Test Scores Are Down In My School

Think education is equal? Robber Baron never learned how to read. We found out in the fourth grade, and were quite shocked. He was a student in Sweet Husband’s school, in the gifted and talented program even, and couldn’t read a thing. 

He had incredible coping skills. Absolutely incredible. 

We were able to catch him up, and he has been successful through his college experience and in the workplace.

He had every possible advantage…and he fell through the cracks.

How on earth can this Covid generation of kids ever catch up? They lack the resources, they lack the determination, and they lack the support system Robber Baron had. 

So, yeah, test scores are down at my school. Your school. Every school. 

While we need to research the causes of this phenomenon, it is essential that we find ways to compensate for our students, bring them as much as to grade level as possible, and find ways for them to showcase their talents and gifts outside of the “normal” scholastic achievements.

Hello, CTSO! Where Education (can be) Equal!!!

Into the void steps one of the greatest equalizers I’ve ever seen—participation in Career and Technical Student Organizations. With hundreds of thousands of students across the country—even the world—CTSOs like DECA and FBLA are made up of students at every educational level, with a wide variety of skills and abilities. 

CTSOs aren’t just about content knowledge.

One of the greatest things about CTSO involvement is that it can appeal to students at every age and level. With the incredible growth of middle school CTSOs, more and more students are being exposed to the platforms earlier and earlier. Research shows that participation in Career and Technical Education, and CTSOs by association, increases the likelihood of students graduating high school by double digit percentage points. It can possibly be the greatest indicator of high school success for some demographics of students.

Know Your CTSO Members

So, let’s talk about the incredible equal education opportunities in CTSOs for all students, not just those who are academically gifted. I’ve had the ability to recruit students directly from my classes for both DECA and FBLA, and that situation is probably the easiest for me to manage. Since I have them in class, I have the opportunity to see them in academic as well as social situations throughout the day, and get to know them as both students and people.

But…that is only about half of our membership in both organizations. The truth of it is that our members are not always my students. We get people from all over campus who join for one reason or another. Often it is because a friend is a member, sometimes it is just to beef up the resume, and occasionally we get members who heard we are a friendly lot. No matter how the young person finds your organization, they are now your responsibility.

• First, you need to watch carefully as they interact with other members. This will give you an idea of their level of self-confidence in social situations. 
• Next, you need to take care to observe them from an educational lens. Are they avoiding reading the competition scenario or not volunteering to be the writer when kids are doing activities? Are there any clues as to their educational level?
• Finally, it is incumbent upon you to make personal contact with all members during their first or second meeting. You will be able to observe many things about them, and chat with them about their favorite (and least favorite!) classes.

Supporting Your Students

If you’ve got more than twenty kids in your classroom for a meeting, I almost guarantee that you have everything from the potential valedictorian to students with learning challenges, emotional challenges, and just plain crap grades.

It’s time for you to step in and see how you can “fill the gaps” in their knowledge and create equal education, whether it’s learning loss from Covid, going to a poor rated middle school, or family stress that has kept them from flourishing. You need to offer some viable solutions.

Tutoring At School

I guarantee your school offers tutoring after school. It’s a staple of the American education system. Consider having the tutoring teacher come by a meeting and talk about the tutoring opportunities you have on campus to make kids feel more comfortable going to tutoring.

Tutoring By You

Whether it is during class, during club time, or outside of your contract time, I strongly suggest you make yourself—and your room—available for students to do some extra studying. I certainly can’t help them in AP Calculus, but I can offer a snack and a comfortable and safe space to work in.

Tutoring Each Other

Peer tutoring is probably the most impactful and effective method for bringing students up to grade level. They are most comfortable with their peers, and their peers can speak to them in ways we as educators can not. Extra points if you let them use your room—they’ll feel more comfortable.

Building Educational Confidence Through Competition

Here is why I’m writing this blog this week:

Robber Baron is not only a state and national CTSO champion, but an international champion at the high school and college level. Yup…my kid who couldn’t read Hop on Pop at age eight. 

CTSOs are that safe haven for students who are skilled in different ways. It is the medium upon which they can shine using their common sense, verbal and personality skills and charisma.

Plus…Nobody makes a better competitor than someone with something to prove

Compensating For Lower Level Reading And Math Competency

So, I freely admit—and have no problem repeating—that I can’t help my students with AP Calculus, APUSH, AP Physics or even Crossfit. 

But I know how to build a master competitor. Regardless of their grades in your class.

Here are two of my “secret weapons” for making the academically un-gifted a CTSO champion: 

Build business vocabulary first

DECA and FBLA both having testing events, and kids who are not strong academically automatically will take themselves out of those events. Don’t let them! The vast majority of the tests are vocabulary based, so start with business terminology right away, so your students are comfortable using these terms in conversation. This will result not only in higher testing scores, but much stronger scores in the judged events where they have to speak to the judge about a topic.

Work on financial equations

Along the same lines, your average competition in DECA or FBLA is not going to be based on AP Calculus. It might benefit from a little understanding of reading statistics, or calculating interest, though. So, in your tutoring sessions, focus only on financial equations, and how to read financial information—like stock tables and compound interest—and leave the heavy-math-lifting for their math teachers.

Ancillary Ways To Build Confidence

I’ve also learned, over and over again, that having self-confidence is the single best indicator of success in CTSOs for the performance and judged events. A very easy way to at least seem like the education level is equal. You don’t need to be the valedictorian to suggest good customer service practices, or to create a short sales presentation. 

Here are a few things to focus on that have nothing to do with your kids’ GPA:

You look good, you feel good

Even if it’s from the thrift store, encourage your kids to get a good, well-fitting “interview” outfit to use for competition. If they feel like they look good, they will naturally perform with more confidence.

Practice introducing yourself

I’ve mentioned this before, and I reiterate it here, because nothing makes a kid feel more confident than a strong handshake and great introduction. Practice this, then practice it again.

Oozing confidence through your body language

Do you do a lesson on body language in an interview situation? If not, you need to add it right now. Nothing will hurt your kid more than fidgeting and stuttering habits. My least favorite lately is playing with the hair…just stop people.

Know your rubric

Your kids will feel much more confident in themselves if they know how they are being judged. It’s the same as in your class—use the rubric right from the start to make sure you are creating the right persona and situation for the judge.

I’ve Seen It Work

You’re probably thinking it’s the “smart kids” who win all of the awards, but that just is not the case in DECA and FBLA. Do those kids have advantages? Perhaps, but it’s just as much because they have self-confidence as they have knowledge. 

So, level that playing field by infusing your competitors with self-confidence, and watch them soar onto the stage.

I’ve seen it over and over again through the years.

Just ask Robber Baron… 

THANK YOU FOR READING THIS FAR!!!

Wow, thank you for reading about equal education through CTSOs!

Hey, since you’re here! You may as well check out what it’s like to attend conference, here, and learn about DEI in CTSOs, here! Check out our other topics here! Either way, I appreciate you!

Please leave a COMMENT about any tips you may have!! Or comment what your favorite lesson of mine was! How’s your student organization operating?

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Oh! And don’t forget to check out my video series by CLICKING HERE!!!