Font ResizeWhen her kids were younger, Beth Decker created a line of furniture for them just because nothing in stores suited her sense of style.
Now, as a Brentwood teacher, she has crafted a textbook that offers relevant and real life lessons to teens who are on the brink of finding themselves. The self-published book, "Get Real," empowers her Liberty High School students to learn independently and plot their futures.
"It was born out of need, necessity and what I wanted my children to have," the Martinez resident said.
While using the textbook in her freshman classes called "Foundations for Success," Decker has found that its straight talk about goal setting, living costs, stress reduction and future employment has prompted important conversations beyond the classroom.
"It is the beginning of conversations they never had with their parents. They are victims of a culture that overspends and under-interacts," she said. "It is what they need. I knew it from the bottom of my soul."
A parent's companion guide and frequent e-mail interaction with Decker allows parents to become involved in what the English teacher is calling "a reality project for teenagers" that goes beyond career development topics.
"Get Real" has recently captured the attention of George Washington University's Freshman Initiative that praised it for being comparable to program standards for well-established freshman transition programs. Decker's book is only the
Liberty senior Shelly Sepulveda took the class two years ago and said the experience was life-changing. Through its lessons — and as homework — the now 17-year-old learned about the high demands of raising children by sitting down with her single mom to pay the bills.
"It made you realize that your future starts now. I realized that I wasn't going to let my high school years go to waste," Sepulveda said proudly as she prepares for college next year.
Decker was inspired to write the book by her own blended family. After serving as a district literacy coordinator, she used her knowledge of adolescent literacy tools to create a video series used by teachers.
More recently, she set out to compile the textbook for her freshman course because there wasn't one available. She used old lesson plans that had succeeded in getting her former students more serious about their future success.
She said she is humbled during classroom discussions when once-apathetic students are moved by information presented, such as working adults needing a $65,000 annual basic survival income.
"High school is the bridge to adulthood. I'm trying to teach them how to learn for themselves," she said.
Her students' failure rate has dramatically dropped — from 30-35 percent to less than 10 percent — and she credits the lessons in the book. In addition, she and their parents noticed that the students are exhibiting more positive thinking and behavior overall.
Students also admire Decker's honesty. She often tells them that they have three choices as adults: work, homelessness or jail.
Liberty freshman Aaron Cone is taking Decker's class and now wants to become a firefighter.
"Ms. Decker opened my eyes toward the future," he said. "She has a better connection with the kids compared to other teachers."
To learn more about Beth Decker's book, visit www.getrealearning.com.
