The Essay Clinic - learn more here
Ever found yourself in a parent-teacher conference that turned into an unexpected lightbulb moment? That's precisely what led me, Francesca Hudson, to challenge the conventional wisdom on grades and their impact on our teens' education and well-being. On this enlightening episode of Challenge Your Mind, Change the World, we delve into the depths of how traditional grading might be myopically emphasizing academics at the expense of creativity, social skills, and emotional intelligence – essential components for the holistic growth of our youngsters. Join us as we unravel the narrative that good grades equate to success, and consider the merits of fostering a growth mindset that celebrates learning over scores.
Today's educational journey goes beyond rote learning and into the realm of continuous innovation and personal development. I share stories and insights on alternative assessment techniques, like portfolios, that paint a broader picture of a student's capabilities and achievements. We discuss the invaluable role of parents in nurturing their child's innate creativity and how vital it is to keep the channels of communication open. It's not just about the report card; it's about preparing our teens for the multifaceted challenges of life. So tune in and let's together support a generation of well-rounded individuals ready to take on the world, one thoughtful conversation at a time.
**Brand New Course for Students on How To Write a Basic Literary Essay**
If your child is struggling in class with understanding how to write a literary essay - for their exams or other assignments where they can't use any other technology except for their good ol' brain, I have just launched my brand new digital course, The Essay Clinic. I'm offering super special launch pricing (but hurry as it won't be priced this good for long!) Come and take advantage of my 20+ years of teaching and education and give your child the extra boost they might need with their essay writing. I've got you with a full 3 module digital course! See you over at The Essay Clinic! (Oh, and it's open all hours too, as I know how busy every family's lives are these days!!)
- Francesca
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, hello, hello and welcome.
I am Francesca Hudson, yourhost and you are with Challenge
your Mind, change the World, thepodcast where we dive deep into
what really shapes the learningand growth of our teenagers.
Thank you, wonderful parents,for joining me today.
We have got a really juicypodcast episode.
We're going beyond the reportcard to explore what truly
(00:21):
matters in our teenagers'educational journeys.
We're talking about the aspectsof learning that grades simply
can't measure.
Why this topic?
Well, a very clear memory hasalways stuck in my mind when I'm
talking about academic successand the importance of grades
with parents and I had aparent-teacher conference where
(00:42):
I met with some worried parentsof a really bright student who
was distraught over a B in theirEnglish essay Writing.
In essays we did a lot of, andthis particular student was
involved in sports and music andvolunteer work and was very,
very heavily involved in thecommunity of the school.
(01:04):
This particular student wasstruggling to see her own value
beyond that single grade andthat really caused me to reflect
.
This encounter made me realizehow often we as a community
equate a student's worth withtheir academic performance and
it really struck a chord with meand I knew we needed to address
(01:26):
this on the podcast.
If you've ever found yourselffretting over your child's
grades, wondering if thesenumbers tell the full story of
who they are and what they canbecome, then this episode is for
you.
Let's look at the limitationsof grades.
What do grades actuallyrepresent?
Let's start by understandingwhat grades are actually
(01:48):
designed to measure.
Typically, grades assess howwell students remember and apply
specific academic knowledgewithin a structured setting like
, for example, tests orassignments.
But here's what we often missGrades don't capture the full
spectrum of a student'sintelligence or their
(02:08):
capabilities.
They don't show us a student'scuriosity, for example, or their
leadership qualities, or theircreativity, or even their
ability to collaborateeffectively with others those
social aspects.
Think of it like a snapshotfrom a camera.
It captures a moment in time,but it doesn't tell the whole
(02:31):
story of a journey.
Just as one snapshot can't showyou every beautiful scene from
a mountain hike, for example, asingle grade can't show all the
learning and the growth astudent experiences.
It's just not possible, so it'svery limited in its scope.
Now let's talk about the darkerside of grades the pressure that
they can create.
(02:51):
So for many students, thepursuit of high grades becomes
the end all and be all of theirschool experience.
It creates pressure and anxiety, and these are two topics that,
as parents and as educators,are so important and they cause
us so much worry and concernabout how our teenagers are
(03:13):
feeling at school.
What pressure are they underand how is it triggering anxiety
?
