Let’s Have An Important Conversation

My name is Adam Brown.

I work with challenging but capable students. Students who have been ‘forgotten’ at times by our education system. I’m in my fourth year as a principal. I have worked with challenging but capable students my entire career.

I champion their abilities and advocate for their needs. I hope that you enjoy this blog and participate in an important conversation.

Reflection

I want you to think about the student that got away. The student you could never develop the relationship you desired. The student who pushed buttons you never knew you had.

Have a student in mind? I certainly do.

Think about the extra time and patience you put into helping this student. No matter what you tried, you couldn’t get through to them. Perhaps they insulted you, made fun of peers, and exhibited a disconnect from others. This student’s lack of effort resulted in poor results inside and outside of the classroom.

Why did this student not care?

Why did they show no concern for their well-being or education? Why did they go out of their way to be a deterrent to the learning environment?

These are all legitimate questions that we have all asked.. I certainly have.

However..Why did we give up on them?

This question always haunts me. If we could turn back time, what could we have done differently to reach this student? Why didn’t we have the ability to inspire them?

Why did we allow this student to slip through the cracks?

If our goal as educators is to ensure that all students learn, why do we allow a certain population of students to become ‘forgotten children’?

In an age of technology integration, PBL, differentiation, and student-centered learning, there remains a need to address the ‘Elephant’ in our education system.

We continue to fail a certain percentage of our student population (and are okay with not talking about it).

Let’s Have A Conversation

I have worked with this student population my entire career. This blog is not intended to serve as a one-stop shop to provide answers to the questions presented in this text. Instead, this forum will serve as one way to ensure that these questions are being asked and a discussion is active.

Audience

This blog is intended for any educator who has experienced difficulty reaching a student and empowering them.

This blog will cover working with our most challenging students by providing reflection, leadership support, classroom and instructional strategies, and other ways to develop meaningful relationships with our ‘forgotten students’.

Let’s Have An Important Conversation

Let’s no longer accept the notion that it is the student’s fault for their inability to learn in a classroom environment.

Let’s accept our mission as educators that we must find the environment that is going to give them no choice but to be engaged.

That being said, let’s get to work.