Rection 10 EME 2040

I have learned many things in this class. One of the many things that I have learned in this class is a lesson plan is an extremely important tool in a teacher’s arsenal. What a lesson plan does is acts as a guide for what you want to teach the students. It outlines everything step and everything that you want done during the lesson. I feel that this is a tool that makes the difficult job of educating the next generation a lot less difficult. When the professor first introduced us to lesson planning I was amazed on much planning it takes to create a lesson plan. A good lesson plan takes time and effort to do. It is not something that is thrown together on the fly. Many times educators research other lesson plans and try to look at research that proves a particular lesson works. A lesson plan is immensely detailed and through and it has to be in order for it to be effective. There is also not just one type of lesson plan. In this class we went over three distinct types of lesson plans. These lesson plans are the Behaviorist, Constructivist, and Transpersonal lesson plan. These lesson plans are different in style and approach but they have proven to be effective. The main focus of these lesson plans are to educate students and have them be able to use what they have learned in the future.
Something else extremely important that was learned in this class is the use of technology. Technology is another important tool in the classroom. Technology can help the students better understand the lesson. When we were creating our lesson plans we used technology. Technology has made learning more accessible and easy for both educators and students. If students need help with an assignment, the internet which has a wealth of information is at their finger tips. Teachers and students can send emails to one another and there is even virtual school. This has become an important part of education and as technology grows, so will our use of technology in the classroom. As important as technology has proven to be in the classroom, we must still be mindful of it. The internet is full of material and some of it is inappropriate or full of false information. It is the responsibility of educators and students to make sure they use reputable sites.

Reflection 9 EME 2040

Technology is extremely important. Technology moves society forward and drives us to create new ideas and make existing circumstances better. Technology makes life easier and can help expand our knowledge. Technology opens windows to new ways of learning and helps students learn in ways. Technology aids everyone from the work place to daily life. It aids teachers in the classroom and helps them reach students in ways never thought to be possible. Technology has proven to be vital in society and the advancement of society. We need technology for many reasons and this reflection cannot begin to express all the reasons that technology is needed.
With all of this being said technology plays a pivotal role in the classroom. In the lesson plans that had to be created for this class we had to find resources for which we were going to use to aid us in the teaching of the lesson. In many cases we choose videos. In these cases we used technology. We also had to have the students do an assignment. The assignment that I had the do was one in which they had to do research on a particular topic. The students were to use the internet or any other resources which was in the class. Technology was to be used for this assignment. One of the resources that I found was a game which helped the children with multiplication. This is another example in which technology has been used in the classroom. This resources and learning aids were invaluable to the absorption of what I wanted the students to learn. Technology helps the students learn by different means which I feel is beneficial. I feel that this is beneficial because it creates an environment where knowledge is readily available. In the past, in order for students to do a research project, they would have to spend long hours in the library searching for books on the topic that particular topic. Technology has made this process much shorter and easier. This process has been made this way by the internet. Using the internet you can search for specific subjects and topics and find a multitude of information on this subject. As stated earlier in this reflection you can use technology to help students who may need extra help. You can refer students to websites and programs that can help them in areas where they lack.