And then are they evencommunicating that pressure and
anxiety to us as adults?
This pressure can lead tosevere anxiety and stress, and
it's not uncommon to hear ofstudents who experience
sleepless nights, anxietyattacks and even depression over
(03:34):
their grades.
The fear of not measuring up canovershadow their education and
their personal growth.
It can be really damaging toput emphasis on this be-all,
end-all high grades or highachievement or academic success,
at the complete disregard ofall the other skills, those
(03:54):
transferable soft skills thatteenagers are learning in these
very transformative years.
And, according to psychologists, when students are overly
focused on grades, they candevelop a fixed mindset where
they see their abilities asstatic.
This is a direct contradictionto the growth mindset that we
(04:16):
aim to cultivate in educationand here at the Classic High
School Teacher, which encouragesongoing learning and
development, that beginner'smindset in life always showing
up, no matter how old you arewith a beginner's mindset, the
idea that there is alwayssomething new to learn and that
we are always at the start ofthe journey and not the end.
So it's crucial for us aseducators and as parents to
(04:40):
recognize these signs andintervene when we see them.
We should be encouraging ourstudents to understand that
their worth is not tied to aletter on their report card.
Let's look at the holisticdevelopment in teens.
There's social skills, for anexample.
So, moving beyond grades, let'sfocus on these social skills
for a moment.
These are the abilities thathelp our teens navigate the
(05:02):
world around them, buildrelationships and effectively
communicate.
Why do they matter?
Well, in both personal andprofessional settings, strong
social skills can be just asimportant as academic knowledge.
They can help teens work wellin teams, resolve conflicts and
express themselves clearly.
(05:22):
And, as a business owner myself, the young people coming
through into the workforce thathave these strong social skills
far outperform the young peoplethat come through that have got
really high grades in theirparticular field, but they just
don't know how to operate andinteract in a social setting.
(05:43):
And another example is duringgroup projects at school, when I
was teaching at school, it'snot just the grade that matters,
but how students collaborate,negotiate and support their
peers.
These experiences areinvaluable as they mirror the
future workplace environments tofoster, but they aren't
(06:11):
necessarily taught in school.
They're not a subject it's nota cold, hard subject where there
is a curriculum that you cantest against and so these soft
skills quite often get ignored.
It's up to us as parents,outside of school, to be able to
foster and encourage and teachthese soft skills.
Another really important skillis emotional intelligence.
Another really important skillis emotional intelligence.
(06:43):
So emotional intelligence is anunderstanding of one's own
emotions and the emotions ofothers.
It's a double whammy.
It's not just our own emotions,but the emotions of others
equips our teenagers with theskills to manage stress,
empathize with others and makethoughtful decisions.
It's about building resilienceand adapting to the setbacks
with a balanced perspective.
Here's an example Consider ateen who struggles initially
with poor grades, but learns tocope with disappointment and
(07:03):
strategizes different approachesto learning as a result of this
, as a result of thisdisappointment.
This shows maturity andadaptability.
These are qualities that arehighly valued in every stage of
life.
It's learning not to quit,learning not to give up after
the first try.
It's being able to recognizethat with persistence you can
(07:28):
get there.
These are all as a result ofemotional intelligence.
Once again, this is not taughtin schools.
This is up to us parents to beable to teach this in our
children.
And then we come to criticalthinking and problem solving.
These skills are aboutanalyzing situations,
questioning norms and coming upwith effective solutions, but
(07:48):
unfortunately, traditionalgrading systems often overlook
these skills.
They might not fully capture astudent's ability to think
outside the box or solve complexreal world problems.
As teachers, we just simplydon't have the time in class to
teach specific critical thinkingand problem solving skills.
As I say, we are there to teachthe curriculum in a very
(08:11):
limited amount of time, and wereally have to hope and cross
our fingers that when a studentcan respond critically in an
essay or in a speech, theysomehow intuitively know how to
think critically.
How do we encourage developmentthen?
Well, as parents and aseducators, we can foster these
(08:32):
abilities by encouraging teensto engage in debates,
participate in things likescience fairs or take on
projects that require them todesign solutions to community
issues.
