Analyze language ideologies in your K-12 schooling by thinking the following questions:

Analyze language ideologies in your K-12 schooling

Directions

In this small project, you will analyze language ideologies in your K-12 schooling by thinking the following questions:

*Cite at least four different readings from this course to support your reasoning. For presentations, mention the sources in your recordings and provide a citation in your PowerPoint or handout.

1. 1. In 1-2 paragraphs, define language ideologies in your own words. Describe these concepts as if you were talking to someone in this course. Based on these definitions and what you learned in this module, why is it important for us as educators to recognize and reflect on our own language ideologies, both explicit and implicit?
   2. What counted as “good” speaking when you were growing up in schools and how did you know? How about “good” writing and reading? How were these norms/expectations reinforced? Are there any particular conventions or rules that have stuck with you to this day (e.g., one ‘rule’ that stuck with me for a long time was ‘never use contractions in formal writing.’)?
   3. Think about a particular instance when your language practices (speech, reading, or writing) were commented on, positively or negatively. Based on what we’ve learned in this course, what language ideologies or beliefs about “standard English” might be underlying this moment that’s stuck with you, and why? If you can’t think of an example from your own life, you may use one you observed.
   4. What insight about language use, variations, ideologies, or discrimination from our readings/viewings/listenings resonated with your experiences with language? Why? What did they share that surprised you or was dissimilar to your experiences with language, and why?
   5. Having reflected on the above, why do you think it’s important that we talk about language ideologies and beliefs about standardized language with regards to schooling? Why is it important as educators to recognize and reflect on your language ideologies, both explicit and implicit?

Overview

The K-12 system stands for ‘from kindergarten to 12th grade’. This equates roughly to a school starting age of around five through to Grade 12 at around the age of 18. The system is broken down into three stages: elementary school (Grades K–5), middle school (Grades 6–8), and high school (Grades 9–12).

In the United States, education is primarily the responsibility of state and local government. Every state has its own department of education and laws regarding finance, the hiring of school personnel, student attendance, and curriculum. States also determine the number of years of compulsory education – in some states, education is only compulsory until the age of 16. However, with the layering of tests issued by mandates from Congress, the US Department of Education, and state and local governments, the system is becoming confusing and unwieldy.

Standardized testing in schools has become a controversial issue, with a recent study from the Council of the Great City Schools suggesting that students would sit around 112 standardized tests between kindergarten and 12th grade. In December 2015, President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act, which pledged to offer the same standard of education to every child in the US “regardless of race, income, background, zip code, or where they live”.The act replaced the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 and, among other things, is an attempt to bring back some element of control with the recommendation for having fewer tests, of higher quality.

States are required to test students in reading and maths in Grades 3 to 8, and then once during their high-school years.

Unlike other countries’ end-of-school examination systems, such as the A Level in the UK or the globally recognised International Baccalaureate Diploma, US students leave school with a collection of assessments that demonstrate their readiness for either college or work. Although some schools issue a high-school diploma on satisfactory completion of Grade 12, this is not a standardized qualification and the requirements are set by individual states.

At the end of high school, pupils are also provided with a Grade Point Average (GPA), which can help to determine their next step either into work or college.The GPA is an average score taken from a student’s high school career as a result of tests, mid-term/final exams, essays, quizzes, homework assignments, classroom participation, group work, projects and attendance. Students can also receive a class rank, placing his/her GPA among other members of his/her grade.

Attachment

K-12 schooling