Breakthrough Miami students and their teacher interns with StateImpact Florida reporter Sarah Gonzalez (left) at the WLRN-Miami Herald studios.
For today’s installment in our series, The Secret Lives of Students, we hear from a rising 9th grade student about to enroll in a mandatory virtual class.Â
Editor’s note: This post was written by high school student Jennifer Lopez.Â
By Jennifer Lopez, 14
A year-old law in Florida has made virtual courses mandatory for ninth grade students.
These virtual courses are to be taken in the school that the students attend.
Most students that are going in to ninth grade are still children in mind. For this reason, I think students should be in a class room with teacher to have face to face interaction, to help them in the specific area that they have chosen is hard for them. Continue Reading →
David Cardenas Rios (right) and Tony Delgado dressed as Super heroes during Breakthrough Miami's spirit week at the Ransom Everglades school campus.
For today’s installment in our series, The Secret Lives of Students, we hear how one student would improve class learning.Â
Editor’s note: This post was written by middle school student David Cardenas.Â
By David Cardenas, 13
School lunches are an interesting topic. Many people think that school lunches are not so great and they’re right. The majority of students are used to having bad school lunches, so we as students don’t think that telling other students, teachers, and adults won’t make such a big difference if anything.
But I’m not like other students, I fortunately have a great and healthy family and group of friends that are looking out for me. They taught me to stand up for what I believe in.
And so, I think that these school lunches are not adequate.
The government is giving so many ideas to provide healthcare and insurance for today’s generation, but the government is not worrying enough about its next generation. Continue Reading →
Allison Chan, 10, says her ideal teachers would always use games in class to help students learn.
For today’s installment in our series, The Secret Lives of Students, we hear how one student would improve class learning.Â
Editor’s note: This post was written by elementary school student Allison Chan.
By Allison Chan, 10
I would make the teachers at least everyday do different activities that are the lessons that you would learn in class but in an un-boring  way to let the kids have fun. Like, Jeopardy, Hot Potato etc.
TO REVIEW LESSONS
Jeopardy is an educational game that can review the terms that your students have learned in your class. You should do this game around 30 minutes or 40 minutes till class ends. You can start by putting different categories that you have teaches during that class. Then you would put different questions about each category. And DONE!!
Hot Potato is a game that you throw around the room to each student and when the music plays, each person throws it to each student and then when the music stops, the person who has it, needs to answer the question that the teacher gives the student. First you would want to buy a small ball. Then you would make up the question that was covered in the class (ONLY ON THAT DAY). And DONE!! Continue Reading →
Woodolph Myrtil, 12, says he feels like a bad student when he doesn't get selected to go on school field trips.
For today’s installment in our series, The Secret Lives of Students, one student writes about being left out of school field trips.
Editor’s note: This post was written by middle school student Woodolph Myrtil.
By Woodolph Myrtil, 12
One problem at my school is that only the Top 200 PBS (point based system) point leaders get to go to Busch Gardens.
PBS points are an effective system where students get “points” for having positive behavior in class.
Such as when you tuck in your shirt when a grown-up tells you to. Or if the whole class goes wild and you’re the only one being calm.
It’s not fair because the people who are not a part of the Top 200 can’t go on the field trip. Also not getting to go on that trip makes my mom think I’m not doing well when I am being a good student. Continue Reading →
Katerina Sanchez, 14, is a student at Coral Reef Senior High participating in the College Bound summer program with Breakthrough Miami.
For today’s installment in our series, The Secret Lives of Students, one student writes about the value of meeting people who came from poor neighborhoods and went to college.Â
Editor’s note: This post was written by high school student Katerina Sanchez who is participating in the College Bound program with Breakthrough Miami.Â
By Katerina Sanchez, 14
On Friday, July 20th about 35 9th grade students were invited to attend a meeting at the University of Miami Sports Medicine Center.
We were picked by our Breakthrough College Bound teachers to learn about peer pressure, leadership, and our plan A and B. About 10 speakers, including the Marlins Vice President and a professor that taught sports at the university, were speaking to us.
Many of the lecturers came from poor areas. They lived in the hood but were able to rise above the rest and not fall into drugs or alcohol. They managed to do very well in school. Continue Reading →
Asatta Mesa, 12, argues some students depend on the meals they eat at school, and that proportions should be larger.
For today’s installment in our series, The Secret Lives of Students, we hear about students who depend on the meals they eat at school.Â
Editor’s note: This post was written by middle school student Asatta Mesa who is participating in the summer school program, Breakthrough Miami. Â
By Asatta Mesa, 12Â
Many children complain about school lunch, but when they explain why they don’t like it, it’s usually because they don’t think it tastes good.
While that is important, there are also many other reasons why school lunch needs to be changed.
One of the worst things about school lunch is the proportions.
An abundant amount of kids rely on one meal a day, which is at school. There should be larger portions, because when kids don’t have proper nutrition, they lack focus.
All schools should also have resources to supply breakfast to students.
“Its Not Fair”Â
Most importantly, it is not fair, that depending on how much money you can afford to spend on education, determines the quality of your school food.
This shows that based off of your social class, you get better food. Continue Reading →
Angelica Carr, 13, says having no homework will give students the time to study.
For today’s installment in our series, The Secret Lives of Students, we hear from one student about the methods she would like teachers to use to help her learn.
Editor’s note: This post was written by middle school student Angelica Carr.
By Angelica Carr
The methods of teaching that I like using are music, no homework, and field trips.
I like these methods all for different reasons but mostly because they appeal to me in certain ways, and most students my age would agree.
Music
I like using music as a method because you can learn almost anything through a song.
You can make a song about math, language, history, and even language arts.
Sometimes it does not even have to be a song; just a simple rhyme could serve the same purpose. Most of the time it’s catchy so it’s easy to remember, and it prevents teachers from having to teach the same subject more than once so they don’t get behind with the lesson plans.
Student authors Joshua Partridge, 10 and Joshua Johnson, 11.
For today’s installment in our series, The Secret Lives of Students, students wrote and reported on class punishment.
Editor’s note: This post was written by elementary school students Joshua Johnson, 11, and Joshua Partridge, 10.
By Joshua Johnson and Joshua Partridge
This is an unreasonable procedure that teachers use: one student acts up and the whole class is punished for the one student’s actions.
This can cause bullying, the whole class can turn against the teacher, it’s not healthy to take away recess for a whole class, and it’s just not effective. Continue Reading →
Garcy Lawson, 12, says using technology in class keeps students interested, but also distracts them.
For today’s installment in our series, The Secret Lives of Students, we hear from one student about the good and bad aspects of using technology in the classroom.Â
Editor’s note: This post was written by elementary school student Garcy Lawson.Â
By Garcy Lawson, 12
One thing that I like about school is that we use a lot of technology. Our assignments are online; we e-mail our teachers for help and use online textbooks.
These things are all great as they keep students interested in class. But a lot of times, they also cause distractions.
Someone always has a problem with someone else’s desktop wallpaper, and feels as if they have to comment. Continue Reading →
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