It's these type ofextracurricular activities
looking at the morecommunity-focused events that
are happening around school,because these activities help
(08:52):
them apply what they learn inmeaningful ways and are really
good at teaching these socialskills in a new light.
If we say, on one hand, thatgrades aren't everything, what
are some alternatives totraditional grading?
Well, let's start withproject-based learning, a
dynamic classroom approach inwhich students actively explore
(09:12):
real-world problems andchallenges.
So, through projects, studentsget to immerse themselves deeply
in a subject, which enhancestheir understanding and their
attention.
This method also encouragesthem to develop practical skills
by applying what they learn inmeaningful contexts, and more
and more schools are adaptingthis project-based learning,
(09:34):
where the grade isn't justreliant on one end of year exam,
but assessed routinelythroughout the year in various
projects, which is great.
So I'll give you an example.
Imagine a project wherestudents are tasked with
designing a sustainable gardenfor the school.
This requires research,planning, teamwork and execution
, and these are all skills thatare invaluable in real life but
(09:56):
often under-emphasised intraditional grading, but you can
see how important they are.
Another way that schools areadapting now as well, that
you'll notice, and I think it'simportant.
As parents, we really do praiseour children when we see them
working on these assessments areportfolios and continuous
assessment.
These are comprehensive recordsof a student's work that
(10:17):
showcase their progress overtime, and the benefits are
unlike a single test score, aportfolio can include various
forms of student work, likewritten assignments, projects
and even video recordings ofpresentations, and this provides
a much fuller picture of astudent's abilities and their
growth.
For example, a student mightcompile a portfolio for an
(10:41):
English class and we used to runan assessment throughout the
year for reading.
They would have a reading logof books.
They would have to read a widerange of books from different
genres and reflect on that.
So you know, a portfolio mightinclude essays, book reviews and
personal reflections writtenthroughout the year,
illustrating not just theirwriting skills but their
(11:01):
evolving critical thinking andanalytical capabilities as well.
Another way is encouragingcreativity and innovation as
well.
Another way is encouragingcreativity and innovation.
Fostering an environment thatvalues creativity and innovation
is essential.
In our rapidly changing world,the ability to think differently
and to innovate is more crucialthan ever.
Schools can support this byoffering more open-ended
(11:24):
assignments that allow forcreative expression and by
recognising creativeaccomplishments, and so many
schools are doing this now and,as I mentioned before, when we
see this at home, when ourchildren bring their work home,
it is so important to praise andencourage these types of
projects, because these are thetypes of projects that will
really benefit them in the longterm.
(11:46):
So, as parents, we can encourageour children by engaging in
creative activities at home aswell, or supporting hobbies and
interests that foster inventivethinking, like those community
science fairs or those debates.
It's about creating a culturethat appreciates creativity just
as much as academic achievement.
For instance, a school mighthost an innovation day where
(12:09):
students present inventions orstart-up ideas to local business
leaders, providing bothrecognition and real-world
feedback.
And if that is an opportunitythat is given to your child, I
would encourage you to tell themto embrace it with both hands.
How else can we as parentsbecause I am a parent two to two
boys how can we help with ourchildren?
(12:30):
Well, it starts with supportingtheir interests.
One of the most impactful waysthat we, as parents, can help is
by supporting our children'sinterests outside of academic
achievements.
Attend their events, ask abouttheir projects.
Question asking is one of themost valuable communication
tools you can have with yourchildren and show genuine
(12:51):
interest.
Put the phone away and showgenuine interest in what they're
doing.
This not only boosts theirconfidence, but also shows that
you value their developmentbeyond just simply grades and
academic success.
Such support can help teenagersdevelop a really well-rounded
personality.
It can enhance their socialskills and reduce the pressure
(13:14):
that they feel in purelyacademic areas.
If they know that you'recheering them on in other areas
and they're contributingactively to the school, that is
worth so much.
It's about creating a balancedenvironment, I suppose, and
that's both at school and athome.
It means fostering a spacewhere learning is viewed in a
broader sense, not just throughthe lens of homework or grades.
