers, All students learn differently whether it is audible, kinesthetic, visual or even more individual than that. Once you know how each child learns, you will be able to personalize the way you teach. But just because a child may need more help than other students doesn’t mean you should neglect the students that grasp the concept more. Once you give too much time to help someone, the other students get bored and therefore can create an opportunity for bad behavior. Control with questions!
Students, find out the way you like to learn and run with it. Find the things that your teacher does that you like the most and tell your teacher how much that helped you to learn. There will be a class you don’t like eventually, it may just be one or all of them. Fake it until you make it! Pretend you like the class and push yourself for that goal grade. Make it look like your interested in what the teacher is saying by nodding when you make eye contact and sit up straight! You may think this won’t work but it will actually help you retain the material. This is another great way to review but I believe it is so successful it needs its own number. At the end of the day take your notes out and mind map! Get a piece of paper and for different colored pens or pencils (as long as they are different colors). In the middle of the page write down the topic you learned about and a picture to go with it. Then have branches going off of the topic with all of your sub topics and its important information. Do all of these subtopics in different colors, but don’t change colors within the subtopic. One color per subtopic. I make mind maps for almost all of my subjects and it helps when I am reviewing for a test. I like these because they are fun to make. You get to just take a break and color while still being productive.
Parents, it can be hard to help with learning styles. If you know the best way your child learns it’s a good idea to communicate with their teacher and have a conversation about it. By following all of the other steps you will be helping tremendously with their learning styles.
6) Motivate Futures
Teachers, student’s feed off of compliments and it builds their motivation. If you compliment them on something they worked extensively on, it will make them want to work that much harder the next time. If you see a student or multiple students struggling, use something called Praise Correct Praise. Don’t point out what they are doing wrong, because that is just frustrating for the student. First, praise something they are doing right. (It may be hard but there is always something!) After you give a praise, correct what they are doing wrong. Once they get it, compliment them on it!
Students’, becoming a lifelong learner is also becoming a goal setter. Setting goals is something I’ve done since I was five years old and is something I see my 5-year-old nephew do everyday. I make goals all the time and its what is keeping me motivated. My biggest goal is that I am going to for my nephew’s educations. Create goals to keep you motivated. If there is something you want it, go for it.
Parents, ask your child questions and keep them motivated by sharing your goals with them. Stay consistent with these. Asking questions reinforces what they learned in school. A great way to do this is on the drive home from school. If you make this habit soon they will start sharing what they learned without you having to ask. Challenge what they learn with what you know about the topic! Sharing your goals with them will show that goals are realistic and it helps.
I am a lifelong learner. I set goals. I am motivated. Are you? Lifelong learning keeps you motivated and having this motivation will help the education systems improve. These six simple steps are something that can happen today. Set a goal for you to follow these steps. Create these habits and help improve young minds. Learning isn’t just in a classroom. It happens every minute of your life if you let it. Be curious and explore more than just what your teacher tells you. Don’t rely on the first source, strive to know more. I challenge you to start in the class rom but not to finish in the classroom..