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位于克里夫蘭南面的Akron市中心有一所STEM(Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics的簡稱)中學,它是由Akron Public Schools, Akron
Tomorrow, City of Akron, Greater Akron Chamber,Invent Now 和 The
University of Akron六家機構于2009年共同籌資在位于Akron 市中心的National Inventors
Hall of Fame成立的中學。顧名思義,STEM着重Science, Technology, Engineering 和
Mathematics敎學,從五年級到八年級,共有四個年級,所有學生均配備電腦,每門學科敎學都非常重視科技。STEM中學主要生源來自Akron本地,學生通過抽籤入學,體現了一定的公平性。雖然我們有42%的學生享受免費午餐,但自成立開始,年年都被評爲Akron地區前三甲學校。
在美國,西班牙文和法文雖然仍是大部分學區首選外語,但在STEM中學,中文是所有七、八年級學生唯一的外語課,而且是必修課。可以説在整個俄亥俄州,要求所有學生必修中文的中學寥寥無幾,這也體現了這所中學的特殊性和中文在這所中學的重要性。雖然學生年齡只有12歲到14歲之間,並且文化和家庭背景也不盡相似,但絶大多數學生對學習中文抱有濃厚的興趣。
校方每年給每個在校老師安排13-15個學生,老師每兩個星期定時和負責的小組學生見面,不僅履行班主任的角色關心他們的學習和生活,而且要在該學年內完成一個社區服務項目。老師和學生可以自行策劃如何完成該服務項目。今年,我負責的小組有14個七年級學生,他們在年初經過投票,爲小組取了一個名字叫“Kungfu
Panda”。他們經過反復討論,決定幫助那些住在Akron的移民。因爲他們自從學中文以後,深深體會到語言和文化的重要性。可是怎么幫助他們呢?14個12歲到13歲的中學生又開始策劃如何可以酬到捐款。最後他們決定在全校範圍內舉辦一次“International
Day”,
目的是不僅可以讓全校學生尤其是目前還沒有機會學中文的五年級和六年級學生體驗中國的文化,他們自己也從中體驗到了團隊合作的精神和快樂。由於平時課時很忙,這些學生就利用放學或課後時間製作宣傳畫報,策劃具體活動。最後他們策划了包括乒乓球比賽、拔河比賽、用筷子夾mm巧克豆比賽、京劇臉譜和中國新“年”的繪畫比賽等11個活動。學生只要支付2美元就可以參與這11個活動,並且有機會領取奬品。活動舉辦很成功,最後我們一共酬到了472美元,捐給了位于Akron地區的Asian
Services In Action, Inc.。爲了讓學生瞭解該組織的使命並且讓他們深深體會到社區服務的重要性,該組織的負責人Byun先生特地來我校和孩子們見面並且簡短了介紹了他們如何幫助社區的移民。
To provide the highest quality education experience for
students that ensures creativity and inventive thinking through a
focus on science, mathematics and technology, Akron Public Schools,
City of Akron, The University of Akron, National Inventors Hall of
Fame Foundation, Greater Akron Chamber and Akron Tomorrow forged a
unique and exciting partnership. A new science, technology,
engineering and mathematics school for middle schools students
opened in 2009 in 199 S. Broadway, Akron, the former site of the
National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation.The STEM Middle School is
consisted students from fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade, with
a total population of 400. All seventh and eighth graders are
required to take Chinese class, which is the only world language
being offered in school. In STEM middle school, all coaches are
expected to complete one learning service project with his/her
advisory group. We agreed that we should do something to help the
community, especially someone who does not speak English, and we
would like to donate all raised fund to Asian Services In Action,
Inc., an international institute which helps individuals and
families in the community.
In order to motivate students and make it more meaningful,
Michael Byun, executive director of ASIA, Inc. came to the school
and talked to all the school students how ASIA, Inc. helps the
individuals and families in this community.
STEM中學中文老師---梁晴 |
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