(13:36):
My suggestion when parents askme is to set up a dedicated
space for creative projectsthat's separate from study areas
, because we want to be able toassociate this with pleasure,
with creativity, with fosteringcuriosity and and it's a place
where you can regularly discussbooks, movies and current events
(13:57):
that encourage criticalthinking and debate.
Put on some music, if you'vegot an auditory learner, or
light some scented candles ifyou've got an engager with you.
This kind of environment showsthat learning isn't just for
school, it's part of everydaylife.
It's part of everyday life andencourage downtime and
relaxation too.
It's important for mentalhealth and it also helps
(14:25):
maintain a balance betweenschoolwork and personal time.
I think also when it comes tohow we can support our teenagers
and our children as parents,having open communication and
this is one area that I am sopassionate about is open
communication is key.
It builds trust and allowschildren and teenagers to share
(14:45):
their thoughts and concernsabout school and life, because
they know that they're not goingto get judged.
So how do you do it?
Well, start regularconversations about school that
go just beyond asking how wasyour day.
Dive deeper, ask your childwhat they're learning, how do
they feel about their classesand what challenges they're
(15:05):
facing.
I had a son today who did notwant to go to school.
He was very defiantly refusingto go to school and finally he
got in the car and on the way toschool.
I thought I'm going to defusethe situation, and it's not
about setting up your pitchforksand your battle lines with your
child and saying you are goingto school.
(15:25):
I wanted to get to the heart ofwhat the issue was, and so I
was asking him questions aroundokay, well, why don't you want
to go to school?
And he said it's school's boring.
And I said, well, what inparticular is boring about
school?
Is there a subject that youfind boring?
And he said spelling.
And I said, okay, well, what isit about spelling that you find
boring?
And he said I have to do twosheets of spelling.
(15:48):
And I said well, how long doesit take to do Half an hour?
And I said is it because youfind it really hard to do or is
it because you find it reallyeasy to do?
That's making it boring.
And he said I'm finding itreally easy.
And I said so, maybe it'sbecause you're not being
challenged enough.
You're not being challengedenough that you might be finding
(16:08):
this boring.
And obviously he's a boy.
And he said I don't know, but Ithink that by the time we got
to school, just by talking aboutit in this sort of back and
forth question answer scenario,it had completely diffused the
situation and he went off quitehappily.
I definitely would say you know, ask about what they're
learning, how they feel abouttheir classes and what
(16:29):
challenges they're facing.
And when you are discussinggoals and expectations when they
are older, when they're at thatteenage level, make sure it's a
two-way conversation.
So listen to their aspirationsand fears, because this shows
you respect their views and arethere to support, not just push
them towards certain goals thatyou think they should be doing.
(16:50):
It's about that, back and forth.
Today we've explored thelimitations of traditional
grading and recognised that,while grades are important, they
don't tell the whole storyabout our teenagers.
We discussed how holisticdevelopment, including social
skills, emotional intelligenceand critical thinking, is
crucial for real-world success.
(17:11):
We've also delved intoalternative assessment methods,
like project-based learning,folios and continuous assessment
, which can provide a morecomprehensive view of a
student's abilities and theirgrowth.
So, as we look beyond thereport card, let's remember that
our role as parents andeducators isn't just to prepare
(17:34):
students for tests, but for life.
Every teenager has uniquestrengths and potentials that
flourish under the rightconditions.
Beyond the confines oftraditional grading, let's
strive to create environments,both at home and at school, that
nurture all aspects of ourteens' development, encouraging
(17:55):
them to grow into well-rounded,capable individuals.
I encourage all of you,wonderful parents, to engage
with your children on the topicswe discuss today.
Ask them about their interests,their struggles and their
aspirations.
These conversations are crucialin guiding them and
understanding them better, andI'd love to hear from you, share
(18:19):
your stories and feedback withus.
Have you tried any alternativemethods of assessment?
If you're an educator listeningto this, or if you're a parent
listening, how do you supportyour teen's holistic development
?
Your insights could beincredibly valuable to our
community and I might featureyour story in a future episode.
So please do drop us a line.
I would love to hear from you.
(18:40):
Send your thoughts and storiesto our podcast email, which is
info attheclassichighschoolteachercom,
or drop us a comment on oursocial media pages.
Once again, our handle is attheclassichighschoolteacher.
