69. Form a club
There is an assortment of clubs at most schools. There are various business, language, computer, drama, science and weightlifting clubs, just to name a few of the obvious. They provide students the opportunity to focus their interests with other students outside the normal classroom setting. Clubs are usually open to all interested students and may be both formal and informal. Trips, competitions, and fundraising may occur as well.
My suggestion is to think of a popular interest students at your school have and then form a club around it. For example, we had issues with students playing computer chess during instruction time. Our business teacher formed a very informal after school club (actually during our activity time), where students signed up and competed against one another. They get their “fix” and our business teacher funnels this student interest into a quasi-organization. There could be clubs based on video games, current events, reality television; the sky is the limit. My only word of advice is to clearly outline the goal of your club and value it has to the school.
Understanding the interests of your students can provide you the teacher, the opportunity build relationships with them. Building relationships will result in a greater impact in “reaching” them and educating them. I understand that some of the potential clubs mentioned above are not “mainstream”, but who cares. If they have they have a valued purpose and result in increased student performance, go for it!
