I know that today I went through more chalk then I have ever used in my life. My poor students had to keep going to find more chalk. Getting them to talk and ask questions was a bit of a challenge today, but once I got them started they were actively engaged in the class. They are used to listening, writing, and standing to read whole paragraphs, so my style is a bit different for them. We are slowly getting used to each other and I am learning from them and have some higher, different expectations for my students when I get back to California. Did a few demonstrations and modeling today in class and I think I kept on the timetable for completing all of the necessary coursework. As one Indian teacher told me today, it is very difficult for them to incorporate modeling, group work, etc. when they have such a tight schedule to keep and so much curriculum to cover before each state or national board examination. I hope that I can give them some quick ways to incorporate some different strategies and I am taking away some of the ways in which they are able to have students understand and work with a lot of content and knowledge.
Today, I really saw how each grade level is integrated into the grades above and below. Looking at the curriculum, you can really see that each year builds upon the information from the year before. The system is different in that each year they study all of the sciences and continue this each year until post-secondary. It is easier this way to build upon prior knowledge, but it is also very content heavy with memorization. I wondered today if the students actually understand the information they were reading, or if it was just memorization without comprehension of the topics. I will explore this further in the coming weeks.
Today, I really saw how each grade level is integrated into the grades above and below. Looking at the curriculum, you can really see that each year builds upon the information from the year before. The system is different in that each year they study all of the sciences and continue this each year until post-secondary. It is easier this way to build upon prior knowledge, but it is also very content heavy with memorization. I wondered today if the students actually understand the information they were reading, or if it was just memorization without comprehension of the topics. I will explore this further in the coming weeks.
Exciting to see the different styles of education.
ReplyDeleteI know it is exciting and interesting to see how education differs here, as well as how so many things are the same. Teachers and students are the same around the globe I think and we can all learn so much from each other.
DeleteMy English grandchildren also have all the sciences every year (they're 13 and 15.) I think it's a great idea. Here they learn and forget biology, then learn and forget chemistry, and maybe the same with physics - and definitely with math. I've taught Integrated Science I, which should be the first of a 4-year sequence. I really like it, because there are so many ways that the science build on and use each other. Physics in chemistry and chemistry in biology (and earth science!) We do it backwards!
ReplyDeleteI think in Denmark it was similar. Up though Junior High, I had "general science" each year, back in the 50's. I love it!