Chapter 5 The Global Achievement Gap

In this chapter Tony Wagner discuss the growing problem that our country is facing both in the workplace and in education. The work ethic of the young people is constantly declining. How do you motivate this new group of workers is a question that doesn't have an answer to. Teachers are having a harder time getting their students to work on homework do the extra reading that is required outside of class and doing extra work on papers and doing proof reads instead of just using spell check. But one of the problems teachers now have to face is that some kids are spoiled and are used to having everything done for them and expect everything. And have their parents stick up for them. Its a new generation that isn't used to having to put long hours in for a project or something to that matter, the computer, ipods, and xboxes come calling. There are so many distractions that kids have to deal with and many families have a family where both parents work so the time after school is normally spent doing these activities instead of homework. And instant gratification is something almost all kids think is a must. If something takes time like homework can, it normally doesn't last long since attention spans are shorter and the want to goes away quickly. It is going to take us as teacher to find ways to motivate these kids and keep them engaged in what you the teacher are saying. It is going to be a struggle each classroom are going to have those kids that will never do their homework. But it is our job to find ways to push them and find the child's drive and want to to succeed in the classroom.