The Single-Gender Classroom

by Katherine Bradley, Ph.D.

            Imagine a classroom tailored in accordance with the likes and dislikes of your child.  In your son’s  class competition, physical activity and choice activities dominate the learning environment—even for math and language arts!!  In your daughter’s class, she and her friends sit in groups; they collaborate and have the  opportunity to be creative and inquisitive without the distraction of rambunctious little boys.  These are the  characteristics of the single-gender learning environment.

            The classroom is alive with movement, noise and learning.    There are 22 six and seven year old boys that appear to be not only engaged in active learning, but totally absorbed in the learning process.  It’s as if the  classroom and the activity are teaching and the teacher is just facilitating.  This teacher is the conductor in  great symphony of learning.   What makes this orchestra unique is that it is an all-boys class in a single gender  experiment.

            The lesson for the time is math.  All the boys are seated on a mat, on their colored squares eagerly  awaiting their turn to catch the ball and answer the question.  The teacher tosses the ball.  A student catches the koosh ball and strains to see the card that the teacher is holding.  The tension is mounting as the student  calculates on his fingers.  The excitement in the other boys is also building to a breaking point just as he blurts out the answer.  The boys and the teacher erupt in congratulations at having answered correctly. The student  stands and hurls a MLB pitch at this dediated single-gender teacher.  All hands are up pleading for a chance  to answer and pitch.

            The room is busy with random activity.  The subject is science.  Some boys are huddled in groups or  as individuals reading science related books.  The teacher and a few other boys are in the center of the class  room assembling a science project on planets consisting of inflatable planets previously prepared.  He  periodically sends a boy away and calls for another boy to help from elsewhere in the room.  This single- gender teacher manages to lead the boys through the assembly, questioning them about the size, color, unique characteristics and placement of each planet.  Once complete, all of the other boys leave their satellite activities and gather around to marvel at the class project. 

             There are boys engaged in computer math and chess games, boys working with blocks, boys reading and others doing other miscellaneous activities.  The room hums with busy activity.  Periodically there are  requests for the teacher to check out something made or just to hear about something the boy did or wants to do.  The conversation is causal and comfortable. Both the teacher and students engage in exchanges of  experiences and ideas.

            This teacher, having been trained in single-gender strategies, has a special connection and understanding that allows him to orchestrate such a masterful learning environment.  It is as if he fools all of those rambunctious little boys into thinking they are supposed to be having fun instead of learning.   The  classroom runs like a well-oiled engine.  There are occasional instances of redirection, but no raised voices, no attitude standoffs and no discipline referrals—just learning.    

            Engaging elementary students and helping them to develop more positive attitudes and perspectives  on school is essential in helping them to become successful in school and in life.  No, there is no one-size- fits-all prescription in education.  Single-gender education is not for everyone, which is the reason that the new  legal guidelines on single-gender education mandate that parents have a choice.  However, research and anecdotal reports certainly paint single-gender education as an effective instructional strategy for many  children.  You know your child and the learning environment that will best suit their individual   personality--read, experience, question and investigate.

As a Parent—

BEFORE you decide

• Read any literature on single-gender education available on the internet, in magazines and newspapers  and at your child’s school. 
  

• Experience the single-gender environment--Visit some single-gender classes at your school or other  schools.  Make a list of questions or concerns.

• Question the administrators and teachers at your child’s school after you visit.
• Investigate on your own. Speak to the parents of who have children in single-gender learning  environments.

*This article was adapted from Mr. O, The Man in the Know, by Katherine Bradley.

About the Author

Katherine Bradley was the first graduate of Mercer University's Educational Leadership Ph.D. program.  Her current research and dssertation focuses on single gender education and its impact on academic achievement, discipline referral frequency and attendance for 1st and 2nd grade public education students.  kbradley8@yahoo.com

Conjuntions

Some words are satisfied spending an evening at home, alone, eating ice-cream right out of the box, watching Seinfeld re-runs on TV, or reading a good book. Others aren't happy unless they're out on the town, mixing it up with other words; they're joiners and they just can't help themselves. A conjunction is a joiner, a word that connects (conjoins) parts of a sentence.

Coordinating Conjunctions

The simple, little conjunctions are called coordinating conjunctions

Noun

A noun is the name of a person, place, thing, or idea. Whatever exists, we assume, can be named, and that name is a noun. A proper noun, which names a specific person, place, or thing (Carlos, Queen Marguerite, Middle East, Jerusalem, Malaysia, Presbyterianism, God, Spanish, Buddhism, the Republican Party), is almost always capitalized. A proper noun used as an addressed person's name is called a noun of address. Common nouns name everything else, things that usually are not capitalized.
A group of related words can act as a single noun-like entity within a

Regular Verbs List

There are thousands of regular verbs in English. This is a list of 600 of the more common regular verbs. Note that there are some spelling variations in American English (for example, "practise" becomes "practice" in American English). accept add admire admit advise afford agree alert allow amuse analyse announce annoy answer apologise appear applaud appreciate approve argue arrange arrest arrive ask attach attack attempt attend attract avoid back bake balance ban bang bare bat bathe battle beam beg behave belong bleach bless blind blink blot blush boast boil bolt bomb book bore borrow bounce bow box brake brake branch breathe bruise brush bubble bump burn bury buzz calculate call camp care carry carve cause challenge change charge chase cheat check cheer chew choke chop claim clap clean clear clip close coach coil collect colour comb command communicate compare compete complain complete concentrate concern confess confuse connect consider consist contain continue copy correct cough count cover crack crash crawl cross crush cry cure curl curve cycle dam damage dance dare decay deceive decide decorate delay delight deliver depend describe desert deserve destroy detect develop disagree disappear disapprove disarm discover dislike divide double doubt drag drain dream dress drip drop drown drum dry dust earn educate embarrass employ empty encourage end enjoy enter entertain escape examine excite excuse exercise exist expand expect explain explode extend face fade fail fancy fasten fax fear fence fetch file fill film fire fit fix flap flash float flood flow flower fold follow fool force form found frame frighten fry gather gaze glow glue grab grate grease greet grin grip groan guarantee guard guess guide hammer hand handle hang happen harass harm hate haunt head heal heap heat help hook hop hope hover hug hum hunt hurry identify ignore imagine impress improve include increase influence inform inject injure instruct intend interest interfere interrupt introduce invent invite irritate itch jail jam jog join joke judge juggle jump kick kill kiss kneel knit knock knot label land last laugh launch learn level license lick lie lighten like list listen live load lock long look love man manage march mark marry match mate matter measure meddle melt memorise mend mess up milk mine miss mix moan moor mourn move muddle mug multiply murder nail name need nest nod note notice number obey object observe obtain occur offend offer open order overflow owe own pack paddle paint park part pass paste pat pause peck pedal peel peep perform permit phone pick pinch pine place plan plant play please plug point poke polish pop possess post pour practise pray preach precede prefer prepare present preserve press pretend prevent prick print produce program promise protect provide pull pump punch puncture punish push question queue race radiate rain raise reach realise receive recognise record reduce reflect refuse regret reign reject rejoice relax release rely remain remember remind remove repair repeat replace reply report reproduce request rescue retire return rhyme rinse risk rob rock roll rot rub ruin rule rush sack sail satisfy save saw scare scatter scold scorch scrape scratch scream screw scribble scrub seal search separate serve settle shade share shave shelter shiver shock shop shrug sigh sign signal sin sip ski skip slap slip slow smash smell smile smoke snatch sneeze sniff snore snow soak soothe sound spare spark sparkle spell spill spoil spot spray sprout squash squeak squeal squeeze stain stamp stare start stay steer step stir stitch stop store strap strengthen stretch strip stroke stuff subtract succeed suck suffer suggest suit supply support suppose surprise surround suspect suspend switch talk tame tap taste tease telephone tempt terrify test thank thaw tick tickle tie time tip tire touch tour tow trace trade train transport trap travel treat tremble trick trip trot trouble trust try tug tumble turn twist type undress unfasten unite unlock unpack untidy use vanish visit wail wait walk wander want warm warn wash waste watch water wave weigh welcome whine whip whirl whisper whistle wink wipe wish wobble wonder work worry wrap wreck wrestle wriggle x-ray yawn yell zip zoom

Article in English

Okay, guys. Let's start from the simple things that sometimes too much is wrong in its use.
Article (Word Clothing) placed in front of which amounts to a single noun (singular noun). Article consisting of a and of which have a meaning (if followed by the object), a (if followed by the person or persons), a (if followed by the animals). Well if followed by pickpockets,
Article is used before a noun that begins with the sound off , such as for example:
• A hat
• A dog
• A paint
• A horse
• A student
• A soldier

Wah yah already like elementary school children ... period, defeated by elementary school children, let's keep learning!

Article's used in front of the noun that begins with the sound of life (remember, not the vowels), such as:
• An eraser
• An egg
• An apple
• An ant
Well, until here there are still confused?

Learning English by Tarzan style.... hehehehe

Learning English by Tarzan style does not mean I am learning experience with animals or Tarzan movie players. Tarzan is my family once a friend who really inspired me when I was still sitting on the bench in high school are learning English. Although rarely contacts, maybe even Tarzan could not remember who I am, I remain infinitely grateful to him, and pray for Tarzan to become more successful. I heard from family in Jakarta that Tarzan is now still very successful in his career in Jakarta.
How to teach my Tarzan English first is to focus on English language which can directly be practiced anytime, anywhere, without limit, starting from the most basic, chase constantly. The most basic English thinks it does not mean learn English grammar, nor by looking at the pictures, is not it also started from reading books.
Starting from the basic mean when we began to learn the closest or first occurred, we need to try their English. If not can then be mixed with the Indonesian language. Try wherever possible to say, either with friends or the practice of spoken English language learning itself. If it is not possible to say (for example, is considered not to his own way) so pronounced in the liver only, or by thinking about it.
Example: "I want to learn English." So how is his English? If it can, say "I want to study English" say the real, if possible, or just say to myself. If you can not completely say it in one sentence, we say just the words that have been able, for example "I want to learn English language," or maybe "I want to study English." If it could be just a little, do not ever again say "I want to learn English", say like the above who had, complete or mixed.
If not complete, try searching the dictionary, never "try searching dictionary" is what the English language? Oh yes "this is what the English language" is also necessary to find what his English. Maybe "what in English" (which is true what is this in English). repeated again "try looking for a dictionary." Full: "I want to study English, try looking for the dictionary, what in English ..."
So the chase continues, whatever you want to try to pronounce the English language, both in fragments (a mixture of Indonesian) or incomplete, do not perdulikan right or wrong. Say whatever you want to try using english language = what else you want bahasa say try 'em already. "be able to" what is English? yes, you Can!
Well this new way of learning English for me, wow this is a new way for me to learn English. At this rate, I inevitably have to buy a dictionary nih. What in English? If like this, must buy a dictionary. What dictionaries in English? Okay tomorrow is I bought a dictionary, Tomorrow ok i bought a dictionary. Where to buy a dictionary? I no money. Oh apparently study bahasa need money. I try looking for money.
Suppose tomorrow already had money, so dong buy a dictionary. Nih story had a dictionary.
Oh apparently dictionary is a dictionary. Buy Is buy. So that yesterday could be changed to "ok Tomorrow i buy a dictionary." The fact study bahasa needs money. I try look money. Repeat again, repeat. There you have current, yes I can! haha ..
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Yeah right, above the English language was very good, it also still stinks. Not why, what was important to keep trying without stopping, what could have both direct practice with words or in thoughts. Chase continues. Who would think you crazy if you learn English in the brain?
Wow, this is Truly the fastest way for me to master English language. I have never Heard Someone telling me this kind of learning system. Similarly, by translating what you read. Translate only what you can, no need to translate a whole, but the chase until he could translate them intact, with your dictionary, by asking people who can, by frequently repeated. "Wow is Truly the fastest way for me to master English, I have never heard someone tell me this kind of learning system" hehe .. Correct = Wow this is really the fastest way for me to master the English language. I've never heard someone say this way of learning.
Let us langjutkan. What is this in English? Lets continue. True, that is correct.
So how fast is to start from the first words that we speak. So the fast way is with Sharon from first word We want to say. One biarin. What is wrong biarin? Wrong no problem. Tomorrow try again, try again Tomorrow. Apparently yes quick study, his study turned out so fast. But like crazy people (but like a madman) haha ..
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Of course you still have to learn the correct english grammar, conversation diligent to practice, or start with a simple reading books, listening to English news broadcasts and so forth. The essence of what is said Tarzan is that we should practice, how bad was the English language today. No friends practice the English language is not obstacle, because we can practice alone, perhaps with his own say, or write or to think about in the brain, learning in the brain, without stopping.
Well now I'm tired. What is English? Suppose now that we know the English language just now and I will katakannya "Well now i was tired." Then try to find the words already and tired, when it said it had met with complete repeat, repeat several times until you get it out completely and quickly. Do not want to forget tomorrow is an important issue today you are smart to say with complete and rapid "Wow, I am Tired now".
I want to take a break now. Tomorrow I Will try to practice learning English using this new system. I am very sure That I Will master English language in just two months.