Am I an Underachiever?

Are you an underachiever? I think I was drawn to this topic for two reasons. One reason is because of the studies I've been doing on gifted and talented students. The other is because I believe that some of my own kids, my sons, are underachievers. But, do I want to look closely, I mean really closely and ask, am I an underachiever? I'm sort of scared to ask. Naturally we all have times, moments maybe, that we are underachieving...a little bit. But, overall, could I do more, could I do what I do better? Is saying that "I'm just unorganized" really mean I'm too unmotivated(lazy?) to...organize what I should organize or take care of what needs to be taken care of? HHhmmm? I'm not sure I want to address this with myself yet!

Unmotivated and unconcerned...

What are we doing as a society that is making the kids be so entitled? The lack of motivation that I am observing is driving me crazy! It's not that all the kids are unmotivated, but those who are, don't, I mean REALLY, don't care about school or their grades or what their parents will learn when we have parent conferences! If they're on an IEP, they know they won't fail a grade. Pretty much if they're ELL, they won't fail a grade. So why should they put any effort into their school work? I need to find a way to encourage those who are unmotivated to have a goal. Maybe I need to work on goal setting for my class? I am going to work on that starting tomorrow. I am going to make a goal for them in writing. There will be two goals. One short term goal and one long term goal. I will start that tomorrow.

Underachievers/Unmotivated/Getting Away With "It"

I am starting to think that underachievers are mainly just unmotivated. What will keep students motivated? I think that a very attentive teacher is one thing and working at thier level helps to keep kids on track. However, we have so many things to do that if you let up for one minute, someone looses their motivation. All day long, I pull those kids back on track. They're right there and the poof! Gone! Lack of sleep seems to be affecting their motivation also. After weekends, motivation is low. They seem to stay on some sort of schedule during the week, then, Monday, it's all over again. The littlest thing can steer them off course. Writing on a tiny piece of paper, putting their head down on their desk, using the exuse of needing a drink of water to disrupt others motivation on the trip to the drinking fountain! I'm starting to discover that it's never ending...

Moving Along

As my Action Research Project progresses, I feel inspired to continue learning about my topic, underachievement. It is very interesting to watch my students with this topic in mind. I have discovered throughout the day, each student underachieves in their own way. It may be goofing around with their tablemates, or playing with their hair, or messing around in their desk when I am teaching. I never thought about it in this way, but there it is. They are not working to their potential when they are absentmindedly poking around in their desk! As I observe students and make notes, I constantly find ways in which they are unmotivated. Unless it is direct- constantly supervised- instruction, I find underachievement.

Action Research Project

My ARP keeps me awake at night. I am fearful that it won't be done on time and it won't be any good. I am trying to stay positive but am having a hard time with that. I keep doing my research and am trying to keep up with my class and writing and everything else. I think my topic is not a good one. I should have kept it much more simple. However, I am seeing that I have chosen something valuable because every class has underachievers and there is so muc written about it that I must not be the first one interested in it. It would be more interesting if I worked with teenagers. That is where underachievement is much more prevalent, although my third graders have their underachieving days as well!

Deeper Understanding

The more I expore my topic of underachievement, the more I am beginning to understand about it. I interviewed, not only some of my students, but my son who is 16. He is a classic underachiever. It was very interesting to get his point of view and I see that he is completely focused on here and now and does not look forward, at all! I believe that is one commonality of underachievers, they don't look ahead. I will keep searching for the bottom line for this group of students.

Conference Proposal

Wow! I just wrote my conference proposal. It was difficult to know exactly what to write. I don't think I would ever want to speak at a conference. Way too intinidating. But, you never know. So this was good experience in case one would want to do that. Looking ahead to the big project is overwhelming. I can do it. It just seems like there is so much to do. I need to bring my camera to school to take pictures for this blog...

Question?????????

I think I just came up with my actual question. It is:

Is underachievement causing a learning gap in English Language Learners and other ethnic subgroups, and gifted and talented students?

This is what I am going to send to my advisor. Finally! I didn't know how to phrase it, this seems right.

So much to do, so little time

Now that this semester is underway, I am anxious (daily) about some aspect or another of my final project. Because of my problems that have arisen with my classes that I took that did not count toward my degree(I was told they should be fine) and now I have to enroll in 9 units more, plus the other things of just finishing my project, I feel totally stressed out. I am not close to a research library, so my research is mostly from online sources. I am looking for the books I need regarding Underachieving students, but I don't want to buy them, so I need to borrow from someone. Hopefully, my friend who is in charge of the Gifted program in my district will have them and he can lend them to me.

So I need to finish chapter 2, my advisor wants a draft by the end of September. I am nowhere near done! I am so busy with school that I have been putting it off, too. I need to set a goal to work on it each night for 2 hours. Okay, that is my new goal. I will start right now. Wish me luck! Negativity will not be tolerated...

Find it...

I am trying to find out how to post again. Also how to have others respond to my post. I hope this works. K

My First Post

This is my first post. I think that blogging might help me to clarify my thoughts about my research project. It my also spark an interest in others since it appears that at some time or another most people have underachieved. Why would we chose not to work to our ability? Why would a child/student decide not to work to their ability? Those are questions that I may or may not be able to answer.

I am interested in this topic because of my GATE training. Gifted students are notorious for underachieving. They don't want to "stand out" or be different from their peers. That is just one reason. I am sure there are other reasons that are much more complex. I am not a gifted learner. I do not fit into that category at all. However, at times in my life, I have to admit, I have not worked to my full potential.