Understanding Generation iY

Suzanne WhislerESU 4

January 4, 2013

www.savetheirfuturenow.com

That’s MePlease shout out “That’s me!” after each statement that describes you.

I’m an elementary teacher.I’m a secondary teacher.I’m a guidance counselor.I’m an administrator.I have a different role that has not been described.I’ve heard about Generation iY.

Welcome to the Neighborhood!

Introduce yourself to the folks in your neighborhood.Periodically you will be asked to share your thoughts and questions with someone from your neighborhood.

Introducing Generation iY

Born after 1990Defined by technologyGrown up online

They’re a different animal.

Are You an Immigrant or a

Native?

Generation iY Responses1. C & E – Text them and Facebook them

2. B – Lady GaGa3. A – Working on a specific project4. B – Aging performer who was often in a lawsuit5. C – Blues Clues6. C – An iPod7. C – Both8. E – More than an hour a day9. E – We call or text multiple times a day to talk

over decisions and activities.10.E – More than five technology devices a day

Immigrant vs. Native

“Generation iY has so much to offer, but they need direction – mentors who engage them in a

relevant way, channel their energy, and provide them with

the challenges they need.”

~Tim Elmore, 2010

Generation iY in Four Words

OverwhelmedOver-connectedOverprotected Over-served

Jekyll & Hyde Generation

Feel special and needed . . . Spoiled and conceitedOwn technology . . . Expect easy, instant resultsCatch on to new ideas quickly . . . Struggle with long commitmentsWant to be the best . . . Depressed if they’re not

Blogs

Wikipedia

Google

Cha Cha

TextFacebook

Text LanguageDo you know the code?

1.IDK2.NBD3.B4N4.LOL5.IMU

6. KIT7. POTS8. KHUF9. MUYM10.N2K

You can ask someone from your neighborhood for

help.

Text Code Answers1.IDK – I don’t know2.NBD – No big deal3.B4N – Bye for now4.LOL – Laugh out loud5.IMU – I miss you6.KIT – Keep in touch7.POTS – Parents over the shoulder8.KHUF – Know how you feel9.MUYM – Make up your mind10.N2K – Need to know

Nudge a NeighborState three things you now know about Generation iY that you didn’t know before with someone from your neighborhood.

Energetic Confident

Capable

DreamersFriends Activity

Postponed Generation

Generation iY & Maturity

BiologicallyCognitively

Emotionally - Behind

Advanced

Struggle of Gen iY Parents

“The butterfly must experience the struggle of breaking out of the cocoon. We can disable our

youth from maturing into adulthood by helping them too

much.”

7 Lies that Disable the Generation

1. You can be anything you want.2. It’s your choice.3. You are special.4. Every kid ought to go to college.5. You can have it now.6. You’re a winner just because you

participated.7. You can get whatever you want.

The Trouble with Boys

Reason iY Boys May be in Trouble 1.Video games and other online

activities2.Inappropriate teaching

methods3.Prescription drugs4.Damaging parenting styles5.Devaluation of masculinity

Steps to Help Boys

Limit and monitor screen time.Provide appropriate hands-on learning opportunities.Educate people on the effects of prescription drugs.Be careful about male bashing.

And . . .

Expose them to male role models!

Nudge a NeighborShare one lingering question you have about Generation iY with someone from your neighborhood.

Helping iY Find their Future

Responsive: to display acceptance, support and patience; to be attentive to them.

Demanding: to establish high standards, directing them to target those standards.

“What an adolescent needs is an adult (parent, teacher, coach, etc.) to display a balance of two elements –they need them to be both responsive and demanding.”

3 Elements to Get Education to Stick

1. A healthy, trusting relationship with the teacher.

2. An interactive learning community.

3. A creative and innovative approach that stimulates the right brain.

Make Learning Epic

E – ExperientialP – ParticipatoryI – Image RichC – Connected

Connecting with

Gen iYMake connections.Share information in a fresh wayThe first four minutes are crucial. Grab their head or heart.Explain the relevancy.

Use images.Change up instruction.Teach less for more.Nurture vs. challengeEngage students.

Nudge a NeighborShare with your neighbor how you can use the information you just learned to help Generation iY students.

“To connect with and influence Generation iY, we’ll likely have to adjust to them over and over again.”

“If you want happiness for a lifetime, help the next

generation.”~Chinese Proverb