Initially, I thought that this blog would be annoying. Honestly, what college student has time for an educational blog? We only have time to peruse facebook and myspace mindlessly. I thought it would be another thing on my "to do" list. It is another thing on my "to do" list, but it is something that I look forward to. It's like the first few weeks of an exercise plan: it's painful at first, but once you see the results, you can't wait to get to the gym to tone your muscles! I like writing this blog. I haven't shown it to my mother yet, but I think it is one that I could, which is more than many college students can say about their blogs. I think I would like for her to see what I'm writing about education.
I am additionally taking a Professional Writing course, which has been a great supplement for my writing ventures in Edu 300. Overall, I am beginning to see that all the writing I have been doing for my English Major has truly been garbage because it was nearly all on topics that I did not feel one way or the other about. The most important thing that I have learned between Edu 300 and Professional Writing is that writing is best when you give a damn. Therefore, I believe I will make all possible efforts to allow my students to write about things that matter to them. It sounds like common sense, but somehow I've gone through 16 years of school without the majority of my teachers coming to this conclusion.
I want to write my book on something that matters to me... I was thinking of making it a story about my relationship with my boyfriend of six crazy years, but it seems too cliche. I was thinking of incorporating poetry, photos, drawings, dialogue, and narrative to tell my story. I'm not sure though.... It feels like a big decision, because I'll be walking away with a product that I may be able to use in my classroom, or even give as a special gift...It has to be good.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
The Human Experience
Writing is communicating and reading is learning about what others wish to communicate. Communication is the base of all social networking. The most basic communication is non-verbal, but as we grow and mature we learn to use various means of communication. Often, when we refrain from communicating effectively with others, relationships are severed. In general, individuals who are more apt to "say what they mean, and mean what they say" are envied for their ability to put their thoughts and feelings out in the open, while others are more more timid and more protective with their words. Whether or not being more straigh-forward, or being more reserved in a given social situation is more beneficial, depends on the situation, but I often hear people saying they wish they could express themselves better.
If this is still an issue in the adult world, we must look back to our younger years and think about where we were in our progress in the communication struggle. Teenagers and effective communication do not mix; teenagers are sure that they have figured themselves out and are on high defense because adults are always telling them they have no idea what life is really like. Middle school aged students are worse off because adults are still telling them that they have no idea, and, they are old enough to recognize that they should try to defend themselves, but young enough not to know now to.
The more you communicate, the easier it is to handle these issues. Writing is an outlet for many students who are searching for themselves. Writing allows us to get ourself out of our head; reading our own writing gives us the ability to look ourself in the eyes and assess ourself from the outside, looking in.
As we read, we learn how others express themselves and find connections between our own experiences and the rest of humanities experiences. This link, at times, has kept many of us from going off the deep end, including myself. It is sad to think that many children are moving towards seclusion as time goes by without their learning to read.
As a teacher, I think it is important to read to your students so that they may have insight into the human experience, even if they are unable to read themselves. Secondly, I think that making sure you have heard each of your students read, in some form, so that you may assess their reading ability, before the end of the first three weeks of classes is important. The sooner you recognize a student that has a problem, the sooner you can help. I also think that it is important for teachers to remember that it is not solely your responsibility to mend the cracks in individual students' education; there is help out there - use it!
If this is still an issue in the adult world, we must look back to our younger years and think about where we were in our progress in the communication struggle. Teenagers and effective communication do not mix; teenagers are sure that they have figured themselves out and are on high defense because adults are always telling them they have no idea what life is really like. Middle school aged students are worse off because adults are still telling them that they have no idea, and, they are old enough to recognize that they should try to defend themselves, but young enough not to know now to.
The more you communicate, the easier it is to handle these issues. Writing is an outlet for many students who are searching for themselves. Writing allows us to get ourself out of our head; reading our own writing gives us the ability to look ourself in the eyes and assess ourself from the outside, looking in.
As we read, we learn how others express themselves and find connections between our own experiences and the rest of humanities experiences. This link, at times, has kept many of us from going off the deep end, including myself. It is sad to think that many children are moving towards seclusion as time goes by without their learning to read.
As a teacher, I think it is important to read to your students so that they may have insight into the human experience, even if they are unable to read themselves. Secondly, I think that making sure you have heard each of your students read, in some form, so that you may assess their reading ability, before the end of the first three weeks of classes is important. The sooner you recognize a student that has a problem, the sooner you can help. I also think that it is important for teachers to remember that it is not solely your responsibility to mend the cracks in individual students' education; there is help out there - use it!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Hooked on Foniks...Shoulda' Tried It!
I was reading at a young age because my mother was devoted to ensuring that my older brother and I received plenty of love, care, and attention. We made a weekly trip to the library, where I would hide myself in a corner and read the books I had chosen because I could not wait to get home. My favorite children's book series was The Bernstein Bears. I owned (and still do own) nearly every book in the series. When I was up for a treat from my dad, it was either The Berstein Bears, or Barbie; they won my favor equally.
I remember the first chapter book that I ever read was Little House on the Prairie. I was so excited because it was over 300 pages long; I felt accomplished because I tackled such a big book on my first try. Now, I see that the print is huge and that it was all a trick, but more important memories are attached to that moment of victory. I was lying in my mom and dad's bed, next to my mom, our regular reading spot, when it happened. My mom used to read to us, and when my brother and I got old enough, we read to her. It was almost a daily ritual.
My mom isn't a school teacher, so she didn't focus on teaching us Phonics. I think I remember having a Phonics work book at some point during elementary school, but I do not distinctly remember it being an essential element to my learning how to read. Actually, I do not remember anything about learning how to read other than practicing all the time with my mom.
Somewhere along the way, I missed something though, because I am a terrible speller. My father is much worse, so maybe it's genetic! I was interested to learn in my Language Arts course, that Phonics has much to do with how children spell. It's frustrating to be a bad speller. For example, I dominate at the game Scrabble, but I am always having to ask my opponents how to spell things; I would be much better if I could spell. Also, as a teacher and an English major, I am expected to be a good speller. I feel that I am victim to much more ridicule than others because of my shortcomings in the spelling arena.
All I can say, is thank God for Microsoft Word's spell check. I would be a goner without it.
I remember the first chapter book that I ever read was Little House on the Prairie. I was so excited because it was over 300 pages long; I felt accomplished because I tackled such a big book on my first try. Now, I see that the print is huge and that it was all a trick, but more important memories are attached to that moment of victory. I was lying in my mom and dad's bed, next to my mom, our regular reading spot, when it happened. My mom used to read to us, and when my brother and I got old enough, we read to her. It was almost a daily ritual.
My mom isn't a school teacher, so she didn't focus on teaching us Phonics. I think I remember having a Phonics work book at some point during elementary school, but I do not distinctly remember it being an essential element to my learning how to read. Actually, I do not remember anything about learning how to read other than practicing all the time with my mom.
Somewhere along the way, I missed something though, because I am a terrible speller. My father is much worse, so maybe it's genetic! I was interested to learn in my Language Arts course, that Phonics has much to do with how children spell. It's frustrating to be a bad speller. For example, I dominate at the game Scrabble, but I am always having to ask my opponents how to spell things; I would be much better if I could spell. Also, as a teacher and an English major, I am expected to be a good speller. I feel that I am victim to much more ridicule than others because of my shortcomings in the spelling arena.
All I can say, is thank God for Microsoft Word's spell check. I would be a goner without it.
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