I find that there are two groups, the "Haves" and the "Hane nots". Generally, the haves are strong in self efficacy, focus and motovation. they have parent support and empolment. The have nots generally, are not motovated, they never had to be. They are focused on the outside world more than what is in the class room. They may have parents in the home, I think that the parents want them to "just do something'and have given up. Trying to establish connections with these have nots is challenging.
What I have found with the current group of students is a huge amount of diversity in levels of learning knowledge. Part of it stems from the public education system that is not preparing them to learn as it once did. So when I approch my students I aways try to understand where they starting in their educational journey and move forward from there on a individual basis.
The current generation / cohort of our students require a new approach to reach them. They lack self-motivation skills, face to face communication skills and an understanding of what the required effort is to reach an application level of learning/skills. For the most part, it is not their fault. Once we understand/view these students with this perspective, we can work towards new strategies to reach them and teach them. It will take more patience, effort, energy and heart than ever before.
