Asking for Help

Video Overview:

When Deidra was having trouble in eighth grade math, she asked her teacher for extra help. And when 12-year-old Karesse realized that her grades were dropping because she was hanging out with kids who didn’t care about school or studying, she joined an after-school mentoring program. Both of these girls knew they needed help, and they took the initiative to ask for that help from the people and resources available at school. Deidra and Karesse got the assistance they needed to get back on track. Teachers, counselors and administrators are available to give support to kids who are having trouble in school or need a little extra tutoring. Requesting help and sticking with it can make the difference between academic success and failure; between finishing school and dropping out. All it takes is the first step: asking for help.

Discussion Questions:

1. According to the narrator, why are teachers, counselors and coaches at school? Do you find this true at our school?
2. How did Karesse improve her grades?
3. Explain what counselor Janine Antoine meant when she said, “They’re here for you.”

Student Self-Reflection Questions:

1. What are your own signs that you need help? How do you recognize those signs?
2. How do you ask for help at school?
3. Do you feel there is a teacher, a counselor or a coach who you can turn to for help? Why do you feel he/she can help? If you don’t have someone, is it because you think teachers, coaches and counselors can’t help? Is it you – afraid or unwilling to ask for help?