SHORT EXTENDED COMMENT
I wanted to extend more on my feelings from this article, and after reading Alicia's blog, I knew I could reflect on more from my own life.
"I sat down, after reading this article, and thought about what I should write, and what it means to me. I have ADD, and was not diagnosed until eighth grade. Why was it not known to my teachers or parents until such a late age? the reason why, and I realize it now, is because I had learned to deal with it, and hide it from my peers and Educators. I did not want to be labeled, and taken out of the classroom that consisted of all of my friends. The children that were pulled out, and called to some kind of resource were made fun of by the other student. So, I learned how to get through my grades, and not ask for the extra help that I did need. This is upsetting and depressing to me now as an Adult looking back at this situation."
~Alicia~
Two people extremely close to me have learning disabilities, but unless you know them very well, it is difficult to tell. This relates to Alicia's story because she was able to hide it from teachers and peers. This is not a very easy job.
One of the people I knowhad to deal with testing and being taken out of class all throughout middle school. He did not mind it at the time, and still doesn't. But the fact that he did not have many friends and became "popular" until after he switched schools and was in high school does not seem like a coinicidence to me.
My other friend has been taken out of class ever since elementary school. She has been constantly ridiculed and harrassed. Although her problem was not so severe, she needed more time on tests and easier work. I wish that she had been able to done what Alicia had done, not been the center of attention. Although the extra help she got helped her, she was never able to have a "normal life."
My own father questions what ADD and ADHD is. He even makes comments like, "Maybe they are the normal ones. Maybe the people who are constantly moving and are completely active are the normal ones. Maybe we are the "bad" ones. Maybe its not actually normal to just sit around all day and relax." This makes me question my feelings about everything concerning these problems. I know that there are some people who do need medicine to calm down, even just for safety reasons, but maybe medicating every child who is hyperactive isn't quite the cure.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Shor Cont.
For my first Shor blog, I did quotes, but after class today, I felt that I could expand on at least one of Shor's main ideas...
Shor says that empowering education is participatory. This means that students need to work together. Education needs to be active and interaction is necessary.
Shor says that empowering education is participatory. This means that students need to work together. Education needs to be active and interaction is necessary.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Oakes and Finn Cont.
Continued
I read over Finn's article again, realising I had not said too much on this. I came across another point I thought was interesting. I saw that a person's success in life depends on the type of education he receives. If the person has better literacy teachers and logic teachers, in the future they will then have these attributes throughout life and will be more successful than someone who had lesser teachers who did not teach these things very well.
This website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracking_(education) is an overall idea of tracking in schools.
I read over Finn's article again, realising I had not said too much on this. I came across another point I thought was interesting. I saw that a person's success in life depends on the type of education he receives. If the person has better literacy teachers and logic teachers, in the future they will then have these attributes throughout life and will be more successful than someone who had lesser teachers who did not teach these things very well.
This website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracking_(education) is an overall idea of tracking in schools.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Promising Practices
PROMISING PRACTICES
When I first got to the conference, there was a lot less people than I first assumed. It quickly filled up though. We started a little bit late, so it was confusing that my first session with Elizabeth Rowell, started while everyone was still coming in the room. I learned a lot in this first session and it made me feel more comfortable for next semester, because the session leader will be one of my teachers. The subject for my class next semester and this session intertwine, both about the LGBT group. This session was mainly focused on how harassment hurts. Rowell gave the group. She said that 50% of transsexuals will have at least one suicide attempt by age 20. Self mutilation is also something else that these people may go through due to the stress of bullying and harassment.
We watched a video of mainly inner city teens singing a song to encourage others that, yes, bullying happens now, but it gets better. They shared a generalized story about their lives and what has happened to them, including being part of the LGBT group. They all confirmed that it had gotten better for them in life. I think that this video will help people, but I think it is unrealistic in the fact that it does not get better for everyone. It seems that they may give false hope, telling everyone it gets better. Sometimes it doesn’t.
Rowell told us about different groups, like FLSEN and The Trevor Project, that help support LGBT students. They talk about how it goes from “teasing to torment.” She talked about people’s views on homosexuality and what can happen because of it. Missing class or days of school, poor grades, and dropping out are some of the things that happen when harassment becomes too much for students.
She told us one interesting concept about bullying in general. She said that bullying (that’s not about gayness) is usually taken care of properly. But in today’s society, gay bullying is more accepted. In the world, it is not firmly stated that gay bullying is absolutely prohibited, so people feel as though it is acceptable. These people that are bullied and harassed feel unsupported, isolated, invisible, and feel like they are in a hostile environment. Some cannot turn to their families for support. This made me feel sad because I know it’s true and know that some children and teens lose their families because parents disown them. This session made me think of the media literacy videos we examined in class and Christensen. Christensen said how the media, at a young age, teaches people how to act or their stereotypes about different topics. Rowell showed us different videos that supported gay bullying and discrimination against LGBT’s. I believe that Christensen’s ideas relate to this because there are still videos, television shows, and movies that still support the idea that gays are bad and should be discriminated against.
Also in this session, we watched a “What would you do” episode about gay bullying. I found it very surprising that it took over 30 minutes for the first people to come up to stop the scene. It really made me think about the world and what it has come to. People really won’t stop if there is a teenager being pushed around and having people yelling gay slurs at him on a public board walk? It made me disgusted that there are people in this world that don’t seem to care about someone’s well being, but would probably want somebody to stop if it was them.
Go to this site, http://abcnews.go.com/whatwouldyoudo, and look for Bullied for Being Gay. This is the “What would you do” video we watched.
We also watched “It’s Elementary”, the show we watched part of in class. One point I found slightly disturbing was that students assume that only gay teachers want to talk about gays and other members of LGBT. I do not understand why children would even think of this. I think it may be because some people have the notion that only gays care about the way gays are treated.
It’s Elementary
Its STILL Elementary
This is the sequel to the previous video. It shows the problems people had when children were to learn about gays in elementary schools. It has the original cast members from the elementary schools and interviews with them.
I thought I would just add in 2 last statistics she gave the group. 9/10 gays face harassment, and gays are three times more likely to commit suicide that straight people. This session then also reminded me about Wise. He said that discrimination against blacks has gotten better, but it has taken a lot of time. It takes time to change this big of a thing, and I think that this relates to this situation. I think that gays or slightly more accepted now than what they were 20 years ago. I think that it will get better as time goes on, I just think that it will take a long time.
I then went to the Resource fair. It was so busy, that unless you were visiting a booth that was completely empty (which was very unlikely), you were unable to speak to the person at the table. I did get a lot of resources though. My concentration is geography and one of the tables had a great, large map that is great. At the same table, I got other geography brochures.
I was disappointed at the second session. I went to the “Universal Design for Learning” session with Maria Lawrence. She described what the topic is. She said its materials and activities used by the teacher that allows learning goals to be attainable by individuals with wide differences in their ability to see, hear, speak, move, read, write, understand language, attend, organize, engages, and remember without having to adapt the curriculum repeatedly to meet special needs. The purpose of this is also to “make instruction readily accessible for the widest range of learners”
She said that there are three components to the universal design for learning. Once was multiple means of representation, the teacher’s plan and presentation of information. Another is multiple means of expression, how students show what they know and learned, and then also multiple means of engagement. Lawrence related this workshop to her science career, teaching us about the brain, but failing to connect it back to this design for learning. I felt that a majority of the time was spent on science and her career rather than what the workshop was said to be about, so I was upset. I was very interested in this session, believing that it would give me insight into teaching students of all different levels. Lawrence was a very funny, knowledgeable woman, but I feel there was a lack of concentration on the subject at hand.
