Today was unexpectantly exhausting. We were once again separated into our period groups. Some of the group members like Peter and Lizzie found themselves unsatisfied with their role in the classroom. A lot of us actually realized that we weren’t very proactive in the classrooms. It was more of a panel discussion about college-a repeated representation about what college life was like as opposed to learning about their lives as high school students.
In contrast, some of us started to form some individual relationships with some particular students and these students opened up to us in unexpected ways. It got very emotional during reflection several of us opened up about our frustrations with teachers and our emotional investments into the students’ lives and our fears about what was going to happen to them.
Another group of us were able to work individually with each of the students on revising their essays on the Odyssey. We found that it was great to have that one-on-one attention with each student and found they are much more intelligent than some of the school staff give them credit for. We were able to ask them questions so they made even more analytical, structured arguments. When we were finished in the classroom, we tried to work on the mural but had some difficulties deciding on the layout, the availability of colors and the major quote we would use.
Finally we were able to have dinner at Mastery charter school where we had a very informative talk about how Philadelphia public schools are dealing with funding issues, drop out rates and graduation rates. We also spoke about how charter schools go into school and take over by revamping the facilities and reorganizing the school staff. The main question we walked away asking was why these teaching techniques, and the teachers themselves, can’t just go directly into the public schools in order to improve them? Still, the conversation was very informative and it was good to be able to get both sides of the argument.
In contrast, some of us started to form some individual relationships with some particular students and these students opened up to us in unexpected ways. It got very emotional during reflection several of us opened up about our frustrations with teachers and our emotional investments into the students’ lives and our fears about what was going to happen to them.
Another group of us were able to work individually with each of the students on revising their essays on the Odyssey. We found that it was great to have that one-on-one attention with each student and found they are much more intelligent than some of the school staff give them credit for. We were able to ask them questions so they made even more analytical, structured arguments. When we were finished in the classroom, we tried to work on the mural but had some difficulties deciding on the layout, the availability of colors and the major quote we would use.
Finally we were able to have dinner at Mastery charter school where we had a very informative talk about how Philadelphia public schools are dealing with funding issues, drop out rates and graduation rates. We also spoke about how charter schools go into school and take over by revamping the facilities and reorganizing the school staff. The main question we walked away asking was why these teaching techniques, and the teachers themselves, can’t just go directly into the public schools in order to improve them? Still, the conversation was very informative and it was good to be able to get both sides of the argument.
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