While studying abroad and student
teaching Glasgow, I’ve noticed quite a few similarities and differences between
schools in Scotland and in the U.S. The
first major difference is that children go to school much earlier in the
UK. The school I work at has a full time
nursery for very young students and its first organized grade level (primary
one) is made up of 4 and 5 year olds.
The students in these classes are able to focus surprisingly well for
their age, but it seems like the majority of their day is spent playing and
doing more creative exercises. I
definitely see the benefit of exploratory learning, but it I think the system
of preschool and kindergarten in the U.S. may be a more effective way to
educate children who are so young.
Another difference between Scotland
and the U.S. is the amount of freedom giving to students during the school
day. In the morning before school starts
parents drop their children off outside in the school yard with no adult
supervision. In the U.S. most schools
would not let students play outside unsupervised because of the liability issues. During recess the entire school goes outside
at one time with only maybe 6 to 7 teachers supervising them. I’ve noticed that outside of school parents
seem more relaxed and less overprotective of their children. They appear to trust their children with more
responsibility at a younger age.
Even though
the primary school I work at is very different form the schools I’ve
experienced in the U.S. there are still some similarities between the two
systems. One I’ve noticed is the way
literacy instruction is structured.
Students in the early primary levels are learning the alphabet along
with the corresponding sounds for the letters.
The teachers use a commercial reading program for some of the literacy
instruction and then also read their own selected stories in class. Another similarity is the pressure teachers
feel from higher authorities. Schools in
Scotland have the same pressure to have students pass tests and reach certain
levels by specific times. They also have
the added pressure of school inspections and evaluation by the education
authorities that run them.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.