So, I have been pre-interning in a second-third grade split classroom for a quarter of a semester now, and absolutely love it. Good thing, heh. I am at an urban school in Kalamazoo called Washington Writer's Academy - amazing school, seriously. I am sure I will have plenty more to share in the upcoming year (since I will be doing my internship here too.)
Today, my mentor teacher addressed the Core Democratic Values. Diversity was one of about eight that were highlighted. Now I really do not mean this in a critical way at all, because my mentor teacher is absolutely awesome, (he has a great sense of humor that the kids often are slow to pick up on, hehe.) Yet after giving a pretty good idea of what diversity meant, he explained that our classroom was a diverse classroom. That is what got me. The class is 3/4 African American, about 15% hispanic and maybe 10% caucasian. Similar socio-economic status. This really is not diversity. A diverse classroom should really include almost equal amounts of African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Caucasians, Middle Eastern Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans.....
I am also reading a great book by Jonathan Kozol called The Shame of A Nation that discusses the restoration of apartheid schooling in America, that is simply showing me so much more - this issue of non-diversity on such a broader spectrum. I absolutely recommend this book if you want to get fired up about something, because at times I just get so frustrated I have to pause for a few (games of Snood that is ;-) .) If you look at so many of the schools named Martin Luther King Jr Elementary/Middle or Rosa Parks or Thurgood Marshall ... the main population - almost always over 90 percent - is African American. How can we consider this diversity??? CERTAINLY that is not the dream that Martin Luther King had envisioned.
Time to get off my soapbox... for now ...
Monday, September 25, 2006
Monday, September 18, 2006
What to Do With Fall
Are you bored? Do you like birds? If you answered yes to both of these questions, guess what, you can do something about your boredom while helping out the birds! Grab some string, a pinecone, some peanut butter, and some birdseed. Tie the string to the top tip of the pinecone. Then what you're going to do is spread the peanut butter all over the pinecone, and then pour the birdseed all over - it will stick to the peanut butter. Such a simple process, and you have a birdfeeder! Just hang it outside on a branch, and watch all the birds fly to it.
*This is also nice for the birds if you have lots of squirrels - who are usually pretty dominant on birdfeeders that are big and can support their weight. They certainly can't balance very well and eat on a pinecone hanging from a string.
If you are a fan of leaves or are an avid leaf collector, there is so much you can do by simply pasting leaves onto pages to create a story. One picturebook had its pictures made entirely from assorted leaves, and it is so much fun for students and children to look through. (If you're interested, look up Lois Ehlert: 'Leaf Man' and 'Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf.') There is actually another great picture book out there called 'Cinderlily' by David Ellwand and Christine Tagg, and it took this same idea by using all flower petals to create pictures to go along with the Cinderella story. It's actually a really gorgeous book. Even looking at these books can be great inspiration.
*This is also nice for the birds if you have lots of squirrels - who are usually pretty dominant on birdfeeders that are big and can support their weight. They certainly can't balance very well and eat on a pinecone hanging from a string.
If you are a fan of leaves or are an avid leaf collector, there is so much you can do by simply pasting leaves onto pages to create a story. One picturebook had its pictures made entirely from assorted leaves, and it is so much fun for students and children to look through. (If you're interested, look up Lois Ehlert: 'Leaf Man' and 'Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf.') There is actually another great picture book out there called 'Cinderlily' by David Ellwand and Christine Tagg, and it took this same idea by using all flower petals to create pictures to go along with the Cinderella story. It's actually a really gorgeous book. Even looking at these books can be great inspiration.
Fall To Do
Yes! The best season, in my opinion, is just about here! (First day of fall is in just a few days!) There is just so much to do - outside with the crisp air and changing leaves falling in piles. I have just a few suggestions for making your Fall memorable, as I would personally feel saddened if you didn't make the most of it (it is my favorite after all - even if it didn't contain my birthday.)