Let's keep the conversationgoing.
Thank you all for tuning intoday.
Your presence and engagementmean the world to me, and it's
(19:00):
your input and stories thattruly bring, challenge your Mind
, change the World to Life.
Remember, the journey tounderstanding and supporting our
teenagers extends far beyondwhat we discussed today.
Keep exploring, keep talkingand, most importantly, keep
listening to your children.
The effort you put in now canmake a profound difference in
their lives.
(19:20):
If you're looking for more tips, insights or resources, please
visit our website,theclassichighschoolteachercom,
or follow the links on ourpodcast page.
We have additional materialsthat can help you navigate the
challenges and joys of parentingteenagers.
Make sure you join us next time.
Until then, this is FrancescaHudson, reminding you to
(19:46):
challenge your mind and youmight just change the world.
Goodbye, and take care.
Hello, hello, hello and welcome.
I am Francesca Hudson, yourhost and you are with Challenge
your Mind, change the World, thepodcast where we dive deep into
what really shapes the learningand growth of our teenagers.
Thank you, wonderful parents,for joining me today.
We have got a really juicypodcast episode.
We're going beyond the reportcard to explore what truly
(00:21):
matters in our teenagers'educational journeys.
We're talking about the aspectsof learning that grades simply
can't measure.
Why this topic?
Well, a very clear memory hasalways stuck in my mind when I'm
talking about academic successand the importance of grades
with parents and I had aparent-teacher conference where
(00:42):
I met with some worried parentsof a really bright student who
was distraught over a B in theirEnglish essay Writing.
In essays we did a lot of, andthis particular student was
involved in sports and music andvolunteer work and was very,
very heavily involved in thecommunity of the school.
(01:04):
This particular student wasstruggling to see her own value
beyond that single grade andthat really caused me to reflect
.
This encounter made me realizehow often we as a community
equate a student's worth withtheir academic performance and
it really struck a chord with meand I knew we needed to address
(01:26):
this on the podcast.
If you've ever found yourselffretting over your child's
grades, wondering if thesenumbers tell the full story of
who they are and what they canbecome, then this episode is for
you.
Let's look at the limitationsof grades.
What do grades actuallyrepresent?
Let's start by understandingwhat grades are actually
(01:48):
designed to measure.
Typically, grades assess howwell students remember and apply
specific academic knowledgewithin a structured setting like
, for example, tests orassignments.
But here's what we often missGrades don't capture the full
spectrum of a student'sintelligence or their
(02:08):
capabilities.
They don't show us a student'scuriosity, for example, or their
leadership qualities, or theircreativity, or even their
ability to collaborateeffectively with others those
social aspects.
Think of it like a snapshotfrom a camera.
It captures a moment in time,but it doesn't tell the whole
(02:31):
story of a journey.
Just as one snapshot can't showyou every beautiful scene from
a mountain hike, for example, asingle grade can't show all the
learning and the growth astudent experiences.
It's just not possible, so it'svery limited in its scope.
Now let's talk about the darkerside of grades the pressure that
they can create.
(02:51):
So for many students, thepursuit of high grades becomes
the end all and be all of theirschool experience.
It creates pressure and anxiety, and these are two topics that,
as parents and as educators,are so important and they cause
us so much worry and concernabout how our teenagers are
(03:13):
feeling at school.
What pressure are they underand how is it triggering anxiety
?
And then are they evencommunicating that pressure and
anxiety to us as adults?
This pressure can lead tosevere anxiety and stress, and
it's not uncommon to hear ofstudents who experience
sleepless nights, anxietyattacks and even depression over
(03:34):
their grades.
The fear of not measuring up canovershadow their education and
their personal growth.
It can be really damaging toput emphasis on this be-all,
end-all high grades or highachievement or academic success,
at the complete disregard ofall the other skills, those
(03:54):
transferable soft skills thatteenagers are learning in these
very transformative years.
And, according to psychologists, when students are overly
focused on grades, they candevelop a fixed mindset where
they see their abilities asstatic.
