Push and Empower your Students

Push and Empower your Students

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The cover and front and back endsheets arrived (and, yes, we ARE a summer delivery book.) They were BEAUTIFUL! I was so impressed by my students work that I wanted to shout from the rooftops. In an effort to provide my students with real world opportunities, I decided to ask the school administration if my students could present their theme concept to them. Why not, right? This is what they would have to do if they were working for an ad agency and had to pitch their campaign to a potential client. The principals said yes and anticipated presentation day.

Sixth hour arrived. My four editors and one assistant editor were standing in the hall nervous about what they were going to say. When I saw what was going on I went out into the hall and put a kybosh on their nerves. I explained to them that this was their opportunity to showcase their work for the year and to explain their vision.

Thirty minutes later the editors returned to the classroom with confidence, but they were also empowered. The energy in the room was so contagious. The administration was so impressed, they asked the editors to prepare a video explaining the theme to show to the entire school. In addition, they wanted to allow the students to create a mini-lesson which would help add depth to our theme by getting student feedback. Then, they wanted us to advertise how students can get their hands on this book. The administration wants us to infuse our theme into the fabric of our community.

By empowering my students to showcase what could be a controversial theme, we got the administration to buy into it. In addition, the students gained valuable presentation skills. I call that a win-win!

Debra Klevens
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