TODAY’S MILLENNIAL STUDENTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS
2006 COLLEGE BOARD FORUM “A new generational wave is breaking across campuses in America. Dating back to its first births, in the early 1980’s, you could see this Millenial Generation coming. Everywhere these boys and girls have been, from bulging nurseries to the new Baby on Board minivans, from daycare center to kindergarten through high school, they have changed the face of youth – and transformed every institution they’ve touched (Neil Howe and William Strauss, 2003).
Generational Theory – approximately every 20 years a new generation is born. This common peer group possesses a common persona and the character of each generation is defined by embodying attitudes about family life, gender roles, institutions, politics, religion, culture, lifestyle and the future. A generation can also be defined by the societal/historical events that have occurred as they come of age. America currently has six living generations. The middle four generations are the adults who are having a direct influence on shaping today’s youth, the Millenials.
According to authors, Howe and Strauss, every fourth generation repeats itself as part of a generational rhythm. Back to the mid 1600’s and the colonization of America, generational patterns have been identified. A hero generation usually leads the country through a period of crisis, such as the American Revolution or World War II. Following the crisis, a silent generation moves into adulthood, where very little is expected of them; they are conformists and have an aversion to risk. The children they raise, the “boomers” are idealists and individualists. With their lives so free of danger, they develop an inner spiritualism not found in other generations. But the contentment can never last, tensions deepen and a new generation, the “Gen Xers” begin the Consciousness Revolution. This is a period of unraveling, where culture wars and violence abound, and the rights of the individual take precedence over the needs of the community. Eighty years later, another hero generation is born. Today they are known as the Millenials, a generation who will shape the destiny of America during the twenty-first century.
To better understand the four generations that comprise our adult society and bear the greatest influence on the Millenials, refer to the generational table on the next page. Generational Table
G.I. Generation Silent Generation Boom Generation X Generation
“Good kids” Children of war Indulged youth Hurried reputation and depression born during childhood of post-war divorce, optimism latchkeys Increasing % of Heavily Dr. Spock and Open children protected Father Knows classrooms, The attending school children who Best child Nation At Risk watched their rearing models elders make great sacrifices Child labor Made early Focus on the Dating and restrictions, commitments to inner self and marrying scouting clubs, family and career self perfection cautiously (AIDS) vitamins Pulled the nation “Lonely crowd” Vietnam War More willing to out of the Great conformists protests, inner volunteer then Depression city riots vote Heroes who “Midlife” crisis Culture careers Triggered a conquered rebellion including positive turn foreign enemies education, around in the US religion, economy (but journalism, the still labeled arts “slackers”) Built suburbia, Divorce boom, Moralistic Overlooked and launched moon more open values, pragmatic rockets, invented attitudes about creativity, culture vaccines sex, drugs and lifestyle choices As senior Parenting style, Narcissistic and Risk takers, free citizens free spirited, judgmental lancers rather protected their “hands off” then corporate entitlements approach loyalists Born 1901 - 1924 Born 1925 - 1942 Born 1943 - 1960 Born 1961-1981 Ages 82-105 Ages 64-81 Ages 46-63 Ages 25-45 Who are the Millenials?
Born 1982 – present; ages newborn to 24
Largest generation since the boomers, numbering 100 million, partly due to the increasing number of immigrants
Focus of the nation is on them, defining adult issues in terms of how it affects our children (i.e. Internet, movie ratings, tax cuts, Amber alerts, Megan’s law)
High level of trust and confidence, respectful of rules and laws
Very connected to their parents
Optimistic, active and multi-taskers
Strong team instincts, high achievers, and civic minded
Extremely focused on academic achievement
Very involved in community activities (the Boomers will forever remember “Dick and Jane” books, the Millenials will never forget, “Nice goal Justin, good pass Megan”)
Zero tolerance – looking for security, actually demanding it
Youth trends are reversing, statistics show that teen pregnancy and birthrates have dropped to an all time low. Sexual activity has decreased and drug - use is on the decline.
Diversity and inclusion are to be celebrated, this is the most racially and ethnically diverse generation.
Very interested in math and technology versus the humanities
Girls are the trailblazers, leading the pack Seven Core Traits of Millenials
In every generation there are core traits that will define the world of every member within that the generation. Not everyone will personify these traits, some may even rebel against them, but all of the members will forever be defined by these core traits.
1) SPECIAL
Every aspect of our world asks the question, “What impact will this have on our youth”, whether political, business, or education. Millenials are trusting of the large national institutions, believing these institutions will do the right thing and act on their behalf. However, millenials also believe that their own generation will have the greatest impact on global issues in the future and their parents (boomers and gen xers) agree.
