Research shows that the top two reasons students give up on school come down to:

Feeling like the classwork does not matter

Feeling like no one cares about them

We can do better than this gatesfoundation.org/ideas/media-ce…

'Transforming schools into communities of care and belonging will take work, but there is no work more vital, more necessary, more urgent, or more sacred that we are called to as educators'

Read more: …ightfuleducatornewsletter.beehiiv.com/p/transforming…

Students crave purpose, they are filled with passion, and they are ready to be difference makers in the world.

The only thing holding them back is us.

Instead of being places that help students 'do well on tests' and 'get good grades'

schools should intentionally chart a different path:

a path for those who want to change the world!

'It’s not about reading specific books or memorizing mental models. It’s about deeply understanding the basics across many parts of life.'

Naval

Society is never redeemed without effort, struggle, and sacrifice

and it is past time we make room for our students to enter and lead that effort

Schools that act as hotbeds of advocacy do all they can to help students become architects of repair in the world!

In such a school, no student ever asks, “Why does this matter?”

because the importance of the learning is evident from the start …ightfuleducatornewsletter.beehiiv.com/p/transforming…

Transforming schools into hotbeds of advocacy and activism invites students to use their voices to speak out and speak up about issues they are passionate, curious, and maybe even angry about …ightfuleducatornewsletter.beehiiv.com/p/transforming…

Instead of being places that help students 'do well on tests' and 'get good grades'

schools should intentionally chart a different path:

a path for those who want to change the world!

Our students are capable of doing great things now

they do not have to wait until they are adults to be difference makers in the world.

'My 1 repeated learning in life:
'There Are No Adults'

Everyone's making it up as they go along.
Figure it out yourself, and do it.'

Naval

We now live in a world where your digital environment has more of an influence on your future than your physical environment.

Congratulations!!

'If you need a message on purpose, culture building, or developing a life that transcends the obvious...Scott is your man!'

Hit me up if I can help your organization flourish! drscottamartin.com

It may be true that our students need to read Twain, conjugate verbs, factor trinomials, memorize state capitols, and write well-formed five paragraph essays

But it is essential that they feel seen, heard, cared for, valued, and valuable

I agree. Test optional allowed colleges to look at the whole applicant and not just their data

If we took seriously the opportunity, privilege, and responsibility we have to the well-being of the students, we would do whatever it takes to see that they know & believe that they are welcomed & accepted into a community of people who are so very glad they are there

We cannot waste the precious brain power, creativity, ingenuity, wonder, and passion of our students

Both for their sakes and for ours

We need them in the race, in the arena, fighting, striving, working, dreaming, and designing better systems, better worlds for us all

What if, instead of starting the day with quizzes and worksheets, we started it with community time: time students spend in small peer groups of accountability and acceptance?