The end speeches, before Shirley’s, had one interesting point. One of the speakers said not to be afraid of curiosity and to ask questions. She used life experiences which was helpful to understand the concept of asking questions. I was taught, just like her, not to be rude and don’t ask personal questions. But this speaker made me feel more confident in asking questions about other people’s cultures and lives.
I was under the impression that the seminar was to be about multicultural relations. But when Shirley spoke, I rarely felt this was the case. Yes, he did incorporate some cultural differences and made us more aware, but most of his speech was about different teaching techniques and what happens in a teaching seminar. He gave five dimensions of multicultural education. He said they were content integration, knowledge construction process, prejudice reduction, an equity pedagogy, and an empowering school culture.
Shirley gave an interesting thought that I had noticed in high school, teachers act different and use a different curriculum when being judged, but go back to the original curriculum that worked. He also used the phrase “plate of locust” when he was discussing giving an assignment that requires the student to write about what they think their assignment would be about. I’ve never heard this phrase before and he used it in a clever way and it made me think.
One thing Shirley said I found disturbing was someone was “better off having a few drinks before driving than having a cell phone.” I thought that this thought was very disconcerting because of all the fatalities due to alcohol and driving. I understand that cell phones are bad, but if used properly, there should be no dangerous accidents. He used this phrase in order to talk about how technology has become such a big part of our life, technocracy. Shirley continued to give teaching tips, like to give students quiet time or chime time. I thought that this was a good concept because I know it can help relax the students, so by the time they are done with this quiet time, they are calmed and are able to concentrate more.
Shirley gave two different lists, the first of which teachers should have or be aware of, cultural sensitivity for second language learners, learn the pressure on leaders, you need to know what your vision is, and have a supportive network. I thought that this was a good thing for him to say because I don’t think that many people realize these traits. I’ve just recently realized you need to have a support system in a school so then your students don’t suffer from it either. The second list was the seven synergies of mind, teaching, and learning. They are openmindedness, caring and loving, stopping, professional expertise, authentic alignment, harmonizing and integrating, and collective responsibility. These traits are also important I think because they encompass everything a teacher should be about.
Overall, if the conference was to be about Multicultural beliefs, it was not successful. There was a lack of concentration on the subject. If the conference was meant to help college students get techniques for teaching and help teachers with new skills, it was successful. There were a lot of different techniques and tips given. I feel that from an educational stand point, learning to be a teacher, I learned valuable ideas that will help support my future career.
When I first got to the conference, there was a lot less people than I first assumed. It quickly filled up though. We started a little bit late, so it was confusing that my first session with Elizabeth Rowell, started while everyone was still coming in the room. I learned a lot in this first session and it made me feel more comfortable for next semester, because the session leader will be one of my teachers. The subject for my class next semester and this session intertwine, both about the LGBT group. This session was mainly focused on how harassment hurts. Rowell gave the group. She said that 50% of transsexuals will have at least one suicide attempt by age 20. Self mutilation is also something else that these people may go through due to the stress of bullying and harassment.
We watched a video of mainly inner city teens singing a song to encourage others that, yes, bullying happens now, but it gets better. They shared a generalized story about their lives and what has happened to them, including being part of the LGBT group. They all confirmed that it had gotten better for them in life. I think that this video will help people, but I think it is unrealistic in the fact that it does not get better for everyone. It seems that they may give false hope, telling everyone it gets better. Sometimes it doesn’t.
Rowell told us about different groups, like FLSEN and The Trevor Project, that help support LGBT students. They talk about how it goes from “teasing to torment.” She talked about people’s views on homosexuality and what can happen because of it. Missing class or days of school, poor grades, and dropping out are some of the things that happen when harassment becomes too much for students.
She told us one interesting concept about bullying in general. She said that bullying (that’s not about gayness) is usually taken care of properly. But in today’s society, gay bullying is more accepted. In the world, it is not firmly stated that gay bullying is absolutely prohibited, so people feel as though it is acceptable. These people that are bullied and harassed feel unsupported, isolated, invisible, and feel like they are in a hostile environment. Some cannot turn to their families for support. This made me feel sad because I know it’s true and know that some children and teens lose their families because parents disown them. This session made me think of the media literacy videos we examined in class and Christensen. Christensen said how the media, at a young age, teaches people how to act or their stereotypes about different topics. Rowell showed us different videos that supported gay bullying and discrimination against LGBT’s. I believe that Christensen’s ideas relate to this because there are still videos, television shows, and movies that still support the idea that gays are bad and should be discriminated against.
Also in this session, we watched a “What would you do” episode about gay bullying. I found it very surprising that it took over 30 minutes for the first people to come up to stop the scene. It really made me think about the world and what it has come to. People really won’t stop if there is a teenager being pushed around and having people yelling gay slurs at him on a public board walk? It made me disgusted that there are people in this world that don’t seem to care about someone’s well being, but would probably want somebody to stop if it was them.
Go to this site, http://abcnews.go.com/whatwouldyoudo, and look for Bullied for Being Gay. This is the “What would you do” video we watched.
We also watched “It’s Elementary”, the show we watched part of in class. One point I found slightly disturbing was that students assume that only gay teachers want to talk about gays and other members of LGBT. I do not understand why children would even think of this. I think it may be because some people have the notion that only gays care about the way gays are treated.
It’s Elementary
Its STILL Elementary
This is the sequel to the previous video. It shows the problems people had when children were to learn about gays in elementary schools. It has the original cast members from the elementary schools and interviews with them.
I thought I would just add in 2 last statistics she gave the group. 9/10 gays face harassment, and gays are three times more likely to commit suicide that straight people. This session then also reminded me about Wise. He said that discrimination against blacks has gotten better, but it has taken a lot of time. It takes time to change this big of a thing, and I think that this relates to this situation. I think that gays or slightly more accepted now than what they were 20 years ago. I think that it will get better as time goes on, I just think that it will take a long time.
I then went to the Resource fair. It was so busy, that unless you were visiting a booth that was completely empty (which was very unlikely), you were unable to speak to the person at the table. I did get a lot of resources though. My concentration is geography and one of the tables had a great, large map that is great. At the same table, I got other geography brochures.
I was disappointed at the second session. I went to the “Universal Design for Learning” session with Maria Lawrence. She described what the topic is. She said its materials and activities used by the teacher that allows learning goals to be attainable by individuals with wide differences in their ability to see, hear, speak, move, read, write, understand language, attend, organize, engages, and remember without having to adapt the curriculum repeatedly to meet special needs. The purpose of this is also to “make instruction readily accessible for the widest range of learners”
She said that there are three components to the universal design for learning. Once was multiple means of representation, the teacher’s plan and presentation of information. Another is multiple means of expression, how students show what they know and learned, and then also multiple means of engagement. Lawrence related this workshop to her science career, teaching us about the brain, but failing to connect it back to this design for learning. I felt that a majority of the time was spent on science and her career rather than what the workshop was said to be about, so I was upset. I was very interested in this session, believing that it would give me insight into teaching students of all different levels. Lawrence was a very funny, knowledgeable woman, but I feel there was a lack of concentration on the subject at hand.
The end speeches, before Shirley’s, had one interesting point. One of the speakers said not to be afraid of curiosity and to ask questions. She used life experiences which was helpful to understand the concept of asking questions. I was taught, just like her, not to be rude and don’t ask personal questions. But this speaker made me feel more confident in asking questions about other people’s cultures and lives.
I was under the impression that the seminar was to be about multicultural relations. But when Shirley spoke, I rarely felt this was the case. Yes, he did incorporate some cultural differences and made us more aware, but most of his speech was about different teaching techniques and what happens in a teaching seminar. He gave five dimensions of multicultural education. He said they were content integration, knowledge construction process, prejudice reduction, an equity pedagogy, and an empowering school culture.
