[ebarker]

from the book "Nurtureshock" -

"Teens need opportunities to take good risks. They need more exposure to other adults, and even kids of other ages—and less exposure to teens exactly their age. They need part of their life to feel real, not just a dress rehearsal for college. They will mature more quickly if these elements are in their life."

The industrial educational complex has so socially stratified kids they do not have sufficient exposure to students or adults of other ages.

Teaching students to avoid all failure has its costs. Academically qualified students commonly have to be taught how to fail creatively and with purpose in order to drive innovation.

If you can engage students in activities, large or small, and get them to understand that what they are doing has a real impact on the world, they will get really motivated.

You may have heard Woodie or Dave talk about how the mentoring process is a 'big' deal. It is not a 'big' deal but a BIG DEAL !!!

There is a LOT of learning and maturing that can go on when you have students working with adult mentors of varying ages and experience.