Hello!  I love all the blogs so far!  We have so much to discuss the next time we meet!

This past week I met with a high school student (straight A-s and in advanced classes - some two levels higher than grade level) that I am mentoring for confirmation.  I follow a booklet of questions that were reminiscent of what we are talking about - purpose and passion.  She was passionate about her family, sports, and grades.  As she was explaining this, she said that getting good grades will get her into college, and she will have a good job then she can get married and have kids!!!!! I asked her why that was important to her, and she said that it will make her feel good to know that she was doing what she was supposed to do!!! As we have discussed, society has labeled good grades=good college=good life and I just experienced it - almost word-for-word from a student herself.

I thought PBL would help struggling students, but now I really see the need for PBL with ALL students.  This is one of the brightest students in our community, and she can't think of anything she is passionate about!  As I mentioned in a previous post, does selected curriculum promote mediocracy trying to "even the playing field" for the more challenged students? There are multiple posts that say it will be difficult for students to find their passions and I agree.   Teachers will need to start with lists and really learn from each other to be successful (through failure) of implementing PBL.