Shirley gave an interesting thought that I had noticed in high school, teachers act different and use a different curriculum when being judged, but go back to the original curriculum that worked. He also used the phrase “plate of locust” when he was discussing giving an assignment that requires the student to write about what they think their assignment would be about. I’ve never heard this phrase before and he used it in a clever way and it made me think.
One thing Shirley said I found disturbing was someone was “better off having a few drinks before driving than having a cell phone.” I thought that this thought was very disconcerting because of all the fatalities due to alcohol and driving. I understand that cell phones are bad, but if used properly, there should be no dangerous accidents. He used this phrase in order to talk about how technology has become such a big part of our life, technocracy. Shirley continued to give teaching tips, like to give students quiet time or chime time. I thought that this was a good concept because I know it can help relax the students, so by the time they are done with this quiet time, they are calmed and are able to concentrate more.
Shirley gave two different lists, the first of which teachers should have or be aware of, cultural sensitivity for second language learners, learn the pressure on leaders, you need to know what your vision is, and have a supportive network. I thought that this was a good thing for him to say because I don’t think that many people realize these traits. I’ve just recently realized you need to have a support system in a school so then your students don’t suffer from it either. The second list was the seven synergies of mind, teaching, and learning. They are openmindedness, caring and loving, stopping, professional expertise, authentic alignment, harmonizing and integrating, and collective responsibility. These traits are also important I think because they encompass everything a teacher should be about.
Overall, if the conference was to be about Multicultural beliefs, it was not successful. There was a lack of concentration on the subject. If the conference was meant to help college students get techniques for teaching and help teachers with new skills, it was successful. There were a lot of different techniques and tips given. I feel that from an educational stand point, learning to be a teacher, I learned valuable ideas that will help support my future career.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Education is Politics by Shor
QUOTES
I chose some quotes that I liked because of either personal reasons or because of its relation to class.
"On the one hand education is a socializing activity organized. funded, and regulated by authorities who set a curriculum managed (or changed) in the classroom by teachers. On the other hand. education is a social experience, for tens of millions of students who come to class with their own dreams and agendas. sometimes cooperating with and sometimes resisting the intentions of the school and the teacher."
This quote really made me think. I never thought of school as just an activity. I've always thought of it as a duty. It seemed like I had to go and that was that. I never also thought of school as a social experience. Yes, you get to be with your peers and make friends, but once again it always just seemed like a duty. I feel that now in college it is becoming more of a social experience. Not with peers, but with the world. We get to go work in our field and learn with hands on experience.
"The teacher is the person who mediates the relationship between outside authorities, formal knowledge, and individual students in the classroom."
I knew the teacher mediates formal knowlege, but I had never thought about the relationship of outside authoritites. I knew that there would be a relationship, but never thought of it is that big of a thing. This made me think more about my thoughts on being a teacher. It made me think about how there would always be someone at the school that would be there for me in case I needed help. There would be other teachers, secretaries, and principals. I've had it in my head that I would be all on my own once I get my own classroom, but his quote made me realize there is a support system in place at every school. I would be able to bounce off ideas on other teachers and if there was a big problem, I wouldn't have to handle it on my own. There would be others that would be there to help.
"A curriculum designed to empower students must be transformative in nature and help students to develop the knowledge, skills, and values needed to become social critics who can make reflective decisions and implement their decisions in effective personal, social, political, and economic action"
This is a pedagogy will help students be prepared in life. It will help them have all the skils they would need. It will make them book smart and common sence smart and help guide them through life. This article acknowleges what students need at a younger age in order to be successful later in life. I believe that this is a good teaching technique because it will make the students feel confident about continuing in school and going on to things bigger than schooling.
In class I think it would be interesting to discuss different teaching techniques that everyone thinks work. I know I haven't yet figured out the teacher I want to be yet and ideas for everyone I'm sure would be good.
I found this webiste that gives you the traits of different kind of teachers, it seemed very interesting.
http://www.tefl.net/esl-jobs/teacher-personality.htm
I chose some quotes that I liked because of either personal reasons or because of its relation to class.
"On the one hand education is a socializing activity organized. funded, and regulated by authorities who set a curriculum managed (or changed) in the classroom by teachers. On the other hand. education is a social experience, for tens of millions of students who come to class with their own dreams and agendas. sometimes cooperating with and sometimes resisting the intentions of the school and the teacher."
This quote really made me think. I never thought of school as just an activity. I've always thought of it as a duty. It seemed like I had to go and that was that. I never also thought of school as a social experience. Yes, you get to be with your peers and make friends, but once again it always just seemed like a duty. I feel that now in college it is becoming more of a social experience. Not with peers, but with the world. We get to go work in our field and learn with hands on experience.
"The teacher is the person who mediates the relationship between outside authorities, formal knowledge, and individual students in the classroom."
I knew the teacher mediates formal knowlege, but I had never thought about the relationship of outside authoritites. I knew that there would be a relationship, but never thought of it is that big of a thing. This made me think more about my thoughts on being a teacher. It made me think about how there would always be someone at the school that would be there for me in case I needed help. There would be other teachers, secretaries, and principals. I've had it in my head that I would be all on my own once I get my own classroom, but his quote made me realize there is a support system in place at every school. I would be able to bounce off ideas on other teachers and if there was a big problem, I wouldn't have to handle it on my own. There would be others that would be there to help.
"A curriculum designed to empower students must be transformative in nature and help students to develop the knowledge, skills, and values needed to become social critics who can make reflective decisions and implement their decisions in effective personal, social, political, and economic action"
This is a pedagogy will help students be prepared in life. It will help them have all the skils they would need. It will make them book smart and common sence smart and help guide them through life. This article acknowleges what students need at a younger age in order to be successful later in life. I believe that this is a good teaching technique because it will make the students feel confident about continuing in school and going on to things bigger than schooling.
In class I think it would be interesting to discuss different teaching techniques that everyone thinks work. I know I haven't yet figured out the teacher I want to be yet and ideas for everyone I'm sure would be good.
I found this webiste that gives you the traits of different kind of teachers, it seemed very interesting.
http://www.tefl.net/esl-jobs/teacher-personality.htm
Reconceptualizing Down Syndrome Kliewer
REFLECTION
Kliewer discusses how children with disabilites are excluded in schools and how that then affects their relationship with the world. He mentions how separating these students from others sort of distrupts their learning, and then they will never have proper social skills. He used many different examples from other authors, but never seemed to voice his own opinion. But these sort of things made me remember my past.
No I do not have down syndrome. No i am not disabled. I am lucky. I have what's called Mosaic Turner's Syndrome. Its a problem with chromosomes. It explains why I am so short. But also, I am supposed to have odd physical features and be mentally disabled. For some reason, I have not experienced this, so I view myself as lucky. One thing I have noticed is difficulty in math, which is a main thing of Turner's syndrome. But this article made me think of how my parents refused to put me in SPED classes.
I went through testing and I seemed fine, so even though I struggled, I was never put in any special classes. When I recently told my mom about the math difficulties, she said I very well could have a problem. I asked why they never got me into different classes in school, and she gave me all the reasons that Kliewer listed. She said she wanted me to be treated normal, to be socially active. Not to be taken out of class and have people give me "the look". I know I am lucky, but I do somewhat understand what having a syndrome can do to a person, even if there's not much wrong.
I think that Kliewer uses alot of other author's to just help prove his point more that Down Syndrome children shouldn't be segregated from all. I believe this is true, but also that there needs to be assistance ins schools for those who do need help.
In class, I think there should be a discussion about how people think special ed. classes should be conducted. like if the students should be completely in these classes, or should they have a chance to be in other classes also.
Go to this site if you want info on Down Syndrome http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_syndrome
Kliewer discusses how children with disabilites are excluded in schools and how that then affects their relationship with the world. He mentions how separating these students from others sort of distrupts their learning, and then they will never have proper social skills. He used many different examples from other authors, but never seemed to voice his own opinion. But these sort of things made me remember my past.
