Sample Solution

According to the readings, there are several reasons that can explain student performance differences from different countries. One factor is educational systems. For example, the reading “Using International Student Assessments:” by Charles R. Taylor (2009) states that countries with an Education for All strategy is more likely to have better education results than those who do not embrace such a strategy (Taylor, 2009). The article also indicates that cultural traditions, such as Confucianism or collectivism are strong influence in many Asian countries which lead to values of hard work and collective effort being instilled in their children—leading to higher academic achievement (Taylor, 2009). Lastly according to the articles, factors like socio-economic status play a role in student learning outcomes; particularly disparities between low-income and high income families can contribute to lower performing students (Miles & Kuzmich 2013).

As someone who has been teaching elementary school students over 10 years in Texas I agree with these interpretations. I have seen first hand how educational policies affect student outcomes; if a district has underfunded schools due to socioeconomic factors it affects how much resources teachers have at their disposal which could significantly impact student performance. Additionally I have seen cultural influences within my classroom—particularly among Asian-American students whose parents support their education and emphasize hard work and personal growth leading them towards success academically. These experiences correlate strongly with what the readings suggest about cultural heritage helping shape academic achievement along with economic factors being major contributors of inequalities between schools districts.(author 1 year)