Conclusions

In class today we went over the different conclusion strategies (pictured below).  Students then had 30 minutes to work on their papers that will be due on Friday at the end of class.

Make a prediction AND offer a solution

Introductions

We discussed the 2 style of introductions we will be using in class.  Here are 3 slides that were used.  Students were given 40 minutes in class to wok on this and should have a draft done for Wednesday.

DUE..WHAT...WHEN...HOW

Due by 9:00am Friday, is your P1, P2, and P3 (fact) for the 2 body powerboxes.  Students need to share their document with me at:

roger.thompson@mead354.org

Students will have all rotation on Friday to work on the 2nd Power 3 (the personal experience/opinion) in rotation.  That will be Monday.

Here is what is due by 9:00am:


Tomorrow, Friday, they will be working on this...which will be due Monday.


Ultimately it should turn out similar to this:

Touching up your P1s, 2s, and 3s

As discussed in class, we are adding appropriate sentence tools to the sentences in the powerboxes.  Transition words in the 1s and 2s...getting the facts correctly identified, etc. Both powerbox paragraphs are due tomorrow.

Power 1, Power 2, and Power 3

Due tomorrow is:

power 1--> Big idea (Not enough social time)
Power 2--> First Detail to support the Power 1 (Homework until 10pm)
Power 3-->Fact from article to support power 2 (In the article "Why People Are Smart," it stated, "...."
Power 2 Second detail
Power 3 Fact from article

China Paper

Due Tomorrow:

State your position-- For against the change

Come up with your 2 BIG IDEAS

Come up with 2 supporting details for the Big Ideas.

Must be done on paper and will be turned in.

China Vs. US Education systems

Here is a list of links to the videos, articles, and webs we will use for our research:

Typical School Day
http://www.ivanwalsh.com/business-development/why-chinese-kids-are-smart-but-not-creative/

Are America's students falling behind the world?
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-pisa-test-results-20131209-story.html

The child, student, parent, culture
http://www.greatschools.org/parenting/teaching-values/481-parenting-students-to-the-top.gs?page=all

Amy Chua's account of being a mother:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/19/books/excerpt-battle-hymn-of-the-tiger-mother.html

Chinese Flocking to US Schools
http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/31/opinion/bennett-china-us-schools/


With Video:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/17/education-in-china-testing-diane-sawyer_n_785016.html

Video:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/22/studentnews/sn-curriculum-thu/index.html (@2:25)

2 videos:
http://www.pisaday.org/

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Comparing U.S. and Chinese Public School Systems

by Van Schaack

TEACHING AND TEACHING STRATEGIES (US AND CHINA)

In China:

To Become a Teacher:

In order to become a teacher in Mainland China, it is necessary for senior-middle-school teachers to be graduates with two additional years of training in a professional institution [2]. Primary-school teachers need to be graduates of secondary schools [2].

Teaching Strategies:

Different teaching strategies are employed in China as compared to the United States. In China, if a student is having difficulty grasping concepts in math class, the teacher may ask the student to come in front of the class to try to solve a problem so that the teacher and other students can help the student to correct his or her mistakes. If the student needs additional help, he will stay after school and work one-on-one with the teacher. The student's parents will also be involved and will help him with his math homework when he gets home from school, and on the weekends as well.

Data shows that students in Chinese schools, students perceive their classroom environments to be competitive and teacher-controlled. Students feel that this is a productive route to learning [3]. Students enjoy a friendly learning atmosphere where students and teachers work together in interesting and challenging class activities [3]. Chinese students feel that a collaborative learning environment promotes deeper and achievement-oriented approach to learning, which they prefer to other approaches to learning [3].

In the U.S.:

To Become a Teacher:

To become a teacher at an American elementary, middle or high school, it is necessary for all teachers to complete a four-year undergraduate higher education program. Undergraduate education programs exist, where after four years the student has a degree in education and only needs to take a teaching certification exam in the state that they want to teach in to become a teacher. For other students, post undergraduate education, future teachers need to complete a thirteen-month to two-year teaching certification degree (depending on the speed of the courses taken). These future teachers as well will need to take a certification examination in the state in which they want to teach and pass it to become a teacher. Many elementary, middle and high school teachers go on to get their Masters degree in education, which is an additional two years of education. A Masters degree (MA) can allow a teacher to be paid a higher salary than they would otherwise receive. In addition, it may make them a more attractive candidate when applying for a job in a school located in a higher SES area. In order to become a college or University professor, most students will need to complete an undergraduate education, as well as get their Masters degree. Depending on the University, it may be wise to go on for an additional two years to get a Doctorate degree (Dr.). In more prestigious universities, professors are usually doctors (have a doctorate degree).

Group vs. Individual (China & U.S)

Teachers in China focus on the group as opposed to on the individual. If one student is lagging behind, the class will stop and help the student, and bring him as quickly as possible to the level of the rest of the group. It is believed that every student has the ability to achieve in every subject, although some students will need to work harder than others to achieve the same results. Teachers and parents seem willing to help students who are not "naturals" at a subject to learn the tools that they need to succeed in that particular subject, even if it means working outside of school and on the weekends.

In Contrast, in America, being called in front of a class and being critiqued by not only your teacher, but also by other peers, could be downright damaging to a student's psyche. In the U.S., education focuses on the individual, and maintaining students' self-esteem is considered critical.

Further, if a U.S. student is lagging in his or her math class, we have the tendency to attribute the student's failure to him simply not being good at math. Students in this situation will often move into a lower level math class (different math levels are usually associated with middle school or high school).

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT:

Parental involvement is a critical component to a child's educational experience. If a child's parents value education, then the child is more likely to value school as well. In China, parental involvement is higher than compared to the US. Chinese parents accept the critical role of helping their students to learn concepts if they are lagging behind in school. Chinese parents also make sure that their children complete their homework. Parents in the U.S. typically play a more passive role in the education of their children.  In China, education ethics begins with parents. Mothers in eastern Asian countries for example, will actually attend school in order to take notes for their children when they are ill and unable to attend themselves [12]. In addition, parents are actually expected to attend school to observe their children's work habits [12].

Friday's "In Class" assignment

After the DOL test today, students had 40 minutes to work on the summary questions on page 126 of their Collections book.  They are responsible for questions 1-6 and answers should be about 3 or more sentences.  This will be due on Monday.

If they did not complete their assignment, they can get on line an access the book and the questions.  If they forgot how to do that, step by step instructions have been given in class...as well as there are some directions in a prior post below.