Never Stop Learning
Although they may be stretched thin between teaching and mentoring, advisers still find the time to enhance their professional learning. In this article, three veteran advisers share three important lessons:
- Allow the students to lead.
- Rely on a network of NHS advisers through online forums, conferences, and by building relationships with advisers in your region.
- Have fun!
Lose Control
Amy Krueger, an eighth-grade language arts teacher and NJHS adviser at Rockwood South Middle School in Fenton, MO, shared some ways her students became empowered after she let go of the reins. Now students:
- Form committees, research vendors and recipients of funds, and manage donations and fundraising.
- Create lists of required purchases to be made for the events.
- Speak with school personnel and other adults who manage the school calendar and approve activities.
- Send email correspondence to adults outside of the school who are included in the activity.
- Draft schedules for sales and for extra meetings to effectively organize events.
- After all that, they perform!
Engage Your Students in Global Issues
Tyler Stewart, a social studies teacher and student council adviser at Berg Middle School in Newton, IA, shared the following strategies to get students to think globally:
- Make “global” feel local.
- Work with local officials.
- Find a global issue that will capture students’ attention.
Find the Silver Lining
The last few years have not been easy thanks to the pandemic, but the resourceful advisers featured in this article succeeded in holding popular events and made the most of a difficult situation by:
- Prioritizing communication
- Offering stability and structure
- Putting students in charge with encouragement about their ability to make things work