Oakes & Finn
Tracking: Why Schools Need to Take Another Route by Jeannie Oakes
"On one side of the issue, many educators and parents assert that when schools group by ability, teachers are better able to target individual needs and students will learn more" (Oakes 178).
I chose this quote because I feel as though every student should be given equal opportunities in a classroom, not to be separated based on their abilities. However, if someone has difficulty learning in a group, I think it is necessary to have more one on one time with the teacher. It is possible for a student to feel discouraged if they find out they're in the "slower" group, which is why I think students shouldn't be separated based on their abilities. But, instead have equal learning opportunities.
"Moreover, the nature of these differences suggests that students who are placed in high-ability groups have access to far richer schooling experiences than other students" (Oakes 178).
In my opinion, I think that everyone should have access to a rich schooling experience, regardless of being in a low or high ability group. I understand if a student is successful and school and manages good grades they want to be rewarded for it and they should. But what about the lower ability group? What do they get? Bottom line is everyone should be given an equal schooling experience. However, it may be motivating to the lower ability group to achieve better grades knowing they'll have access to a richer schooling experience.
"To be successful, heterogeneous classrooms probably need to lean toward placing students more in charge of their own evaluation - checking their own understanding and asking for and providing feedback" (Oakes 181).
I agree with this quote because if a student feels confident in their academics they should have the right to be in charge of their own evaluation. For example, if a student is doing poorly in school and they feel like they can't move forward, then they are allowed to try again. If a student is doing excellent in school and they feel as though they can move forward, then they should have the right of doing so.
Literacy with an Attitude by Patrick J. Finn
"Teachers who see themselves as allies of their working-class students can help their students see that literacy and school knowledge could be a potent weapons in their struggle for a better deal by connecting school knowledge with the reality of working-class students' lives" (Finn- Preface).
The problem with today's education system is that some people are perfectly fine with how things are and don't want to change anything. It is obvious that working-class students struggle more than higher class students, since they aren't give equal opportunities in a classroom. But, Finn thinks that if teachers become allies with working-class students and help them use their school knowledge to their full potential as an advantage then there is hope of change. That the power of literacy and school knowledge from working-class students could possibly result in change.
"The reality was that as the year wore on there were spaces available in the "lower" classes to dump troublesome students from "higher" classes" (Finn 3).
I think that this concept is unfair to label students as being "troublesome" because they are struggling academically. What if someone is having troubles at home, where they can't focus on their school work, what if they are having mental health issues, etc? It's normal for students to have a hard time juggling both their personal lives and academics.
"I'd like to hope that a child's expectations are not determined on the day she or he enters kindergarten, but it would be foolish to entertain such a hope unless there are some drastic changes made" (Finn 25).
I would hope to that at a young age a student's expectations aren't determined due to the fact that their brains are still growing and they don't have the capacity yet. It also doesn't help that if a student doesn't have access to as many resources or learning opportunities in a classroom compared to a higher class student. I think that it takes time and effort in a community to make a change, but some people don't want to contribute and could care less which is part of the problem.
Point to share in class: What are some ways that you think could help change our education system for the better?
"On one side of the issue, many educators and parents assert that when schools group by ability, teachers are better able to target individual needs and students will learn more" (Oakes 178).
I chose this quote because I feel as though every student should be given equal opportunities in a classroom, not to be separated based on their abilities. However, if someone has difficulty learning in a group, I think it is necessary to have more one on one time with the teacher. It is possible for a student to feel discouraged if they find out they're in the "slower" group, which is why I think students shouldn't be separated based on their abilities. But, instead have equal learning opportunities.
"Moreover, the nature of these differences suggests that students who are placed in high-ability groups have access to far richer schooling experiences than other students" (Oakes 178).
In my opinion, I think that everyone should have access to a rich schooling experience, regardless of being in a low or high ability group. I understand if a student is successful and school and manages good grades they want to be rewarded for it and they should. But what about the lower ability group? What do they get? Bottom line is everyone should be given an equal schooling experience. However, it may be motivating to the lower ability group to achieve better grades knowing they'll have access to a richer schooling experience.
"To be successful, heterogeneous classrooms probably need to lean toward placing students more in charge of their own evaluation - checking their own understanding and asking for and providing feedback" (Oakes 181).
I agree with this quote because if a student feels confident in their academics they should have the right to be in charge of their own evaluation. For example, if a student is doing poorly in school and they feel like they can't move forward, then they are allowed to try again. If a student is doing excellent in school and they feel as though they can move forward, then they should have the right of doing so.
Literacy with an Attitude by Patrick J. Finn
"Teachers who see themselves as allies of their working-class students can help their students see that literacy and school knowledge could be a potent weapons in their struggle for a better deal by connecting school knowledge with the reality of working-class students' lives" (Finn- Preface).
The problem with today's education system is that some people are perfectly fine with how things are and don't want to change anything. It is obvious that working-class students struggle more than higher class students, since they aren't give equal opportunities in a classroom. But, Finn thinks that if teachers become allies with working-class students and help them use their school knowledge to their full potential as an advantage then there is hope of change. That the power of literacy and school knowledge from working-class students could possibly result in change.
"The reality was that as the year wore on there were spaces available in the "lower" classes to dump troublesome students from "higher" classes" (Finn 3).
I think that this concept is unfair to label students as being "troublesome" because they are struggling academically. What if someone is having troubles at home, where they can't focus on their school work, what if they are having mental health issues, etc? It's normal for students to have a hard time juggling both their personal lives and academics.
"I'd like to hope that a child's expectations are not determined on the day she or he enters kindergarten, but it would be foolish to entertain such a hope unless there are some drastic changes made" (Finn 25).
I would hope to that at a young age a student's expectations aren't determined due to the fact that their brains are still growing and they don't have the capacity yet. It also doesn't help that if a student doesn't have access to as many resources or learning opportunities in a classroom compared to a higher class student. I think that it takes time and effort in a community to make a change, but some people don't want to contribute and could care less which is part of the problem.
Point to share in class: What are some ways that you think could help change our education system for the better?
You made some great points which I also agree with! I also like the pictures that you chose.
ReplyDeleteI love that picture with the animals, I have seen that in a few of my classes this semester and it is a great point.
ReplyDelete