Improbable Probabilities

Improbable Probabilities is an analysis of opportunity as seen through the journey of renowned scholar Yong Zhao. From an obscure village in a China wracked by the Cultural Revolution to acclaim as one of the most influential international voices in education today, Yong’s journey reveals that disadvantages may become advantages and assuming risks that others avoid can open unforeseen opportunities.

In this instructive title, you will learn about:


Why families are important for children, through Yong’s experiences growing up impoverished in a supportive but illiterate family
How low or no expectations may benefit some children, as illustrated by an absence of familial expectations that freed Yong to explore and discover a love of language, reading, and writing
Students’ potential to find and take advantage of opportunities
How Yong discovered, explored, and pursued opportunities others failed to see in order to become internationally recognized as a researcher, professor, and writer
Why Yong’s publications and perspective challenge many of the current orthodoxies in education, especially regarding how to improve the learning of students living in low-wealth communities


Contents:

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1: The Boy From Sichuan Province

Chapter 2: The Budding Scholar

Chapter 3: The Traveler

Chapter 4: The Entrepreneur

Chapter 5: The Breadwinner

Chapter 6: The Global Citizen

Chapter 7: The Distinguished Professor

Chapter 8: Themes in Yong’s Thinking and Writing

Epilogue

Endnotes

Index