Printer-friendly versionThere are all kinds of students. It seems like some students were made for school success. They have cracked the code of academic success, make A's and B's and live on the Honor Roll. Other students fail. Sometimes disruptive, these are the students teachers get frustrated by and worry about the most.
But what about those students that don't fall into these two easily defined categories? What about the students who never disrupt the class? They are gracious and polite, on-time and prepared. Yet, still they don't succeed. They are the "silent fails" that often slip through the cracks. What can teachers do to reach them?
Meet Chris Morales, who teaches mathematics at Lawndale High School in Calif., and listen as he speaks about the "silent fails" in his own classroom and strategies he uses to engage them.
Look For:
- In Morales' video, to whom does he give the blame for the "silent fails" in his classroom?
- Name at least three strategies that Morales mentions that help him reduce the number of "silent fails" in his classroom?
Go Deeper:
WICR - or writing, inquiry, collaboration and reading - forms the foundation for the AVID Program. AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination and is a national program that concerns itself with the academic middle to make sure they don't become "silent fails."
Reflect On:
- After exploring the 4 WICR domains – writing, inquiry, collaboration and reading – what is the difference between collaborative learning groups vs. traditional learning groups?
- How might you incorporate a Writing Learning Log into your own classroom?
Ready Resources:
Motivating your students gives educators seven ways to inspire, challenge and stimulate students.
Consider using Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences as a way to engage all learners in the classroom.
Educators for Social Responsibility offer a three-day institute on Facilitating Academic Success for Reluctant, Resistant, and Failing Students.
