I find this course a nice break from all the other classes we are taking this semester. I really enjoyed Maymester, and this class reminds me a lot about the issues we talked about then. I agreed with the comments in class about how it is important to remember the big picture, and remember why we are here and why we joined the program. I’m excited to learn more in this class.
All I can say is “Wow!” What an intense, information filled 3 weeks! This course has definitely been an eye-opener for me. I really enjoyed discussing all of our class topics. I can’t think of one that was not interesting for me. I’m anxious, but excited to get to the next step of our program in the summer semester.
Everyone get lots of rest, and have a great week off!
I had a really good time visiting Idlewood Elementary on Thursday. The minute I stepped into the first classroom, I got so excited! I know I have a ways to go…and a lot to learn…but I can’t wait to start teaching!
One of my expectations of the elementary school was to talk with some of the former UACM students. I spoke with Ms. Garry and Ms. Cunningham and both were very friendly, seemed really excited about teaching and loved their kids. Both gave great advice, and were really helpful and motivating.
I was surprised to find that the number of students in the classrooms were so small. I think that’s so good for the children because they will get more one on one interaction with the teacher. I was picturing a high-needs school with too many children and not enought teachers.
I noticed the playful interaction between the children. They seemed happy and eager to learn while well disciplined.
Overall I had a great day and can’t wait to get in the classroom!
I believe it’s important for parents to be involved in what their child is reading. They need to explain to their children what they are reading because if they don’t put the book into context, the child will most likely take from it what they will. For example, in reading Harry Potter, parents need to tell the children that this book is about magic, and most of the things that happen in this book are not real, they are make believe.
Children are smart enough to find information outside of school, from the internet, to other children, or older kids, etc. Parents can’t hide information from their kids, so they might as well explain it to them so the child can have an accurate understanding of the subject.
I absolutely believe that it is ALL THREE!
I think it’s political because, especially today, government is more involved with schools than ever before. There are laws set by politicians that effect the schools, then principals and teachers who have to implement those laws. It becomes political within the school as well. School officials, teachers, and parents will always be fighting for the best interest of the child, but may have different views of what’s best, and can get very political.
I think teaching is moral, probably more than any other profession in the world, because you are shaping children into what they will become in the future. You have to constantly ask yourself if you are doing what’s right. And what’s right doesn’t necessarily mean it’s moral!
Teaching is emotional too, because you put all your energy into lots of little human beings. You want them to live up to their highest potential, and if one doesn’t do well, it can be very emotional.
I disagree with grouping students according to their ability levels for many reasons. For one, I think it’s discouraging to the students if they are in a lower group or puts pressure on a student if they are placed into a higher group. Two, I think many different intelligence types exist, and you can’t evaluate a student on one type of intelligence. Three, I believe children can learn from groups, not based on level, but as a collaborative effort to learn. Groups are only good too if they constantly change their dynamic, and do not remain static. I also think some schools place children in groups according to socioeconomic class, and that’s not right!
When we talked about gender identity today in class, and hit on the topic about males dressing in dresses and playing with dolls and girls playing sports and with ‘boys’ toys, I asked myself why people think its wrong at such a young age for a boy/girl to play or dress the opposite sex that they are. I think it’s the parent that fears what the child will become when they grow up and think that by stopping certain behaviors they are helping the child by conforming to societies rules. I think a lot of parents believe that if their little boy plays with dolls, he will grow up to be gay, and if he grows up to be gay, by today’s standards, he will be persecuted against. When in actuality, in my opinion, it’s just self exploration of a child, and does not necessarily mean they are going to be gay/lesbian (Of course there is nothing wrong with that). For example, a little boy can play with a kitchen set, but it will be considered unacceptable behavior for a boy because he will grow up to be gay. That same little boy can grow up to be a chef and work in a kitchen, and it will be accepted by society. Or a little boy that likes to dress up a lot can grow up to be an actor. Same with a little girl that plays a bunch of sports and doesn’t give dolls the time of day. A parent can worry that little girl will grow up to be a lesbian. That same little girl can grow up to be an Olympic Athlete and it will be acceptable. Why is it so unacceptable for this behavior when they are young when self explanation is vital in this period of the child’s life?
I think it’s important as parents and teachers to put our views aside, or change our views, that have been installed in us since we were young, in order to allow the a child to grow, develop, and understand their sexual identity in a healthy way.
On the discussion of Ebonics in class today, I noticed a lot of similarities between the way Ebonics is spoken and the way people from the rural south speak. Many of the words were pronounced the same, and some were words that I use, as a Southerner. I also noticed the “compressed phonetics” used in Ebonics is also used by Southerners. It made me question, is Ebonics limited to just Black people? And are some dialects spoken by Southerners that are similar to Ebonics a language of it’s own?
Mr. Dr. Williams asked in class why it was hard for us (as a class) to swallow the Ebonics topic. I think it is hard for us to swallow and get a better understanding of is because we were all taught as children how to speak in Standard English in school. At least when I was young in my schools, there was no understanding of other languages and dilects. You were supposed to learn proper English. It’s valuable for us as future teachers to be learning this now so when we are teachers we can teach the children that speaking your own language while learning a new one is a good thing, and is valuable to their future.
Regarding Michael’s discussion today on Urban Renewal, I think what’s important is you have to be involved with and lean on your community for support to make changes and provide a better opportunity for your students as a whole. It takes a ‘collective agency’ to make a difference. We can’t rely on the market and the government to make the right decisions for us. We need to get parents, teachers, and the community to stand up to the school systems and government and demand better conditions for low-income neighborhoods. I think Michael’s example of the one school’s parents that made a collaborative effort to unit and give the school an ultimatum that if they did not change the conditions of the school they were in now, they were going to pick up their kids, and money, and go to a different school.
I liked his comment to on how the new ‘back of the bus’ is the failing public school systems with low-income students. Their freedoms are being taken away from getting a good education, and we, as teachers, need to be able to stand up for those children who are in the ‘back of the bus’.
