Supporting Disengaged Teens to Learn Better, Feel Better and Live Better - A Conversation with Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop
Jan 12, 2025
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Join Jenny Anderson, an award-winning journalist and author, along with Rebecca Winthrop, a renowned education authority, as they tackle the pressing issue of teen disengagement. They discuss their new book, which offers actionable strategies for parents and educators. Key topics include the disconnect between educational experiences and reality, the transformative power of student agency, and the vital role of parental support. Together, they advocate for educational reform to better prepare youths for the future.
The disengagement crisis in education reveals a stark decline in student enthusiasm from elementary to high school, highlighting a need for systemic change.
Parental involvement significantly enhances student engagement, emphasizing the importance of fostering a love for learning rather than merely controlling outcomes.
Recognizing distinct engagement modes in children allows parents to tailor strategies that promote agency and resilience in their learning journeys.
Deep dives
The Disengagement Crisis in Education
Many students today experience a significant disengagement from their education, often causing feelings of apathy and overwhelm. Research shows that while approximately 75% of children love school in third grade, only about 25% express the same sentiment by tenth grade. This shift emphasizes a troubling gap between the education they receive and the skills they actually need for future success, leading to a growing disconnect. The educational systems have not adapted to reflect the changes in what children require, particularly in terms of preparation for real-world challenges, resulting in students questioning the value of their schooling.
The Role of Parents in Student Engagement
Parents play a crucial role in enhancing student engagement, impacting learning outcomes even more significantly than socioeconomic status. Engaging parents in their children's educational journey fosters a growth-oriented mindset, encouraging children to explore and discover learning opportunities beyond the classroom. By modeling a love for learning and supporting their children's interests, parents can create an environment conducive to exploration and academic success. The emphasis is not on becoming the first teacher, but rather the first learner, helping children navigate their educational experiences with enthusiasm.
Understanding the Four Modes of Engagement
Children exhibit distinct modes of engagement: passenger, achiever, resistor, and explorer. Passengers are physically present but disengaged, while achievers focus solely on performance metrics, often at the cost of their emotional well-being. Resistor kids may act out or disengage due to various underlying issues, while the desired explorer mode embodies curiosity and agency in learning. By recognizing these modes and the reasons behind them, parents can adopt strategies to help their children engage more effectively and tackle challenges.
Shifting from Control to Autonomy
Parents often feel the instinct to control their children's achievements, which can inadvertently hinder their ability to learn and thrive. Forcing compliance can lead to disengagement rather than inspiring children to take ownership of their learning journey. Encouraging autonomy, by allowing children to set their own goals and make choices about their education, fosters a sense of agency and responsibility. This shift from a controlling approach to one that supports independence can cultivate resilience and adaptability in children's learning practices.
Creating a Supportive Home Environment
A nurturing home environment is paramount for children's engagement in learning. Parents should focus on creating a balance between support and autonomy, as well as instilling essential study and organizational skills. Open-ended questions about kids' plans and interests can promote responsibility and self-directed learning instead of merely nagging them about deadlines. By reinforcing a love for learning and allowing their children to explore their passions, parents can significantly influence their overall success and well-being.
This episode is a fantastic conversation with 2 brilliant women who have been whipping up a storm this week with the release of their amazing new book The Disengaged Teen: Helping Kids Learn Better, Feel Better, and Live Better! Dr Rebecca Winthrop and Jenny Anderson chat with me about the disengagement crisis facing our young people and what we, as parents and educators, can do about it. Jenny Anderson is an author and an award-winning journalist who spent over a decade at The New York Times before pioneering coverage on the science of learning at Quartz. She contributes to TIME, The New York Times and The Atlantic, among other publications. Rebecca Winthrop is a leading global authority on education. She is the director of the Center for Universal Education at Brookings, where she conducts studies on how to better support children’s learning, and is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University.