Superintendent+lesson+plan

=Michelle Rhee: The Good and the Bad=

//Waiting for Superman// and //The Inconvenient Truth behind Waiting for Superman// are two films providing opposite portrayals of Washington D.C.'s Chancellor, Michelle Rhee. In both films, she has expressed her feelings about the education program and her ideal views on teachers in the classroom. Many people did not agree with her commitment to the educational changes, and she had to defend her beleifs and her Chancellor status. [|Michelle Rhee Describes Her Chancellorship Responsibilities] In this lesson, we will explore the film footage, read extra background articles, discover what role a chancellor has, and discover if Michelle Rhee had the right to make drastic changes to the educational system in Washington D.C during her chancellorship. Finally, the class will use the Socratic seminar technique to conclude the lesson. Topic: "Did she impact the education system in a positive or negative way?"

=What does a Chancellor do?= [|Wikipedia description and background information] [|The job description for New York's Superintendent]

=Compare/Contrast or Persuasive Argument Research Lesson:=

Lessons on rhetoric and modes of argument as well as uses of comparisons should occur prior to this activity. Students will use their analytical techniques of the film elements to decide if the director's message was clear. Students will look through the sources on this wiki, as well as any they find on their own, in order to find support for their opinions. Students will state their opinions while using their research as evidence in their argument. Students will produce a formal paper and may also participate in organized debates.
 * Procedure:** Ample time should be given to students for researching the topic and developing their argument or comparison (time length would depend on student level).

To give students the opportunity to practice writing a persuasive argument or a compare/contrast essay using multiple research sources. To lead students to more readily see the 'other side of the coin,' so to speak - recognizing multiple perspectives.
 * Purpose:** To allow students to practice stating their opinion and using supporting evidence in an argument.

=Who is Michelle Rhee?=

Some articles and film clips about Michelle Rhee and her Chancellorship:
[|Wikipedia Background of Michelle Rhee] [|Michelle Rhee's Student First Organization] [|Video: Can She Save our Schools?] Film mentions Michelle Rhee's progress in her first yr and a half as chancellorship. [|Michelle Rhee asks Unions to Improve Public Schools] [|Michelle Rhee's group dropped under pressure of progressives] [|Michelle Rhee Asks Unions for Help at state Levels After Group was Dropped] [|Test Scores Inflated Under Rhee's Term] [|Michelle Rhee's Twitter Page] [|Michelle Rhee's Funders] [|Michelle Rhee: The Radical] [|Education Reformer Tells Her Side] [|Rhee's Reign Over?]

=Digital Text Analysis & Comparison Lesson:= As a class, we have mentioned different elements of digital text. Continue discussion after students complete their lists:
 * Students will list and describe the elements of film and their importance in their own words:
 * Audio
 * Visual
 * Graphics

Waiting for Superman Footage:
media type="custom" key="20273714"
 * Watch the footage of //Waiting for Superman// and note the techniques the director considered.

What was the message of the documentarians in this video? How did they use sounds, graphics and other visual elements to enhance their message? Did they portray the message effectively? Why or Why not? What could they have changed to improve this footage?
 * Think and Discuss:**

=VS.=

The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting for Superman Footage:
media type="custom" key="20273818"
 * View the //Inconvenient Truth// Footage and note the techniques the director considered.

What was the message of the documentarians in this video How did they use sounds, graphics and other visual elements to enhance their message? Did they portray the message effectively? Why or Why not? What could they have changed to improve this footage?
 * Think and Discuss:**

What do these segments have in common? How are they different? Think further than just 'one says she's good and one says she's bad.' Which one do you agree with? Why? Did the video make a stronger argument? In what ways was it stronger?
 * In pairs or groups of 3, students will discuss their opinions of these videos and will compare and contrast them.
 * Think and Discuss:**

For additional footage on Michelle Rhee, refer to these time stamps:
//Waiting for Superman//- **50:54** (Criticized for shutting down schools) **& 1:22:53** (Test scores shift) //Inconvenient Truth//- **52:15** (Discusses her schooling in small class sizes growing up)

=Socratic Seminar:= Within the films and media, Michelle Rhee has been viewed from positive and negative perspectives. It is the responsibility of the student to decide Michelle Rhee's impact on the education system as chancellor. Did she make the education system better or worse? Why? [|Socratic Seminar Introduction and Basic Materials] Socratic Seminar is a great activity for students to discuss a medium on a deeper level. Students could divide and discuss the character by using their research information and the above footage to make conclusions.

=Ending Questions:=
 * Do you feel like you understand the text at a deeper level? How?
 * How was the process for the classroom?
 * What was one thing you noticed about the seminar/ lesson?
 * Did your perspective change? Why or why not?