This is a direct contradictionto the growth mindset that we
(04:16):
aim to cultivate in educationand here at the Classic High
School Teacher, which encouragesongoing learning and
development, that beginner'smindset in life always showing
up, no matter how old you arewith a beginner's mindset, the
idea that there is alwayssomething new to learn and that
we are always at the start ofthe journey and not the end.
So it's crucial for us aseducators and as parents to
(04:40):
recognize these signs andintervene when we see them.
We should be encouraging ourstudents to understand that
their worth is not tied to aletter on their report card.
Let's look at the holisticdevelopment in teens.
There's social skills, for anexample.
So, moving beyond grades, let'sfocus on these social skills
for a moment.
These are the abilities thathelp our teens navigate the
(05:02):
world around them, buildrelationships and effectively
communicate.
Why do they matter?
Well, in both personal andprofessional settings, strong
social skills can be just asimportant as academic knowledge.
They can help teens work wellin teams, resolve conflicts and
express themselves clearly.
(05:22):
And, as a business owner myself, the young people coming
through into the workforce thathave these strong social skills
far outperform the young peoplethat come through that have got
really high grades in theirparticular field, but they just
don't know how to operate andinteract in a social setting.
(05:43):
And another example is duringgroup projects at school, when I
was teaching at school, it'snot just the grade that matters,
but how students collaborate,negotiate and support their
peers.
These experiences areinvaluable as they mirror the
future workplace environments tofoster, but they aren't
(06:11):
necessarily taught in school.
They're not a subject it's nota cold, hard subject where there
is a curriculum that you cantest against and so these soft
skills quite often get ignored.
It's up to us as parents,outside of school, to be able to
foster and encourage and teachthese soft skills.
Another really important skillis emotional intelligence.
Another really important skillis emotional intelligence.
(06:43):
So emotional intelligence is anunderstanding of one's own
emotions and the emotions ofothers.
It's a double whammy.
It's not just our own emotions,but the emotions of others
equips our teenagers with theskills to manage stress,
empathize with others and makethoughtful decisions.
It's about building resilienceand adapting to the setbacks
with a balanced perspective.
Here's an example Consider ateen who struggles initially
with poor grades, but learns tocope with disappointment and
(07:03):
strategizes different approachesto learning as a result of this
, as a result of thisdisappointment.
This shows maturity andadaptability.
These are qualities that arehighly valued in every stage of
life.
It's learning not to quit,learning not to give up after
the first try.
It's being able to recognizethat with persistence you can
(07:28):
get there.
These are all as a result ofemotional intelligence.
Once again, this is not taughtin schools.
This is up to us parents to beable to teach this in our
children.
And then we come to criticalthinking and problem solving.
These skills are aboutanalyzing situations,
questioning norms and coming upwith effective solutions, but
(07:48):
unfortunately, traditionalgrading systems often overlook
these skills.
They might not fully capture astudent's ability to think
outside the box or solve complexreal world problems.
As teachers, we just simplydon't have the time in class to
teach specific critical thinkingand problem solving skills.
As I say, we are there to teachthe curriculum in a very
(08:11):
limited amount of time, and wereally have to hope and cross
our fingers that when a studentcan respond critically in an
essay or in a speech, theysomehow intuitively know how to
think critically.
How do we encourage developmentthen?
Well, as parents and aseducators, we can foster these
(08:32):
abilities by encouraging teensto engage in debates,
participate in things likescience fairs or take on
projects that require them todesign solutions to community
issues.
It's these type ofextracurricular activities
looking at the morecommunity-focused events that
are happening around school,because these activities help
(08:52):
them apply what they learn inmeaningful ways and are really
good at teaching these socialskills in a new light.
If we say, on one hand, thatgrades aren't everything, what
are some alternatives totraditional grading?
Well, let's start withproject-based learning, a
dynamic classroom approach inwhich students actively explore
(09:12):
real-world problems andchallenges.
So, through projects, studentsget to immerse themselves deeply
in a subject, which enhancestheir understanding and their
attention.
This method also encouragesthem to develop practical skills
by applying what they learn inmeaningful contexts, and more
and more schools are adaptingthis project-based learning,
(09:34):
where the grade isn't justreliant on one end of year exam,
but assessed routinelythroughout the year in various
projects, which is great.
So I'll give you an example.
