How to Answer "Why Do I Need To Learn This?"

Every teacher has answered the question, "Why do we need to learn this?" almost as much as, "Can I go to the bathroom?" and we all have our go-to responses. They vary by the subject we teach and the age of our students, but do our clever justifications really convince kids their effort in school is worthwhile? Here is one of my favorite ways to get students on board with reading and writing - or at least to help them understand why they really will need these skills later in life.

"I'm going to be a chef" (or vet or soldier or fashion designer or unicorn trainer) "so why do I have to read books and write essays?"

Step One: The Homework
During the first week of school, I assign the first "real" homework, and I introduce it by telling students they are going to have to do some research. Before they really have a chance to panic, though, I discuss primary vs. secondary research and tell them how cool it is to interview a primary source. The assignment is short and sweet:

They can pose Question #1 to a parent, grandparent, neighbor, bus driver, coach, or whoever happens to be around them after school. (I usually ask that it not be an older sibling.) Then, hopefully having widened their perspective a little, they have to think ahead to their own careers, families, or hobbies and choose some way reading or writing will be necessary for them.

Step Two: The Discussion
The next day, everyone gets to share one result of their research - something someone told them in answer to Question #1. Kids tell me about adults in their lives who read credit card statements, operation manuals, legal documents, textbooks for college, and cookbooks; they talk about people who write police reports, technical instructions, emails for work, auto repair plans, and HTML code. The students teach the lesson for me! After everyone has shared, I ask, "Why did I have you do this?" and they tell me! It's magical...probably one of the most impactful lessons I do all year.

Step Three: The Bulletin Board
Even though the discussion part is AWESOME, this is actually my favorite part. Once everyone we've all shared our research (Yes, even me! I perform my own primary research by asking my ship mechanic husband what he reads and writes for his job, and I share that with the kids!), I hand out colorful index cards or cutouts, whatever I have on hand that year. Each student writes down one way to use reading or writing in real life, and I post them all on the bulletin board. I leave it up all year, so students can be reminded why they're working so hard in English. I'm hoping if they see reality written by other seventh-graders, they will believe that no matter where they go in life, reading and writing will be there!

(The sticky note says, "Answer coming soon."

How do you convince students your subject is relevant?