February 6

After responding to a comic for writing into the day, we got into groups based on the assigned sections of "Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work."  In these groups, answered questions (found on the PowerPoint) about the assigned section.  Then, we divided up the groups so that each of the new groups had at least one person representing each section.  These new groups shared what they had read.  In essence, after this group work, each person knew what the whole article said even though he/she hadn't read the whole thing.  We had the following discussion about the reading:

• Schools and districts can be subdivided by social class.  The higher social classes take the upper level courses.
• It was the type of activities that were used in the classroom that determined the social class of the kids.  What you learn is dependent on how you are taught.
• For example, the students from the elite class were encouraged to disagree with others, were given more control and were given the ability to be in charge.  These are characteristics for CEOs.
• We could tell which classes we are from
• As the social class gets higher, the control moves from the teacher to the student and there are fewer rules.
• The levels of the classes were preparing students to either be followers or leaders.
• The students were taught to be and think like their parents.
• I am reminded of the video about creativity.  Creativity is put in the elite schools, so obviously they realize that creativity is a good thing in schools.
• It might be harder for lower classes to be taught and to learn in the same way as the higher classes because they do not have models for that kind of learning at home.
• Teachers of higher class classrooms had more trouble with classroom management because, in those classrooms, success is measured by the ability to question authority and to be the maverick.
• The level of respect for students went up as the social class went up.
• Trade programs (supposedly easy courses) actually become more difficult for students who are used to AP classes  (supposedly hard courses) because the AP students are used to being able to think through a problem.  The trade program classes, instead, are more about memorization.
• You don't know how much a person can learn (or in what ways) until you push them.

In groups, we read through "In the Basement of the Ivory Tower" and discussed these questions:

1. Does everyone have an equal and open opportunity to go to college?
2. Should everyone go to college?

In the last five minutes, we wrote down what we had discussed in small groups.  We will continue that discussion in whole group on Monday.

Homework:
Read your assigned sections of Women without Class and post a reading response to your blog.
*Note: The reading is labeled Women without Class on Moodle.  The chapter you are reading (and the title you will see when you print it) is called "How Working Class Chicas Get Working-Class Lives."

If you were absent today, please email me so you I can assign you a section of the reading.