No I do not have down syndrome. No i am not disabled. I am lucky. I have what's called Mosaic Turner's Syndrome. Its a problem with chromosomes. It explains why I am so short. But also, I am supposed to have odd physical features and be mentally disabled. For some reason, I have not experienced this, so I view myself as lucky. One thing I have noticed is difficulty in math, which is a main thing of Turner's syndrome. But this article made me think of how my parents refused to put me in SPED classes.
I went through testing and I seemed fine, so even though I struggled, I was never put in any special classes. When I recently told my mom about the math difficulties, she said I very well could have a problem. I asked why they never got me into different classes in school, and she gave me all the reasons that Kliewer listed. She said she wanted me to be treated normal, to be socially active. Not to be taken out of class and have people give me "the look". I know I am lucky, but I do somewhat understand what having a syndrome can do to a person, even if there's not much wrong.
I think that Kliewer uses alot of other author's to just help prove his point more that Down Syndrome children shouldn't be segregated from all. I believe this is true, but also that there needs to be assistance ins schools for those who do need help.
In class, I think there should be a discussion about how people think special ed. classes should be conducted. like if the students should be completely in these classes, or should they have a chance to be in other classes also.
Go to this site if you want info on Down Syndrome http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_syndrome
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Oakes and Finn
CONNECTIONS
I thought I would start off by writing some main points from Oakes, since I liked the article better.
List of activities, ideas, and things typically HIGH ABILITY students do and recieve:
`expository writing
`critical thinking
`more access to better schooling
`problem solving skills
`better teachers
`special resources
`lower class size
Compare this list now to the the things LOW ABILITIY students do, or thoughts of them are:
`not encouraged
`disciplined
`excluded
`unfriendly
`apathetic
`"restricted range of topics"
`"lessable"
`fewer opportunities
I think the differences are absolutly incredible. This article also connects to the second article by Finn, because the author shows his particular techniques and how it worked with different students, those who "weren't smart" He said with his original teaching method, obediant students did good. If they were not obediant, they did not pass. He made the work so easy so that if they barely tried, it would be ocmpleted. Also, he never created more than a couple assignments that were too difficult to grade.
I think that this method is good for teachers, but not for the students. The students will never learn much if this is the teaching method.
Finn reminded me of Delpit. This is because he seems to be very explicit with his students of what he expects of them. He doesn't expect much, but still is very clear of what is needed and what the consequences are to be.
I thought I would start off by writing some main points from Oakes, since I liked the article better.
List of activities, ideas, and things typically HIGH ABILITY students do and recieve:
`expository writing
`critical thinking
`more access to better schooling
`problem solving skills
`better teachers
`special resources
`lower class size
Compare this list now to the the things LOW ABILITIY students do, or thoughts of them are:
`not encouraged
`disciplined
`excluded
`unfriendly
`apathetic
`"restricted range of topics"
`"lessable"
`fewer opportunities
I think the differences are absolutly incredible. This article also connects to the second article by Finn, because the author shows his particular techniques and how it worked with different students, those who "weren't smart" He said with his original teaching method, obediant students did good. If they were not obediant, they did not pass. He made the work so easy so that if they barely tried, it would be ocmpleted. Also, he never created more than a couple assignments that were too difficult to grade.
I think that this method is good for teachers, but not for the students. The students will never learn much if this is the teaching method.
Finn reminded me of Delpit. This is because he seems to be very explicit with his students of what he expects of them. He doesn't expect much, but still is very clear of what is needed and what the consequences are to be.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Confusion in the School
Day # 6
When I went to Asa Messer Annex Elementary this morning, I found out that it was picture day. People were setting up in my room that I work in. I could not find anyone at this point to tell me what to do about it. My kindergartners went to take their pictures as soon as I had to take them. I had less than 10 minutes with them. This did not help them one bit because the other tutors haven't been showing up, and when they do, are not doing Reading Buddies appropriately. I went to my first grade room, only had one student out of three. I was able to work with him for about 5 minutes before he had to leave for pictures. I am feeling extremely overwhelmed because I feel the kids will be pushed behind because of all of this and that's not what I want. :-/
I really hope everyone else is having a good time in their placements.
I am also, its just getting hardwhen these kids need so much help and they can't get it.
When I went to Asa Messer Annex Elementary this morning, I found out that it was picture day. People were setting up in my room that I work in. I could not find anyone at this point to tell me what to do about it. My kindergartners went to take their pictures as soon as I had to take them. I had less than 10 minutes with them. This did not help them one bit because the other tutors haven't been showing up, and when they do, are not doing Reading Buddies appropriately. I went to my first grade room, only had one student out of three. I was able to work with him for about 5 minutes before he had to leave for pictures. I am feeling extremely overwhelmed because I feel the kids will be pushed behind because of all of this and that's not what I want. :-/
I really hope everyone else is having a good time in their placements.
I am also, its just getting hardwhen these kids need so much help and they can't get it.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Brown vs. Board of Education and Wise
ARGUMENT
Historical vs. Present Issues
The website we had to look at showed only a few ways in which blacks had to fight for their rights. It said how the Civil War was meant to pave way for rights for everyone, but in the early 1900s, many laws were put in place and old customs returned that caused segregation. There was a fight for civil rights for blacks, which shows that there was effort.
In the Wise videos, it was said that there is evidence of racism of people of color is still relevant. It also says that racism is sometimes defeated, which is a step up from what it has been, but it is not always defeated. There was also an interesting idea, that there are certain exceptions for certain people. That some people of color are accepted, but this is not really a help because there are still many other people. There aren't any certain white acceptable people, just based on their race. So why is it that way for the colored? There is no racial equity, and until that day, there will always be racism.
Another interesting idea from Wise was that all the movements for acceptance of blacks has taken time. We are moving forward, it is a good thing. An ironic thing was that this piece mentioned Brown vs. Board of Education and said that it was a big step forward.
What connects these two pieces is that they both say that it took time to make change. The website had a timeline so you could easily see the years that went by to change everything. The video explicitly says that it has taken time.
In class, I think there should be a discussion on what people can do to help the progression of change. If people work together, then it would probably be an easier thing to do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R279NLNBfLI&feature=related. This video is a history of Brown vs. Board of Education and different facts about Blacks in American history.
Historical vs. Present Issues
The website we had to look at showed only a few ways in which blacks had to fight for their rights. It said how the Civil War was meant to pave way for rights for everyone, but in the early 1900s, many laws were put in place and old customs returned that caused segregation. There was a fight for civil rights for blacks, which shows that there was effort.
In the Wise videos, it was said that there is evidence of racism of people of color is still relevant. It also says that racism is sometimes defeated, which is a step up from what it has been, but it is not always defeated. There was also an interesting idea, that there are certain exceptions for certain people. That some people of color are accepted, but this is not really a help because there are still many other people. There aren't any certain white acceptable people, just based on their race. So why is it that way for the colored? There is no racial equity, and until that day, there will always be racism.
Another interesting idea from Wise was that all the movements for acceptance of blacks has taken time. We are moving forward, it is a good thing. An ironic thing was that this piece mentioned Brown vs. Board of Education and said that it was a big step forward.
What connects these two pieces is that they both say that it took time to make change. The website had a timeline so you could easily see the years that went by to change everything. The video explicitly says that it has taken time.
In class, I think there should be a discussion on what people can do to help the progression of change. If people work together, then it would probably be an easier thing to do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R279NLNBfLI&feature=related. This video is a history of Brown vs. Board of Education and different facts about Blacks in American history.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Media Literacy Response
Media Literacy
I was very interested in our Media Literacy class, particularly on the media's role with beauty. I looked for more videos. Most you have probably seen or we did in class, but they are here to see...
