Plan A

Kids go to school, conform to the system, learn what they need in order to be “happy & successful”, have a great experience, live happily ever after. If that doesn’t work…

Plan B

Get interventions to help the student conform to a broken system that doesn’t serve them properly. More tutors, therapists, extra busywork, more testing, special programs, punishments, threats, lectures, etc.. Hopefully they won’t learn to resent school. Hopefully they won’t end up feeling bad about themselves. If that doesn’t work…

Plan C

Back up. Back waaaay up!  Take a good look at what kids really need to live well and give well. Seriously, what do you think they really need? Question everything. What is education for anyhow? Is the homework legitimately valuable? What works? What outside-the-box alternatives may help? What valuable learning is taking place? What, if anything, are grades telling me? Is the educational approach truly addressing how kids learn best??? Oh, and try asking the student what he/she needs, because you might be surprised at how insightful these ideas are when you really listen. See students as highly unique individuals with complex needs, not as points on a bell curve. Accomodate for these needs. Make learning meaningful, interesting and fun. Inspire and encourage creativity. Teach cooperation. Empower metacognition. Guide social and emotional intelligence. Develop passions, interests, strengths. Teach people how to think and learn, not regurgitate. Change how we serve the learner. Teach for happiness first. Hmm… Maybe Plan C should become Plan A.