Classmates
We do an amazingly good job of following the steps in this module as a team within the school. We have very high retention for this reason. (We want it higher, of course) Where we struggle at times is making sure that a student's classmates do not become too strong of a influence in helping that student to not succeed. The sometimes this can happen because a "click" or an individual with a strong personality has a life experience that tearing someone else down will build them up! (This of course is not true.) How do you suggest helping students become more team-oriented and act a resource of learning to increase their experience?
Nyssa,
I deal with this by creating study and project groups myself and switching students' seats regularly.
Jeffrey Schillinger
It's tough when classmates form cliques - it's hard on those students who feel rejected and it presents an additional obstacle to trying to succeed in school, when students are at a vulnerable time in life. No clique is ever beneficial. They should be broken up immediately.
Classmates who help one another freely are one of the best retention strategies - students learn better when they teach each other, and it promotes a healthy sense of acceptance.
Tim,
Finding ways to get students to link with each other is very important. Once a student feels a sense of belonging, there is a better chance the student chooses to stary rather than go when the rocks in the road appear.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Classmates can have the effect of either building up or tearing down the process for each other. It seems like the "tearing down" is a type of easy way out. The "buiding up" side has the prospect of being much more profound. When class mates share common experiences such as assignments, classroom activities and even building management issues, the buzz created by sharing these experiences can lead student to reveal their HABE's to each other. If the habbits, attitudes, beliefs and expectations are drawn out during these common expereinces, I think the positive HABE's and the building up process has a greater chance of winning the day.