I really enjoyed this video. It gives facts as it shows you pictures and other visual representations.
This is a CBS video that interviews Ellen.
This is froma student doig this for a health class. It was actually quite interesting with A LOT of facts.
This is how you can easily photoshop a larger woman into a smaller person. This is why parents need to talk to their kids to tell them that not all people in magazines are actually that thin.
I was very interested in our Media Literacy class, particularly on the media's role with beauty. I looked for more videos. Most you have probably seen or we did in class, but they are here to see...
I really enjoyed this video. It gives facts as it shows you pictures and other visual representations.
This is a CBS video that interviews Ellen.
This is froma student doig this for a health class. It was actually quite interesting with A LOT of facts.
This is how you can easily photoshop a larger woman into a smaller person. This is why parents need to talk to their kids to tell them that not all people in magazines are actually that thin.
Gender and Education in 2010
Hyperlinks
Key issues with equity for boys and girls in school
Wikipedia is not always a great site, but it did give some key ideas for what the ideas are today concerning gender in the classroom. It says that women are thought that they should sit at home and be house wives. It says they should choose careers that will allow them to do so. I think that this is incredibly ambiguous in today's society, but I know that it's still true. These sort of thoughts are still present today, when I thought that they were gone many years ago. I understand that there are traditionalist thoughts still, but I feel that this is extreme because it is the general thought of the public supposedly. Considering this FNED class is about 99% female, I think everyone in this class can say we do not fully agree with this idea of stay at home mothers.
This report says that in a coeducational school, boys attract attention more from teachers than girls. This is usually with inexperienced teachers, and that experienced teachers work to find a way to make it work with all the students. I think we need to keep this in mind as we all go into teaching because we are inexperienced, even though we will be student teaching. It isn't enough to notice subtle differences in the classroom of how you treat different genders.
This site is in response to a New York Times piece. It was very helpful.
http://www.education2.bham.ac.uk/documents/staff/skelton_c/Gender_and_ITE.pdf
This other website says that boys are far behind girls in grades, so that teachers now focus more on males. Boys are more likely to drop out of school than girls also. This site also says that there is a lack of male teachers also and that there are people trying to recruit more males to teach.
I think from the information I found, that women are not expected to have a real career and they should be a stay at home mother. That men are not as interested as being teachers as women. And also that boys are focused more on by inexperienced teachers than females.
In class, I think there should be a discussion on peoples thoughts of a stay at home mother. Obviously we are all in college now so it doesn't seem likely that the class would personally agree, but I know some people would still have positive thoughts on this idea.
Key issues with equity for boys and girls in school
Wikipedia is not always a great site, but it did give some key ideas for what the ideas are today concerning gender in the classroom. It says that women are thought that they should sit at home and be house wives. It says they should choose careers that will allow them to do so. I think that this is incredibly ambiguous in today's society, but I know that it's still true. These sort of thoughts are still present today, when I thought that they were gone many years ago. I understand that there are traditionalist thoughts still, but I feel that this is extreme because it is the general thought of the public supposedly. Considering this FNED class is about 99% female, I think everyone in this class can say we do not fully agree with this idea of stay at home mothers.
This report says that in a coeducational school, boys attract attention more from teachers than girls. This is usually with inexperienced teachers, and that experienced teachers work to find a way to make it work with all the students. I think we need to keep this in mind as we all go into teaching because we are inexperienced, even though we will be student teaching. It isn't enough to notice subtle differences in the classroom of how you treat different genders.
This site is in response to a New York Times piece. It was very helpful.
http://www.education2.bham.ac.uk/documents/staff/skelton_c/Gender_and_ITE.pdf
This other website says that boys are far behind girls in grades, so that teachers now focus more on males. Boys are more likely to drop out of school than girls also. This site also says that there is a lack of male teachers also and that there are people trying to recruit more males to teach.
I think from the information I found, that women are not expected to have a real career and they should be a stay at home mother. That men are not as interested as being teachers as women. And also that boys are focused more on by inexperienced teachers than females.
In class, I think there should be a discussion on peoples thoughts of a stay at home mother. Obviously we are all in college now so it doesn't seem likely that the class would personally agree, but I know some people would still have positive thoughts on this idea.
Collier Moments at Asa Messer Annex
So I was at my elementary school and the teacher had 4 computers set up for the students to use. The homepages were all in Spanish. Considering every child is an esl student, this made me feel that the teacher is trying to embrace the students' culture.
Also in my first grade room, the teacher, who seems very white and has no accent, was speaking fluent Spanish with a student in her room. It seemed like he didn't want to do his work, but when she spoke to him in Spanish, he responded to her and did her work.
I thought that this was very relative to the class so I thought I'd share!
Also in my first grade room, the teacher, who seems very white and has no accent, was speaking fluent Spanish with a student in her room. It seemed like he didn't want to do his work, but when she spoke to him in Spanish, he responded to her and did her work.
I thought that this was very relative to the class so I thought I'd share!
Friday, October 15, 2010
In the Service of What? by Kahne and Westheimer
ARGUMENT
Kahne and Westheimer argue about the reasons behind service learning.
They say that "service learning can improve the community and invigorate the classroom, providing rich educational experiences for students at all levels of schooling." If this is true, then why is there such controversy on the subject?
There seem to be two main subjects to the argument, service learning for charity, or service learning to identify and respond (change).
The most popular theme these authors write is charity work, not change. In FNED, we do charity for our service learning according to Kahne and Westheimer. We tutor students and have "the joy of reaching out to others".
With change, you work to identify the problem and respond. You learn "moral acuity, and the social sensitivity they would develop as the learned to assess critically and respond collectively to authentic problems." You attempt to "apprehend the reality of the other". You try to experience someone else's life. When you do this, you have an understanding of another person and how they live.
There was a table that looked like this in the article:
Moral Political Intellectual
Charity giving civic duty additive experience
Change caring social reconstruction transformative experience
It is pretty self explanatory, but it clearly shows what is what kind of service and think it was very helpful in my understanding of the article.
This article argues that there is a difference between charity and change. That with charity, sometimes there is a lack of actually really helping someone. "many current service activities emphasize altruism and charity and fail to call into question current notions of individualism or to encourage the type of political participation that furthers democracy."
Anothe argument is that there is now charity work that raises self-esteem and creates new experiences. But those who believe in the transformative exprience, believe it is a combination of service and critical analysis. It is there to promost interest and insight into social issues.
There are many other details concerning the different reasons that cause people to do services.
In class, I think we should talk about what people think we are doing in class. If we are doing it because we have to (charity) or that we are learning about how to live like other people and becoming more aware of social issues (change).
I found this youtube video. It is sort of annoying and dorky, but it still explains everything.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPs1kF_kO1c
Kahne and Westheimer argue about the reasons behind service learning.
They say that "service learning can improve the community and invigorate the classroom, providing rich educational experiences for students at all levels of schooling." If this is true, then why is there such controversy on the subject?
There seem to be two main subjects to the argument, service learning for charity, or service learning to identify and respond (change).
The most popular theme these authors write is charity work, not change. In FNED, we do charity for our service learning according to Kahne and Westheimer. We tutor students and have "the joy of reaching out to others".
With change, you work to identify the problem and respond. You learn "moral acuity, and the social sensitivity they would develop as the learned to assess critically and respond collectively to authentic problems." You attempt to "apprehend the reality of the other". You try to experience someone else's life. When you do this, you have an understanding of another person and how they live.
There was a table that looked like this in the article:
Moral Political Intellectual
Charity giving civic duty additive experience
Change caring social reconstruction transformative experience
It is pretty self explanatory, but it clearly shows what is what kind of service and think it was very helpful in my understanding of the article.
