I believe that these habits ought to be modeled in all classrooms for all students. Unfortunately, exclusive charter schools work against this goal.
I try to promote these qualities everyday in my classroom, by example, via discussion, and through formal and informal assignments.
Yesterday, I took a copy of this article to class and shared it with my students, mainly because the article reinforces what I preach to my students all the time.
I especially appreciated that the school identified reading as the most important factor for achieving academic success. I absolutely believe this to be the case and say so nearly every day in my classroom. If one can read she/he can figure out anything they need to know.
The other traits, that are sponsored by the school, are vital for the successful student too.
Both writing and collaborating with others help clarify one's thoughts and increase one's ability to communicate effectively.
Being prepared and thinking for ones' self is as important a traits as the others. I encourage my students to over-prepare, to read or write more than is asked and I insist that they trust no one to interpret the world for them, even those whose motives are benign.
Some students come to class equipped with these behaviors and some others develop and nurture them, as a result of being exposed to the habits at school. This used to be a clearly evident process in classrooms, but due to many political, economic, and social pressures, the classrooms I see today are less diverse and often lack students who can model the "good student" behaviors.
Too many families are struggling just to survive and they lack the resources and energy to sponsor these good habits in their children. They love their kids and they want the best for them, but they aren't able to provide intellectually stimulating environments or monitor or reinforce the behaviors they want their kids to manifest (they often don't have those skills either).
Its too bad that every kid can't have the dynamic school environment that High Tech High can provide but the public purse should not underwrite the enrichment of the few at the expense of the many.
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