Not only were they simply copying, they were doing it poorly. When I’d question their methodology and suggest that they were plagiarizing, they were adamant that they were not plagiarizing because what they wrote did not look exactly the same as the text from which they were copying. Finally, through trial and error, I discovered that if students read a paragraph, then covered it, then stated what they read in one sentence, they could often summarize the paragraph in their own words.
Summarizing allows students to re-frame their understanding by identifying key facts and concepts, filing information away in long-term memory in a more concise way. Much research has been done on the efficacy of summarizing. Marzano, Pickering, and Pollack do an excellent job of compiling and presenting that research in teacher-friendly terms.
Here are four great ways to teach summarizing skills to your students. {Click below for the full article. Our content is always free, but please do support our sponsors.)
Maybe the problem is unique to me. But I don’t think so. I’ve seen too many crossed out names in books I’ve picked up in second hand stores. [Click below to read the rest of Sarah Powley's essay.]
If you want students to think at higher levels, then provide opportunities for them to write across all the areas of the curriculum. here are three ways to use writing in your classroom...
I just found out that I will have a sp.ed. push in teacher next year who will be there to service a few sp. ed. students during my literacy time. During which block or blocks would her services be best utilized? I do not do ability level groups. And following the 4B model for 9 years, I've had fabulous results. I guess I don't understand how the push-in is in the best interests of all of the students.
I have 24 tubs with 40-60 books of many levels in each one and they change tubs weekly, choosing 4 books per week to keep in their desk in their book bag (lg ziploc). They can read the other books when they are at the Book Tubs center for that day. That's also when they can read my large format books that don't fit in the bags.
Anyway, any other advice for working with a push-in teacher would be GREATLY appreciated!!!
Assessing students' progress in reading, writing, math, science and social studies doesn't have to depend upon paper, pencil and bubble sheets! Here are 40 unique ways to observe and assess students' understanding of subject matter.
**YOUR LIFE COULD BE LITERALLY AT RISK, INCLUDING DEATH!!!**
If you want to get a teaching position, you can go to all the schools in China except Guiyang T&T Elite Education Group, also known as (Guiyang Tiantian English School), (Tiantian English School), or (T&T Foreign language school) !!!!!
Located in downtown Guiyang city, Guizhou. Address: #58 Sheng Fu Road, Guiyang, Guizhou, China 550001. Web Address: [link removed]
This school will literally *** E N S L A V E YOU ***
IT WILL BE YOUR LAST JOB IN CHINA!!
-- T & T Elite Education Group is -- THE SCHOOL OF LIES, INTIMIDATION, & CHEATING foreign teachers.
It is owned and run by a bunch of crime infested Chinese gangsters, who will literally LIE & CHEAT YOU every way they could. It's what they do and specialize in.
Here is an excerpt from a UK language Teacher who literally "SUFFERED HELL" working for (T&T Elite Education Group).
Here's what he said:
"How can that (T&T Elite Education Group) treat you like that!!! I think no foreign teacher will work there anymore. Feels like that school is good at CHEATING. Maybe they think foreigners are PIGS, EASY TO CHEAT! Should tell all the foreign teachers who are going to take the position there!Tell them the truth!"
WHY IT SUCKS!
TRUTH #1: Everything they say on their website is a FABRICATED LIE, NON-TRUTH. I REPEAT LIES and LAYERS of LIES.
TRUTH #2: Photos on their website is NOT of their schools.
TRUTH #3: All their branch schools are located in RUN-DOWN AREAS OF Guiyang where CRIME and ROBBERIES are common.
TRUTH #4: They hire DISREPUTABLE RECRUITERS who paint a rosy picture to lure them to work for T&T Elite Group in Guiyang. Almost everything they say to lure foreign teachers is FABRICATED or not the truth.
Example 1: They say they provide good accommodation with amenities!! THE TRUTH IS: The ACCOMMODATION they provide is in RUN DOWN CRIME INFESTED downtown areas of Guiyang city. POORLY FURNISHED, WITHOUT PROPER BED, NO BED COVERS, FLEECE INFESTED PILLOWS, BROKEN WASHING MACHINE, NO KITCHEN, NO HOT WATER, NO WATER BOTTLES, NO HEATER (Teachers bear FREEZING conditions at night), and a TOILET that literally smells like city SEWERS
Example #2: They say and state on their contract the teacher salary is RMB6000. In reality, you only RMB3600 (1800 + 600)
(A) They deduct RMB1800 (30% off your monthly salary withheld) to make sure you continue working for them, kind of like a leash on your neck. The more they owe you in withheld salary, the more weaker is your position. You get the picture now!. **Try voicing your opinion or complain about your contract when they owe you more money each month!**
(B) They deduct RMB 600 monthly for utilities. It really cost them RMB 200 - 250 tops, but they deduct it anyway. So your take home is RMB 3600
(C) They lure foreign teachers by saying you only need to work up to 20 hours. In reality, they FORCE YOU to work up to 30 contact hours per week. Try balking or refusing and see your 30% withheld amount VANISH.
TRUTH #5: Several of their foreign teachers were MUGGED and SEVERELY INJURED last year. T&T Elite Education Group (Owners, manager, staff) failed to warn new teachers of an ongoing SAFETY PROBLEMS existing in downtown Guiyang especially near the run down room rented for foreign teachers, which is really a Chinese slum area. This left foreign teachers UNAWARE of marauding unemployed Chinese gangs working in twos, nightly, lying in wait and on the look out for victims especially foreigners to rob.
