Blog Reflection

This assignment is for the final chapter in my lesson of blogging 101.
I must admit that this was my first introduction into creating and maintaining a
blog. Although the focus of our blog was not on our personal lives and experiences it did help me to sit back and reflect on the experiences that I have as a teacher. My blog also allows me to have an avenue to be able to express my likes, dislikes, and opinions that go on in my class, school,and district. I like the fact that my whole class was able to follow each other’s blog because that too allowed us to see that we were not alone our thoughts and beliefs. By doing thisblog I was able to see different views in diversity through one of our blog assignments. This assignment also allowed me to see this diversity in different age groups from elementary to
jr. high to high school. Looking back through my older posts I see how overwhelmed I seem be at the beginning of the semester and now I realize that this is another stepping stone I stepped on and now am fixing to pass. I thank Dr. Zimmerly for opening my eyes to blogging. I truly believe that if she had not made this assignment I would not have tried to do one. Now I realize that it is simply another form of a journal that is not as personal because it is meant to be read by others and even sometimes responded too.

Starting over Again

I hate coming back from long breaks. Don't get me wrong because I luuuuvvvvv having a whole week off for Thanksgiving Break. It is just the getting back into the swing of things that gets to me. Especially when dealing with little kids like I do. Seems like teachers have to spend the whole first day saying "stop that", "don't do that", and "you remember the rules". I don't know that could just be in my school. The bad thing about my students is that my second and third graders got back under control after I raised my voice and became a little more stern, but those darn fourth graders I don't know if it was because I had combined them with two other classes (due to the basketball tournament in ELdorado) or if they where just too happy to see each other after a week, but I couldn't get them to settle down enought for me to give them instructions for the day. So, in order to get my control back and give them a little blast to reality I turned PE into writing day. We spent the 40 minute period writing a paragraph on "Why it is important to be quiet whent the teacher is talking and giving instructions". After they wrote them I had the one's who wanted to to read their paragrahps. Then I took them up and gave the class about a 10 minute lecture about my reasons on why they need to be quiet and listen when the teacher is talking. I think all in all that I got my point across their next visit will be a better behaved group. I much rather do this than start writing discipline slips or sending them to the office.

Book Reflection 2

If you are looking for a real page turner look no further because the book "The Color of Water" is a real good read. I have to admit that I first came in contact with this book when I was an undergrad. I was suppose to read this book in my Race and Ethnics class, but I must admit I did not take the time to read it. I read the first two chapters and stopped reading because of such a hectic work schedule. But since I purchased the book for some reason I kept it and I decided to actually read it for one of my book reflections. I realized I should have read it along time ago because it is really good. This book is written by James Mcbride who starting the book so that he could learn a little bit about his mother's life when she growed up. In the book who talks about his issue with his mother being a white women living in Brooklyn, New York with her black children and wondering how this come about. His real issue was wanting to know about his mother's child hood how she grew up,who her parents where, and why she didn't mention anything about them. I think the way that the author writes this book is interesting because it really does not give the reader a chance to get bored on one thing. He writes the chapters so that one chapters talks about his mother and her life growing up, and then switching to his childhood and how he growed up with his brothers and sisters. There are a lot of funny inserts in this book to me for instance there is one chapter where James is convinced that he is adopted by one of his older brothers and that his real parents are going to come and get him. This goes on and on until their mom gets off from work and reassures him that he was not adopted. I would have to say that the reason this book was so amusing and interesting to me is because James had a big family and something was always going on with one of them from him skipping school and getting sent away for the summer to live with his sister to them reliving their humorous experinces in church with their mother. This story is truly ispirational becuase throughout the book you will find out that no matter what Jame's mother Ruth always had a grip on her family (all twelve children) and posed to be a strong force in their lives making sure that each child graduated college. Not only did she guide them but she pushed her ownself by going back to school at the age of 65 and graduating college. I believe this is one of the most important parts in her story because at the beginging you find out that she dropped out of school and ran off to get away from her Jewish father who over powerd her and her family under Jewish law. Overall this book is a great tribute to a loving mother who proved that it doesn't matter what color your shin color is as long as you have love for one another.

