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Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Education Secretary John B. King, Jr. said: “a well-rounded education helps kids make that incredibly important connection between their studies, their curiosities, and their passions, and the skills they need to become sophisticated thinkers.”
Education is so much more than learning basics like multiplication and vocabulary, although high-quality academics are, of course, important. By providing a well-rounded academic experience, teachers and administrators help students learn lessons for a lifetime. The following are five critical life skills that students should be developing as part of their schooling experience:
Personal responsibility
Teachers helping to foster personal responsibility will make enough space for students to take initiative, but are ready and willing to help students individually when needed. They provide easy access for students to come to them for help.
Time management
Online education is specifically powerful in helping students learn time management skills. Rather than a bell ringing to signal advancement to the next subject, students have the flexibility to navigate schedules on their own time, which empowers them to learn how to better manage their time overall.
Collaboration
It is especially critical for students to have experiences working with their peers. These interactions help them develop interpersonal skills and expose them to different perspectives and diversity. Collaborative experiences can be offered in a variety of settings. Our online school model provides many opportunities for collaboration among students, from group projects, to school clubs, to in-person service learning activities.
Persistence and grit
Students learn some of the best lessons for growth by experiencing occasional setbacks. This adversity requires students to be persistent in problem-solving, asking for help and finding resources. Teachers and parents should be especially encouraging in these situations. Helping students work through opposition promotes maturity and strengthens character.
Communication
Students are explicitly taught how to appropriately communicate in the digital space with teachers and peers. So much of our communication happens virtually that it’s important to learn how to voice opinions and disagree without being disagreeable.
Our children’s education helps to shape the people they will become. Like most teachers, I recall experiences where a teacher believed in me and believed it was worth the time and effort to expand my horizons. Broadening our perspectives to look for those life lessons that can be taught through educational experiences is a worthwhile exercise as teachers and parents.
