SwCA Episode 138: Teaching The Underachiever!

SITE: http://www.courtneyanderson.com/swca-episode-138-educatorsrsquo-eden-series-teaching-the-underachiever.html   SHOW NOTES:  This is our EDUCATORS’ EDEN™ series wherein we explore the paradise that the most passionate, creative and committed educators create for themselves, their students, peers, administrations and institutions! This specific episode is, “Teaching the Underachiever!”  Underachiever: "someone (such as a student or athlete) who does not perform as well or work as hard as he or she can Underachiever."  (n.d.). Retrieved June 18, 2014, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underachiever  Why? A) Capable and unmotivated students. Or; B) Motivated and unskilled students. BEWARE: “The phenomenon known as “stereotype threat.” Members of groups believed to be academically inferior — African-American and Latino students enrolled in college, or female students in math and science courses — score much lower on tests when reminded beforehand of their race or gender. […] found that black students performed comparably with white students when told that the test they were taking was “a laboratory problem-solving task.” Black students scored much lower, however, when they were instructed that the test was meant to measure their intellectual ability. In effect, the prospect of social evaluation suppressed these students’ intelligence.” (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/opinion/sunday/intelligence-and-the-stereotype-threat.html?_r=0)   What should you do? 1) Combat your stereotypes (what you think about students).  2) Combat stereotype threat (what students think about themselves).  3) Create an environment that addresses attributional style issues. 4) Demonstrate consistent behavior that establishes and confirms the intrinsic value of your students and your belief in their capabilities.   Let's teach (and enjoy it)! © Courtney Anderson Enterprises LLC  CourtneyAnderson.com   [email protected]