Imagine a project wherestudents are tasked with
designing a sustainable gardenfor the school.
This requires research,planning, teamwork and execution
, and these are all skills thatare invaluable in real life but
(09:56):
often under-emphasised intraditional grading, but you can
see how important they are.
Another way that schools areadapting now as well, that
you'll notice, and I think it'simportant.
As parents, we really do praiseour children when we see them
working on these assessments areportfolios and continuous
assessment.
These are comprehensive recordsof a student's work that
(10:17):
showcase their progress overtime, and the benefits are
unlike a single test score, aportfolio can include various
forms of student work, likewritten assignments, projects
and even video recordings ofpresentations, and this provides
a much fuller picture of astudent's abilities and their
growth.
For example, a student mightcompile a portfolio for an
(10:41):
English class and we used to runan assessment throughout the
year for reading.
They would have a reading logof books.
They would have to read a widerange of books from different
genres and reflect on that.
So you know, a portfolio mightinclude essays, book reviews and
personal reflections writtenthroughout the year,
illustrating not just theirwriting skills but their
(11:01):
evolving critical thinking andanalytical capabilities as well.
Another way is encouragingcreativity and innovation as
well.
Another way is encouragingcreativity and innovation.
Fostering an environment thatvalues creativity and innovation
is essential.
In our rapidly changing world,the ability to think differently
and to innovate is more crucialthan ever.
Schools can support this byoffering more open-ended
(11:24):
assignments that allow forcreative expression and by
recognising creativeaccomplishments, and so many
schools are doing this now and,as I mentioned before, when we
see this at home, when ourchildren bring their work home,
it is so important to praise andencourage these types of
projects, because these are thetypes of projects that will
really benefit them in the longterm.
(11:46):
So, as parents, we can encourageour children by engaging in
creative activities at home aswell, or supporting hobbies and
interests that foster inventivethinking, like those community
science fairs or those debates.
It's about creating a culturethat appreciates creativity just
as much as academic achievement.
For instance, a school mighthost an innovation day where
(12:09):
students present inventions orstart-up ideas to local business
leaders, providing bothrecognition and real-world
feedback.
And if that is an opportunitythat is given to your child, I
would encourage you to tell themto embrace it with both hands.
How else can we as parentsbecause I am a parent two to two
boys how can we help with ourchildren?
(12:30):
Well, it starts with supportingtheir interests.
One of the most impactful waysthat we, as parents, can help is
by supporting our children'sinterests outside of academic
achievements.
Attend their events, ask abouttheir projects.
Question asking is one of themost valuable communication
tools you can have with yourchildren and show genuine
(12:51):
interest.
Put the phone away and showgenuine interest in what they're
doing.
This not only boosts theirconfidence, but also shows that
you value their developmentbeyond just simply grades and
academic success.
Such support can help teenagersdevelop a really well-rounded
personality.
It can enhance their socialskills and reduce the pressure
(13:14):
that they feel in purelyacademic areas.
If they know that you'recheering them on in other areas
and they're contributingactively to the school, that is
worth so much.
It's about creating a balancedenvironment, I suppose, and
that's both at school and athome.
It means fostering a spacewhere learning is viewed in a
broader sense, not just throughthe lens of homework or grades.
(13:36):
My suggestion when parents askme is to set up a dedicated
space for creative projectsthat's separate from study areas
, because we want to be able toassociate this with pleasure,
with creativity, with fosteringcuriosity and and it's a place
where you can regularly discussbooks, movies and current events
(13:57):
that encourage criticalthinking and debate.
Put on some music, if you'vegot an auditory learner, or
light some scented candles ifyou've got an engager with you.
This kind of environment showsthat learning isn't just for
school, it's part of everydaylife.
It's part of everyday life andencourage downtime and
relaxation too.
It's important for mentalhealth and it also helps
(14:25):
maintain a balance betweenschoolwork and personal time.
I think also when it comes tohow we can support our teenagers
and our children as parents,having open communication and
this is one area that I am sopassionate about is open
communication is key.
It builds trust and allowschildren and teenagers to share
(14:45):
their thoughts and concernsabout school and life, because
they know that they're not goingto get judged.
So how do you do it?
