Friday, June 19, 2009

Ways with Words, Epilogue

"Academic success beyond readiness depends on becoming a contextualist who can predict and maneuver the scenes and situations by understanding the relatedness of parts to the outcome or the identity of the whole" (p. 352).


1) Do you think standardized tests help achieve this goal? Why? Why not?

2) Do you think standardized test scores are indicative of a student's potential for success in school? Should there be an alternative to such tests? What would that be?


3) What specific methods would you consider using in helping a child whose skills do not meet the criteria set forth by the school system?


4) Think about your experiences as a high school student, especially your teachers' expectations and the types of assignments you had to do. What kinds of tacit messages were being sent to you by your school? How did they agree with or contradict the hidden norms established by the administration at your work place?


5) What is the purpose of schooling? Is the primary aim to teach basic skills or to foster critical thinking? Is it to prepare citizens for future careers or to inspire academic achievement?


6) Apple (1979), Giroux (1980), and Pinar (1974) noted that schools reproduce social inequality by creating a divide between students who come from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

Do you agree with this statement? Why? Why not?


7) Assume that you are a curriculum specialist who has been assigned the task of creating a new curriculum for the children of townspeople, Roadville, and Trackton residents. They will all be attending a small liberal arts college in the Piedmont Carolinas. What skills would you teach them? What would be the rationale for your decision to teach those skills? What factors would you take into consideration in designing this curriculum? What problems do you envision yourself encountering? How would you implement that curriculum in the classroom?



1 comment:

Rachel Goertel: said...

Really refreshing leader discussion with the open ended questions. It really generated some reflective group conversations. I love your style.