Sex Education
We talked about sex education in class, I was surprised that children here learning sex so early. and I wrote: "Actually, we don't have sex education in China. Some students may learn a little bit in high school biology class, but most teacher just ignore it. I was shocking when I heard little kids are learning this. It's too early. I personally think the best time is high school or earlier around grade12. I think parents have the right to care what their children learning in school. It should not be all-government control or all-parent control. It's better to get them all involved in the educational community.
Hidden Curriculum
Something that some people do not want to talk about but still exist...
I was pretty enjoyed when Mike lectured that night. He gave us a fact that happened on one of his schoolmates. This fact actually make we students take this issue seriously. Sadly, there still have much people blinded by color. As a teacher, I think it is important to keep equality and fairness in classroom. Get every children to know their classmates, learn different culture and perspectives. We don't have to give a lecture about racism; instead, we can influence our children indirectly. Like mix different background students into one group. As they discuss and work together, they would know each other better and eventually become friends. To reduce racism is really a long-term process; we still have a long we to go.
Social Class
Social class is an invisible form of difference, but it does exist. It effects how students learn and perform in school and classroom. I think It is possible that in one classroom, some live in city but some come from small town or some's parents have higher income but some's suffer poverty. Higher class students can get higher and better education, but some lower class students cannot even have the opportunity to go to school. Class also effects children's psychology. Higher class students may have more self-confidence than lower-class children. I guess lower class students may have some psychological issues including self-abasement and/or cowardice. Moreover, teachers and other students may treat those lower-class students differently. Some teacher may more care higher class children; some lower class children may suffer isolation. So, I think social class not only exists in adults' world, but also in schools and classrooms. As a teacher, we better take is seriously because it causes problems, which may damage our children's psychological health.
Celebrations (Multicultural Education)
In China, the major group are still Chinese. We only have a few foreigners and I guess most of them are travelers. However, due to the historical, political, and social issues, Canada became a multicultural country. People came from different country and have different background, so cultural conflicts are easily to occur. It is hard to keep a harmonious society when there are so much culture, custom and perspective. I think what we need to do are understanding, respecting, and accepting. I was moved at the last time I went to the east superstore; they decorated the store to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year is the biggest celebration in my country, I'm happy that we can still celebrate it in Canada. I feel I'm respected and accepted. As a foreigner here of Canada, I think I'm pretty comfortable with every thing except winter (just kidding, I love our heat ^^). I can live the way I used to live; I can do in here what I used to do in China. In classroom, I really didn't feel be treated differently. My teachers are nice and always give more help when I ask. My classmates are friendly and easy to get along with. I can feel that I am respected and won't be bullied because I am a outsider. Thus, when we have a classroom that contain much diverse cultures, just come to know them, then respect them, and gradually accept them.
Technology in classroom
I certainly feel that technology is really a good helper in classroom. Maybe because I didn't have it in my classroom, I think it's useful.
Some parents and teachers may think that phones and pads are all about games and movies. Children lack the ability of self-management, they would rather play games and watch movies. But teachers can teach pupils to use phones and pads in a right way. We can download some vocabulary games, calculation games, educational videos and so forth; those games help make learning more interesting. If children found they can learn and play at the same time, they would be more interested in learning. For high school and college students, videos and other technological services can actually help students learn better. People love fun stuff, if we know how to make learning more fun, it would be more effective. In addition, students can get even more information from websites rather than teachers. All we need to do is that teach them how to select useful information and make learning more effective.
Inclusive Education
Young children may easier to include and be included because they are simple and innocent. However, when they reach to high school age and older, they may have more "opinions" or "prejudices" toward students who are different with them. They may never play or stay with those students with disabilities, some students may even bully them. In other words, some students may "set distance" with those students with whether physical or mental difficulties and ableism may occur around schools.
