In week two we will continue to develop on those skills and insights that we made last week. We will continue to work on our reading skills and as such we will be using the skills that we discussed last week. We will also use the Double Entry Reflection Journal that we used this week. As we move to slightly more difficulty reading on Wednesday we will even use a Triple Entry Reflection Journal.
Last week our reading focused on the mindsets that lead to productive learning. This week we will look at ways in which our schools could be better. On Monday, we will discuss Marilyn Elias's "The School-to-Prison Pipeline" and David Leonhardt "The College Dropout Boom." Both Elias and Leonhardt discuss how schools and colleges often don't serve working class and minority students particularly well. Indeed, sometimes they actually help funnel students into the criminal justice system. On Wednesday, we will be following up this discussion with Robert D. Putnam's Our Kids. We will be reading more of Putnam's work later in the semester but his chapter on schooling seemed particularly relevant to our first unit. Putnam is concerned with the very different schooling that affluent and poor students receive in this country. As you read Putnam's work think about what works for wealthy students and what interferes with working class students' education.
Below you will see what you need to do for the week. Make sure to update your planners!
Monday:
Read:
David Leonhardt, "The College-Drop Out
Marilyn Elias, "The School-to-Prison Pipeline"
Due:
Double Entry Reflection Journal
Read:
Robert D. Putnam, Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis, 135-58
Due:
Triple Entry Reflection Journal
Note: You must bring in all the assigned texts for purchase to class today. You will earn 10 points of HW credit for doing so.
