Focus on Strengths, Not Failures, To Help Teens Succeed in School
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The best way to help teenagers who are struggling in school is put aside their academic problems and focus on what they’re doing right, according to a family research scientist who has put this theory to practice.
Nearly every family with a teen who has problems in school is told what they’re doing wrong. But knowing what’s wrong won’t fix anything, said Stephen Gavazzi, professor of education and human ecology at Ohio State University.
“Your problems won’t solve your problems, but your strengths will. That’s why we focus on assets,” he said.
Gavazzi describes his strength-based approach in a new book "Strong Families, Successful Students: Helping Teenagers Reach Their Full Academic Potential" (BookSurge).
The best way to help teenagers who are struggling in school is put aside their academic problems and focus on what they’re doing right, according to a family research scientist who has put this theory to practice.
Nearly every family with a teen who has problems in school is told what they’re doing wrong. But knowing what’s wrong won’t fix anything, said Stephen Gavazzi, professor of education and human ecology at Ohio State University.
“Your problems won’t solve your problems, but your strengths will. That’s why we focus on assets,” he said.
Gavazzi describes his strength-based approach in a new book "Strong Families, Successful Students: Helping Teenagers Reach Their Full Academic Potential" (BookSurge).
To close achievement gap, US must address major health risks for urban minority youth
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Lack of good health care curtails academic performance
"Educationally relevant health disparities" are key drivers of the achievement gap, "but they are largely overlooked," said Charles Basch, the Richard March Hoe Professor of Health Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.
"Over the past several decades, a variety of strategies have been tried to help close the achievement gap – standards, accountability, NCLB, more rigorous teacher certification – and they're all important, but they won't have the desired effect unless students are ready and motivated to learn."
Basch recently released a meta-study, "Healthier Students Are Better Learners," which focuses on seven health risks that disproportionately impair the academic performance of urban minority youth.
Lack of good health care curtails academic performance
"Educationally relevant health disparities" are key drivers of the achievement gap, "but they are largely overlooked," said Charles Basch, the Richard March Hoe Professor of Health Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.
"Over the past several decades, a variety of strategies have been tried to help close the achievement gap – standards, accountability, NCLB, more rigorous teacher certification – and they're all important, but they won't have the desired effect unless students are ready and motivated to learn."
Basch recently released a meta-study, "Healthier Students Are Better Learners," which focuses on seven health risks that disproportionately impair the academic performance of urban minority youth.