How to make adolescents curious about content

The Curiosity Connection: Relating Content to Students' Lives

Adolescent Issue	Topic	Connection
Independence: How can I separate myself from parents and other adults?	American Revolution	When is rebellion justified?
The search for identity: Who do I want to be? What do I want to become?	Percentages	To determine your likes and dislikes, compute the percentage of your life spent in various activities.
Relationships and stature: How important are my opinions of my peers, my family?	Jane Austen'sEmma	Discuss how stature and reputation affect Emma's decisions and your own.
Responsibility: For what do I want to take responsibility? What is expected of me?	Ecology	Investigate social organizations working to improve the environment.
Adapted from Beane, J. A., and R. P. Lipka. (1986). Self-Concept, Self-Esteem, and the Curriculum. New York: Teachers College Press.

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept95/vol53/num01/Strengthening-Student-Engagement@-What-Do-Students-Want.aspx

Mentoring (CT)

Note to self: Mentoring is a reciprocal process. 

Ambrosetti (2014) emphasises that effective mentoring involves strong reciprocal relationship. This view is echoed by Hudson (2013), who believes that for mentoring to be successful, both parties should be open to give and receive constructive feedback.

Mentoring can be developmental for mentors as they reflect and deconstruct their pedagogical knowledge practices, strengthen their communication skills and develop leadership competencies (Lopez-Real, 2005). 

For mentors, engaging in a collaborative and co-constructive relationship with their mentees empowers the former to reflect on their own teaching practices, reveal their assumptions about learning and teaching, and refine their pedagogical leadership. 

Above all, adopting an open mind to give and receive feedback, and understanding the reciprocal nature of the relationship will allow the experience to be mutually beneficial.