2) SHELTERED
Starting in the early 1980’s, child –safety laws became a national priority. Children’s car seats, movie ratings, internet locks, Megan’s law, Amber alerts, etc. all became the focus of American society. After Columbine, teens wanted to increase these protective measures with zero tolerance policies, student ID’s and metal detectors. Protecting our children permeates all levels of society.
3) CONFIDENT
Generally an optimistic generation, the millenials have been raised in a world where they have always been told they can accomplish anything in life, that all their dreams can come true. More then four in five teens believe they will be financially more successfully then their parents. Finding a balance to their work life and family life is their ultimate goal. They believe in the future and the American Dream. Even after 9/11, this generation had little difficulty acclimating to the new rules. Since Columbine, they had become accustom to metal detectors, backpack and locker searches, cameras, etc. They were ready for this war on terror. 4) TEAM - ORIENTED
Millenials are a very interconnected group using the latest technology to communicate. Whether they are text messaging, instant messaging, calling or emailing, communication is vitally important to them. A team ethic is evident in their socialization patterns as they hang in groups of eight to ten students versus one or two special friends. Teams have been a part of their life since preschool with sport teams, cooperative learning, peer grading, and group projects the norm for millenials. Gender, race and ethnicity are non – issues to the millenials. More important to them is the divide they experience socio-economically. Money and class issues are a rising concern.
5) CONVENTIONAL
Millenials are a very conservative group – valuing the moral and traditional values of our lives. They are less likely to use drugs and alcohol then their parents. Pregnancy rates have dropped and abstinence is favored. This is a generation who shares the values of their parents and believes the rules they create can improve the quality of life for all.
6) PRESSURED
Millenials do not need any help developing a career plan. They have already mapped out those details, sometimes well before high school. What they do need help with is how to achieve that plan. They believe hard work will pay off but the stakes are rising. College entrance is more competitive, the job market fluctuates, technology demands more of their time, as they try to balance the demands of academics with the extra-curricular activities they participate in after school. SAT’s, college essays, financial aid forms, scholarships and college applications are stressful in and of themselves. Then add in community service, part-time employment and homework and you now have a stressed out teen. 7) ACHIEVING
Millenials may become the best educated generation in history. Striving for the Ivy League education may be giving way to finding the “best fit” school. Competition is rampant. The college search begins early, sometimes as early as pre-school!
How do we educate this powerful generation? How do we prepare them for the future and what destiny may bring? As school counselors, what should be our focus? How do we assist parents as we work together to educate the millennial child?
“To some generations, much is given. Of other generations, much is expected. This generation has a rendezvous with destiny.” (Franklin Roosevelt)
LEARNING PREFERENCES OF MILLENNIALS
AS CONNECTED 24/7 ADOLESCENTS, MILLENNIALS WANT……
to work in teams
structure but value flexibility.
active learning.
to be challenged with learning opportunities.
fun and humor in their classrooms.
to be treated with respect.
others to be accountable for behavior. concrete results and rewards for their work.
frequent and timely feedback.
courses that offer useful training for the future.
counselors and teachers to be their coaches.
individual performance-based assessments.
technological resources which are at least equal to those they have at home.
CONCERNS REGARDING OUR 81 MILLION MILLENNIALS
OUR STUDENTS MAY LACK………..
hands-on experience.
resourcefulness and independence.
leadership skills, used to group think.
literary skills, compared to some generations.
the ability to think or plan.
tolerance for delay.
perspective on Plagiarism as being morally or ethically wrong.
technological resources (Digital Divide).
handwriting skills. They prefer typing to handwriting.
faith in themselves. They may fear being left behind.
people skills.
the ability to entertain themselves.
conflict resolution and management skills.
standards of what is right and wrong. appropriate manners for the online learning environment – Netiquette.
good mental and emotional health .
parents that encourage self-control and responsibility.
MILLENNIAL PARENTS
Tend to be overly involved to child’s life.
Demand increased role in their child’s education.
Are concerned about security and safety at school.
Increasingly scrutinize teachers and the educational process.
Are more focused on the values teachers are imparting.
Do not see failure as a learning experience.
Want to understand grading policy and evaluation procedures.
Are seeking more access to educational records.
Expect accountability of others, but not necessarily for their own child.
Expect education to bring forth their child’s individual talents and abilities.
Want personalized education and performance-based assessments.
Recent Met Life Poll of K-12 Teachers……… ------PARENTS ARE THEIR #1 HEADACHE!
