Foundations: Multiculturalism, Philosophy, Finances

Focus questions:

1. How do deficit, expectation, and cultural difference theories explain disparate academic performance among various racial, ethnic, and cultural groups?

2. What major developments have marked the educational history of Native Americans, Hispanics, African Americans, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, and Arab Americans?

3. What educational barriers and break throughs have girls and women experienced?

4. What classroom strategies are appropriate for teaching culturally diverse learners?

5. Are America's schools a secret success story, doing better than the press and public believe?

1. What is a philosophy of education, and why should it be important to you?

2. How do teacher-centered philosophies of education differ from student-centered philosophies of education?

3. What are some major philosophies of education in the United States today?

4. How are these philosophies reflected in school practices?

5. What are some of the psychological and cultural factors influencing education?

6. What were the contributions of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle to Western philosophy, and how is their legacy reflected in education today?

7. How do metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy, aesthetics, and logic factor into a philosophy of education?

1. Why do teachers need to know about finance and governance?

2. How is the property tax connected to unequal educational funding?

3. What is the distinction between educational equity and educational adequacy?

4. What are the sources of state revenues?

5. How does the federal government influence education?

6. What current trends are shaping educational finance?

7. How do school boards and superintendents manage schools?

8. What is the "hidden" government of schools?

9. How does the business community influence school culture?

10. How are schools being made more responsive to teachers and the community?

1. What are your legal rights and responsibilities as a teacher?

2. What legal rights do students enjoy (and do they have legal responsibilities)?

3. What are today's main approaches to moral education?

Perfecting Practice

Manny Pacquaiao has three separate sparring partners to prepare him for his fight versus Juan Marquez, each tasked with imitating a certain boxing style, technique, or pace Marquez might display. In essence he beats the heck out of three guys during PRACTICE, and each of them is a great boxer in their own right, yet:

"When you get hit hard, you go, 'f---, how long are these three minutes going to be?'" Rodela says afterward, "because it feels like an eternity when you're in there."

How hard have you practiced for your teaching labs/lessons? How many times have you set up the equipment in the gym or other area to practice exactly what you're going to do when it's your turn? Have you prepared for the unexpected and the possible scenarios that might arise?  Have you gone through your discipline/management plan when problems come up? Will you give someone a time-out on the first offense? Will you be able to see the offense from your positioning in the class?

Here a couple pre- teaching samples from your peers.  Please post your videos to your blog and to our Facebook group to show people your progress.





What it's like to spar with Manny Pacquiao - Bryan Armen Graham - SI.com:

In regards to practice, Dan who was a commercial photographer but gave it up to learn to be an expert golfer by taking 5 full years to accumulate 10,000 hours of practice (a theorized level of expertise/mastery).

Remember, this course is just the start of your teaching career and if you're serious about helping kids learn, then you better get used to practice, trial, error, reflection and then back to practice again. This cycle is essential to continuous growth for both you and your students. I never assume I know everything because I wouldn't be open to see your points of view, appreciate how each of you learn best, and what you can teach me.

Dan's approach is intriguing and very gutsy even has his swing coach doing a video analysis (a necessity in golf education programs and coaching). Hmmm, video analysis - sound familiar?  Happy Practicing and Learning!

CS swing analysis September 2011 from Dan McLaughlin on Vimeo.