Reflection 8 EME 2040

I believe that a Philosophy of Education is extremely important for every person to have. As an educator, a philosophy of education is imperative. I believe this because I know that this will guide me in my teaching endeavors. It will also help me guide the students in their future endeavors in a way that I hope is positive. I also believe that your education philosophy should reflect on yourself and the students that you will be interacting with.
My personal educational philosophy is to help a child become the best students and person as possible. As an educator it will be my duty to do whatever I can to assist the students in my care to become the best students they can be. I am well aware that this will be something that is extremely challenging because every child is different and every child learns differently. I am also aware that students are going through different situations in their personal life that may have an impact on their learning. As an educator I must recognize these signs and find a way to work with the student so he or she can learn as much as possible. I feel that students learning as much as possible is extremely important because everyone knows that knowledge is power. Also, knowledge is success. We see example of this everyday in our lives. One such example is the current president of the United States, Barack Obama. Everyone knows how much education that he has and everyone knows that he could not get to where he is now with an education at his side. Our current president is living proof that a good education is imperative.
The example I gave has proven that education can change our lives for the better but with an education you can change the lives of the people around you also for the better. What I mean by changing the lives of people around is becoming a good influence on the people around. One thing that I have realized is the people in our lives have a great influence on us. Education is important to me because it was and still is very important in my household. Also with an education you can have a better job and with a good job comes money. I feel that money is not the main reason why an education is important but money is obviously immensely important. To get to my point, with money comes the opportunity to take care of the people around you, i.e. your children, parents, and anyone else who are important in your life. Individuals with master’s degrees make $1.3 million more than individuals with a high school diploma (US Census Bureau, 2010). Also, as we all know, most jobs no longer hire people unless they have a high school diploma or GED.
The second half of my educational philosophy is just as important as the first have. As an educator it is my duty to do whatever I can to make the student the best person he or she can be. As we discussed earlier in class teachers are also therapist, social workers, and friends. As educators we must look at for signs of abuse or distress. If possible we must help the student with council or any other way possible. This help may teach them to deal with problems and help them grow. Also, we must equip students with reasoning skills and problem solving skills that they will be able to use throughout their lives. We also must set an example of what a moral, rational, and ethical person can be.
As educators we are privileged to have an impact on student lives. We have the honor of guiding students at a particular point in their lives. We have great influence on their educational experience so this cannot be taken lightly. We have the opportunity to shape their lives and how they feel about school. I will try to illicit the best out of my students so they can become successful student and successful adults.

Reflection 7 EME 2040

There are many tools that we use today in education and learning. One of the great tools of today is technology. In the technological age of today we must incorporate technology in education. I am happy to be witness to technology being an important faction of learning. The computer and the internet is an extremely important part of learning today. There are programs on the computer that can aid in understanding and learning. There are countless resources on the internet that helps us understand everything in education and learning and has changed the way we learn. One important technological tool that can be used in learning today is the Digital Story.
In class we have just went over what a Digital Story is and how it is done. The program that is used to create a Digital Story is Photo Story 3. I would have to say that the program is an extremely effective and efficient tool to use in education. It also directly relates to the EME 2040 class because it integrates technology into education and learning. I would say that a digital story is a story with pictures that relates to learning and education. A digital story can be used for many things. It can be used to teach a lesson to students or to convey a message. It can also be used in the way that we are using it in this class; as an assignment. Digital story always have an explicit topic and of course, there always is a story. The topic of the digital story that must be completed is Why technology is important in grades K-12. I would say that this is a fitting topic because as explained earlier in this paper, technology is an important part of education. It teaches and reaches students in different ways. I also feel that technology is important because it familiarizes students with technology that they will use later in life. I don’t see a better way to convey this message without using technology. We are explaining the importance of technology using technology. As a student, assignments such as this also enhanced my understanding of the subject matter. If I had to do an assignment where the computer and internet research was involved, I always felt that I learned better using these tools.

comments on: for frederico garcia lorca

This poem is about the grief that the author felt at the time of death of Frederico Garcia Lorca, who was the President of Spain at the time of his death. As I found out by the professor he was beaten and killed by hired henchmen of his lover. The grief that he felt at the time of death for Lorca inspired the grief of his own father’s death. He remembered the death and turbulent life of his father. The death of Lorca inspired something else in the author. It showed that someone’s death meant something because of their life. You must remember the way they lived and the things that they have done. In this your grief may be consoled.

