Important Ideas to Consider When Teaching a High School Student

Blog #8
Suzanne C.
Literary Luminator
pages 266-321

I found the following quotes discussed important themes in the chapter,

p.267.  "In brain-based and gender literature, high school is usually treated as a lesser subject because so much of a student's learning pattern has been set in middle, elementary, and preschool.  Although it's true that the high school student is :mostly formed", it is also true that he or she is not at all finished.  High school is a time of refinement for all students, in both brain and gender development."

This quote should serve to remind teachers that while high school students may seem to want to be treated as adults, we need to remember that they are still developing and need guidance and opportunities to learn. Therefore, we must provide them with opportunities to assume responsibility, but also not require them to function as adults.

p.270-in a discussion of Communication and Conflict Resolution- " "The intention of the hurt student, whether male or female, is the same:  to return to the self to a position of respect in the face of lowered peer respect, and to do so by attempting to dominate or defy the instructor, who is perceived as the betrayer of the respect and the bond."
This quote reminded me that discipline is not all about power.  While it is important to set limits and adhere to them this can be done without humiliating a student.  By setting reasonable limits and predictable, concrete consequences a teacher will not be at as great a risk of breaking a bond with a student and therefore having that student become a permanent behavior problem due to their lack of respect and trust towards the teacher.

p.297- in a conclusion of a discussion about Gender Eductaion- Bill Callahan, a school principal, said, " Some people wish we could just teach reading, writing, and arithmetic like the old days.  But it's a fact of life that we are now responsible for helping our kids to grow and develop as people."

While this statement can be a bit overwhelming to a teacher, it speaks to how our society has changed in the last 50 years.  While many families are now single parent ones or simply do not have the time to teach their children social skills, it does not mean that they are not trying.  Even if a student is brought up in a family with positive role models it is important for them to see these values and try to practice them in the real world.  Therefore, as their "real world" schools need to remember the importance of values and social skills in their teaching as well as the academic subjects.