Battling Senioritis

Jay Mathews of The Washington Post writes an intriguing article on the causes of "Senioritis" - that all-to-familiar spring slump that 12th graders inevitably fall victim to - challenging teachers to keep up the rigor and creative learning process even at the end of school. "The important part of the learning process," Mathews argues, "is not pounding in the material but thinking it over, talking about it, coming up with new and intriguing ways of connecting it to the rest of the world." He writes that an AP environmental science teacher in Delaware has students assign their own field trips, and forces them to be clear about what they have learned by writing their own multiple-choice questions for the next exam. Big Picture schools avert Senioritis by immersing students in real-world projects and internships, allowing students to pursue their own interests and passions, substituting narratives and exhibitions for grades and multiple-choice tests.

It takes good teaching to keep students engaged. Senioritis, just an "admirable urge to do things differently," should not be allowed to become an unchallenged slump. Good teaching in creative environments can triumph over dispassionate learning, even with graduation around the corner.