Reflection 6 EME 2040

Telecollaborative learning is collaborative learning that involves the use of the internet or email or any type of communication with another class. In the reflection prior to this one I took a look at cooperative and collaborative learning and explained what I believed these types of learning to be and explain what they consist of. I expressed in that reflection how important I believe these types of learning to be. I believe that telecollaborative learning is just as important as the two. One of the articles we are to read discuses how a Canadian classroom did telecollabortive learning with an Israeli classroom. They did this by exchanging emails with one another. The students were to describe what a safe place was to them. Towards the end of the lesson they were to right a poem discussing what a safe place is to them. Because Israel suffers from terrorist attacks they talked about not feeling safe because of these reason. The Canadian students watched a CNN report on the internet regarding these attacks. It would seem by the end of the lesson the Canadian students had a better understanding of what the Israeli students have to deal with and felt empathy for them. They also gained a greater appreciation for their environment which was comparably immensely safer. I believe that if this is the kind of learning and understanding that takes place during telecollaborative learning then it is extremely important.
The learning that takes place in this type of learning is not readily achieved. This type of learning seems to teach understanding of other cultures and people and empathy for others. It also teacher respect for other cultures which is another extremely important factor of life. This type of learning can help a student develop a more diverse point of view because they are listening to the opinions and ideas of students who have different life experiences then themselves. This is important because we learn to see the world in different ways and from the eyes of a different person which is important. This promotes equality and nonprejudicial behavior. We all know how prejudice and inequality has harmed us in the past and is continuing to harm us today. Another reason that I am a fan of this type of learning is because it involves technology which has become an important tool in student learning.

Reflection 5 EME 2040

How do you feel about working in groups? I am always weary about working. I feel this way because usually when I am in a group certain things take place that I am not too keen on. One of those things are Group think, which is the group taking on one idea to avoid conflict or to get things done within a group. Another is it usually seems one person does the brunt of the work which I feel is never fair. Oh yea, there is always someone who does the least amount of work or nothing at all. Also, there is always someone that proclaims them self the leader either implicitly or explicitly. One other thing that usually leaves a bad taste in my mouth about groups is a usually always feel that I could have done the assignment much better all by myself.
With all these negative things being said about groups, I have had many immensely positive experiences in groups. Some of these experiences had lead to better self confidence because in a group I was forced to speak up. Another was I have learned to work with other people. Learning to work with others has lead to me gain conflict resolution skills. These are a few aspects and skills learned with cooperative and collaborative learning. Cooperative learning involves students working together to complete an assignment. Collaborative learning is a kind of cooperative learning that involves students working on an activity in small groups. These individuals are nose-to-nose and each person in responsible for their share of the work and the work of the entire group is important as well. The enfaces are on small groups because this provides an opportunity for students to use their strengths and work on their shortcomings. This happens because small groups give each student the chance to express their opinions and ideas more easily. I am not a big fan of working in groups but I do understand how important working in groups is. Working in groups develops interpersonal skills, which everyone knows are extremely important to have. Interpersonal skills will help you not only academically but through life as well. These small groups also enable respect to be afforded to everyone in the group. If everyone in the group feels respect then learning will take place more easily and effectively.

Comments on: for black arthur blythe

This poem is paying homage to the life and music of Arthur Blythe. He was a jazz saxophonist. The author talks about the way Blythe’s music sounded. It was a compilation of the types of jazz from Ragtime to Cool jazz. He was able to take these jazz styles and make them into something new, something that was his own. The author says that his music almost seemed to be improve. It may have seemed this way because the way he changed the melody of the music to fit better suit him. In his music he was free because his music was authentically him.

Comments on: we cannot but chuse to hear

The oil spill in BP seems to be getting worse by the second. The solutions are limited but the devastation is limitless. Not only is this disaster devastating at the moment but the long terms affect are devastating as well. As we all see on television the animals are covered in a brown, thick, mud like substance. We all see this same strange substance washing up on the shores of beaches and layered on the seafloor.
We as a human race have to release that we must protect nature but instead we have been doing the exact opposite. It is high time that we learn that we have a duty to protect nature and the earth. We have failed at this because of greed. The greed that consumes us is profit. We do any and everything to make a profit but look at where it has gotten us. We are in a recession and have the worst environmental disaster in history.

