Ep 167: What Self-Directed Learning Can Do for Teens

Diane Tavenner, author of Prepared and founder of Summit Public
Schools, joins us to shed light on the practical to-dos she has
learned from running some of the highest ranked public schools in
the United States.


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Full show notes
When it comes to our kids’ education, we don’t want to cut
corners. We want them to have access to a thorough, fulfilling
schooling so that they’ll have a bright future! However, today’s
school system often fails to meet our expectations. Teens are
shuffled through a long day of sitting in a classroom, doing what
they’re told, with almost no personal connection to what they’re
learning. No wonder so many of them are falling behind or finding
themselves woefully unprepared for college!



Although it may seem like there’s no way to combat this problem,
our guest today thinks otherwise. The trick, she believes, is to
flip the script and put teens behind the driver’s seat of their
own education. If we’re encouraging kids to push themselves
forward instead of constantly forcing them to budge, we might
actually see them make some real progress! It won’t be easy, but
it will be well worth it.



This week, we’re talking with someone who’s putting in work
everyday to revolutionize education. Diane Tavenner is the
co-founder and CEO of Summit Public Schools, a nationally
recognized system of charter schools that has been praised across
the board–including being ranked in American News and World
Report as some of the best high schools in the United States!
She’s here to talk about some key ideas from her book, Prepared:
What Kids Need for a Fulfilled Life. 



In the episode, Diane and I are telling you how you can help your
teen take charge of their own education, and figure out what they
want to do with their life! Plus, we’re shelling out quick and
easy mindfulness practices that you and your teen can both
practice on an everyday basis to boost motivation.



How Teens Can Drive Their Own Education



When Diane and four other teachers decided to start up a charter
school, they first had to draw up some principles that would
guide their classrooms. They reflected on their own experiences
struggling through the poorly designed public school system as
teachers. Together, they realized that one of the most troubling
aspects of most schools was the passivity of the student
experience! Instead of pushing kids to set goals based on their
own interests, schools expected kids to complete worksheets full
of rote memorization and take classes they didn’t care about.



Diane, along with Summit’s other founders, decided that their
school would emphasize the students’ personal ownership of their
education. Instead of teaching compliance, like most public
schools, they would teach independence! This didn’t come easy,
however. Diane has frequently been challenged by Summit’s
students to shift her perspective towards a student-driven
model. 



In one case, Diane was confronted with a student who was doing so
poorly that he simply wasn’t going to be able to graduate.
Frustrated, she and the student’s parents made a list of all the
things they could do to help get the student back on track. By
the time they were done, however, they realized they hadn’t even
consulted the student at all! Because we’re so used to a school
system totally controlled by adults, we forget just how integral
it is for students to make choices about how they’re learning.



In the episode, we talk about how you can bring this principle
into your own home to encourage your teen to be intentional about
their learning. But what about beyond school? Diane and I also
talk about helping your teen find out what they want to do with
their future.



Helping Teens Find Their Purpose


Even if teens are active in their own education, it doesn’t mean
they are sure about their direction! It’s hard to pick a path
when you’ve barely experienced the world yet...and it doesn’t
help that we constantly ask kids what they “want to be when they
grow up” from the time they're old enough to talk. Luckily, Diane
has some great tips for helping teens narrow down their career
journey and find their calling.



Diane calls on parents to help teens find their “ings”. This
process involves guiding teens to define the activities that they
enjoy, that they’re good at or that make them feel
purposeful–like writing, coding, dancing, teaching, etc! When we
ask teens to pick a career, we’re often asking them to pigeonhole
themselves into something they likely know nothing about, says
Diane. Many students go into college or even graduate college
with no connection to their degree. Instead, figuring out the
things they are driven to do can help them find a meaningful
pursuit.



For some teens, this can also include defining the “ings” they
don’t resonate with. In the episode, she tells the story of a
student who was lucky enough to score his dream coding
internship...only to find out he hated coding. Although he
initially viewed this as a failure, he eventually came to see how
this perceived disappointment acted as a lesson! Instead of
trying to fit into a box he didn’t belong in through adult life,
he came to realize that coding was not his destiny. He did find
that he enjoyed “ings” like collaborating, setting him on a new
career path.



By encouraging your teen to do some self reflection, you can help
them be more intentional in their own education. It is important
to note, however, that setting intentions is one thing but
keeping to them is another! In our interview, Diane is sharing
some simple practices to make every day life more intentional for
both you and your teen.



How Mindfulness Can Boost Motivation



You may have been intrigued by the idea of mindfulness, but can’t
commit to hours of meditation or long morning yoga classes. With
all the stress of life, it can feel like these relaxing practices
are just another thing we have to pencil in after work. However,
with the right methods, you and your family can incorporate
mindful practices in everyday life. Helping your teens take time
out of their day to reflect can be a helpful aide to their
education process too, says Diane.



Diane and I talk about a process called “check-in, check-out”.
Instead of requiring lots of time and effort and throwing off
your daily schedule, this practice simply involves taking five
minutes at the beginning of the day and five at the end. In the
morning, Diane encourages us to “check-in”: set some intentions
for the day, think about how we feel, and set ourselves in the
present. At the end of the day, as we’re winding down, she
recommends that we “check-out”, or process our feelings about the
day, evaluate whether or not we met our intentions, and think
about what we are going to do tomorrow!



This basic practice can help us get in touch with ourselves
instead of staring at our devices! It also helps us keep our
goals in mind, and live our best lives. Diane suggests that
parents introduce this concept to teens, and even invite them to
share their results with you. Teens often feel like we don’t
listen, says Diane, and showing that you care can help the two of
you strengthen your connection. Plus, this practice may help them
think critically about their education goals, and whether or not
they’ve been met!



In the Episode…



I learned so much from Diane thi...