Finding your place in HS

Sited from Dr. Helber's weekly memo 9-14-15.  Sagor (1993) summarizes the research findings of the last decade to identify the kinds of experiences students must have every day in order to leave school optimistic about their educational and personal futures. He suggests that key experiences fall under these four categories:

■ Belonging: experiences that show them they are valued members of a community
■ Competence: experiences that provide them with authentic evidence of academic success
■ Potency: experiences that make them feel empowered
■ Usefulness: experiences that reinforce feelings that they have made a useful contribution to their community

I truly hope that my video and photography classes can provide this for kids.  I tell students that their mission in high school is to find ONE thing they are good at, or can be a part of.  It's out there.  It's up to us as teachers to provide many opportunities for kids to find that sense of belonging, competence, potency and usefulness over four years of high school.