-
Have a real conversation
with a student. Ask a student what they want to do find out how you can help
make that happen.
-
Actively support
student-led action however possible, including working with students
out-of-school to accomplish their goals in education.
-
Start a resource library
at
your school that will inspire students to make change. Include books,
websites, and organizations working on democracy, social change, school
improvement, and youth power.
-
Use active learning methods
to teach students about education, including service learning and
constructivism. Build on what they already know.
-
Develop a student-adult partnership program
in your school where students and educators can actually discuss school
together.
-
Create a student action
center
in your school for students to become involved in changing their school
and communities.
-
Use
participatory action research
in your classroom for students to take action in your school.
-
Be an advocate for students
at school meetings. Make sure students are at the table whenever your
school is making choices about students.
-
Create classroom lesson
plans that actively engage students in critical thinking about education
and action that changes schools.
-
Make students concerns visible
in your school by posting them in your classroom and sharing them at
meetings where adults are.
-
Sponsor
a letter
with students to the administration about student issues.
-
Respect students
as you do adults. Don't expect more from students than you do adults and
don't interpret for students what they can say for themselves.
-
Co-design a lesson plan
with students about education reform and student involvement.
-
Listen
specifically
to students whose voices are seldom heard in schools, including students
who are minority, low-income, have low grades, or don’t interact with
their peers.
-
Host an activity
for students and educators to encourage student-adult partnerships.
-
Engage students as classroom
consultants, interns, apprentices, and
activities staff.
-
Be consistent and clear
about your expectations of students in your classroom.
-
Team up with students
to have a town meeting or school forum for everyone at your school.
-
Identify and network with
students
in your school who are concerned about their school.
-
Connect with other adult
allies
who want to involve students meaningfully, both in your school and
others, and around the community.
-
Include students in hiring
adults
at your school, including staff, teachers, and administrators.
-
Arrange resources
for students who would not otherwise be able to participate in school activities,
including transportation, permission, and childcare.
-
Support political candidates
for local, state, and national office who make
listening and working with young people a priority.
-
Arrange for a radio
station
to sponsor a call-in show led by students that allows them to
talk about their concerns about school.
-
Arrange an meeting with the principal for
students to highlight
the concerns and recommendations they have for school.
-
Create a school-wide vision
for student involvement and voice that includes adults and students.
-
Serve on an advisory board
for a student-led effort.
-
Refuse
to attend meetings
where students are not invited or where you can not bring students with
you.
-
Be a real, active, and engaged friend
to students.
-
Discourage unfair opportunities
for students based on academic performance, attendance, race, gender,
etc.
-
Create student-led experiences
in your classroom and throughout your school.
-
Make your classroom
a
comfortable, safe, and affirming place so students can “hang-out.”
-
Help students create a
newsletter, or work with your
school newspaper, to share students' concerns about their school and
education.
-
Help students create a
listing
of all opportunities for their involvement in your school and
community.
-
Call for
your school
to have regular student evaluations of themselves, teachers,
administrators, and classes that influence performance evaluations,
contracts, and hiring.
-
Ask a student for help. If
they know about computers, ask them to assist you. If they understand
diversity, ask them to teach you.
-
Sponsor a support group
for
students who face particular difficulties such as parents’ divorce,
violence, etc.
-
Raise funds
for a
student-led organization focusing on school issues.
-
Actively support youth-led
organizations
in your community, and encourage them to address education reform.
-
Join (or form) with students
a community task force to address youth issues and coordinate responses
in schools.
-
Prepare
students for multiple roles
in your school, including learner, teacher, and leader.
-
Ask
students' advice
on school issues you are wrestling with.
-
Be an advocate
for student
involvement and student/adult partnerships throughout the education
system.
-
Start an adult support
group
to share ideas, concerns, and ways to listen better to students.
-
Recognize
student involvement. Don’t assume that just because someone
is a student that they enjoy school. Help them appreciate it by giving
class credit or through other meaningful recognition.
-
Include students on
committees
in professional education organizations.
-
Hold students accountable
for their mistakes and challenges. Be honest and forthright with young
people, and support their efforts to improve.
-
Treat students as
individuals. One student cannot
represent all students, and must learn how to represent themselves.
Teach them.
-
Speak to students with
respect, and avoid interrupting students.