TRUTH #6: The reason for keeping the record of ASSAULTS and ATTACKS on foreign teacher "HUSHED" is they're DESPERATE to hire foreign teachers (not many foreigners want to work in backward Guiyang, Guzhou province) so they are afraid to tell the teachers the TRUTH because not many foreign teachers would consider working for T&T Elite Education group, if know in advance that downtown Guiyang is INFESTED with unemployed Chinese criminal marauding gangs on the prowl, nor would they work for a school that boards them up literally in RUN-DOWN CHICKEN SHACK –ROOMS – that are beyond FILTHY and lower than DIRT. Even common Chinese peasants would balk at living in RAT and FLEECE INFESTED rooms.
[NOTE] Obviously, the SAFETY, HEALTH, and WELL BEING, of foreign teachers is NOT THEIR MAIN CONCERN and probably a LOW PRIORITY.
TRUTH #7. IF a foreign teachers starts demanding upgrade in living or working conditions, that's when ERIC comes into the picture. Eric (English name) is a Chinese first class street "THUG" (Don't let his looks deceive you. Eric worked for the owner's racketeering crime syndicate before he was asked to move on to T & T to manage the affairs of foreign teachers. He is fully trained in harassing, threatening, blackmail, intimidation techniques (you name it, he's done it). Eric's job description is to man handle foreign teachers, literally subdue them to accept the unacceptable living and working conditions using arm twisting techniques, verbal threats, calls to teachers after midnight, threats to cancel their visa, to name a few. ERIC, is from a small village in Guizhou province. Eric, being a villager from a small village grew up distrusting foreigners. He detests western culture and is what you call a Chinese RED-NECK. That's precisely why the owner of T & T hired him. Eric is over eager and literally TRIGGER HAPPY to LASH at a foreign teacher for the slightest altercation. Example: If a foreign teacher asks for an additional blanket because he is FREEZING at night and can't sleep, Eric kicks into action, and views this as a PROVOCATIVE DEMAND and immediately denies it. And when the foreign teacher insists to get better living amenities, that's when Eric activates his SPY NETWORK in the classroom to BLACK MAIL the teacher's reputation and fabricate FALSE PERFORMANCE REPORTS about the teacher. He's got the final detail worked up so well, including Chinese teachers who would FALSELY vouch that the foreign teacher is not popular with the students, bla bla. Eric has been given Vito power and the green light by the owner to do anything he wishes with foreign teachers, including making you come to his office DAILY for performance SCOLDING and VERBAL ABUSE (all fabricated of course). He's a FOOT SOLDIER for the owner. Eric is an EXPERT in FABRICATING LIES and CIRCULATING FALSE REPORTS on a ((targeted)) foreign teacher. As a matter of fact, Eric with the approval of the owner, made up "TEMPLATES" of fabricated reports, that he keeps on his computer as a TOOL to aid him in his INTIMIDATION TECHNIQUES. Do you get the picture!
TRUTH #8. T&T Elite Education Group's do their best NOT to pay due bonuses and airplane tickets to foreign teachers even if upon completion of contract. They always find EXCUSES not to pay. This includes:
(1) Threatening to Cancel a teacher's visa. (2) Threatening to throw you out of China in 24 hours (3) Making up FABRICATED -- FALSE REPORTS -- about a teacher's performance. (NOTE) If a foreign teacher insists on getting paid his/her bonus or airfare ticket due, then Eric on the behest of the owner, brings to BEAR T&T's close relationship with the PSB (Public Security Bureau). Example: Eric duly informs the foreign teacher that *** You are literally TOAST, and all he needs to do is pickup the phone and call his guy at the PSB who will cancel your visa and put you on visa BLACKLIST so you will not be able to return to Chins in the future. Faced with such a formidable attack, the poor foreign teacher, gives up his/her bonus, airfare, and in one instance, a whole month's salary, UNPAID. Now, that's really MANHANDLING foreign teachers isn't it? EVERYTHING THEY DO IS ***UNLAWFUL *** and ***ILLEGAL**********************. You just have to stomach it, after all, it's the cost of doing business in China, right?
TRUTH #9 They withhold up to 30% of a teacher's monthly wages. They say they'll pay it back if the teacher completes the contract terms. In practice they either FIRE the teacher one month before contract expires or come up with some FAKE PERFORMANCE REPORTS saying that the teacher DIDN'T QUALIFY didn't for the 30% WITHHELD MONEY because his/her popularity with the students was below their expectations, or some other EXCUSE, etc, bla bla...
TRUTH #10. The Owner is a member of a Guiyang crime syndicate that draws their income from operating gambling dens, sleazy massage parlors, and smuggling activities. The school was funded
TRUTH #11 The owner of (T&T Elite Education GROUP) have for years had close relationship with some staff of Guiyang PSB and it's believed they enjoy special KICK-BACKS for their service to the owner. This is one reason while T & T school feels EMBOLDENED in harassing and cheating foreign teachers. To put it in a layman's term [If T&T doesn't like a foreigner teacher and wants to get rid of him/her, ALL THEY HAVE TO DO is make a call to the PSB officer] and the real THREATS and INTIMIDATION starts. Believe me, IT'S a NIGHTMARE. They will RUN YOU OUT of the country in no time without your wages or risk DETENTION for no reason other than being HONEST. [NOTE]: The Guiyang PSB officers issuing work permits are 100% on T&T Elite Education Groups side. They don't want to HEAR your side of the STORY. They've been BOUGHT OFF. It only worsens your case. Their MIND set is the foreigner is WRONG and the SCHOOL is RIGHT, period, that's it, end of story. It's either you swallow the poison pill or get ARRESTED and sent to a CHINESE DETENTION FACILITY. You get the big picture now. You are literally A SLAVE when you work for this crime infested Chinese school, run by gangsters.
Last, but not least, DO NOT EVER SIGN A CONTRACT OR WORK WITH T&T ELITE EDUCATION GROUP, in Guiyang, Guizhou, China. It could literally, mean the end of your life, the end of your teaching career, or the end to teaching China.