DAY 03 - CYCLE 02 - SEMESTER 02: 01-16-12

HANDOUTS FROM TODAY:

Syllabus for the week (click this link to download a copy)

IN CLASS TODAY:

1. Review exercise in vocabulary book, page 55
2. Discussion of our own observations of classes

CLASS NOTES:
Done on board. I asked you to do your own inductive reasoning by examining your cases and from them, identify general principles.

Highlights include:
Your formulated principles (with which not all of you agree, and some may surprise):

• When boys talk/answer questions, it's to the entire class; when girls talk/answer questions, it's to each other.
• Girls promote class goal/lesson plan: they try to stick to the plan by suppressing their questions whereas boys deviate by asking whatever question comes to mind (e.g. "So how much money did Locke make?" It's not germane to the goal of the history lesson, so a girl may wonder but never ask whereas a boy will ask with little regard for the lesson plan.)
• Men tend to teach math, science and history (more objective systems of thought with emphasis on concrete, linear thinking) whereas women tend to teach foreign language and English (more subjective systems of thought with more abstract, organic thinking).
• If the above is suggestive, then it's ironic that you also observe that girls are more organized, directed, focused students whereas boys are more creative, imaginative, impulsive thinkers.
• Girls tend to build little cliques within a larger class (a pod that speaks with one voice) whereas boys atomize and see the larger class as the whole unit.
• A teacher's subject matter is more important than gender in determining what a class dynamic is like.
• Boys are rewarded for taking risks; girls are rewarded for following rules.

Hmmm. Well. That's food for thought. Do you still agree with yourselves?

HOMEWORK

• Re-Read Tannen’s essay
• Write down ALL of Tannen’s premises (including enthymemes). What does she believe/assume to be true about:

o    boys and girls

o    language

o    purpose of classroom discussion

o    the way genders respond to classroom dynamics

o    significance of culture on class habits

o    significance of gender on class habits

o    male and female teachers

• Start reviewing Unit 3 vocabulary words. You will have a quiz on FRIDAY 1/20 on unit 3 & 4 words
• Bring your vocabulary books on Tuesday