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THE URBAN TEACHER ACADEMY’S PROGRAM ASSIGNMENTS
1. BOOK REVIEW
Students are required to read Letters to a Young Teacher by Jonathan Kozol, a nationally recognized and award-winning author on education.
Following your reading, please write a book review (100-300 words) that expresses your thoughts about the strategies/suggestions that Jonathan Kozol offers to Francesca, a highly motivated urban first grade teacher.
Please provide a title for your book review. What strategies offered by Jonathan Kozal to Francesca most resonated with you as an aspiring teacher? Please explain. Please also discus why you would or would not recommend this book.
You will be asked to share your book reviews in class. You will then have the option of posting your review on Amazon.com.
Your book review is due on Thursday, July 10th. It will be returned to you on Friday, July 18th for posting on Amazon.com (if you so desire) and inclusion in your binder.
2. “THE RON CLARK STORY”
Please watch the Ron Clark Story prior to July 7th. The video is included in your notebook at orientation.
Using the card included in your notebook, please write a note to Mr. Clark expressing your thoughts/reactions about his work with urban students. Please bring your completed cards (unsealed) on Wednesday, July 16th. Note cards will be mailed to Mr. Clark.
3. A LETTER ABOUT MY FAVORITE TEACHER
Due on Tuesday, July 8th
PLEASE READ THE ARTICLE IN YOUR UTA BINDER (PAGES 19-21)
“What Makes A Great Teacher?”
Write a 1-2 page letter about the teacher who most positively impacted your life. Please explain to this teacher how and why he/she made such an important difference to your life, academically and/or personally. Letters will be compiled as part of a UTA class booklet. Please include the name and current school address of this teacher, if possible, at the end of this letter.
4. NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND- INTERVIEW ASSIGNMENT
Due on Friday, July 11th
Please read pages 76-77 in your binder. Please interview two faculty members at your high school and one administrator about No Child Left Behind (NCLB) prior to the start of the Urban Teacher Academy. Please indicate the names of these people and the date(s) that you interviewed them.
USE FORMS ON PAGES 9-11 IN YOUR BINDER TO RECORD YOUR RESPONSES
Please record responses to the following questions:
What are your thoughts about No Child Left Behind?
What do you like about this legislation?
Why do you not like about this legislation?
If you were given the opportunity to make two or three changes/recommendations to improve NCLB, what would they be?
After reviewing your interviewees’ responses, write a one page summary of how NCLB impacts students and schools, positively and negatively. Please be prepared to discuss your responses on Friday, July 11th. Please record all responses in your binder.
5. URBAN TEACHER ACADEMY SPEECH
“I WILL TOUCH THE FUTURE: I PLAN TO TEACH.”
This theme will be the focus of a 2-3 minute speech that will be delivered by each student on Friday, July 18th. Additional information will be provided about this assignment at the start of our program.
