Drowning in Ds

Gr 7 Up—Through testimonials from struggling students, viewers are introduced to the common problem of capable students unable to achieve satisfactory grades. Six diverse teens describe their frustration at not being able to keep up with their school work. Following the introduction of the problems, a teenage host outlines a plan to turn Cs and Ds into As and Bs. The strategy includes identifying long-term goals, prioritizing activities, accepting personal responsibility, developing self-advocacy skills, and implementing a plan of action. The students describe how their grades improved after implementing the recommended strategies. While there is nothing really new in this sage advice, the supplemental pre-and post-tests as well as the goal setting, time management, and self-advocacy activities offer wonderful reinforcement. With the assistance of a teacher or a counselor, motivated students will learn valuable life skills from this program.—Ann Weber, Bellarmine College Prep., San Jose, CA