MindShift Podcast

Disengaged Teens: What to Know and How to Help Them Find Their Spark

10 snips
Feb 11, 2025
Jenny Anderson, a longtime journalist specializing in learning, and Rebecca Winthrop, a Georgetown professor focused on universal education, delve into the complexities of teen disengagement. They explore the different modes of engagement, such as 'passenger' and 'resistor' modes, and emphasize the importance of autonomy in reigniting student motivation. The conversation highlights the disconnect between adult perceptions and teen experiences, offering strategies for parents and educators to empower teens for better academic and emotional outcomes.
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INSIGHT

Teen Agency

  • Teens feel unprepared for the future and lack agency, defined as the ability to set and achieve meaningful goals.
  • Giving limited choices and explaining the "why" behind tasks improves performance, well-being, and prosocial behavior.
ADVICE

Boosting Engagement

  • Give students tools for self-reflection on engagement.
  • Start lessons by asking about student interests and questions to encourage active participation.
INSIGHT

Adult Role in Agency

  • Adults may prioritize achievement over agency, hindering kids' development.
  • Raising compliant kids is easier but less beneficial than fostering agency and resilience.
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