Activities to use in class
1.) Debate: Use a topic that appears in the book and have students develop an argument based on their opinion.
2.) Country Dart Board: Set up a map in your classroom and have students throw a dart at it. Which ever country the dart lands on will be the focus of their project. Have them research the country's education system and make a PowerPoint or Prezi on their findings.
3.) March Madness 'Win a Date': Students pick colleges competing in the "March Madness" NCAA Basketball tournament and research their education majors and how well they're preparing their students.
4.) Write your own questions: Students write their own PISA test questions.
2.) Country Dart Board: Set up a map in your classroom and have students throw a dart at it. Which ever country the dart lands on will be the focus of their project. Have them research the country's education system and make a PowerPoint or Prezi on their findings.
3.) March Madness 'Win a Date': Students pick colleges competing in the "March Madness" NCAA Basketball tournament and research their education majors and how well they're preparing their students.
4.) Write your own questions: Students write their own PISA test questions.
About PISA
The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a test taken by high school students around the world to determine the efficiency of various countries education systems.
If you would like to see how your students compare to students in countries around the world, have them take a practice PISA! The website tests Math, problem solving and financial literacy. Each section has six questions and, depending on their difficulty level (1-6) will take varying amounts of time for each student.
If you would like to see how your students compare to students in countries around the world, have them take a practice PISA! The website tests Math, problem solving and financial literacy. Each section has six questions and, depending on their difficulty level (1-6) will take varying amounts of time for each student.
How can I incorporate the book into my class?
Below you will find four reading checks to use in class. I've also included links to two other websites that can be utilized while reading the book. I hope you'll enjoy using these activities with your students!
Reading Check #11.) Write two sentences on the effect praise (whether it's earned or not) has on high school students.
2.) Using information from the book, do you think technology has a positive or negative influence in the classroom? 3.) Name advantages and disadvantages of online school compared to public/private high school. 4.) Explain what tracking is and give your opinion. Reading Check #31.) How did Poland improve its education system?
2.) Why does Eric drop out of Korean high school? 3.) How much money did Kim need to raise to spend a year in Finland? 4.) How much does Korean teacher, Andrew Kim, make in one year? |
Reading Check #21.) Which country mentioned in the book only allows the most qualified people to become teachers?
2.) Write a short summary regarding either South Korea's, Finland's, Poland's, or the United States' education system. 3.) Using information from the book, how do you think education in the United States can be reformed? 4.) How do hagwons affect students in South Korea? Reading Check #41.) What is Poland doing with their education system that is different from America's? (List a minimum of two things.)
2.) What is PISA? 3.) How does America not having a national curriculum effect competition on a global level? 4.) Compare the amount of autonomy students have in Finland to the amount students have in America. |
Links
Below are two websites designed by my classmates. Both analyze aspects of the book and can be used in the classroom just like this one!
The Smartest Kids in the World and How They Got That Way (Erin Goff): http://smartestkids-erin.weebly.com/
The Smartest Kids in the World (Rachel Moore): http://thesmartestkids.weebly.com/
The Smartest Kids in the World and How They Got That Way (Erin Goff): http://smartestkids-erin.weebly.com/
The Smartest Kids in the World (Rachel Moore): http://thesmartestkids.weebly.com/
Maya Hiday, Butler Tech/Lakota East High School, Ohio, United States.