It has been a while...

I have left every 21 Century class with all good intentions of blogging my thoughts and ideas. I have had many conversations with collegues on different theories and strategies of working with students. Apparently, I have not shared these thoughts and ideas with the group through blogging. I am making a concious effort to share these ideas and ask for feedback. This is "homework" that I have not made a priority. After reading others' blogs and the feedback they receive I know now how important it is. So, here it goes:

Today I would like to discuss two major issues facing our students today; problem- solving and decision making with real world implications.

For adolescents it is difficult to see beyond the here and now. Problem-solving issues can be as simple as what I should wear for the day? Or more complex situations like deciding what college should I go to? As educators we are asked questions all day long. Students ask us to help with projects, homework, reading skills, math skills, and, for me, how to throw a ball. These are what we know how to teach and what we were trained for. It is our specialty. These are not the problem-solving issues I am talking about.

So many times I have had students come into my office looking for guidance. For example, I left my Physical Education clothes at home or my lock is stuck. It is relatively simple to help the student come up with ideas on how to "fix." Ask questions to help guide the student to an idea that will alleiviate the problem. I try to not tell them how to "fix" it. Some students don't have the experience or maturity to think critically of a situation they have never been in before. That is our job to help them discover a way to make the situation work. Again, these are all of the "small things" but they still need some guidance from us to find the solution.

True problem-solving involves seeing the big picture - future implications and challenges that arise from the decisions made. We, as educators, can share our knowlege, guide and be there to listen but after that, we have to let them go. Hopefully students will make good choices. My health class is all about that - making SMART choices. How much more can we give them? They on their own after this.