Reflection 4 EME 2040

How do you learn? Do you learn by listening intently to what is said by the teacher or do you learn better when you see how something is done? How do you understand? Do you understand better when you listen to the teacher intently or when you are involved in the lesson? Being involved in the lesson is the corner stone of Inquiry-based learning. The purpose of this kind of learning is to get the students to understand and there has been research to support that students understand better when there are involved in the activity. We all know that students learn in different ways and as educators we must recognize the different ways students learn and accommodate them but I believe this is an effective way to learn. The traditional way that students are taught is as follows: we listen to the teacher speak and listen and write down notes. We may not understand something but we just do it or memorize it the way that the teacher has told us. For many students this is an extremely effective way to learn but I believe that this method is not so effective in getting students to understand the material. Inquiry-based learning encourages asking questions and hands on activities.
The article suggest that we are natural inquires. He gives examples of babies interacting with their environment to better understand. It is true that babies do this to better understand their environment so the author suggests that this is the natural way that we learn but traditional does not have us learn this way. Inquiry-based learning teaches us in this fashion. In this method of learning we do not try to seek an answer to the problem but try to find a solution to the problem. There may also be many different ways that we can do this.
In my experience this has been an extremely effective way for me to learn. I have always been the kind of student to ask many questions. It has never been enough for me to listen to information but I also had to understand why it was this way. When I was involved in an activity I understood it even more. I can understand night and day when I understand that the Earth tilts away from the Sun during the night. I believe the basis of learning is understanding and if we understand then we learn.

Reflection 3 EME 2040

In this class we are learning about different lesson plans. In this reflection I will give my opinion on the Constructivist Lesson Plan. This type of lesson plan consists of six parts and its goal is to invoke planning and contemplation in regards to the way that students learn. This is extremely important because in order to teach we must understand the way students learn. We all know that students learn in many different ways and this type of lesson plan address the different ways students learn. This type of lesson plan is effective because it accommodates every student and promotes a learning environment. The six parts of this lesson plan are Situation, Groupings, Bridge, Questions, Exhibit, and Reflections. All of these steps are equally important and different of one another but are codependent of one another. Each part works as a team to bring the most out of the student and help the student learn. In this type of lesson plan a situation must be created in which you create questions that may be asked from the students and what is expected from the students. The students are also broken up into groups and the material also. The educator is the one who decides how this is happened and in how many groups. You must also devise a way to test the prior knowledge of the students and incorporate that into the lesson. I believe the grouping portion promotes peer learning. It is known that students learn well when they are taught with other students. Also, peer interaction is extremely important in the growth of the student.. You will also ask the students questions in order to better enhance their understanding of the lesson and to enhance the other elements of the lesson plan. The students must also explain how they felt about the lesson and explain what they got out of the lesson. This enables the students to use critical thinking skills which we all know are extremely important. Critical thinking skills are imperative to solve real world problems throughout life. You also want the students to explain what they will most remember about the lesson and how they can apply to real life. This aids the students in understanding the material and enables the students to get the most out of the lesson.

Comments on: a different sort of mule

This poem addressed some comments that Governor Jan Brewer made about the illegal immigrants migrating to Arizona. She had that for the most part; mainly drug mules are coming into Arizona. The author of this poem feels that this kind of thinking is from the inherent belief that whites feel that they are superior to all races. He feels that it was inappropriate for her to make this assumption but it was not surprising. The author feels that because whites have portrayed a belief of superiority among all races it gives them the privilege to make degrading comments such as the ones made by the Governor. He feels that this kind of thinking does not separate the whites from the drug mules. In fact he believes it connects them. This happens because they are smuggling ideas of those that came before. Ideas of prejudice and injustice witch have proven to be detrimental to society.

