Kung Fu Panda: A Lesson in Differentiated Instruction

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

Okay, so I decided to see the film Kung Fu Panda today. Yesterday was the last day of the school year and I needed to escape and laugh out loud. Lynne and I met early for breakfast and caught the first showing at 11:30 am. I was hoping to avoid the rush of kids in the afternoon, and we did. The graphics were superb as expected from DreamWorks. The host of animal characters was entertaining. I particularly liked the master teacher portrayed as an aging fox with a ‘Q.’ Kung Fu Panda was hilarious, and I laughed out loud along with the kids in the theater, maybe too loud at times. As the master teacher trained the panda, there were a few words of wisdom shared, old Japanese sayings passed down from generations. The colorful landscaping covered the villagers living in the valley and the warriors living atop a hill. The master teacher reluctantly faces the challenge of preparing the panda for the fight of his life with another student (a leopard) who is highly skilled, but crossed over to the dark side, i.e. uses his Kung Fu skills for evil and not for good. The master teacher has trained several Kung Fu fighters, but panda is different. He is overweight, clumsy, and although he has a good heart, is not very smart. How does the master teacher train the panda to successfully apply the skills of a Kung Fu warrior and win the fight against the leopard? By making the lessons meaningful, connecting them to the panda’s own interest – food.

This is a good story about believing in yourself told in childlike humor for everyone to enjoy.

Valerie

[Anonymous]

I cannot imagine what it is like to teach in China, or in any authoritarian state Yesterday, I was reading about a documentary titled, “Two Million Minutes” which compares education in the U.S., China, and India. The filmmakers are educators and they explain that the main difference between the educational systems in these countries is the emphasis on critical thinking in the U.S. Rather than concentrating on how to think, these countries teach students how to do. I have noted a similar difference within the U.S. between inner-city schools and those in the suburbs. "How to do" is is taught in teacher ed programs as constructivism. There is a vast difference in constructivist educational theory as compared to more traditional theories.

Do authoritarian governments have better educational systems than democratic governments, and if so, why? Could this be the basis of the student achievement gap between the U.S., China, and India as well as between White, Black and Latino students within the U.S.? I am anxious to see what Zakaria has to say in his new book and to watch the documentary. I ordered a copy.

You can purchase the DVD and watch the trailer on YouTube.

http://www.2mminutes.com/

Valerie

[Anonymous]

Granted you did not mention Japan as a point of comparison, but I would like to just play the Devil's advocate and complicate your posting a little bit.

In college I took several education courses in which they would compare the educational systems of Japan and the United States. The Japanese educational system, overall, according to these "studies" had much more structure and order, and the students were more motivated, active, and academically focused.

Having taught English in 4 middle schools and over 10 elementary schools in a suburb outside of Tokyo for 2 years, let me tell you that generalizations are helpful when comparing large social patterns, but they are just that - generalizations. They may ring true 99% of the time, or they may ring true only 51% of the time (both of which are still "majority of the time"). The 4 middle schools I worked in each had their own personaity - from the well off school with motivated students, to the "poor" school with kids who didnt give a hoot. The school known as the rough school, was rough - kids walked in and out when they wanted to, slept on the floor, used their cell phones in class, ran down the hall ways, there were even a few teachers who were attacked. Yet within that school, there were a few classes where the teacher had good classroom management.

Similarly, at the school that was "well off", I worked with some teachers whose classes were just as bad, if not worse than the classes at the "rough" school!!

Currently, I work at Carver Middle School, a school known for never having a full staff, for scaring away subs so that they dont come back, etc. But there are classrooms that are doing OUTSTANDING things, and the critical thinking skills that the teachers are teaching WERE NEVER TAUGHT TO ME when i was growing up in my middle class/upper middle class school!

In short, the "how to do" and "how to think" debate is complicated, because honestly, it all depends on the classroom. I grew up in a middle class suburb, and maybe 1 out of 5 classes taught me how think, but most of the time, i was learning how to do.

Anyway, Im very curious to take up your recommendation and see the film that you are talking about. Hope this adds a different layer to things!

[Anonymous]

I've been wanting to see this movie; it's is good to hear that it is entertaining and was able to provide some connection to our class.

[Anonymous]

WOW, the two million minutes website is powerful (to say the least). It brought chills down my spine, knowing this country takes so much for granted. Being told we are the most powerful country can go to your head and forget to 'THINK'. I wonder what will happen when the main stream media gets to run expisodes from these students?

[Author]

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