This article argues that there is a difference between charity and change. That with charity, sometimes there is a lack of actually really helping someone. "many current service activities emphasize altruism and charity and fail to call into question current notions of individualism or to encourage the type of political participation that furthers democracy."
Anothe argument is that there is now charity work that raises self-esteem and creates new experiences. But those who believe in the transformative exprience, believe it is a combination of service and critical analysis. It is there to promost interest and insight into social issues.
There are many other details concerning the different reasons that cause people to do services.
In class, I think we should talk about what people think we are doing in class. If we are doing it because we have to (charity) or that we are learning about how to live like other people and becoming more aware of social issues (change).
I found this youtube video. It is sort of annoying and dorky, but it still explains everything.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPs1kF_kO1c
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Third Day, and Delpit's Disappointment
Deplit in the Classroom
On my third day at Asa Messer Annex, if Deplit was in the classroom, she would of been very disappointed in my kindergarten teacher. She would always say to the children "Is it time to be talking?" "Is that the right way to stand in line?"
We learned from Deplit that teachers should be direct. "Do not talk" "Stand quietly and still"
I was surprised that my teacher made this mistake so many times. I know that you can slip up every once in a while, but to have this be a teaching habit seems inefficient to me.
On my third day at Asa Messer Annex, if Deplit was in the classroom, she would of been very disappointed in my kindergarten teacher. She would always say to the children "Is it time to be talking?" "Is that the right way to stand in line?"
We learned from Deplit that teachers should be direct. "Do not talk" "Stand quietly and still"
I was surprised that my teacher made this mistake so many times. I know that you can slip up every once in a while, but to have this be a teaching habit seems inefficient to me.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Unlearning the Myths that Bind Us by Linda Christensen
ARGUMENT
Christensen argues that Disney movies and cartoons shape our lives and has manipulated people to believe in stereotypes. She uses many different examples of what she taught in her classrooms. One quote that she used by another author was "The secondhand information we receive has often been distorted, shaped by cultural stereotypes, and left incomplete..." The author is saying that in our lives, we are never introduced to many other people that are not part of our family and that we learn about others from movies at a young age, and that the movies teach us a bad lesson.
Christensen is a teacher and constructed her class around watching and investigating old cartoons and Disney movies. At the end of this class, many students said they were never to watch these movies again, or ever let their children watch them. It makes one wonder how much these students found when they investigated these movies.
She says how there are many patterns as you watch the movies. There is racism and other stereotypes concerning the people that are the servants, the buffoon, the lead role, the race, ethnicity, and how people are perceived.
She also argues that "There should be more women of color who play the leads in these white-on-white wedding cake tales." There are very few Disney movies that have none white characters, and there's only one movie that is new with an African American Princess.
I found two links that help support Christensen's case against cartoons and Disney movies.
This first link is of old Disney quotes, pictures, and videos that seem either racist or stereotypical. I was surprised at the length of the list that was given.
http://www.cracked.com/article_15677_9-most-racist-disney-characters.html
This second website gives detailed information of stereotypes in cartoons and advertisments.
http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/01443/gs_media.html
In class, I think it would be a good idea to come up with several different examples of stereotypes in the areas discussed in this article. I think it will help some people realise the fact that Christensen raises. We were all manipulated at a young age to believe in such stereotypes that we still don't even know it.
Christensen argues that Disney movies and cartoons shape our lives and has manipulated people to believe in stereotypes. She uses many different examples of what she taught in her classrooms. One quote that she used by another author was "The secondhand information we receive has often been distorted, shaped by cultural stereotypes, and left incomplete..." The author is saying that in our lives, we are never introduced to many other people that are not part of our family and that we learn about others from movies at a young age, and that the movies teach us a bad lesson.
Christensen is a teacher and constructed her class around watching and investigating old cartoons and Disney movies. At the end of this class, many students said they were never to watch these movies again, or ever let their children watch them. It makes one wonder how much these students found when they investigated these movies.
She says how there are many patterns as you watch the movies. There is racism and other stereotypes concerning the people that are the servants, the buffoon, the lead role, the race, ethnicity, and how people are perceived.
She also argues that "There should be more women of color who play the leads in these white-on-white wedding cake tales." There are very few Disney movies that have none white characters, and there's only one movie that is new with an African American Princess.
I found two links that help support Christensen's case against cartoons and Disney movies.
This first link is of old Disney quotes, pictures, and videos that seem either racist or stereotypical. I was surprised at the length of the list that was given.
http://www.cracked.com/article_15677_9-most-racist-disney-characters.html
This second website gives detailed information of stereotypes in cartoons and advertisments.
http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/01443/gs_media.html
In class, I think it would be a good idea to come up with several different examples of stereotypes in the areas discussed in this article. I think it will help some people realise the fact that Christensen raises. We were all manipulated at a young age to believe in such stereotypes that we still don't even know it.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Second day!
S.L. Project
My second day at Asa Messer Annex was much better. The only problem was that one of the teachers was snot even expecting me so it took her time to get materials ready. This extra time it took put me behind because we are on a very tight schedule in reading buddies at this school.
9:00-9:20 gather materials
9:25-9:55 observe in kindergarten class
10:00-10:25 bring students in room 4, go over sight words, do activity
10:30-10:55 bring 1st grade students to room 4, go over sight words, do activity
The teacher's schedules revolve around when I take these students from class. If something pushes me behind, the students have less time with me. Some of the students really need the help and to cut their time is unfair to them. I think that from now on the teachers will have a better idea of what I'm there to do and will have more materials for me and will be on time.
I feel better now about this school because I know I am directly helping students because I am working individually with them. I can tell that this one session helped them with some of their sight words and I feel they will only get better with time. I feel as though it will be a much better rest of the year now because the teachers have a better understanding of what I am there to do and how to help me to help the students.
My second day at Asa Messer Annex was much better. The only problem was that one of the teachers was snot even expecting me so it took her time to get materials ready. This extra time it took put me behind because we are on a very tight schedule in reading buddies at this school.
9:00-9:20 gather materials
9:25-9:55 observe in kindergarten class
10:00-10:25 bring students in room 4, go over sight words, do activity
10:30-10:55 bring 1st grade students to room 4, go over sight words, do activity
The teacher's schedules revolve around when I take these students from class. If something pushes me behind, the students have less time with me. Some of the students really need the help and to cut their time is unfair to them. I think that from now on the teachers will have a better idea of what I'm there to do and will have more materials for me and will be on time.
I feel better now about this school because I know I am directly helping students because I am working individually with them. I can tell that this one session helped them with some of their sight words and I feel they will only get better with time. I feel as though it will be a much better rest of the year now because the teachers have a better understanding of what I am there to do and how to help me to help the students.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Gayness, Multiculural Education, and Community by Dennis Carlson
HYPERLINKS
Reading this article I was not sure what to write about, so I did some research. I found several different links that help describe this article and other related topics.
I as surprised to find that there were many blogs. All of which I saw where from students from Dr. Bogad's classes from a previous years.
The first student's work that I read was simplified and understandable. She did not give much information, but what she did give was very simply and helped me clarify the defining points.
http://h2thec.blogspot.com/2008/02/gayness-multicultural-education-and.html
She said that Carlson argues that sexual orientation is not taught enough in school. I realised that I was never taught this in any of my schooling. This is very true.
One quote that really seemed true to me was "Gay people for the most part have been made absent, and silent within this community." Gays are not able to openly tell people their sexual orientation. There are many fears of telling people this sort of things becuase some take it in a very negative way.
Another website gave a description of this article, but gave me a thought I hadn't thought of.
http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=EJ504184&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_
It said that public schools may play an important role ina multiculutural life.