Reflection 2 EME 2040

In the first Reflection I talked about how important a lesson plan is. We know that it is guided by our educational philosophy and it helps us organize what we will be teaching our students. The two types of lesson plans that I will be comparing today is the Behavior Lesson Plan and the Constructivist Lesson Plan. These types of lesson plans have their similarities and their differences. The Behaviorist lesson plan was developed by Madeline Hunter through years of research while she was at UCLA. This lesson plan consists of eight steps. I believe the overall goal of this type of lesson is plan is to make sure the students learn effectively. The second type of lesson plan is Constructivist. This consists of six steps and I believe the overall goal of this lesson plan is to invoke thought and learning about student learning and to invoke thought and learning within the students. This lesson plan has been modified many times over the years.
Both of these lesson plans seem to be effective. They both have been scientifically studied and proven to work for teachers and students. I believe that the lesson plan that will be best for the students depends on the type of students you have. If you have students who you want to effectively grasp the material and you want to make sure they are absorbing the information that is given to them, then you want to use the Behaviorist Lesson plan. On the other hand if you want to develop critical thinkers and want your students to learn how to function in groups then the Constructivist lesson plan is the way to go. In my classroom I will try my best to use a combination of both because I believe that they both are equally effective. It is important for students for students to grasp the information and are able to use the newly acquired information but it is also important for the students to think critically and work in groups. We must also remember that both of these lesson plans have outcomes which should be addressed in the beginning of the lesson. In the Behaviorist it is called the Purpose and in the Constructivist it is called the Situation. These are similar in that they both address what the students will learn from the lesson and why the lesson is important.

Reflection 1 EME 2040

A lesson plan is an extremely important tool in the teaching arsenal of an educator. The reason that lesson plans are extremely important is because it guides educators on what needs to be taught and how. Educators may often deviate from lesson plans but this is not a problem as long as learning takes place. Before I was an educator I figured out that a lesson plan is something that is imperative to a teacher. I have been in many classes where the educator was teaching with a lesson plan and teaching off the cuff. There was a great difference in the classrooms. The teacher with a lesson plan was more organized and was better equipped to deal with incoming questions from students. The teacher that did not have a lesson plan had many pauses between teaching and the lesson seemed to be everywhere. As a student this was irritating because it was difficult to retain information and hard to find questions to ask that would make me understand the subject matter better. On the other hand, the teacher with a lesson plan made the information interesting and easy to grasp. The lesson itself answered many questions that I had and the teacher seemed prepared to answer questions from the students.
One definition for a lesson plan is an educator’s outline of what will be taught. A lesson plan is to correspond with the educator’s philosophy of education. What this means is the lesson plan is to be relevant to whatever you feel the most important element of education is. I believe this is extremely important because many times an educator’s philosophy of education consists of more than learning. Many times they consist of life lesson and transcending morals which also teaches students.
Another definition I found said that a lesson plan was nothing more than a document used by a teacher to teach a subject. I believe that lessons plans are much more than this. They are much more than mere pieces of papers that teachers use to teach. It is said that creating a lesson plan is more difficult than the actual lesson itself. With this being said it must take an immense amount of time and thought to create a lesson plan. Lesson plans incorporate the subject, the time needed for the lesson, the objectives, and many more aspects that will help them and the students.

Reflection 1 EME 2040

A lesson plan is an extremely important tool in the teaching arsenal of an educator. The reason that lesson plans are extremely important is because it guides educators on what needs to be taught and how. Educators may often deviate from lesson plans but this is not a problem as long as learning takes place. Before I was an educator I figured out that a lesson plan is something that is imperative to a teacher. I have been in many classes where the educator was teaching with a lesson plan and teaching off the cuff. There was a great difference in the classrooms. The teacher with a lesson plan was more organized and was better equipped to deal with incoming questions from students. The teacher that did not have a lesson plan had many pauses between teaching and the lesson seemed to be everywhere. As a student this was irritating because it was difficult to retain information and hard to find questions to ask that would make me understand the subject matter better. On the other hand, the teacher with a lesson plan made the information interesting and easy to grasp. The lesson itself answered many questions that I had and the teacher seemed prepared to answer questions from the students.
One definition for a lesson plan is an educator’s outline of what will be taught. A lesson plan is to correspond with the educator’s philosophy of education. What this means is the lesson plan is to be relevant to whatever you feel the most important element of education is. I believe this is extremely important because many times an educator’s philosophy of education consists of more than learning. Many times they consist of life lesson and transcending morals which also teaches students.
Another definition I found said that a lesson plan was nothing more than a document used by a teacher to teach a subject. I believe that lessons plans are much more than this. They are much more than mere pieces of papers that teachers use to teach. It is said that creating a lesson plan is more difficult than the actual lesson itself. With this being said it must take an immense amount of time and thought to create a lesson plan. Lesson plans incorporate the subject, the time needed for the lesson, the objectives, and many more aspects that will help them and the students.

