Asking for Help

In high school, it's generally assumed by teachers that students are old enough and mature enough to ask for help if they need it. However, there seems to be a trend in which young people avoid asking for help at all costs: "Hey everyone, leave me alone please." From a teacher perspective, this can be frustrating. 

Read here to learn more about self-advocacy. 

Parents and guardians: please encourage your  children to advocate for themselves without your involvement. In cases where student health, safety, or well-being are involved, of course parents should step up.

If parents/guardians feel the child is lacking in self-advocacy skills, encourage them gently and persistently, but don't necessarily arrange the help for them. There are ways parents/guardians can set the stage for students being able to self-advocate:

• practice what a conversation with a teacher might look like

• make them aware of opportunities for help, such as a guidance or student success appointment

• point out consequences of inaction

• point out ways adults need to self-advocate in their lives

Reading Feedback

One of the best ways for students to engage in self-advocacy is to read the feedback they get on their assignments, quizzes, tests, etc. 

Feedback means teachers' comments. 

Read it carefully. It should generally take the format of strength, weakness, and next steps to improve. If you don't understand it, ask your teacher a question about the feedback you received. If next steps aren't suggested, ask what they should be. 

It is very important that students are open to the process of learning and improvement. Not all student work is marked; Often work is checked or commented on without giving a grade or score. The purpose is for students to get practice and teachers to give feedback. If students don't engage in these opportunities, they lose the chance to improve.