Creating a Change

Creating a Change

As human beings, most of us are inherently hard wired to improve ourselves personally and professionally throughout our lives. Oftentimes we reflect upon what has worked, what hasn’t worked, and how we can do better in the future. We can cultivate and encourage the desire to improve among our students as well.

Find out what students want to change or improve about themselves academically or personally. Help them set goals to reach that change. Remember that for some students, you may be the only or the best role model they will ever have. You are in a powerful position to make change possible for them. Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity!

How to create a change among your students

During the first week of school, ask students what changes they would like to make. Changes could be on a personal level, involve the community, relate to the school, relate to a family member, and so on. The question could take several different forms, and you might let students choose from a list of two or three questions. Here are some suggestions:

The Three-Step Interview itself is composed of these three steps:

• How do you want to improve as a student during the year?
• What do you want to do to make yourself a better person?
• If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
• What can you do to improve your community this year?
• How can you make your school a better place?

You will need to either provide postcards—maybe postcards with your town/city or school on the front—or you can ask students to bring in one postcard that is meaningful to them. Have each person write his or her address on the postcard. It is up to you whether you want students to put a stamp their postcards or if you will provide postage.

Have them write their answer to the question on the postcard then collect and hold all postcards until the end of the year.

At the end of the year or over the summer, write a little inspirational note under on each postcard under the student’s answer, then mail the postcard to the student. Many of them will have forgotten about the exercise and will be surprised to receive the postcard. If you have helped them set and achieve goals during the year, the answer to their question should reaffirm what they have accomplished. If not, it may be a reminder of what they can do in the future.

If your school has the technology, students can create and decorate electronic postcards, which you can save and email to students.

Creating a Change postcards do not have to be done during the first week of school. You can do them any time that students need to affirm who they are, want to make a difference, or need a change.

Eisner, E. W. (2004). Preparing for today and tomorrow. Educational Leadership, 61(4), 6-10.

MacIver, D. J., Young, E. M., & Washburn, B. (2002). Instructional practices and motivation
     during middle school (with special attention to science). In A. Wigfield (Ed.),
     Development of achievement motivation (pp. 333-351). San Diego, CA: Academic.

Marzano, R. J., & Marzano, J. S. (2003). The key to classroom management. Educational
     Leadership, 61(1), 6-13.

Source: The above tips are based on PLS's graduate course Teaching the Skills of the 21st Century®.For more information see "Featured Graduate Course" to the right.

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