Comments on: sketches of cité soleil

This poem is talking about the state of Haiti; past and future. This poem addresses how Haiti was taken advantage of in the past and the internal corruption of the country. He talked about how Haiti had to pay France in order to remain a free country. This was a treaty written by the U.S. He also talks about how the U.S. sells cheap goods to the Haitians which has flood their markets. These goods were also cultivated in Haiti and sold back to the Haitian people. He also talks about the violence and rape going on in Haiti. This violence has been going on for many years but has become worse because of the recent earthquake. Haiti is in an extremely bad state but he talks about how there is hope for the country.

Comments on:we cannot but chuse to hear

The oil spill in BP seems to be getting worse by the second. The solutions are limited but the devastation is limitless. Not only is this disaster devastating at the moment but the long terms affect are devastating as well. As we all see on television the animals are covered in a brown, thick, mud like substance. We all see this same strange substance washing up on the shores of beaches and layered on the seafloor.
We as a human race have to release that we must protect nature but instead we have been doing the exact opposite. It is high time that we learn that we have a duty to protect nature and the earth. We have failed at this because of greed. The greed that consumes us is profit. We do any and everything to make a profit but look at where it has gotten us. We are in a recession and have the worst environmental disaster in history.

Comments on: fix the shading on the cildren's faces

“We have come so far.” That is what many people say but instances such as this proves that we have a long way to go. Racism and prejudice occasionally rears its head and shows the true nature of society. An artist was hired to paint a mural on the school wall that was supposed to depict green transportation but when the boy on the mural was too dark the community needed it to be changed. Racial slurs were thrown out and showed how people really felt. This situation proves that racism, prejudice, and classism is alive in well. I agree that we have come far but we still have a long way to go. If the people who wanted this mural changed look at the real reason they wanted it changed, they would be disgusted with themselves.

Assignment #2.9

Many people do not like politics but politics are very important for us to understand. I must admit that politics are extremely confusing but I do my best to try to stay as informed as possible. I do my best to stay informed because many times politics direct affect me. This political season is even more important than others because of the recession. One thing I know for sure is that the recession affects everyone.
The questions that were given in the survey were important. I feel that they had issues that are relevant to what is going on today. I feel that the most important concern for Americans today is the recession. Many Americans, just like I am, are worried about their money and if they will have any in the near future. I am going into the teaching field and I know in Miami-Dade county there is a hiring freeze even though there is a shortage of teachers. This may mean that I will probably have to go to another city or state to find a job if the recession does not get any better.
Another concern many Americans have is government regulation. Many people feel that currently there is too much government regulation. I feel that at the moment all of this government regulation is necessary. The reason I feel this way is because what got us into this mess was little government regulation and now the government needs to step up and look out for the Americans best interest. It seems that President Obama is different from all other politicians because he seems sincere, which is exactly the kind of leader America needs right now.

Assignment #2.8

An educational philosophy is extremely important to have. It helps guide you through the journey of an educator. In my EDF 1005 class the professor expressed to us that every educator must have an educational philosophy. I could not agree with her more. I will explore why this is important.
My education philosophy is in line with that of Reconstructionism. I believe that education should focus on the students but at the same time reconstructing society into a better place. It is obvious that educational system is having problems. I believe that this system has to be changed first and then we can begin focusing on aiding the children reconstructing society. When the curriculum is changed and the way funds are allocated is changed, educators will be able to work on teaching children ethics and morals that do not conflict with their beliefs of course.
My personal educational philosophy is educators must help students become the best students and individuals as possible. We create great students by catering to the different ways that students learn and creating a constructive learning environment. We must prove to the students that learning is fun and everyone deserves the chance to learn. We create great individuals by teaching them morals through our actions. Educators must remember that there are different cultures in each class so we must be successful.

