Posts

Breaking Barriers: Unraveling First-Generation Students’ Social Networks for Success

Reference: Wittner, B., Barthauer, L., & Kauffeld, S. (2023). Accessibility and mobilisation of social capital in first-generation students’ social networks—A mixed-methods approach. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 25(2), 254–278. https://doi.org/10.1177/1521025120979643 Summarized By: Ariel Ervin About the Study First-generation college students are an underrepresented population who are less likely to start a […]

Voices of Black youth remind adults in schools to listen — and act to empower them

By Tanitiã Munroe, Reprinted from The Conversation The idea of inviting students into classroom conversations that teach them to define and express their concerns, ideas and opinions takes inspiration from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The right to be heard is the general principle, and Article 12 of the […]

AI is making networking and social skills more critical. Are your students prepared?

By Robert Markle, Reprinted from SmartBrief In an AI-driven future, social skills aren’t just a plus; they’re a prerequisite. Between 1980 and 2012, jobs requiring social skills surged by almost 12%, while their less social counterparts dwindled by 3.3%. By 2030, demand for social skills is projected to skyrocket 26% across all industries. But social […]

How Can We Leverage Mentors to Build Student Resilience?

Developed by Manolya Tanyu, Reprinted from the National Center on Safe Supportive Environments Mental health is a dynamic state of balance between one’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being (Galderisi et al., 2015). Everyday stresses can affect this balance. Stress may result from, for example, poverty; marginalization; historical trauma; lack of safety at home, school, and/or […]

Supporting LGBTQ+ students: Four strategies to increase inclusivity

By Antonia Caba, Reprinted from the Search Institute Schools have the power to transform the lives of marginalized and minoritized students, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGTBQ+) youth. As students return to school this fall, especially in the midst of hostile anti-LGBTQ+ policies, it is important now more than ever that LGBTQ+ students […]

In a crisis, schools are 100,000 mental health staff short

The demand for aid radically exceeds the supply of help. Providers are experimenting with how to address the emergency. By Donna St. George, Reprinted from The Washington Post A few years ago, Christopher Page Jr.’s Colorado high school was rocked by a spate of student deaths, including three by suicide. So the longtime principal was […]

3 Ways to Help Students Gain the Career Connections They Need to Succeed

By Robert Markle, Reprinted from The74 Between 2012 and 2018, rates of loneliness in school among teens nearly doubled. COVID-19 school closures only added fuel to the fire, leaving students feeling even more isolated and withdrawn. In response to this nationwide epidemic, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s recent advisory urges institutions, including schools and community organizations, […]

Search Institute Report: Relationship-Focused Strategies for Connecting with Young People

By and Reprinted from the Search Institute As fall approaches, a return to the classroom can mean fresh opportunities for connecting with all students in meaningful ways. Educators and other youth-serving practitioners are busy making plans to return to the classroom, providing the perfect opportunity to consider tools and strategies that are proven to boost […]

People-powered pathways: Lessons in how to build students’ social capital through career-connected learning

By Robert Markle, Anna Arsenault, and Julia Freeland Fisher, Reprinted from The Christensen Institute Download the Paper Executive Summary What will it take to ensure that all students, especially those furthest from opportunity, are on a path to promising and fulfilling careers? Schools are increasingly engaging in career-connected learning to increase career exposure and skill […]

New dissertation explores the persistence of first-generation college students during COVID-19

Beckman, C.M. (2022). How first-generation undergraduates persisted during COVID-19: Adaptive capital? [Doctoral Dissertation, Saint Mary’s College of California]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing. Summarized by Ariel Ervin Notes of Interest:  There are different persistence and retention rates between first-generation (FC) college students and continuing-generation college students (CS). Evidence also indicates that people who have a bachelor’s degree […]