Well, start regularconversations about school that
go just beyond asking how wasyour day.
Dive deeper, ask your childwhat they're learning, how do
they feel about their classesand what challenges they're
(15:05):
facing.
I had a son today who did notwant to go to school.
He was very defiantly refusingto go to school and finally he
got in the car and on the way toschool.
I thought I'm going to defusethe situation, and it's not
about setting up your pitchforksand your battle lines with your
child and saying you are goingto school.
(15:25):
I wanted to get to the heart ofwhat the issue was, and so I
was asking him questions aroundokay, well, why don't you want
to go to school?
And he said it's school's boring.
And I said, well, what inparticular is boring about
school?
Is there a subject that youfind boring?
And he said spelling.
And I said, okay, well, what isit about spelling that you find
boring?
And he said I have to do twosheets of spelling.
(15:48):
And I said well, how long doesit take to do Half an hour?
And I said is it because youfind it really hard to do or is
it because you find it reallyeasy to do?
That's making it boring.
And he said I'm finding itreally easy.
And I said so, maybe it'sbecause you're not being
challenged enough.
You're not being challengedenough that you might be finding
(16:08):
this boring.
And obviously he's a boy.
And he said I don't know, but Ithink that by the time we got
to school, just by talking aboutit in this sort of back and
forth question answer scenario,it had completely diffused the
situation and he went off quitehappily.
I definitely would say you know, ask about what they're
learning, how they feel abouttheir classes and what
(16:29):
challenges they're facing.
And when you are discussinggoals and expectations when they
are older, when they're at thatteenage level, make sure it's a
two-way conversation.
So listen to their aspirationsand fears, because this shows
you respect their views and arethere to support, not just push
them towards certain goals thatyou think they should be doing.
(16:50):
It's about that, back and forth.
Today we've explored thelimitations of traditional
grading and recognised that,while grades are important, they
don't tell the whole storyabout our teenagers.
We discussed how holisticdevelopment, including social
skills, emotional intelligenceand critical thinking, is
crucial for real-world success.
(17:11):
We've also delved intoalternative assessment methods,
like project-based learning,folios and continuous assessment
, which can provide a morecomprehensive view of a
student's abilities and theirgrowth.
So, as we look beyond thereport card, let's remember that
our role as parents andeducators isn't just to prepare
(17:34):
students for tests, but for life.
Every teenager has uniquestrengths and potentials that
flourish under the rightconditions.
Beyond the confines oftraditional grading, let's
strive to create environments,both at home and at school, that
nurture all aspects of ourteens' development, encouraging
(17:55):
them to grow into well-rounded,capable individuals.
I encourage all of you,wonderful parents, to engage
with your children on the topicswe discuss today.
Ask them about their interests,their struggles and their
aspirations.
These conversations are crucialin guiding them and
understanding them better, andI'd love to hear from you, share
(18:19):
your stories and feedback withus.
Have you tried any alternativemethods of assessment?
If you're an educator listeningto this, or if you're a parent
listening, how do you supportyour teen's holistic development
?
Your insights could beincredibly valuable to our
community and I might featureyour story in a future episode.
So please do drop us a line.
I would love to hear from you.
(18:40):
Send your thoughts and storiesto our podcast email, which is
info attheclassichighschoolteachercom,
or drop us a comment on oursocial media pages.
Once again, our handle is attheclassichighschoolteacher.
Let's keep the conversationgoing.
Thank you all for tuning intoday.
Your presence and engagementmean the world to me, and it's
(19:00):
your input and stories thattruly bring, challenge your Mind
, change the World to Life.
Remember, the journey tounderstanding and supporting our
teenagers extends far beyondwhat we discussed today.
Keep exploring, keep talkingand, most importantly, keep
listening to your children.
The effort you put in now canmake a profound difference in
their lives.
(19:20):
If you're looking for more tips, insights or resources, please
visit our website,theclassichighschoolteachercom,
or follow the links on ourpodcast page.
We have additional materialsthat can help you navigate the
challenges and joys of parentingteenagers.
Make sure you join us next time.
Until then, this is FrancescaHudson, reminding you to
(19:46):
challenge your mind and youmight just change the world.
Goodbye, and take care.
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