I found another blog, also from Dr. Bogad's class, in which she says that Carlson says keeping "gayness in its place" is becoming a problem these days.
http://kendra4.blogspot.com/2008/02/gayness-multicultural-education-and.html
Overall, I feel that there is less focus on sexual orientation than there should be and that it will eventually will be a problem. I would like to ask in class people's opinions on this because I think there would be many different view points. I feel that there should be more talk about this sort of thing in the class room. It needs to be recognized. Ifit is not, it will face even more discrimination in the long run.
Reading this article I was not sure what to write about, so I did some research. I found several different links that help describe this article and other related topics.
I as surprised to find that there were many blogs. All of which I saw where from students from Dr. Bogad's classes from a previous years.
The first student's work that I read was simplified and understandable. She did not give much information, but what she did give was very simply and helped me clarify the defining points.
http://h2thec.blogspot.com/2008/02/gayness-multicultural-education-and.html
She said that Carlson argues that sexual orientation is not taught enough in school. I realised that I was never taught this in any of my schooling. This is very true.
One quote that really seemed true to me was "Gay people for the most part have been made absent, and silent within this community." Gays are not able to openly tell people their sexual orientation. There are many fears of telling people this sort of things becuase some take it in a very negative way.
Another website gave a description of this article, but gave me a thought I hadn't thought of.
http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=EJ504184&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_
It said that public schools may play an important role ina multiculutural life.
I found another blog, also from Dr. Bogad's class, in which she says that Carlson says keeping "gayness in its place" is becoming a problem these days.
http://kendra4.blogspot.com/2008/02/gayness-multicultural-education-and.html
Overall, I feel that there is less focus on sexual orientation than there should be and that it will eventually will be a problem. I would like to ask in class people's opinions on this because I think there would be many different view points. I feel that there should be more talk about this sort of thing in the class room. It needs to be recognized. Ifit is not, it will face even more discrimination in the long run.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Aria by Richard Rodriguez
REFLECTION
Reading Rodriguez's story made me question my own life. He talks about how speaking Spanish at home made him feel like he had a close relationship with his family. He was very protective about his languages, even saying this when his parents wanted their children to learn English. "In an instant, they agreed to give up the language (the sounds) that had revealed and accentuated our family's closeness." I instant felt pity for this poor boy who felt as though he was losing a part of his family. But then I remembered, there is a difference between pity and awareness, like we learned in class.
This article made me aware of the harshness people need to deal with if they do not speak English. I never knew that it could make someone feel this way. I suppose that I would also feel as though I was losing my family and a sense of who I am, but I was never taught the ramifications of telling people "You're in America. Speak English." I tried to make this a youtube post, but as I searched through the videos, all of the titles seemed extremely crude and disrespectful. I did not agree with what they say so I did not want to post them.
But that made me realise that if I looked at over 20 videos and each horrific as the next, all the videos would be like this. That would mean that a majority of people would believe that those who are in this country that don't speak English need to learn it or they will be discriminated against. This makes me upset because our country is suppose to welcome all kinds of people. But by doing this, they are discriminating against many.
In my own life, I grew up never having to deal with discrimination of this kind. so reading this article really made me think about what Americans are doing. They are forcing people to lose their culture. This boy lost his connection with his family, especially his parents. "I no longer knew what words to use in addressing my parents." He said that he felt like an American citizen, but then had a negative comment. "But the special feeling of closeness at home was diminished by then. Gone was the desperate, urgent, intense feeling of being at home; rare was the experience of feelings myself individualized by family intimates." I was touched and upset by what he had said. That American's make other people feel as though they need to change their life and lose their closeness to family.
Although I never have head to deal with these problems directly, I still am greatly upset by what American's are doing. I am puzzled by these actions and am ashamed to be grouped with the people that do this. I really wish that one day there will be a time that people are more widely accepted.
Reading Rodriguez's story made me question my own life. He talks about how speaking Spanish at home made him feel like he had a close relationship with his family. He was very protective about his languages, even saying this when his parents wanted their children to learn English. "In an instant, they agreed to give up the language (the sounds) that had revealed and accentuated our family's closeness." I instant felt pity for this poor boy who felt as though he was losing a part of his family. But then I remembered, there is a difference between pity and awareness, like we learned in class.
This article made me aware of the harshness people need to deal with if they do not speak English. I never knew that it could make someone feel this way. I suppose that I would also feel as though I was losing my family and a sense of who I am, but I was never taught the ramifications of telling people "You're in America. Speak English." I tried to make this a youtube post, but as I searched through the videos, all of the titles seemed extremely crude and disrespectful. I did not agree with what they say so I did not want to post them.
But that made me realise that if I looked at over 20 videos and each horrific as the next, all the videos would be like this. That would mean that a majority of people would believe that those who are in this country that don't speak English need to learn it or they will be discriminated against. This makes me upset because our country is suppose to welcome all kinds of people. But by doing this, they are discriminating against many.
In my own life, I grew up never having to deal with discrimination of this kind. so reading this article really made me think about what Americans are doing. They are forcing people to lose their culture. This boy lost his connection with his family, especially his parents. "I no longer knew what words to use in addressing my parents." He said that he felt like an American citizen, but then had a negative comment. "But the special feeling of closeness at home was diminished by then. Gone was the desperate, urgent, intense feeling of being at home; rare was the experience of feelings myself individualized by family intimates." I was touched and upset by what he had said. That American's make other people feel as though they need to change their life and lose their closeness to family.
Although I never have head to deal with these problems directly, I still am greatly upset by what American's are doing. I am puzzled by these actions and am ashamed to be grouped with the people that do this. I really wish that one day there will be a time that people are more widely accepted.
First day
S.L. Project
Yesterday I had my first day at the elementary school. I am at Asa Messer Elementary. I am making a list of things I wish someone had told me before going to this school. I have worked in elementary schools before but I have not had to deal with this before.
-find an alternate route to the school, most of Providence is under construction and bridges are closed
-you may get to the school early, that does not mean the teacher will
-you may be assigned to a room, but it does not mean the teacher will have anything for you to do, even though you were expected.
-expect to have the children not talk to you and to feel awkward asking them for help because they are so shy
-beware of the teacher's teaching technique. (she uses yelling)
-students tend to run out of the school when they are upset
-expect no training for reading buddies even though you were told you would have it, you will be thrown into the classroom taking groups on your second day
-be prepared to be asked to sit down for most of the time you are in the classroom, you will not get a chance to help out much.
Overall, I was quite disappointed with my first day at the school. I was told we would be taking groups out by ourselves the next day we were there. We are receiving no training for reading buddies and I am afraid I will teach the students the wrong information. I do not really remember phonics and all that so I am nervous. I wish there would be at least one day of training for reading buddies so I have a general idea of what I should do.
In high school, I went through three years of child development. We had a play school in our room and I also went to intern at an elementary school where I rarely was able to do much for the teacher. But that was high school. I thought since I was in college, working towards my degree in elementary education, they would give me a little more responsibility so I can learn to be a teacher. This is supposed to be a learning experience so I hope that soon enough I am able to learn how to be a good teacher. I hope everyone else had a great first day and is at least learning something new.
Yesterday I had my first day at the elementary school. I am at Asa Messer Elementary. I am making a list of things I wish someone had told me before going to this school. I have worked in elementary schools before but I have not had to deal with this before.
-find an alternate route to the school, most of Providence is under construction and bridges are closed
-you may get to the school early, that does not mean the teacher will
-you may be assigned to a room, but it does not mean the teacher will have anything for you to do, even though you were expected.
-expect to have the children not talk to you and to feel awkward asking them for help because they are so shy
-beware of the teacher's teaching technique. (she uses yelling)
-students tend to run out of the school when they are upset
-expect no training for reading buddies even though you were told you would have it, you will be thrown into the classroom taking groups on your second day
-be prepared to be asked to sit down for most of the time you are in the classroom, you will not get a chance to help out much.