* Apple Orchard - I haven't actually been to one to pick apples, but it sounds like it would be tons of fun.
* Haunted House - these are so much fun - I mean it's Halloween season, you're supposed to get scared. I remember this one time, I took a couple of my friends with my Dad and I as a 'birthday party' deal, and it was awesome. I was actually pretty freaked out because this cloaked figure on stilts was chasing us through this maze with a chainsaw - he was pretty talented because he really was literally chasing us on stilts.
* Cider Mill - how can you go wrong!? Hot, fresh, tasty donuts, warm apple cider, crunchy crisp caramel apples... It's even fun when you go to a big one and can see the process they go through crushing the apples and making it into cider. You can even find places to pick up some gourds for decoration.
* Pumpkin picking - also a good time, especially when you get a great pumpkin that has the perfect shape for carving into a jack-o-lantern.
*Raking leaves into a big pile and jumping in them - of course, this is a lot easier for kids.
* Going out on Halloween, whether you are actually young enough to get some candy, or even if you are taking younger siblings out. Costume-watching is the funnest part, making giving out candy enjoyable too.
* Camping - how can you not? Now I am not a huge hardcore outdoorsy person, but spending a weekend out in the woods is one of the best stress relievers and bonding times you can get. Taking hikes, roasting marshmallows, sleeping in tents, bonfires, offroading, it doesn't get much better, especially if you are lucky enough to have some exciting adventurous friends. Ghost stories can also be fun at night, even playing tag in the dark. Exhilirating...
* And one of my favorite parts is the Fall and Halloween decorations!!! haha, let me know if I missed any big ones.
* Apple Orchard - I haven't actually been to one to pick apples, but it sounds like it would be tons of fun.
* Haunted House - these are so much fun - I mean it's Halloween season, you're supposed to get scared. I remember this one time, I took a couple of my friends with my Dad and I as a 'birthday party' deal, and it was awesome. I was actually pretty freaked out because this cloaked figure on stilts was chasing us through this maze with a chainsaw - he was pretty talented because he really was literally chasing us on stilts.
* Cider Mill - how can you go wrong!? Hot, fresh, tasty donuts, warm apple cider, crunchy crisp caramel apples... It's even fun when you go to a big one and can see the process they go through crushing the apples and making it into cider. You can even find places to pick up some gourds for decoration.
* Pumpkin picking - also a good time, especially when you get a great pumpkin that has the perfect shape for carving into a jack-o-lantern.
*Raking leaves into a big pile and jumping in them - of course, this is a lot easier for kids.
* Going out on Halloween, whether you are actually young enough to get some candy, or even if you are taking younger siblings out. Costume-watching is the funnest part, making giving out candy enjoyable too.
* Camping - how can you not? Now I am not a huge hardcore outdoorsy person, but spending a weekend out in the woods is one of the best stress relievers and bonding times you can get. Taking hikes, roasting marshmallows, sleeping in tents, bonfires, offroading, it doesn't get much better, especially if you are lucky enough to have some exciting adventurous friends. Ghost stories can also be fun at night, even playing tag in the dark. Exhilirating...
* And one of my favorite parts is the Fall and Halloween decorations!!! haha, let me know if I missed any big ones.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Cell Phone Craze
So what's the deal with this new cell phone craze? It seems that everyone is getting a new phone - whether or not their plan is up. Now I will admit that I let my best friend talk me into getting the Razr phone - but that was because my plan expired at the beginning of August, it was supercheap (because four people split a family plan that we got so they gave us a deal), and because my phone was gettin old. But I really feel that I should mention I miss my old little phone - partially because it was my first phone, it was small and had what I needed, and nobody else had that phone - it was unique. I also have to mention that I LOVE the speakerphone feature on the new phone.
I am just having a tough time grasping all the new features coming out on the phones. I'll be honest, I hardly ever use the camera on my phone. But I don't need a video camera, I certainly don't need it to be an MP3 player... now it's just becoming another contest - but hey honestly good for those companies. And I am wondering how much battery gets sucked up in using those hi-tech features - it better have one good battery!
