Schools are constantly throwing around trending phrases, such as college and career readiness. However, in many cases, this is just talk and pointing fingers and blame at those who are not “preparing students”. Clearly not proactive at all.
Here a few starter suggestions to consider…
Schools need:
When I interviewed for a school, the administration kept stressing “college readiness”. I nodded my head, agreeing, “Yes, definitely…we must prepare students for college”. I winged it, “team work”; “college visits”; “research”, and they excitedly approved. I was convinced that the two women didn’t necessarily have these ideas in mind, but were more enthused with how quickly I pulled the ideas out of thin air. I sat in front of them, observing their smiles and wondering if they even had college-readiness strategies for their students, or were they just throwing around the trending phrase. About mid-way through our lengthy dialogue, I was convinced that they were as clueless as I was, and were not currently practicing any college-readiness strategies with their students.
Yes, I went to college, and didn’t need to take remedial courses, but that was thanks in-part to me transferring from NYC to a high school in Pennsylvania. Only then did I observe a truly college and career readiness system. I expressed that I planned to go to college, and shared ideas of what fields I was interested in studying, and the counselor placed me in college-bound and specialized classes, which would best prepare me. For those who intended to go straight into the workforce after graduation, they were placed into a vocational prep program where they not only received core classes, but also went into various fields to get training and experience. The school also offered a wealth of clubs and electives that wet students’ taste buds.
Of course all of this came to mind during the interview, but if I shared them, I’m sure the lost-but enthused administrators would have shared the usual “no money in the budget” stories and insisted that I as an individual prepare my students for college (of course, without any suggestions of how to accomplish the task).
Everything costs money, and my Pennsylvania school had a much bigger budget than any I’ve been to here in NYC, but preparing students for college and careers must be a school (even a district) effort. We must meet students where they are and push them forward. My ideal school would model this one.
I’m a media arts teacher in Brooklyn, NY. I received my BA in Media Arts and MA in English from LIU, Brooklyn Campus. My students and I use technology for communication, research, development, interactive activities, etc.
It is my hope to learn new and innovative ways to bring my students up to speed with 21st Century skills.
I’d rate my technological expertise 4 out 5.
An Educator's Venture 