This site was founded in 1982 and has tons of programs that help educators with ways to reach children. Some of these include advisory programs, after school programs, and book reviews. Some of the ideas mentioned I have seen my school attempt; such as, the academy camps offered this summer, after school tutoring, group led parent/teacher conferences, and PLC meetings. Hopefully with a little more experience and organization, our school will be a shining example of what this site discusses. We are getting there, it seems.
This site also includes lesson plans geared towards thinking and reasoning skills: five levels of conflict, child soldiers, and mapping global conflict. All of these put children into situations where they must empathize with dire global anomalies, and do research, presentations, and cooperative learning to figure out what is going on in the world and how they can help or at the very least express gratitude that most of what they are discussing, they haven't had to experience first hand.
Amanda, I agree with you wholeheartedly. So many adults fail to realize the importance of their own attitude(s) toward life around them as well as outside the social environment in which they are often so entrenched. I, like so many, sometimes become so wrapped up in what is required of me and what I believe I have to accomplish that my attitude seems to reflect a "could care less attitude" toward the one thing that should be most important--my influence on my thirteen-year old. I honestly believe that quite a few students in our school district, probably the greatest number I have encountered since raising my two daughters--reflect the attitude of their parents. I don't know about you, but I and several other teachers have discussed how students just don't seem to care about their education. Very few of my students (approximately 50 out of 120)have parents who have made an effort to check on their child(ren)'s progress in my classes. Those who I have met with in person are usually the parents of my better students who put forth a real effort in my class. Only three parents contacted me about their child's low grades. Students often say, "I can't wait to get out of here!(Graduate) I can do whatever I want to then." Based upon my perception of parents's attitudes or failure to show interest in their child's progress, I believe that many parents are only tolerating and simply biding their time until their child(ren) graduate from high school and get out of the house. A shame really! I see potential in all of my students and really care about their academic success but in order for them to care, their parents have to show they care. Hopefully, some students will take the initiative and come to realize just how important attidue is to success in the classroom and the world outside of the classroom.
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