Well, I just felt like jotting down some thoughts. That's pretty much all, hehe.
I am just having a tough time grasping all the new features coming out on the phones. I'll be honest, I hardly ever use the camera on my phone. But I don't need a video camera, I certainly don't need it to be an MP3 player... now it's just becoming another contest - but hey honestly good for those companies. And I am wondering how much battery gets sucked up in using those hi-tech features - it better have one good battery!
Well, I just felt like jotting down some thoughts. That's pretty much all, hehe.
Tips for beginning teaching
Whew, my first week and a half in 2/3 grade has been full of awesome opportunities and building great relationships. But even in this short amount of teaching, I have learned firsthand and heard from others some great suggestions and survival tips:
* Caffeine is underrated - it's a miracle worker!
* There's nothing wrong with hiding a stash of food - since you're ready for lunch at 10:00!!
* While developing relationships is essential, always being a friend is overrated - kids have friends already, you need to be a role model.
* Do not underestimate students - they really are clever and skilled manipulators hehe.
* Sometimes you need to take a minute to breathe, so get the kids up and dancing & moving periodically - they love those CD recordings with explicit directions
* You will never appreciate large padded chairs more
* Rain is bad news - kids NEED to get out to run around. If you don't have headache meds handy, someone in the building has to!
* 3:00 really is a fantastic time
* Choose your battles, and learn your kids' habits and ways so you can adapt and live with each student more easily
* If you're going to give out candy, do it at the end of the day! (Sugar highs are quite undesirable.)
* Caffeine is underrated - it's a miracle worker!
* There's nothing wrong with hiding a stash of food - since you're ready for lunch at 10:00!!
* While developing relationships is essential, always being a friend is overrated - kids have friends already, you need to be a role model.
* Do not underestimate students - they really are clever and skilled manipulators hehe.
* Sometimes you need to take a minute to breathe, so get the kids up and dancing & moving periodically - they love those CD recordings with explicit directions
* You will never appreciate large padded chairs more
* Rain is bad news - kids NEED to get out to run around. If you don't have headache meds handy, someone in the building has to!
* 3:00 really is a fantastic time
* Choose your battles, and learn your kids' habits and ways so you can adapt and live with each student more easily
* If you're going to give out candy, do it at the end of the day! (Sugar highs are quite undesirable.)
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Hope
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul...
-Emily Dickinson, excerpt from her poem Hope...
I think it is an understatement to say that hope is a part of everyday life - it just plays such an invaluable, amazing role in life, in living. I recently found out that my Grandma has cancer (which should hopefully be able to be removed with a histerectomy). I can picture my reaction once I read the email from my aunt. I sat there for a second to process it, cried for about five seconds, and then didn't feel miserable. Now I am definitely the kind of person that cries at tearjerkers and even thinking about shots, but not at this moment. Why? I realized that it was because I had so much hope for the best, I had a feeling that everything would turn out okay. It was hope. Hope for the future keeps us going, is responsible for optimism that lifts our spirits. What is living without hope? Hope helps you look forward, it gives you reason.
That perches in the soul...
-Emily Dickinson, excerpt from her poem Hope...
I think it is an understatement to say that hope is a part of everyday life - it just plays such an invaluable, amazing role in life, in living. I recently found out that my Grandma has cancer (which should hopefully be able to be removed with a histerectomy). I can picture my reaction once I read the email from my aunt. I sat there for a second to process it, cried for about five seconds, and then didn't feel miserable. Now I am definitely the kind of person that cries at tearjerkers and even thinking about shots, but not at this moment. Why? I realized that it was because I had so much hope for the best, I had a feeling that everything would turn out okay. It was hope. Hope for the future keeps us going, is responsible for optimism that lifts our spirits. What is living without hope? Hope helps you look forward, it gives you reason.
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