Assignment #2.7

Gender and sex is something that cannot be clearly defined. Many people think that a man is a man if he has a penis or a woman is a woman if she has a vigina. This has been disproven. In this class we have read articles on Intersexuality and transsexuality. These articles have outlined that gender and sex is not as clear cut as one might think. We will explore why.
Intersexuality is when a male or a female has masculine of feminine features and the internal biology is opposite. The dilemma of these situations presents itself as the question: are individuals with these conditions male or female? Another question is who will make the decision if they are male or female? I feel that this decision is up to the individual but other have made these decisions. Many women have been disqualified from Olympic competition because they failed genetic test that would classify them as women. I wonder if their biology really gives them an edge.
Transsexuality is when a male or a female feel that they are trapped in the other sex’s body. I first thought that these individuals had psychological problems but the information that I have gained has given me information to the contrary of this. Studies have been done that showed that the part of the brain that controls gender is different in transsexual individuals. Does this prove that they have psychological problems or that something went wrong biologically? For me the ladder seems to be the more plausible outcome. I believe the most important thing is for us to try to understand these individuals rather than judge them.

Assignment #2.6

Race seems to be one of the most controversial topics that we have today. It would seem that this should be an immensely simple topic. It would seem that it should be if you are white than you are white or if you are black than you are black. The subject of race is not than black and white. In this reflection we will explore this.
The reason that race seems to be controversial is because all of the connotations that go along with race. Many of these connotations are negative and many are positive connotations depending on the race. Many connotations associated with the black race are negative. We hear these comments to support these connotations all the time, “Black people are stupid or they are only good in sports.” We hear commits on the opposite spectrum when it comes to the white race. “White people are so smart.”
What many people do not realize is that these stereotypes associated with these different races are just that, stereotypes. These stereotypes are shrouded prejudice. We have learned in class how negative prejudices are and how they lead to other hateful ideas and actions. I must admit that I am a victim of prejudicial behavior. In this class I have learned to act without prejudice and try to find out the point of view of the individual.

Assignment #2.5

I believe this survey is relevant but not for the women of today. The women of today are much more vocal and have more confidence. They are better able to stand up for themselves and have no problem doing it. They hold many more positions of power. The women of today are different.
I feel that this is a good thing for society. This shows that society is growing and beginning to accept women as equals. There are more women in college than men so this shows the shifts in times. In fact I feel that men have taken a step back but when it comes to education. Even though all this progress has been made I still feel we have a long way to go.
Many men still have the attitudes of the old days where women should be in the kitchen taking care of the children. These guys have not realized that times have changed and this type of thinking does not fit the attitude of most individuals. There are still many countries that have not adopted these ideas. There are many third world countries where women have little rights. Even these countries cannot beat the times because women’s rights group are fighting to change this. When the world realizes that women have abilities that are equal to men than the world will be a netter place.

Assignment #2.4

This survey was an extremely important survey to take. You think about the questions and you believe that the questions do not pertain to you but they do. This is the way that I felt while I was taking the survey. This survey forces you to evaluate the way you treat women. It forces you to take a hard look at yourself.
I know that I can treat women better and I know that I have not treated women with the respect they deserve. I guess it is because men feel that they inherently deserve to be treated better than women and they have more rights than women have. I believe a reason for this is because of society. Society has taught us that women deserve less than what men deserve. I say this because on television women rarely hold positions of power.
These have become the norms of society. That is women seeming to have less worth men. I feel that in order for this to change, society’s norms have to change. This class has taught me to change some of the behavior that I have picked up through time. It taught me to drop all of my preconceive notions and work under no prejudice. I feel that I have made progress but I still have a long way to go.

