My students entered the art room with their usual eagerness to see what they would be learning in today’s class. Little did they know they were going to be students for a new teaching method that is spreading the nation.

I often use videos as previews and supplements (补充) to our art lessons providing students with a variety of artists showing their skills in real-life situations outside the classroom. Finding a new painting technique called glue batik(胶水蜡染), I thought of something new I hadn’t tried before! How awesome would it be to learn a new technique together with artists? The lesson was planned, presented to the students without any introduction or set objectives. I also asked the students to watch and pause the video as often as they needed to.

They watched as the artist explained and showed her skills, taking notes on her steps and results. After the video, they shared what they felt the artist’s objectives were, her end result using art vocabulary as well as the steps they would need to know to present their own examples. Then they began creating their works using the glue batik technique.

Surfing the Internet a couple of weeks later, I found that the teaching method I used sounded very familiar to a new movement in education called flipped teaching, which was developed by Jonathan Bergmann. He asked his students to watch video lectures at home and do exercises (homework) in class under supervision (监督). He found that grades went up and he also found time for other types of activities, which Bergmann states are more important than the videos.

Back to my art class, the students were learning to get ideas, make predictions, and explain reasoning to their classmates. Together they compared, asked questions and made discoveries as they presented the technique.

How to Enjoy Life As a Teen

The "best years of your life"? Maybe not, but you can learn to make the most of your high school days.

1. Learn to appreciate small things. Whether it's having a computer, having friends, having a good supply of food, a bed to sleep on, family that loves you, having a decent education or simply being born in this world. 【小题1】. Be happy, and life will reward you. Remember that these are the last few years you will be able to enjoy yourself without having to worry about the responsibility of an adult, but make sure you prepare yourself for when you do become one.

2. Go for it! If you have a special girl/guy you want to ask out, dance with, etc. just ask! You probably won't be rejected but if you are, remember that there will always be someone else that likes you for who you are.【小题2】. About 90% of the girls or guys you talk to will like you back, only about 10% probably will reject or badmouth you.

3.【小题3】. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing your hard work pay off in the form of A's and B's (but mainly A's). This also sets you up to get into a college you want to go to, which in turn prepares you for a career you will enjoy, improving your quality of life in the future. You'll get cheap car insurance as well if you have at least a B or A average.

4. You can pursue interests you enjoy. Video games, for example, are good if you're the type who can get into that kind of thing. 【小题4】. Use your "hobby time" to either A) Volunteer (to gain practical skills for college apps, job resumes, and scholarships) B. Learn an instrument, or get into something else in the creative field like painting or dance, because this is the time to start developing and uncovering passions that might otherwise lie dormant.

5. Work at a job you can enjoy. Working is a great way to gain experience and to meet other people. When you do get out of college, interviewing companies will look at your prior work experience. This will look great on your resume. If you can't find work, especially in this hard economic time, volunteer or make your own job.

6.【小题5】You'll still be going to games for free like the jocks if you are in pep band, and you have as many opportunities to meet new people as the jocks. Band and choir sometimes involves going on trips, and are great memories to have for high school and college. If you are not good at either music or sports, you can join other activities, start other hobbies, or get a job.

If you are intending to take the coming ACCA exams, please read the exam rules below.

Late on Test Day

If you are late for arriving at your test site, you may still take the admissions test if the Test Administrator is still giving instructions to students in your testing room. If actual testing has started, you may not take the admissions test just the same day. In this case, you will either miss the test or have to take another one again. The supervisor at your test site will provide you with instructions on how to request a make-up test. 【小题1】

Scratch Paper for the Test

You will receive one piece of scratch paper to use for the test, which must be returned with your testing booklet. You must use the paper provided for you. 【小题2】You must, however, mark all of your answers on your answer sheet for the answers to be recorded and scored.

Erasable Pens

Please do not use erasable pens on your essays. Erasable ink can smudge the writing and make your essays unreadable. 【小题3】That is why we ask that you use pens rather than pencils on your essays. If you want to “erase” some of your essays, draw a few lines through the text you wish to erase. This will not count against you when the essays are scored.

【小题4】

You may not use highlighters, colored pens or pencils, sticky notes, or correction tape or fluid when you take the admissions test. Do not bring any of these items to the test site.

Food and Drink

You may not eat or chew gum during testing. 【小题5】You may not keep a bottle of water on your desk. If you need a drink of water during testing, you must leave the testing room. You will not get any additional testing time.