Final Essay Questions
At-risk children and youths are those children and youths that require interventions in order to perform better or succeed academically. Sometimes, the term at-risk youths may be used to refer to adolescents who are unable to transition well into adulthood to become economically self-sufficient. Most of the at-risk children and youth exhibit behavioral characteristics such as short spans of attention or general lack of attention. They will also exhibit truancy, chronic absenteeism and tardiness which could eventually lead to dropping out forever. As one grows older, active disengagement inform of delinquency, misbehavior and criminal tendencies would follow. This could obviously lead them to expulsion or suspension. The other characteristic is substance abuse inform of misusing or abusing alcohol, drugs and other controlled drugs; this obviously incapacitates one to study well in the class. Nonetheless, low achievement is often the common identity of at-risk students. Typically, those students who perform below average or maintain D grades usually dropout. It has also been noted that poor fertility-related and economic conditions could obviously put one at the point of performing poorly.
Studies have noted that students do not fail because of their skin colors or economic statuses, but because schools fail to respond to their needs. Teachers can have greater impacts on their development by their teaching impacts on them. Effective teachers need to take into account the time and materials that such learners need in order to perform well in class. In this regard, there should be remediation and extra tutoring programs for them. Teachers and the school in general should strive to maintain positive relationship with every student, as trust is paramount for student performance. There should be varieties of instructional techniques for the teacher to captures everybody’s interest. Further, there should be teacher and institutional follow-ups inform of questioning and evaluations on such students. The school can device bilingual instructions and close follow ups to lessen and eradicate absenteeism and truancy. Nonetheless, district authorities should be apt with medical care, child care services and substance abuse awareness programs. Finally, there should be programs of teacher training on handling emerging issues on such students.
Different Types of Choice in K-12 Education
Choice at K-12 education has been debated when examining the school options that interested students and parents think that they will benefit them to avoid potential damage in future. The first school choice has been compulsory attendance whereby the law requires children from 8 to 18 years to attend school. Public school choice has involved families selecting any public school of their choice for transfer, but within certain limitations like availability of space and so forth. Students can also choose charter schools, which are non-profit schools governed by charter school boards. A charter school usually does not limit admission, except on the basis of grade level, capacity and age group. The other option is approved private schools, which are run by private entities. Alternative learning is another kind of option that allows coursework to be administered primarily from outside the classroom, for instance on websites. Others are college in school and running start. While the former has college programs being administered in high school, the latter involves students enrolling in a community college. The Magnet school alternative has children choosing public schools that are specialized in certain curricula or courses.
Types of Assessments That Are Currently Being Used In Our Public School Systems
The first assessment is usually done in reading and mathematics, and it is specifically tailored towards learners needs. By using the NWEA MAP, one can use diagnostic and computerized adaptive assessment to give audio instructions as learners respond to the test items. Reading assessment tests on phonics, vocabulary, writing, and comprehension and word structure phonological. Math assessment involves number sense, measurements, computation, geometry, algebra, statistics, probability and so forth. The other assessment has been the Text Reading and Comprehension (TRC) whereby the learner is tested on his reading and comprehension of the leveled text. In this regard, one can be tested on accuracy rate, self-correction rate, and comprehension and instruction adherence. However, there are formative assessments that involve teachers getting immediate feedbacks from learners so that there can be change as early as possible. Interim assessments have involved teachers getting student feedbacks at quick times, but not immediate. Summative assessment normally takes place at the end of every learning period.
Factors That Contribute To the Underachievement of Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and Native Americans
There have been socio-psychological factors that have included poor self-esteem, low social and self-concepts and academic concepts. Minority students could not be holding their racial identities positively, and thus they may tend to see education as acting white. Family related factors, such as low social economic statuses, single parent-hood, and poor educational levels of these minorities also contribute to their failure. However, it has also been noticed that school factors such as teacher and student stereotypes could hinder one’s achievements. Teachers tend to have low expectations among these groups. Further, poor teaching styles and perceived excessive competition may derail their morale. To correct this situation, the school should provide teachers with multicultural training, to improve their relationship and hence trusts with them. The teachers will also be apt with general classroom climate and expectations that suite learners from different multi-cultural environments. School interventions should also focus on instructional and curricular modifications for optimal learning.
Compare and contrast three models of instruction (Morrison, Ross and Kemp model (the Kemp model, the Dick and Carey systems approach and the Three-Phase design (3PD) model)
Each model uses visuals to represent its structure and functions. Additionally, each of them utilizes at least one of the traditional linear forms. Although their evaluation functionalities and purposes may vary, each of them offers evaluation components. Technology related issues have been elaborated in them as input (instructional objectives), processes (delivery systems) and learning outcomes (output).
On differences, each model differs significantly on individual, project management and team collaboration. While the Dick and Carey’s model emphasizes on collaboration of skills to improve the final product, Kemp’s model focuses more on enough leadership skills to manage instructional processes. However, the 3PD model says that both learners and teachers or technical staff should share skills and knowledge for better communication and learning relationships. In this regard, the inclusion of academic and technical staff in learners’ experiences makes the 3PD the best model; one cannot separate instructors and those in the school environment from the learner’s academic development.
