10 Steps To the Head of the Class : A Handbook for Middle School Students - Softcover

Samuel Betances

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1891438026 ISBN 13: 9781891438028

Publisher: New Century Forum, 2015

Synopsis

Middle School is a critical transition threshold for students, which provides the ideal opportunity for eliminating bad habits and setting students on the right course. For more than a decade, teachers and parents of middle school students have asked for an age-appropriate version of my book, Ten Steps to the Head of the Class. This handbook is an adaptation specifically designed for middle school. No student can make progress in school while moving in a downward direction. No one can! Nonetheless, the path from mediocrity to excellence is not often clearly marked. This book provides a step by step guide to middle school students to develop good study skills for moving upward in their journey to excel in school and in life. Young people in school have choices: reach for the top or settle for mediocrity. Dr. Samuel Betances, America s foremost communicator on casting away barriers to success, challenges readers to confront ten of the habits which prevent students from achieving academic excellence. Learn how to identify and overcome: Procrasti-cramming - Reckless Reading - Fishing for Answers - Post-Lecture Reading - Loafing in the Place of Study - Going Solo - Viewing Teachers as Adultists - Seeking Solutions Without Education - Pursuing Logical Paths to Wrong Destinations - Dishonoring Your Loved Ones by Failing in School

About this title

About the Author

He is best known for keynoting and presenting workshops on retaining, educating and graduating first generation students from book-poor homes. With a compelling personal journey from dropping out of school to earning two graduate degrees from Harvard, he motivates and inspires willing learners. His message urges educators, students, parents, community leaders and youth development professionals in public and private institutions of learning across the country to help the next generation succeed by staying in school, becoming educated and graduating. His children and grandchildren are products of the Chicago Public Schools. Having worked at the US Department of Education and as a Professor of Sociology at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago for 25 years, Dr. Betances is widely recognized for his advocacy of First Generation Students. He and his wife, Dr. Laura M. Torres Souder, have provided professional leadership and staff development training to over 1,112 public and private schools at home and abroad. They continue to provide diversity training and advocate for authentic literacy throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam and Micronesia.

Review

Long overdue... Dr. Betances' approach is essential to students who are not easily reaching their potential in America's schools. --Dr. George Sisemore, Director, Professional Center for School Conferences

A fine resource for those looking to bridge the gap between educators, parents, and students. The simple steps outlined in this book can be easily adaptable to any classroom, in any setting. --Illiana Marcano Rzodkiewicz, Middle School Teacher, Chicago, IL

Two valuable lessons I learned from reading Ten Steps to the Head of the Class : 1) When you are not on track, and let your homework slack, you worry too much about something that's due. Don't let yourself get stressed out because you let your homework be in doubt. 2) If you ever wait to do something the day it's due, you are shoving information in your mind and won't remember anything. Don't Procrasti-cram or else you will be like a piece of gum that lost all it's flavor. I am going to take Dr. Betances' advice seriously. --Lola Ann Guzman, 8th Grade Student, Watkins Middle School, Pataskala, OH

About this edition

• Publisher: New Century Forum
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1891438026
• ISBN 13: 9781891438028
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 192