Analyzing Amanda Ripley's The Smartest Kids In The World

In my analysis of the 5th grade Math lesson plan, I was able to identify that the teacher had high expectations for the students. According to Amanda Ripley’s, The Smartest Kids in the World, “Studies had shown that American third graders were being asked easier math questions that required simpler responses than children the same age in places like Hong Kong” (71). Unlike what this study found, it is clear this teacher holds their students to high standards due to the amount of problems and skills they are expected to complete within a single class period, listed as “Multiply by 10, Choral response, and Decimal Place Value”, all of which will be completed within the first 12 minutes of class. The lesson plan goes on to include Concept Development for 30 minutes where the students are expected to learn a concept

By allowing this in the classroom it makes it difficult for students to be held to the same standards. In order to push all students in the classroom the teacher must eliminate the use of the previous grade level’s math and switch to giving students the one on one help they need in order to catch up to the level of the rest of their classmates.This is something that benefits the students in the long run because they will hold themselves to high expectations throughout their time in school, and perhaps even in the pursuit of their careers. In order to aid the elimination of such procedure it will be beneficial to hold office hours in which students who are performing below grade level can work to catch up to their classmates. The purpose of education should be to prepare students for life as an adult, including developing traits like individualism and critical thinking, all while giving students an equal opportunity to