Students and Education

School is back in session and everyone is excited about the upcoming academic year. I have always believed that success in school takes teamwork, in particular, a team of three: student, parents, and teacher.

I recently read Tony Wagner’s book Creating Innovators. In the book, he talks about how education needs to involve play, passion, and purpose in order to be effective in creating innovators. The author interviewed several successful innovators who shared their experiences of playing at school and about teachers who encouraged them and tailored activities to things the students were passionate about.

The key to those activities was the communication that occurred between teacher, student, and parents. When students shared their interests and their passions, teachers used their resources and parental support to create lesson plans that were student focused. Students then became engaged and excited about school. But communication, especially for young people, can sometimes be difficult.

Often the teacher is the last person a student feels comfortable approaching. The stern looks in the classroom that first week (because all teachers know that if you smile before Christmas you lose complete control of your classroom) can be a bit intimidating for certain students. But students should learn not to be afraid of stating their thoughts. If you’re a parent, grandparent, friend, or neighbor of a student, encourage him or her to communicate thoughts to the teacher.

Now, right in the middle of class might not be the perfect time to communicate these thoughts, so you might encourage students to find time right before or right after school. Students can certainly send thoughts to teachers in notes. I’ve received some beautiful notes before from my students that were quite eye-opening in terms of their opinions and beliefs.

If you attend parent conferences, and if you don’t I strongly encourage you to do so, bring your student along! I learn so much about my students when I can sit and chat with them and their parents. It’s a great opportunity to share whether your child has an A or an F in the class. Communication is a tool for improving education.

Students need to recognize that their education is theirs and that their thoughts are valid, and in many instances, very helpful. Communication is a skill that they will need to be successful in their adult lives.

Communication takes effort, but every little bit helps! Here’s to a successful school year!