Post 4 - REZENDE

      In my 4 post, I'll explain about two places I visited.

     I went to a school named Washington Irving High School, it was located on Manhattan. It provides for students an opportunity to collaborate on activities that incorporate another disciplines in addition to music, art and physical education.

     I visited six classes (15 minutes in each). On the first class (History Class), there were 23 students, 11th grade. The students were working in groups (with handouts) and there were an assistant teacher to helpful a foreign student. She told us she stays there all the time and translate some words the student don't understand. All the students were working and asking the professor all the time.

     The second one there were 17 students. The professor was explaining about how to write better. It was an assistant teacher too, but she was sited near one student that was sleepy and he did't pay attention at the class. The professor was using a poster with small phrases and students was motivated to complete using the correct grammar.

    At the Geometry Class (30 students), the teacher used a projector to show pictures and  he was explaining and asking students all the time. The students participated a lot!

      I was in love about the Science Class, it was the best I saw! When the students arrived, they take their binders and sited down in pairs. He used a projector to explain about cells for sexual reproduction and he encouraged students to answer. After, they can take a notebook (giving their ID to the professor) to students research on a specific website about the subject. On the board, it was an agenda about what and how are they learning about it, why was it important, homework and announcements and the class website.

     On the fifth, it was an Art Class and there were a lot of materials. Students sited down in groups and they observed a draw and created another. At this class, there were a plotter machine, beyond computer, sink and materials that helped professor and students to had a great class.

     The last class I observed, there were 16 students and it was a Literature class. The teacher gave books to students and they were reading the book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, and the homework was how can they draw a comparison between this book and Sherlock Holmes.

      I had a great time there, I could see the differences between the Brazilian and English classes. It begins in the security, when we came on, there were polices working there and taking care about the security. Each class have a technology equipment and the professors can use this freely in their own class.

     A curious thing I observed it was about the change classes. In Brazil, teachers move; but here, the students move of the class and this is made as silent as possible. It was marvelous know this school.

       In the afternoon, I visited the National Museum of the American Indian and I could learn a little about the Indian culture, customs and saw their drafts, clothes, works of aesthetic, religious , historical significance of the articles produced, and there were some orientation films we listened an Indian woman spoken about their family, the meaning of the clothes and their culture.

     This place has one of the most extensive collections of Native American arts and artifacts in the world, representing the history and indigenous cultures throughout the Americas.