Keys to Quality Youth Development

Table of Contents	Next Topic
7. Youth Feel The Pride And Accountablility That Comes With Mastery
Premise
Youth experience success by completing activities appropriate for their stage of development and preferred style of learning. Youth set goals and celebrate accomplishments.
Building a Foundation Educational Commitment Doing well in school gives young people a sense of pride and accountability. Keep in mind that opportunities also exist outside of school for youth to feel a sense of accomplishment. The Search Institute identifies important examples: High expectations - Parent(s) and teachers encourage the young person to do well. Achievement motivation - Young person is motivated to do well in school. School performances - Young person has a B average or better. Homework - Young person reports doing at least one hour of homework every school day. Bonding to school - Young person cares about her or his school. Reading for pleasure - Young person reads for pleasure three or more hours per week.	Selecting Outcomes What will be done in your program to make sure youth - determine personal goals for the program/experience? will be accountable for their personal goals? gain knowledge leading to mastery through hands-on experiences? reflect and receive feedback on what they accomplish? receive public recognition for their accomplishments? share accomplishments with each other? have opportunity to practice skills until they master them?
Identifying Practices
Work with youth to set and achieve both individual and group goals. Develop action plans with structured time for feedback. Provide opportunities for practicing skills. Allow time to reflect on successes, failures, growth, accountability, pride, and motivation. Plan developmentally appropriate activities and accommodate diverse learning styles.
How It Works    A group of youth from a local 4-H club traveled to another state to participate in a Habitat for Humanity Project. Having little experience in building a house, the teens were apprehensive about their skills. The group spent a week learning how to read blueprints, develop carpentry skills, and work as a team. At the end of the experience, the youth were proud of the skills they had learned, the house they built, and their contribution to the community.	Things To Think About The planning process and the experience are as important as the end product. Encourage group members to celebrate each others’ accomplishments. Teaching someone else a skill you’ve learned is the final step of mastery. Words Of Wisdom "It makes me feel special to know that I can display my talents, and that people appreciate it." Tyrone, Urban Sanctuaries, p. 45.
Questions For Youth
What did you learn from the experience? Explain your accomplishments and why you are proud of them. What was the greatest challenge for you? What would you do differently now? With whom will you share your new skills and/or knowledge? What else would you like to learn?
Table of Contents	Next Topic

Produced by Communication and Educational Technology Services, University of Minnesota Extension.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this material is available in alternative formats upon request. Please contact your University of Minnesota Extension office or the Distribution Center at (800) 876-8636.

University of Minnesota Extension is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.