Saturday, I leave for Russia. My bags are packed, my documents are sorted, and only a couple of things are left on my "to-do" list.
I'm super excited and so are my students. We've spent the last few weeks researching Russia and collecting information for me to study before I leave. They've made some incredible power-point presentations and Google Slide presentations to teach me about different aspects of Russian culture, food, travel and more. Some have even made recommendations for what I should see while there and where I should stay. I'm even planning on carrying some handmade guide-books and phrase books with me.
I'm super excited and so are my students. We've spent the last few weeks researching Russia and collecting information for me to study before I leave. They've made some incredible power-point presentations and Google Slide presentations to teach me about different aspects of Russian culture, food, travel and more. Some have even made recommendations for what I should see while there and where I should stay. I'm even planning on carrying some handmade guide-books and phrase books with me.
As part of this trip, I need to have at least one essential question that I'm going to research while in Russia. I have two.
One of my questions is my own. It is the one that I came up with while in Washington D.C. and is the one that will guide my professional inquiry while in Russia. The other is a question that one of my eighth grade students came up with today and that the class voted as the one question they want me to research on their behalf.
Throughout my travels in Russia, I will be reporting on my research into both of these questions.
One of my questions is my own. It is the one that I came up with while in Washington D.C. and is the one that will guide my professional inquiry while in Russia. The other is a question that one of my eighth grade students came up with today and that the class voted as the one question they want me to research on their behalf.
Throughout my travels in Russia, I will be reporting on my research into both of these questions.
My question
"Is language diversity considered to be valuable
with regards to immigrants or with bilingualism?"
with regards to immigrants or with bilingualism?"
Supplemental Questions:
1. How is language taught in schools?
2. How are Foreign Languages taught?
3. Are immigrants looked on as having value linguistically? Are they encouraged to continue to develop their first language?
4. Are there laws concerning language instruction or a national language?
Tools for Research:
1. Conversations with my host teacher.
2. Conversations with students
3. Observational techniques
4. Internet Research
Assumptions:
1. Russian is National Language and all students must learn Russian.
2. Support is given for non-Russian speakers.
3. Foreign Languages such as English / German are taught. (This assumption based on prior knowledge)
1. How is language taught in schools?
2. How are Foreign Languages taught?
3. Are immigrants looked on as having value linguistically? Are they encouraged to continue to develop their first language?
4. Are there laws concerning language instruction or a national language?
Tools for Research:
1. Conversations with my host teacher.
2. Conversations with students
3. Observational techniques
4. Internet Research
Assumptions:
1. Russian is National Language and all students must learn Russian.
2. Support is given for non-Russian speakers.
3. Foreign Languages such as English / German are taught. (This assumption based on prior knowledge)
8th Grade ESL Question - Developed by Eric P.
"Who gets power at school?"
Supplemental Questions: 1. Which people have power at school? 2. Who needs power at school? 3. How much power do they need to protect the school? 4. What does power look like in school? Tools for Research: 1. Ask teachers 2. Ask the front office / janitors / the Principal 3. Talk to students Assumptions: 1. Teachers have power 2. The Principal has power 3. Power can change. 4. Students don't have power. |
How did we come up with these questions?
The way that the class came up with their essential question was similar to how I came up with my question in D.C. First, we brainstormed some themes that all people experience. Love, Friendship, Power, Money, Pets, Family, Education, Government, etc. Then we brainstormed topics and questions related to those themes. We then came up with our Essential Questions and Supporting questions. We talked about assumptions and included those. Finally we figured out the tools for our research, or where we could find the answers.
In order to find the class question, students volunteered their questions to be put to a vote. We had three excellent questions. Alexis C. had a great question about family, and Basma Y. had an great question about friendship. It was a close vote, but Eric's question about power won the class's vote.
In order to find the class question, students volunteered their questions to be put to a vote. We had three excellent questions. Alexis C. had a great question about family, and Basma Y. had an great question about friendship. It was a close vote, but Eric's question about power won the class's vote.