What Educators Can Do
Here are some ideas for improving school success for your students. Send us a note to recommend the resources you find useful.
General
In preK through sixth grade
In middle schools
In high schools
General
- Use getSTEM to ask for assistance from local businesses in teaching science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
- Use the recommendations in Helping Students Navigate the Path to College: What High Schools Can Do (PDF)
- For school administrators: 25 Ways to Motivate Teachers
- Find out about Teacher Professional Partnerships, formed and owned by teachers to provide educational services
- Browse U.S. Department of Education resources for Teachers and Administrators. See also the What Works Clearinghouse.
- Use the Teachers and Administrators resources from America's Career Resource Network, especially Teaching for Achievement, Career Exploration in the Classroom, Setting a Climate for Achievement, Engaging the School and Community, Fostering Postsecondary Transitions and Involving Parents.
- The ToolKit for Hispanic Families provides guidance and ideas to help students succeed in school.
In preK through sixth grade
- Tell parents of pre-schoolers about Blast Off to Kindergarten with its hints and activities to get kids ready for kindergarten
- Share The Great College Mystery with fifth graders and What Will I Be? with fourth graders.
- Help children learn skills and ways of thinking needed for science and math with the Science Museum of Minnesota’s Science Activities.
In middle schools
- Figure This! provides interesting math challenges that middle-school students can do at home with their families. See the Teacher Corner .
- Suggest students check out these resources — Think MTV, I Make It Happen, KnowHow2Go, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and Future choices.
- Use the Jump Start Your Education Tool Kit to encourage students to prepare for and attend college.
- Work toward greater involvement by partents in early college planning. Review the report, From Aspirations to Action: The Role of Middle School Parents in Making the Dream of College a Reality.
In high schools
- Prepare all students to continue their education after high school. See the Minnesota Office of Higher Education’s Educator’s Corner especially Promoting higher education. Share FuturePlan: Life After High School with students.
- Suggest students check out these resources — Think MTV, KnowHow2Go, First in the Family, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and Future choices.
- Find out what you can do to overcome the challenges that low-income students face in preparing for and paying for college with Breaking through the Barriers to College PDF) from the USC Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis.
- Put up a Take Charge of Your Future poster that illustrates how many years of each core subject students should take in high school to prepare for college or the 7 Ways to Pay for College poster that illustrates the common ways students pay for their college education.
- Request volunteer speakers through BestPrep’s Classroom Plus program.
- Develop Effective Strategies for Dropout Prevention.
