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The title of this article caught my attention because I know many students often feel bored in school or think school is just not for them. The article talks about the bestselling author Rebecca Skloot, who felt that she was one of those students who weren’t cut out for school. She was kicked out of preschool for refusing to take naps, and failed her freshman year of high school because she was bored most of the time. Things didn’t turn around for Skloot until she attended the Metropolitan Learning Center. Here, her teachers asked her a big question that ultimately turned her education around, “What do you want to study?” (Boss, 2012). This seemingly simple question really sparked Skloot’s interest and allowed her to take off. By letting Rebecca to truly think about what she wanted to learn about and find out her true interests she was able to thrive and enjoy school. This is one way students might become more interested in school, but I’m not sure it would work for all students.
I really like the concept of allowing students to learn about things they are interested in. As a teacher, I can reflect on my own experiences of learning. I definitely went from an A-B student to an A student when I was able to choose classes I wanted to take in college. My interests changed based on what I have studied over the years though and I value the classes I have taken that I was not interested in when I was younger. Sometimes, a great teacher or class perks your interest and changes your life. Although I have found it to be beneficial to have choices, I am glad I was forced to learn things that I was not interested in at the time. These experiences have opened my mind to be willing to be a lifelong learner.
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