What I'm thinking is that we could be the model at first. I really agree with Corey when he says that teachers' attitudes are the most important attitudes. If we wanted to teach and influence children, we have to be the model first. We could show the right way towards students with disabilities. No "stay away" and no pity either. Just treat them like everyone else. As time passes, students would learn something from us. In addition, if we have both general students and students with disabilities in our classroom, we could help them to engage each other. For example, we could make mixed groups and make them work and talk together. After they knowing each others, they would be more likely to include each others. We want and try best to meet all the needs of all students. Give more help when you notice or students ask. Complicated situations need complicated solutions. Be passionate and believe every children can grow.
School Reformation
I think the school shows what is a "real" inclusive school. It almost have all students including public, catholic, kindergartens and so forth. That an excellent idea! Students in different age or grade may cannot take class together, but they can play together. The idea shows an integrate community. I also like the design of the school. Unlike the tedium of traditional school, it is more interesting. Moreover, students do not have to stay in their own classroom all day, they can go anywhere if they want. The school offer various place for students to have different learning environments. They can have class whether outside or on the ground of school building. The idea of natural light is excellent as well. Natural light is good for children's health. That school is amazing! If I was one of the school members, I would like to come to school everyday!^^ Hope the new idea would be put into effect as soon as possible!
An excellent teacher and his excellent lecture
For me, I think the most impressive one is "Don't forget to laugh!" Teaching is not an easy work and sometimes boring and dull. Most of us would bring full energy at the beginning, but it could become less and less as time passes. It may depends on what classes and students we meet. If we have an interesting class, we would be more enjoyed. However, we cannot choose. As a teacher, it is our responsibility to teach and show positive stuff to our children. So, we better try best to avoid negative attitudes and show our students the best us. It is hard. Try to learn how to separate work and personal life. If we met awful stuff at school, do not take them to home. On the other hand, if we met some personal trouble, try not show to students. it is really important to have a positive attitude, whether towards work or life. Try to make work and personal live more fun. Trouble will occur at anytime and anywhere, but life are not all about trouble. Have an awful class today? Then go shopping after work^^! Remember bring the new us next day.
Another one is "Steal, steal, steal". Teaching is a lonely work, but don't work completely on our own. Teachers are easier to lose connect with other adults because we do not have to work together except teacher meetings. Most of the time we are alone. However, we can still make friends among colleagues, and that is important! Found excellent ideas,?Just "steal" it. Even though we teach different classes but all teacher want give their children better education. Meet trouble? Please Ask. Don't be shy or afraid. I think that is one of my problems. I'm a quiet person. I would work on my own most of the time. That may because I am the only Chinese in almost all my classes. I really need to struggle it. Hope I'll be better.
Assignments and Grading
Honestly, we do not have any rubric or Grading standard forms when I was in China. Our teacher just simply tell us what would be included in our tests, but few information about their expectation and evaluation. So, some teachers may easily grade based on their own feeling. A student gets higher mark may simply because his or her answers look like those standard answer key. So, I strongly feel that rubrics are excellent! It tells us what should we do and how to do better.
For standard tests, I do not sure if we have anything similar, but we do have so many tests. When I was in high school, I was an Art student. We chose our major subject at the beginning of grade 11. In grade 10, all students are required to take Chinese Language (Mandarin), Mathematics, English Language, Science, Chemistry, Biography, Politics, History, and Geography. Which means that we have 9 tests in midterm and final during the first of high school. In grade 11, we can chose either Art or Science. For Science students, they have Chinese, Math, English, Science, Chemistry, and Biography. For we Art students, We have Chinese, Math, English, Politics, History, and Geography. Therefore, when comes to the Big Test, we would be tested based on what subject we were in. All for the Big Test. For me, Chinese education throughout elementary, middle, and high school are all for the "University Entrance Examination." The test is one of the biggest things in a Chinese student's life.
We pay so much attention on tests and marks, but almost forget the true meaning of education. Education is more about learning and developing, rather than testing and grading. Sadly, many schools and teachers still use mark to evaluate even judge people. I hope I won't be a teacher who merely care about marks rather than the development of students.