I just finished reading Dave Grohl’s The Storyteller, an offshoot of an Instagram account he started in 2020. On the heels of that I listened to Virginia Hanlon Grohl’s (Dave’s mom) collection of interviews with moms of famous musicians, From Cradle to Stage. And in consuming both of those books I have been thinking a lot about education and teaching.
It’s no wonder since Hanlon Grohl is a retired teacher and her son has often spoken about teachers and education. Check out his story “In Defense of Our Teachers”. Both books are infused with stories of success punctuated with failure in and of the school systems for the oh-so-talented musicians.
So what is the role of education?
This quotation comes to mind:
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire” – attributed to W.B. Yeats (but maybe not really his!)
But maybe it’s more:
Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. – Albert Einstein
I don’t have a firm answer but I’d love to keep ruminating on it! I’d also love to know what you think so please add a comment below, or get in touch on instagram.
Using this line of thinking in class
So the Grohls have me thinking, particularly about career education and how we might infuse more of that into classes. Trying to be deliberate about it beyond explaining what you can do with this class or asking what do you want to be when you grow up?
Sidenote: How many times were we asked that as children, teens, or longer if you continued on to grad school?! How many times do we ask that of our students? How often did/does that increase anxiety rather than point to a productive discussion?
Career Education Idea 1: Success Stories
We often speak of goals and encourage students to write SMART goals to track their success in class but what does success look like within and beyond the classroom?
I use this image to start that conversation:
Students write a reflection based on the image and the prompt: Do you agree or disagree? Why? After about 5 or so minutes, branch out into a small or whole class discussion about it. It is always a revelatory discussion. Take (mental) note of what’s said – this can build future discussion topics for class or even form the basis for a 1-2-1 discussion with any number of students.
From here any of the stories from Hanlon Grohl’s collection, now a TV series too, would work as a case study of a lesser-heard story of success. Or check out The Players’ Tribune for first-person stories such as from WNBA Champions Chicago Sky’s Kahleah Cooper.
Career Education Idea 2: Focusing on Work and Work Ethic
Rather than discussing specific careers, though that can work too!, why not look at the skills, tools, and bigger ideas that can relate to the world of work. These 60 task cards pair quotations and questions to push student thinking and get conversations started.
With 30 pairings, I use these as a once-a-week bell ringer and students can respond to the quotation or the question. This provides a bit of differentiation and pushes students to direct their own thinking.
At the end of the writing time, open it up asking three students to share. Reminders for success: Take volunteers rather than forcing anyone to share if they’re not ready. Ask students to submit this writing for you to read; don’t mark them, instead use these to start a conversation on paper with them.
If you’ve established a good dynamic in your classroom, consider the option of having students share their written work with a peer to have a silent discussion. Ask students to leave room in the margins so a classmate can add their thoughts to what’s been written. Depending on the day I might have this happen once, twice, or three times. This often works when energy is low and I know students won’t be game for an out-loud discussion but I still want them to be interacting with their peers.
Career Education Idea 3: Examining Work-Life Balance
Often the focus is on working hard and achieving goals but what of the other elements of life that are also equally (more?) important?
Check out @LizandMollie on Instagram for lots of posts that can work for such discussions. There are so many good ones that I’ve incorporated into my classroom for discussion in small groups or even as writing prompts. I really like this one and this one and this one too!
These can also work on an SEL level to check in on students, especially those in grades 11 and 12 who are likely facing lots of questions about life after high school.
Related articles:
How To Define Success: Lesson Idea
Two Suggested Memoirs for Secondary ELA
Adopting a Whole School Approach to Career Development in High School from the National Career Development Association
