Lesson Plan: The Dangers of Pursuing Perfect Grades
Word Inference
- cycling |ˈsīk(ə)liNG| verb [no object] 2 move in or follow a regularly repeated sequence of events: economies cycle regularly between boom and slump.
- plagiarism |ˈplājəˌrizəm| noun-the practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own.
- dismay |disˈmā| noun-consternation and distress, typically that caused by something unexpected: to his dismay, she left him.
- sacrifice |ˈsakrəˌfīs| verb [with object] • give up (something important or valued) for the sake of other considerations: working hard doesn’t mean sacrificing your social life.
- cult |kəlt| noun a person or thing that is popular or fashionable, especially among a particular section of society: a cult film.
- elite |əˈlētāˈlēt| noun a select part of a group that is superior to the rest in terms of ability or qualities: elite colleges and universities | an elite athlete.
- assess |əˈses| verb [with object] evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of: the committee must assess the relative importance of the issues | [with clause] : it is difficult to assess whether this is a new trend.
- tolerate |ˈtäləˌrāt| verb [with object] accept or endure (someone or something unpleasant or disliked) with forbearance: how was it that she could tolerate such noise?
- recruiter |rəˈkro͞odər| noun a person whose job is to enlist or enroll people as employees, in the armed forces, or as members of an organization: a recruiter will schedule you for an interview | military recruiters.
- underachieve |ˌəndərəˈCHēv| verb [no object] do less well than is expected, especially in schoolwork.
Source: New Oxford American Dictionary
Grammar Focus: English Pronouns
A student came to the office and he began crying.
“I just got my first A-minus,” he said.
I watched in dismay.
Grades are a reflection of my brainpower and I had the right stuff.
Many Students say all they want are top marks and a ticket to elite graduate schools.
As teachers we need to make it easier for students to take some intellectual risks.
Reading Comprehension: Fill-ins
Looking back, I don’t wish my grades had been higher. If I could do it over again, I’d study less. The hours I wasted memorizing the inner workings of the eye would have been better spent trying out improv comedy and having more conversations about the meaning of life.
:
