By Ruth Wells
Here are some of our favorite, most compelling new strategies for the new year.
1. For youngsters who say that they will quit school and go on welfare, ask them to name the states where welfare is still readily available on an on-going basis, as was common years ago. Answer: There are no states that fit that description, however they could consider moving to Guam, the only state/territory in the U.S. that did not dramatically slice aid in recent years. The average state cut welfare by a staggering 53%!
2. This intervention is very odd, but people just adore it. It is perfect to give to parents of normally courteous teens who are in the "mean and surly" phase that so many adolescents go through. This intervention was actually a staple at my house for several years. This intervention only works if you have a pet; we had a beloved dog. When my teen-age son would interact with a parent in a surly or condescending manner, that parent would ask him to treat us as good he treats the dog. It became a family joke, that if you wouldn't talk "that way" to Max (the dog), then you couldn't talk that way to Mom or Dad either. Simply saying: "Please treat me at least as good as the dog" was a reliable way to get a smile (and more courtesy) even in the midst of the most difficult or tense interaction.
3. Here is an intervention from a participant in our workshop. It is unusual, but effective. It is for use with students who think that school is a waste, or that it's "not cool" to do well in school. As if telling a joke, say to the youngster: "What do you call an 'A' student?" Answer: "Boss."
4. Show youngsters how impossible life in the 2000's may be without education. To capture the frustration and inconvenience that can occur on a minute-to-minute basis if you lack a complete education, ask your students to just order lunch. Have them choose from "gegrilde lamskoteletten" or "hartige maaltijdseop". When students complain, that they have no idea what any of those words mean, let them know that this will be a common complaint for people who forgo education in our high tech times. (The menu choices are written in Dutch and mean grilled lamb chops and soup.) Discuss how people who lack education may feel like foreigners in their own land.
5. For students who say that their parents have gotten by without a diploma, it is key to capture how inhospitable the world is becoming to people who lack that degree. Teach your students that their degree is their "Ticket to the New Millennium." Here are "4 Frightening Facts for Dropouts": (1) The income of dropouts has plunged 70% in the last 20 years. (2) Dropouts are more likely to land in prison. (3) Dropouts are more likely to rely on public assistance (4) Dropouts tend to earn about $15,000 per year vs. $29,000 per year for those who get that high school degree. You may choose to change the phrasing on these four points to become "4 Fantastic Facts for Graduates." (Data source: USA Today.)
6. This is one of my personal favorite interventions. It is perfect for this time of year. It is for use with students who may not have many goals, or may fail to work very hard towards goals. Say to your students: Martin Luther King Jr. died for his dreams. What are you willing to do to live your dreams? January 21, 2002 is MLK Day in the U.S. If necessary, preface this intervention by exposing your students to Dr. King's accomplishments, and include at least a portion of his powerful "I Have a Dream" speech.
7. When students complain that their counselor or teacher treats them unfairly. Have them write that counselor or teacher a letter detailing their complaints. Some students may be able to vent their anger just by putting their complaints on paper. Others may actually decide to send the letter if that might be helpful to remedy the problems. Teachers and counselors often relay concerns to students; students are not always given the chance to communicate their concerns to adults. Students can be given fill-in-the-blank forms to use instead of writing letters. For example, "The one thing I like about your class is..." and "The one thing I wish you would do differently is..." Students tend to really admire the courage and dedication of adults who care so much about doing a good job, that they are willing to be open to evaluation from young people.
8. A workshop participant offers this answer when students say "that's not part of your job!" or hassle him about his role with them. He responds like this: "My job is to get you do what you don't want to do so you can become what you do want to become."
9. Here's a popular intervention for students who repeatedly nag, beg or ask again for what they want after hearing "no." You can say to the youngster: "Ask once, you're assertive. Ask more than twice, you're aggressive." A light, humorous variation on this answer is: "What part of 'no' didn't you understand?"
10. This list of strategies is just a list. To effectively teach or counsel children, you can't just rely on catchy strategies. You have to have the full picture of the child. So, no annual Top 10 List of Interventions should go out without a reminder that children and youth almost never step up and nice and neatly announce their distress.
Children seldom politely request an extension on their homework because "science seems terribly irrelevant because I was raped last night." Your job must include spotting and responding to troubles and trauma that aren't necessarily clear or apparent. No list of strategies can help you do that, but please add one item to your own personal list: to update or expand your skills to ensure that you are highly prepared to identify and aid the damaged children you will serve in this new year.
The past year was a year of special pain for many, including many children. 2001 was a year when the world became a more dangerous place for many, including many children. As you begin 2002, and renew your commitment to your children and your work, please consider these words spotted on a banner: "The world is dangerous not because of those who do harm, but because of those who look at it without doing anything." Please do something in 2002 to make the world better for troubled children living in our troubled times.
About the Author: Ruth Wells MS is the director of Youth Change, http://www.youthchg.com. Get free samples and see 100s more of her problem-stopping interventions at Youth Change's web site. Ruth is the author of dozens of books and ebooks, and conducts professional development workshops
Source: www.isnare.com
