The Schools Function as a Socializing Agent

Whitney Elementary School

1st Grade Dual-Language Program
Ms. Bortz & Ms. Cronin

Instructor: Bri Semonchuk

Grade Level: Community College
Content Area: Ecology of the School Schools Function as a Socializing Agent
Goals: to gain an understanding of the schools function as a socializing agent, and to
recognize these functions in our classroom observations

Objectives
Students will understand the schools function as a socializing agent through.
o Learning how schools exert influence on children
o Learning the goals of schooling in the United States
Acdemic goals
Vocational goals
Social, civic, and cultural goals
Personal goals
o Comparing the primary purpose of education from societys perspective and the
individuals perspective
o Describing the schools function in the United States as being
Universal
Formal
Prescriptive

Materials & Equipment Needed

Textbook: Child, Family, School, Community: Socialization and Support

 Computer & Projector to present PowerPoint

Sticky notes & whiteboard space to post them

Detailed Instructions / Timeline

Procedure

Time

Open PowerPoint, introduction and overview of the schools

function as a socializing agent
Discuss how schools exert influence on children
Discuss the goals for schooling in the United States
Count off into 4 groups. Each group will discuss the significance of
one of the areas of focus for goals for schooling in the U.S.
(Academic Goals, Vocational Goals, Social, Civic, and Cultural Goals,
and Personal Goals)
Class discussion: as a class, each group will share what they found to
be the most important / significant aspect of their assigned goals.
Compare the purpose of education from societys perspective, as
well as the individuals perspective
Explain requirements for exit note, have students post them on their
way out.

1 minute
2 minutes
5 minutes
5 minutes
4 minutes
1 minute
1 minute

Discussion Questions
What are some ways schools exert influence on children? Explain how these factors directly
influence students.
What are the four main areas of focus in the goals for schooling in the United States?
In your opinion, which of these areas are the most important? Least important?
Compare and contrast the primary purpose of education from societys perspective, and the
individuals perspective.
If you could create your own set of goals for schooling, what might they include?

Check for Understanding

Students will post an exit note on the whiteboard when the lesson is over. The exit note
must describe at least two specific examples of socialization that each student has witnessed in
his or her observations.

Rubric for Assessment

Each students exit note must include at least two examples of socialization they noticed over
the course of their observations. The examples must be clear, specific, and relevant.

Reflections