STRATEGIES FOR WORKING WITH MILLENNIAL PARENTS:
Interact with parents in a personal way. Let them know you care about their child and are committed to their success! Contact parents early in the school year when you see cause for concern. Parents need to be our collaborators.
Offer specific suggestions to parents to help their child.
Use sound customer service skills.
Set specific guidelines for responding to parent calls or email.
Present outlined evaluation procedures.
Develop relationship statements between parents, students and teacher. Outline expectations of all parties. Use contracts.
Encourage parent involvement. Channel parent energy into constructive school related activities.
Develop parent newsletters and parent information websites. Post assignments, grades and attendance on the web.
Implement meetings and seminars for parents. o Transitional years – 9th grade, 12th grade to college o College Information – application process, financial aid, college representatives o Student evaluation methods and techniques o Orientation for parents of new students o Open House o Parent Advisory Council-Organize focus groups to determine needs and expectations of parents; plan and present programs of interest; promote programs with sessions on appropriate boundaries and realistic expectations for highly involved parents.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS
Emphasize CHARACTERISTICS, ATTITUDES AND APTITUDES of Millennial students
Supplement lectures/discussions with ACTIVE LEARNING COMPONENTS using cutting edge technology. Classes need to be student driven but always directed by the teacher. Students need a large number of ALTERNATIVE LEARNING ACTIVITIES so all students can be successful and engaged. EXAMINE EVALUATION TECHNIQUES. Offer personal feedback, focused conversation to discuss work. Use personal email. Offer constructive criticism within grading rubrics and assignment parameters. Consider peer developed and peer-rated assessments to complement teacher grading as well as individual accomplishment within the context of a team performance.
Train teachers on how to handle parents using good CUSTOMER SERVICE TECHNIQUES.
Teachers can’t dictate ethical code but they can ask students to think, write about, and discuss ethical implications. Encourage teachers to PROMOTE AND MODEL CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING for their students.
HARNESS PEER PRESSURE into group projects, peer grading, and student juries. Encourage students to lead, organize, and help others students learn.
DEVELOP TEACHER-STUDENT PARTNERSHIPS.
UTILIZE INTERDISCIPLINARY TEACHING. At end of class ask, “Does what we’ve studied today trigger any ideas for you?”
Students need to process information and combine with other learning and life experience. Provide time for students to PROCESS AND REFLECT.
Be aware of ASSIGNMENT LENGTH and TIME RESTRAINTS. Students are stretched to physical and mental limits. They tend to be over-scheduled.
Do not make assumptions about students and what they may or may not know, especially in the area of writing assessment. ASSESS PRIOR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS.
Give simple overview of information. STRESS MAJOR IDEAS AS OPPOSED TO DETAILS. Encourage critical thinking and appraisal.
EMPHASIZE CORE SUBJECTS as the foundation for new skills.
EDUCATION IS NO LONGER BOUND BY LIMITS OF TEACHERS, TEXTBOOKS, REFERENCE MATERIALS, OR PHYSICAL FACILITIES.
This is a wonderful time for children to grow up, a unique time in American history. Although life is good now, we don’t know what the future holds. We are aware that colleges are more competitive, good jobs are more difficult to find, and the housing market and healthcare costs have skyrocketed. Strauss and Howe, with their generational theory, predict a major crisis in our country sometime between 2013 and 2020. The crisis could be economic, social, cultural, technological, ecological, political or military. The question we as educators need to ask is “Are we preparing our children for their future? Are we fostering their flexibility, independence, resourcefulness, thinking skills and helping them build their value and ethical system?
The following practices are essential to prepare our Millennials for the future:
INCORPORATE COURSES IN FUTURE STUDIES. It is essential to plan for the future and consider alternative futures. Plan backward from desired outcomes. Make material relevant and applicable to future lives by offering future direct connections. Provide students with time to process and make connections themselves.
TEACH CIVIC VIRTUE, CODE OF ETHICS, AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION. Teachers and administrators need to model ethical practices. Teach democracy and involve people in decisions.
EMPHASIZE LEARNING SKILLS. [Thinking, critically applying knowledge to new situations, and analyzing information]. Success in the future id dependent on communication, collaborating, team skills, solving problems, and making decisions. Millennials need practice!
ENCOURAGE BALANCE IN STUDENTS’ LIVES. Emotional stability is of utmost importance.
CULTIVATE A SENSE OF PERSPECTIVE ABOUT LIFE. Success as narrowly defined, may be overrated. A person’s ultimate worth is not determined by, starting salary, prestige, employer or university attended.
PREPARED BY DIXIE GROSS & KIM PILGERT COUNSELORS PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA