Host Family: Chinese Cultural Opportunity

I have some good news for Chinese visiting teachers and their hosting families. There will be concert on Nov 3 at Woolsey Hall at Yale University. The best pipa player, Prof. Hongyan Zhang, will have a solo. In addition, a young (12 years old) talented pianist, George Li, will play. Yale University Saybrook Orchestra will join the concert too. There will be a Chinese chorus to sing in the concert. The detail of the program can be found here: http://allctchinesechorus.org/

The organizing concert team has agreed to give us a very good discount: buy two tickets get one free. This will be the best chance for our teacher visitors and their hosting families to experience Chinese music together. Contact Junqi Ding, Junqi.Ding@unilever.com, to arrange for this special purchase. The prices are: (VIP $50, Regular ticket: $20, Child: $10 for regular price, with the discount, we only pay 2/3 of the price).

Directions and Hosting

For the Shandong Teaching Methods Delegation, October 24 to November 7, please refer to hotel directions listed below the Shandong Teacher Placement list for group 2. For information on the professional development program and hosting, please look at the blogs below. For those who have been part of the sister school program before, please refer to the red handbooks for information on hosting. If you have note hosted before, please contact a colleague or educator in another town for hosting tips. You can also peruse the blogs to gather information about Chinese culture. Thank you for hosting!

Dan

Shandong Teaching Methods Group 2

The Shandong Teaching Methods Delegation (Group 2) arrive in Connecticut late Wednesday, October 24. For two days they have professional development on teaching methods, exposure to the American education system and preparation for their homestay experience in Connecticut. The group stays at the Fairfield Inn, 100 Miles Drive, Wallingford, CT. Teachers are picked up at the hotel between 4-5:00 PM on Friday, October 26. The teachers are returned to the hotel from their homestays between 4-5:00 Wednesday, November 7. Below are the homestay placements for the Shandong teachers:

1. Bi Shiwen, (M), Deputy Director, Teachers' Training Center, Shandong Institute of Education
Robert Hale, Westbrook High School

2. Liang Chengfeng, (M), Dean, Foreign Language Department, Shandong Institute of Education
Robert Hale, Westbrook High School

3. Chen Jun, (M), Senior Teacher, Jinan No. 1 Middle School
Joseph Wright, Fairfield Ludlowe High School

4. Han Xianghe, (M), Senior Teacher, Shandong Experimental Middle School
Brookfield High School, pending

5. Wang Lili, (F), Senior Teacher, The Middle School Affiliated to Shandong Normal University
Diane Ullman, Henry James Memorial School, Simsbury

6. Li Ling, (F), Senior Teacher, Qingdao Experimental Primary School
Michael Graner, Ledyard Public Schools

7. Cui Dianjin, (M), Senior Teacher, Zibo Huantai No. 1 Middle School
Bristol, pending

8. Wang Huifang, (F), Senior Teacher, Zibo Linqi Experimental Middle School
Richard Foye, Woodstock Academy

9. Zhao Guofang, (M), Senior Teacher, Zibo Zhangdian Fannan Primary School
Chris Clouet, New London Public Schools

10. Yang Shouju, (F), Senior Teacher, Dongying Experimental Middle School
Richard Foye, Woodstock Academy

11. Zheng Jiacong, (F), Senior Teacher, Dongying Guangrao No. 1 Experimental Primary School
Christine Brown and Rita Oleksak, Glastonbury Public Schools

12. Wang Ketian, (M), Weifang Zhucheng No. 1 Middle School
Kathleen Binkowski, Plainville Public Schools

13. Zhang Qing, (F), Senior Teacher, Weifang Experimental School
Michael Graner, Ledyard Public Schools

14. Chang Yuru, (M), Senior Teacher, Weifang Shougang No. 1 Middle School
Kathleen Binkowski, Plainville Public Schools

15. Zhang Yingli, (F), Senior Teacher, Weifang Foreign Language School
Brookfield or Bristol, pending

16. Li Xiuwei, (M), Senior Teacher, Weifang Educational Science Study Academy

17. Wang Hanling, (M), Senior Teacher, Jining Experimental Middle School
Joseph Wright, Fairfield Ludlowe High School

18. Wang Luyu, (F), Senior Teacher, Taishan Foreign Language School
Jan Huber and Bill Sliver, Killingly Public Schools

19. Hou Xiping, (F), Senior Teacher, Weihai Wendeng Experimental Primary School
Christine Brown and Rita Oleksak, Glastonbury Public Schools

20. Liu Jiafeng, (F), Rizhao Wulan Experimental Primary School
Jan Huber and Bill Silverf, Killingly Public Schools

21. Liu Xiao, (F), Senior Teacher, Rizhao No. 1 Middle School
Caryn Stedman, Metropolitan Learning Center, Bloomfield

22. Li Jianmei, (F), Senior Teacher, Linyi No. 2 Experimental Primary
School
Caryn Stedman, Metropolitan Learning Center, Bloomfield

Fairfield Inn, Wallingford

The Shandong principal delegation will be at the Fairfield Inn Wallingford at 4:00 PM for pickup for homestays on Thursday, October 18. Please have your principal picked up prior to 5:00 PM.

The Fairfield Inn is located at 100 Miles Drive, Wallingford, CT. Exit 15 off I-91. My cell is 860-712-8666 if you have questions.

Dan

Tentative Shandong Teaching Methods Participant Placement List

The Shandong Teaching Methods Delegation is expected to arrive in Connecticut on Tuesday, October 16. On Thursday, October 18 the delegation will be picked up by local host schools between 4 and 5:00 at the Fairfield Inn in Wallingford. Their Connecticut visit will include two days of professional development on October 17 and 18 and hosting by partner schools from October 18 to 26. All principals should be returned to the Fairfield Inn in Wallingford no later than 5:00 on Friday, October 26. The hosting includes homestay and school experience. Below is the current placement list subject to confirmation by the partner schools:

1. Xu, Shuguang (M), Basic Education, SDPED, Deputy Commissioner, Connecticut State Department of Education, Daniel Gregg

2. Jiang, Yu (M), Foreign Affairs Office, SDPED, Section Chief, Connecticut State Department of Education, Daniel Gregg

3. Guan, Yanping (M), Basic Education Division, SDPED, Director, Glastonbury Public Schools, Rita Oleksak, Christine Brown

4. Fang, Chaoying (F), Shandong Experimental Primary School, Jinan, Vice Principal and Senior Teacher; Marlborough Public Schools, Sal Menzo, Region No. 8, Robert Siminski; Hebron Public Schools, Eleanor Cruz

5. Zhao, Yong, (M), The Middle School Attached to Shandong University, Jinan, Principal and Senior Teacher, Clinton Public Schools, William Barney (North Haven Public Schools, Sara Querfeld, Lipin Latta)

6. Liu, Song (F) The Primary School Affiliated to Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Vice Principal and Senior Teacher, Simsbury Public Schools, Diane Ullman, Lydia Tedone

7. Liu, Shaohua (M), Zibo No. 4 Middle School, Principal and Senior Teacher, Norwalk High School, Ted Welsh

8. Li, Fuxin (M), Dongying Experimental Primary School, Principal and Senior Teacher, Ivy Drive School, Bristol Rosie Vojtek and Avon High School, Robert Vojtek

9. Zhang Bingqi (M), Weifang Middle School, Principal and Senior Teacher, Region No. 8, Robert Siminiski; Marlborough Public Schools, Sal Menzo; Hebron Public Schools, Eleanor Cruz

10. Li, Yan (M), The Middle School Affiliated to Jining Teachers College, Principal and Senior Teacher, Canton Public Schools, Guy Gulla

11. Zhang Wei (M) Taian Municipal Education Department, Deputy Director (Superintendent), Glastonbury Public Schools, Rita Oleksak, Christine Brown

12. Liu, Jianguo (M), Weihai No. 2 Middle School, Principal and Senior Teacher, Waterford High School, Yuan Yuan Chen

13. Qi, Yanlong (M) Rizhao Experimental High School, Principal and Senior Teacher, Ivy Drive School, Bristol Rosie Vojtek and Avon High School, Robert Vojtek

14. Duan, Shumin, (M) Liaocheng Linqing Jinghua Middle School, Principal and Senior Teacher, The Morgan School, Clinton Public Schools, William Barney

15. Sun, Shouming (M), Binzhou Zouping Huangshan Middle School, Vice Principal and Senior Teacher, Granby Public Schools, Gwen E. Van Dorp

16. Wang, Kezheng (M), Heze No. 1 Middle School, Principal and Senior Teacher, Cheshire High School, Sharon Powers and Ralph Zingarella

17. Gao, Shoumin (M), Zaozhuang Tengzhou No. 1 Middle School, Principal and Senior Teacher, New Britain High School, Doris Kurtz and Adnelly Marichal

18. Li, Shiliang, (M), Linyi No. 1 Middle School, Principal and Senior Teacher, New Fairfield Public Schools, Alicia Roy and Michele Dawson

Preparing to Host Your Principal: School Internship

The eight-day internship in your school/community is the most important part of the professional development experience on teaching methods. During the two days of preparation for the school internship, I will provide information on American teaching methods and go to host sites to observe classroom instruction. We will provide them with observation skills and debrief with explanations of cultural behaviors they may not understand. We also prepare the principals with information on the American education system and the role of the principal in the American schools.

The principals coming are also experienced senior teachers. Their role in a Chinese school is really more equivalent to a superintendent in our school structure. They will gather information and take it back to their schools to share with their colleagues so instructional methods can be improved in their school settings. Language is not a significant barrier when observing teaching methods. Experienced educators all over the world can recognize teaching instruction that engages students.

A useful strategy for the internship is to have your guest teacher follow a student for part of a day. Let them see a variety of normal teaching in a school in a variety of settings. Let them see a variety of disciplines but obviously they will probably want to bond with colleagues in their own administrative environment. You can arrange for your principal to see innovative lessons where a classroom teacher invites your guest to observe. The principals are representative of elementary, middle and high school. It is okay for them to visit classrooms and schools at all levels in your school system. They will let you know what they would like to see. Expose your principal to school life such as sports activities or performances that might exist in your school community.

I will be letting the principals know that I have told schools to let you see schools and classes as they are. You do not need to entertain and overly host them. Let them see classrooms and instruction in a normal venue as well as special cases where a teacher just happens to have a master lesson they want the guest to see.

None of the principals who will be arriving have English-speaking capacity. You may want to assign a Mandarin-speaking student to your principal or a Mandarin-speaking member of your local community. If you have a Mandarin language program, you may want to take advantage of a situation where students can be of direct assistance in hosting.

Preparing to Host Your Principal: Homestay

The homestay in your local school district begins on Thursday, October 18 with a pickup at the Fairfield Inn in Wallingford between 4 and 5:00 PM. Your principal is to be returned to the Fairfield Inn in Wallingford between 4 and 5:00 PM on Friday, October 26.

None of the principals will speak English. So, prepare to utilize any Mandarin speakers in your community or school population to assist you. If you have any difficulty, please let me know and I will send word to the Chinese community to see if they can help you.

For the homestay, please consult the sister school handbook you received from Charlotte and Carolyn at the China Exchange Initiative. The book offers excellent advice on how to handle a Chinese guest in a home. For those new to the experience, please let me know and I will send you the handbook. Also, browse through some of the blogs for useful cultural information from other delegations who have gone to China.

You can have the principal stay in more than one home. In fact, it takes a load off one family and at the same time provides a varied experience for your guest. Twelve principals in Connecticut hosted a Shandong principal from their partner school for nearly a week January of 2006. If you want additional assistance, please let me know and I will put you in touch with a principal who may be nearby. These principals were also hosted by the same principal in Shandong so they have seen hosting from both sides.

You may also want to contact nearby districts who are hosting and do some weekend or evening events together. (See school match participant list.) Since there are nearly 20 schools and school districts involved, there will be another prinicpal probably being hosted nearby. The master list is located on this blog.

Jiang Yu, Program Officer, for the Shandong Provincial Department of Education will accompany the delegation. He is a fluent speaker and lived and worked in the United States for four years. I will have contact information for him while he is here if a specific need arises. I will also provide my phone number so I can be reached in case of an emergency.

Preparing to Host Your Principal: Teaching Methods

Before your principal arrives at your school they will have had two days of professional development preparation, the American school system, instructional teaching strategies in American schools and the role of the principal in American schools. Here are the goals and the design of the three day program.

Goals of the Teaching Methods Program:
1. To understand the United States and Connecticut education system;
2. To understand the research-based strategies that have the greatest affect on student achievement and when and how to apply them during instruction (Marazano, R.J., Classroom Instruction That Works, 2001);
3. To understand teacher factors that increase student achievement (instructional strategies; classroom behavior; curriculum design);
4. To reflect on Connecticut classroom experiences and culturally adapt teaching methods observed to Chinese classroom settings; and
5. To understand the role of the principal in an American school.