Engaging Youth: A How-to Guide for Creating Opportunities for Young People to Participate, Lead and Succeed
(PDF; 2MB), Sierra Health Foundation, 2006
This paper describes: (1) youth leadership and why it is important; (2) best practices from organizations that successfully implement youth leadership opportunities; and (3) youth leadership opportunities that exist in the greater Sacramento region.
First Ask, Then Listen: How to Get Your Students to Help You Teach Them Better: A Teachers Guide
(PDF), What Kids Can Do, Inc., 2003
This short manual offers a starting place for those interested in finding out what students have to say. Teachers can initiate questions that prompt discussions and honest dialogue from which both students and adults can benefit. The structured dialogue will begin to build a base of mutual confidence that students have something valuable to contribute to their own education. Students can critique school and classroom climate based on their own experiences. As teachers hear their own students speak their minds in a structured and respectful setting, they can begin to adapt their practice to meet their learning needs more effectively.
Listening to Student Voices
(PDF), Hamline University and the Center for Policy Studies, 2005
In this report, high school student-researchers challenge adults to allow consumer input to further efforts to increase students’ motivation to attend, to learn, and to graduate. Students present findings to support their assertion that much may be learned about effective schooling, if researchers and policymakers were to listen to what the students say. The report underscores the importance of students participating in discussions about education, school, and policy.
Student Voices is an initiative of Education/Evolving, a joint venture between Hamline University and the Center for Policy Studies. Education/Evolving is a Minnesota-based project committed to helping kindergarten through grade twelve schools evolve and meet the challenges, demands, and opportunities of the 21st Century.
Washington Youth Voice Handbook
(PDF), CommonAction, 2006
This introductory guide shares what, why, who, when, where, and how youth voice happens throughout our communities. Highlighting examples and lessons from across Washington State with insights and ideas for young people, youth workers, teachers, and anyone else interested in truly empowering youth to make a difference.