DECA Recruitment

For the past several years, I’ve had a solid group of seniors graduate, with groups of juniors, sophomores, and freshmen waiting in the wings. Perhaps I got too complacent, but last spring as I looked at the underclassmen waiting to take their places as experienced DECA members, I realized I had not built up students in the younger grades to take on leadership positions in the future. I would be fine for this year, but after that, I didn’t have a solid DECA chapter. 

Luckily, it wasn’t too late, and I was able to utilize my chapter officers for recruitment. I have a four-year program, and I knew from experience the incoming freshmen were a good place to start. Using a strategy set forth by my chapter president, I sent my officers to the middle school to recruit. They spoke to every 8th grade student during the students’ English classes. The officers sold the program, because half of the incoming freshmen class signed up for marketing and DECA! Coupled with an interactive booth at freshman move up day (we have a DECA fish), we have been able to double our DECA membership over last year’s. We will absolutely implement the same tactics next year in order to continue to build that solid foundation. 

The next question is, how do I manage sixty enthusiastic freshmen?  

Using Lyrics to Inspire Students

Using Lyrics to Inspire Students

As educators, we are always looking to find new and creative ways to inspire our students to learn the content we want them to learn. I noticed at the beginning of the school year how many students were walking through the halls and into class with earbuds in listening to music. Music has a way with all of us in some form or another. With many teens, they use it to motivate and calm them throughout the day. So, instead of doing the same project I have done in entrepreneurship the fast four years on "the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs," I decided to harness the power of lyrics to drive the lesson home!

HERE is the assignment that I created for the students. Feel free to download and use!

I first started the lesson off by sharing how lyrics have empowered and motivated me over the years using songs by Eminem, Linken Park, and the Foo Fighters (Clean versions of course)! Next, students took time to research five songs that they believe relate to them as a person and showcase their entrepreneurial characteristics. I then had them pick one of those songs and write down the lyrics that resonated with them the most. Lastly, students presented their songs and read their lyrics. 

Myself and the students had a ton of fun with this activity. They loved sharing how lyrics relate to them and their entrepreneurial traits! Many of them even discovered new artists that they never knew about before. WOW! There are always new and engaging ways to teach students about your content. Sometimes, all you have to do is notice where your students are and meet them halfway! If you try this activity, please let me know how it goes by commenting below or tweeting me @DTown_MrD.

Logo's on the Next Level

Teaching marketing to high school students can be really fun...as long as you get away from the textbook and take the adventure to the next level. That is exactly what Swedish designer Daniel Carlmatz did when he challenged himself to create logos with hidden meanings for a full year.

Take a look at some of the logos that Carlmatz created here and you'll get excited about how marketing changes the way we see things (and your students will love it too!) This resource is a great way to introduce students to psychology, innovation, and creativity. It's not enough to just read about how to market, you have to see it.

I am pumped to use this resource in my classroom. My students don't know it yet, but one day they will write down a random word and then they will create a logo with a hidden meaning for their specific word, just as Carlmatz did. It will be fun. It will be challenging. And it will be interesting to see what my students create.

NOTE: Some of the logos are not school appropriate. Please review the resource before using it in the classroom. I used a snipping tool to copy the school appropriate logos.



How I Built This . . . NPR

At a professional development conference this summer, a colleague discussed how she uses podcasts when teaching.  She indicated that she has their full attention UP TO 45 MINUTES!  I was intrigued so I decided to check it out.

May I suggest that you check out (and maybe subscribe to) the following podcast called How I Built This from Guy Raz?  I plan to do so this school year.

How I Built This