How will teach your child in the American school
'06.03.2019'
Moving with family to another country, we are interested in secondary school in a particular state, district, locality. We are concerned about the language barrier and the transition to another system of education for our children. In the schools of the United States, as in any other area of human life, a lot of psychology. Teachers are faced with the need to adapt information in a form that is accessible to all children, regardless of language, race or cultural affiliation.
To achieve success, meetings of students and parents with teachers, group meetings, seminars and the media are used. Teachers and psychologists develop programs and methodologies that should improve the learning process and the level of knowledge of children.
The development of thinking.
The confidence of the child in their own intellectual abilities affects their learning, school principals across America are confident. Students who are convinced of the development of their abilities will be able to cope with possible failures. Therefore, the school year in the classroom begins with a discussion of the growth of knowledge compared to last year.
Stock of knowledge.
Already acquired knowledge influences the learning process.
One way to assess basic knowledge includes a test from a short list of true / false statements and a discussion of the answers in class. The results of this work help teachers prepare assignments and organize activities necessary for the development of a particular child.
In other words, tests await you at the beginning of each academic year. The results of these tests are not the final verdict, however, they are used by teachers to form an individualized curriculum.
Zones of current and proximate development.
Our compatriot Lev Vygotsky in 1932-34 described the “zone of proximal development” and showed the link between learning and the mental readiness of a child. Tasks that the schoolchild cannot yet solve on their own, but are able to overcome together with an adult or with high school students.
During the school year, children are given the opportunity to come to the lower grades, as instructors for certain tasks (reading books, designing, preparing for school performances). This form of work is mandatory. Children are especially proud of the success of their wards.
Workshops.
The growth of knowledge and skills depends on the practice.
Regular practical exercises in all school subjects help children improve their own level of knowledge and feel more confident on the tests. Classes are held regularly, interestingly and help students achieve greater success.
Feedback.
Clear, understandable, and timely school feedback with students and parents is important for learning.
Children do not bring textbooks, but in order for parents to know what is happening in the classroom and help the child, a short description of what is being done in the classroom is sent home weekly, with examples of tasks and tips on how to consolidate knowledge at home.
The school communicates with parents constantly and very closely. Teachers create conditions, support, guide, look for approaches to children. But parents are often the main factor that motivates children, especially in middle and high schools, when students can choose the level of complexity and the number of subjects. Of course, sometimes children prefer to choose the minimum, especially in adolescence. But a parent can say: “You live in my house - and you have to learn,” and to evaluate the possibilities of a child in middle and high school there is an “adviser”.
Classroom behavior
Special attention is paid to the behavior of children in the classroom and at school. For this, teachers use a system of cards, fines (red) and encouraging (green). Scored a certain amount of red - go to the director, green - get a prize.
You can run and shout only on one big change. The rest of the time, students remain in their class, but there is a break for snacks, the opportunity to play board games or chat with friends.
One of the main tasks of the school is to teach children to behave with each other and with adults. Know the rules of behavior: how to live in society, how to communicate with other people.
About tests and assessments.
The test results demonstrate the student’s personal accomplishments, the work of the teacher and the school. The funding and rating of the school depends on the results, and therefore, how many additional specialists and services the school can afford next year. This stimulates teachers to be attentive to the knowledge of each student. The tests are the same for the entire state, as are the training programs. The minimum should be the same, but each teacher has the opportunity to deviate from the general rules.
Since 1897, a letter of assessments has been recognized in Massachusetts, which is documented. Then the notation from A to E was used:
"Excellent" - A corresponds to 90-100 points; “Good” - B, 85-94 points; "Satisfactory" - C, 76-84 points; “Barely passed” - 75, D; "Did not pass" - less than 75, E. Later, the designation F. appears. Otherwise, the system has remained unchanged for more than a hundred years, despite the emerging groups of dissatisfied with its performance. The American grading system assumes a GPA average, which is displayed at the end of the academic period.
The five-point system we are used to can be easily transferred to the American one:
A - “excellent”, 5; B - “good”, 4; C - “satisfactory”, 3; D, F - “unsatisfactory”, 2.
D is the threshold level below which indicates that the exam is not passed.
Every time a new class.
The school year in all states starts in August, and the intrigue will be, will I end up in the same class as my friends? It is only known that the teacher will be different. In America there are teachers of "first grades", "second grades" and so on. The case when one teacher leads the third and then the fourth grade is a rare exception. Classes were always mixed, this is a tradition. Goals - socialization, bullying prevention.
Classes form, taking into account many different factors: performance, behavior, the number of gifted, the number of lagging behind, gender, age, ethnic composition, the number of recently arrived in the US and much more. The class should be average for all these parameters.
Upon the advent of 6 years, I get the impression that the educational system in the United States was created in this way, when with due diligence and effort you can get a lot, or you can sit up to 16 years and get some very basic minimum.
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I wish good luck to everyone!
Your consultant in the world of psychology Dr.Liza