Overall, I was quite disappointed with my first day at the school. I was told we would be taking groups out by ourselves the next day we were there. We are receiving no training for reading buddies and I am afraid I will teach the students the wrong information. I do not really remember phonics and all that so I am nervous. I wish there would be at least one day of training for reading buddies so I have a general idea of what I should do.
In high school, I went through three years of child development. We had a play school in our room and I also went to intern at an elementary school where I rarely was able to do much for the teacher. But that was high school. I thought since I was in college, working towards my degree in elementary education, they would give me a little more responsibility so I can learn to be a teacher. This is supposed to be a learning experience so I hope that soon enough I am able to learn how to be a good teacher. I hope everyone else had a great first day and is at least learning something new.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Post #1 White Privilege by Peggy McIntosh
QUOTES
As I read "White Privilege" by Peggy Mcintosh, I picked out a few quotes that seemed either powerful or meaningful.
"I have come to see white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets that I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was "meant" to remain oblivious. White privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, code books, visas, clothes, tools and blank checks."
This quote explains what McIntosh believes is white privilege. In my opinion, she is saying that we do not deserve to be privileged because she said "unearned assets". McIntosh says that we have all of these privileges everyday and can always count on them. But we are not supposed to know about this privilege though. But with this privilege comes money and the possibility of travel.
Everything that she had listed is a means of wealth and ability to do almost everything. She has listed money, documents to travel anywhere, clothing that some people do not have much of, and other items that would help those people who are so privileged to have.
"For me white privilege has turned out to be an elusive and fugitive subject. The pressure to avoid it is great, for in facing it I must give up the myth of meritocracy. If these things are true, this is not such a free country; one's life is not what one makes it; many doors open for certain people through no virtues of their own."
This quote shows the difficulty in opposing and ignoring the white privilege. She also says that "many doors are open for certain people." This means that some people still are not allowed or expected to do certain things in this country. McIntosh also says that if there is a pressure is great, then this country is not as free as one would think.
There is still discriminations against different people when there should be none. There is supposed to be no discrimation against anyone in this country but yet if there is against blacks and white are vauled higher then we need to rethink what this country's foundation is based off of.
"Whiteness protected me from many kinds of hostility, distress, and violence, which I was being subtly trained to visit, in turn, upon people of color."
McIntosh was discussing how her race can have privileges in this society. She can usually safely walk down the street during the day without being harassed. She is able to go the the work place without being degraded by all. McIntosh realised that although she is able to do all of this, she was taught that this is not how all people "should" be treated.
I see all of this in our society. We had a talk in class during one of our first weeks about how there is the typical scene where a young white child and a young black child are playing together and the white child's mother tugs him away saying he cannot be friends with the black child. I've always seen these instances where the black or the female is discriminated against, even if it is not in a direct, harsh way.
McIntosh also feels that she can discriminate against whites as much as she wants because she is white. She goes on to say that whites are not exactly better than blacks, we just over empower them. In this country, there are many more whites overall than any other races. It would be odd if others didn't feel out of place at some point in their life.
In the reading, there was a list of 26 things people should be able to do without fear of harassment or any other issues. On this site, there is the full list, a list of 50. http://www.mdcbowen.org/p2/rm/mcintosh1.html
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAjja0vi2M This is a video that helps show there is white privilege in our society.
As I read "White Privilege" by Peggy Mcintosh, I picked out a few quotes that seemed either powerful or meaningful.
"I have come to see white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets that I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was "meant" to remain oblivious. White privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, code books, visas, clothes, tools and blank checks."
This quote explains what McIntosh believes is white privilege. In my opinion, she is saying that we do not deserve to be privileged because she said "unearned assets". McIntosh says that we have all of these privileges everyday and can always count on them. But we are not supposed to know about this privilege though. But with this privilege comes money and the possibility of travel.
Everything that she had listed is a means of wealth and ability to do almost everything. She has listed money, documents to travel anywhere, clothing that some people do not have much of, and other items that would help those people who are so privileged to have.
"For me white privilege has turned out to be an elusive and fugitive subject. The pressure to avoid it is great, for in facing it I must give up the myth of meritocracy. If these things are true, this is not such a free country; one's life is not what one makes it; many doors open for certain people through no virtues of their own."
This quote shows the difficulty in opposing and ignoring the white privilege. She also says that "many doors are open for certain people." This means that some people still are not allowed or expected to do certain things in this country. McIntosh also says that if there is a pressure is great, then this country is not as free as one would think.
There is still discriminations against different people when there should be none. There is supposed to be no discrimation against anyone in this country but yet if there is against blacks and white are vauled higher then we need to rethink what this country's foundation is based off of.
"Whiteness protected me from many kinds of hostility, distress, and violence, which I was being subtly trained to visit, in turn, upon people of color."
McIntosh was discussing how her race can have privileges in this society. She can usually safely walk down the street during the day without being harassed. She is able to go the the work place without being degraded by all. McIntosh realised that although she is able to do all of this, she was taught that this is not how all people "should" be treated.
I see all of this in our society. We had a talk in class during one of our first weeks about how there is the typical scene where a young white child and a young black child are playing together and the white child's mother tugs him away saying he cannot be friends with the black child. I've always seen these instances where the black or the female is discriminated against, even if it is not in a direct, harsh way.
McIntosh also feels that she can discriminate against whites as much as she wants because she is white. She goes on to say that whites are not exactly better than blacks, we just over empower them. In this country, there are many more whites overall than any other races. It would be odd if others didn't feel out of place at some point in their life.
In the reading, there was a list of 26 things people should be able to do without fear of harassment or any other issues. On this site, there is the full list, a list of 50. http://www.mdcbowen.org/p2/rm/mcintosh1.html
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAjja0vi2M This is a video that helps show there is white privilege in our society.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Introduction
My name is Darlene Stearns and I am a sophmore at Rhode Island College. I currently live in Westerly, RI and I commute an hour to RIC 3 days a week. I am at this school to become an elementary teacher.
When I am not at school, I am either catching up on my work or I am working at my job. I am there over 25 hours a week and do not have much free time. I am a cashier at Walmart and have been for almost three years, although I am looking for a new job. I live with my parents and my sister, with a plan to move closer to school for my junior year.
My semester has had a slow start, but I feel that soon enough the work is going to get more intense. I think that all of my hard work is going to start in the next few weeks and will be unending until after exams. I am taking a "Perspectives on Africa" class which has surprisingly helped me with my other classes. In this class, my teacher doesn't only discuss Africa, but other world problems as well. I am also taking an Art History course which is very interesting. I'm learning more and more about ancient artifacts and history everyday in that class and it is very interesting. I highly suggest it to anyone. One class that I've found helpful was my introduction to computers class. I have been stressing about the technology test that we have to take and this class is going over almost everything that is going to be on the test and the teacher is always there for questions.
So overall, I am a very busy person who is extremly excited and nervous for this semester to begin!
When I am not at school, I am either catching up on my work or I am working at my job. I am there over 25 hours a week and do not have much free time. I am a cashier at Walmart and have been for almost three years, although I am looking for a new job. I live with my parents and my sister, with a plan to move closer to school for my junior year.
My semester has had a slow start, but I feel that soon enough the work is going to get more intense. I think that all of my hard work is going to start in the next few weeks and will be unending until after exams. I am taking a "Perspectives on Africa" class which has surprisingly helped me with my other classes. In this class, my teacher doesn't only discuss Africa, but other world problems as well. I am also taking an Art History course which is very interesting. I'm learning more and more about ancient artifacts and history everyday in that class and it is very interesting. I highly suggest it to anyone. One class that I've found helpful was my introduction to computers class. I have been stressing about the technology test that we have to take and this class is going over almost everything that is going to be on the test and the teacher is always there for questions.
So overall, I am a very busy person who is extremly excited and nervous for this semester to begin!
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