Engaging All Students with Poverty in Mind
Published: Sun, 02/10/19
A Message from Eric Jensen
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Eric Jensen here.
You might not know this, but occasionally I do FREE “under the radar” webinars.
Why?
Many leaders and teachers experience frustration with engaging students who come from adversity.
Yet highly successful teachers have been using simple, but extremely effective tools for decades.
How would I know about them? Here’s a true story.
Michael seemed to be a slow learner.
Michael was a student that seemed to hate school and he acted out.
He seemed to be destined for a painfully slow march just to get a high school diploma.
But anyone who doubted his potential was making a SERIOUS MISTAKE.
Why?
Some teachers are experts at predictions.
The problem is that we all fall prey to our unconscious biases.
Those are the biases that we don’t even realize we have.
Michael’s teachers knew that he came from adversity at home.
Michael’s teachers knew that his dad left him at age two.
Michael’s teachers knew his mom worked two jobs and rarely helped him with homework.
So, what about the “expert predictions” that the teachers made about Michael?
They were ALL wrong!
How did that happen?
Michael had a middle school teacher who believed in him.
The teacher pushed him to do tougher, not easier academics. In fact, by tenth grade,
his grades were good enough to get the attention of a school counselor (who also believed in him).
With the right guidance in high school, Michael learned how to learn and get better grades.
Yes, Michael DID go on to college and graduate with a B.A.
Not bad for a kid who was called a “slow learner” and who “acted out.”
If this only happened once, we could call it an exception.
But it happens again and again and again.
How do I know this?
First, I am a fanatic for research; I know the numbers on kids from adversity who struggle in school.
Second, I was one of those students. And I got pretty ticked off when someone told me
that I wasn’t very bright or was not “cut out for college.”
Those comments come from those who fall prey to unconscious biases.
Those biases say, “Because of this and that happened, here’s what going to happen next.”
Listen, we all make predictions.
But don’t ever make a prediction that sells a student short.
Why?
Students can feel it, deep inside.
And when they know you don’t believe in them, students do one of three things:
1) they quit believing in themselves
2) they get angry or apathetic with the system
3) they get even and are driven to prove you wrong
I was in the third group. I decided to prove every single teacher (>90% of my teachers)
that they had no clue what was inside of me.
Today, you might know me as the author of over 30 books on the brain, poverty, and learning.
Of course, maybe you attended one of my live events.
This note is for those that would like to start believing in your students again.
It is a quick “recharge” on evidence-based tools to boost learning in your struggling students.
Yes, it is free, too.
Join us for a fast-moving 52 min. online session packed with tools, evidence and classroom examples.
It could lower your work stress, unlock the success key to struggling learners and bring more joy to your work.
You will get real-world examples you can use NOW to turn students into “love to learn”
and “I want to participate” magnets for learning.
Just in time to help your work make a BIG difference before the end of this school year!
Here’s How to Reserve Your Spot: CLICK HERE! https://forms.aweber.com/form/82/1187065182.htm
I always liked teaching. But I never LOVED IT until I gained enough skills to manage student states,
build cognitive skills and turn over the “heavy lifting of learning” to my own students.
BUT WAIT!
Even if the time of the day does not work out for you, go ahead and register
and we’ll send you the link of the recorded event for FREE. So, can't attend?
Click here to Register anyway. https://forms.aweber.com/form/82/1187065182.htm
Mark this date (Tuesday, February 12, 2018) in your calendar. I promise to make it worth your time.
Hope you can join me!
With Gratitude,
Eric
P.S. This event is a partnership between Jensen Learning, Scientific Learning and Neuron Learning
By the way, this will be for the K-12 student; that means yours
If there is any problem with the link above, just email my colleague,
John. He is at john@neuronlearning.com and will get you registered
Please click here https://forms.aweber.com/form/82/1187065182.htm