Book Reflection 1

For this assignment I decided to choose a real life story named The Diary of a Young Girl Anne Frank. I must admit that I am not really a motivated reader, but I have read some books. I would have to say that my interest was sparked about this book when I watched a movie on TV called “Freedom Writers”. Although it sparked my interest I never took the time to read about the book until now when I am forced to read a book and give a summary of it. This book is a true story that is written through the view point of a young Dutch girl (Anne Frank) who lived in Germany during the rise to power and reign of Hitler. Anne kept a diary that she wrote all of her life experiences in named Kitty, but it was from listening to a radio announcer one night while captive that she decided to rewrite her diary to give an account of what she and the other 7 people she lived with went through while they where hiding up stairs of a safe warehouse that her father had began preparing for their stay when he became aware of the concentration camp. It wasn’t until Anne sister Margot got a letter directing her to report to one of the concentration camps that they family decided to finally go into hiding. They stayed in hiding from June 1942 until the time of their arrest which was in August 1944. They managed to stay in hiding for a little more than two years. Thing that astonishes me about this story is throughout all that they were going through they managed to live somewhat of a normal life. Even in hiding you see how they had arguments, disagreements, and moments of laughter and moments of being scared. One passage I read in this book talked about how they could hear the Allies as they bombed different places in Germany and how Anne recalls being scared and going to sleep with her parents and I just couldn’t image what she along with others had to endure. Although it sadden me to find out that seven of the 8 Anne included died after being arrested , captured and taken to several different concentration camps. Although, I was happy to see that Anne’s farther was able to live to see freedom once again. If you get a chance to read this book or if you have already read it you will see that it is written in diary form and give the reader a real since of the daily accounts that went on during that time.

Hooray For Turkey Day!!!!

I must admit Thanksgiving day could not come fast enough for me. I can finally rest my weary ears for at least one week from the relentless and tireless voices of my elementary students. No Coach Wright "he pushed me", "she talking about me", "I didn't do that",or my favorite " I don't know" for at least a week. The most important thing is that I don't have to worry about getting observed. I don't really mind getting observed, but Man!!! those lesson plan sheets are long. It seems as if the questions will never end. I am also glad we have a week off which will allow us a chance to catch up on all of our assingments, family ordeals, and extracurricular activities (NLF YEEEEAAAHHHH).

Talk about modifying and adjusting

For the last week I have really had to modify and adjust my classroom schedule. By this being the first year our school system has consolidated the first through fourth grade in a building that for years has only housed second through third one could understand how there could be a cramped situation. Well, to make matters worse our school system has four P E teachers, no gym, and two PE classroom to house three classes at one time each hour. Well usually I have been having my classes outside in the grass. I have been fortunate enough to have had very few rainy days to keep us from going outside. But, I met my match this week. For the past five days both PE classes have been taken and occupied by school nurse doing BMI test, hearing and vision test, and today get this we had to give up our classrooms to house cookie dough in until parents come to pick it up. These days have done nothing but taught my how to always have a back up plan in mind, and has helped me to be able to collaborate with the other PE teachers in order to teach three classes at one time without a whole lot of chaios going on. Today we were able to teach about 60 kids several instructional dances in 40minutes with very little distraction. Luckily I had a veteran PE teacher to work with who did not get rattle at the complexity of the situation. This makes another argumentative topic under the idea " Teaching is easy". But in the end we got through it and made the best of the situation.

The Day After

After all the speeches, campaigning, advertisements, and balloting I would have to say that I am glad the elections are over. Yes, like every other American was excited at the historic potential that both sides brought to the table. On one hand we had a chance at the first ever female Vice President, and on the other hand we had a chance for the first ever African Amercian President. To the Obama and Biden famiy I would have to say Congratulations. I am excited to see what the next 4 years will bring. But, as for as our schools, communities, and society goes I hope that we can except the fact of who the 44th President is and move on. All week at my elementary school I was proud to hear all the little 2, 3, and 4 th graders walking around aware of the election and know who was actually running and knowing at least one thing thatthey were running for. I found it encouraging that the my fellow teachers where teaching them a little about voting, congress, the two major parties etc. I really do not think that at there age I was really aware of the Presidential race as they are this year. However, I must admit that when I went over to our Middle School I was a bit disappointed at the actions of some of our students and the lack of knowledge of most of our students. It really hurt my heart to see one of the young black students in the 7th or 8th grade walk around with her fist in the air cheering Obama and not realize that she is doing an action that was symbolized with the BlackPanthers years ago. I was embarrassed because she did not have enough sense to realize that Obama has not once claimed to have been or be a Black Planther. I was also embarressed to hear that some of the children of different races at this same school were exchanging racial slurs between each other and if questioned they could not give you one single issue either side was for or against. This deeply saddened me, not because I am black, but because this is my school district, community and schools that I group up in and now teach in. I hope in the future that we adults, educators, citizens, parents etc. are able to teach our children more about histroy and stating a educated fact and less about just going along with popular opinion and not knowing any facts and end up making theirselves look like idiots.