Assignment #2.3

Everyone on the face of this planet has a culture that they were raised in. That culture in many ways affects everything that we do. Culture is an extremely important thing. In class we have learned that a culture can be many different things. For the purposes of this survey I will focus on the culture that pertains to the way that an individual is raised.
I am Haitian American and my parents are Haitian. Because of this I was raised in the Haitian culture. In regards to the survey we were raised to give firm handshakes and greet our elders with a kiss on the cheek if you are a woman or with a handshake. There are many things in my culture that I do not approve of but none the less they are a part of my culture. One of those things are the fact a person with money is very important in the culture and should be automatically looked up to. I feel that there is much more than money that deems a person worthy to be a role model.
With the example that I gave in the second paragraph, you should have culture but not become your culture. We have learned in class that culture is an extremely important part of whom a person is but that is what it is, a part of the person. When someone becomes their culture they are closed off to other cultures. This class has taught us to accept all cultures and no culture is superior to another. The knowledge I have gained will help me become a better educator.

Assignment #2.2

My core beliefs have been shaped by my parents. Many things that I believe is what they have told me to believe. I believe the reason we follow what our parents believe is because we look up to them and trust their life experience. As you grow older you realize that many things they have told you are not 100% accurate.
We listen to our parents because we love them and respect them and trust but when we test the knowledge that we have learned against the world we may learn that the information is flawed. This survey that I took had me think about that. Is it wrong for us to follow our parents every word without a word of doubt or reservation. I do not feel this is wrong because the information our parents give us is correct for a time but as we grow older the information does not work. I also feel that this information can be dangerous.
The information is dangerous when it teaches us prejudice. We have learned many things about prejudice in this class and all that we have learned about prejudice is negative. Because prejudice is learned (usually from our parents) and it teaches hate, superiority, or inferiority it is dangerous. Thankfully prejudicial behavior can be changed through life experience and our beliefs and usually do deviate from our parents with age. My beliefs are different from my parents but the beliefs they have given me are useful.

Assignment #2.1

Some of these questions were extremely difficult to understand but once I looked them up I had a better understanding of what this survey was about. This survey was about your perception of reality and what you feel reality is. I feel that this survey was extremely important to take. The reason I feel this way is because it forces you to think about things you normally would not. This survey had me in deep contemplation.
What stuck out to me the most was the question about perception. It asked if perception was reality. I answered that is was. I believe this for many reasons. My life experience and this class has taught me that this is true.
I believe perception to be reality because the ways people see things affect their lives. Life is different for everyone and that depends on the life experience that they have had. A person who was bullied my feel that their life is worthless. On the other hand a person who has been glorified their entire life may feel that life is wonderful. My life experiences have shaped the person that I am today.

Reflection 16

Intersexuality and transsexuality are extremely complex issues. Many people have many different ideas and beliefs on this topic. I first began thinking that individuals exhibiting transsexual behavior made that choice. What I mean by this is I first thought that if a person was strong in his belief that he was trapped in another genders body than that was a choice that they were making to be the opposite sex. This opinion changed when I watched a show (20/20) and they dug deeper in the subject or transsexuality. There was an interview with a five year old boy and his family. The boy showed signs famine behavior as young as one year old. He would always prefer things that a girl is age would. When he gained the ability to express his self verbally he expressed to his parents that he was a girl. His parents thought that it was not serious until the saw that the little boy was serious. They sought professional help and the boy was diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorders (GID). He then began his life as a girl and now is extremely happy. The point of this story is that I believe that it is no longer a choice. I feel that it cannot be a choice when someone that young believes that he is a girl. He was not a confused little five year old boy. He was adamant that he was a boy trapped in a women’s body. If someone as young as five can know themselves and who they are then an adult can surely as well.
One thing that I am confused about is if the belief that you are a gender trapped in another gender’s body is a disorder. That is what psychologist believes but I am not so sure. I say this because I am not sure is this is a psychological disorder like schizophrenia or if something went wrong with their biology in the womb. There has been evidence to support both but I will make my determination when more concrete information is released.
Intersexuality is a clearer cut condition, if it is considered a condition. People with the conditions associated with intersexuality may suffer from discrimination. Many Olympic contestants have been disqualified because they have failed the Gender Testing. I am not sure if this is fair or not because I don’t know if their condition gives them an edge.
This information is important to know because I may have children in my class who will have these issues and I must be able to make the classroom environment as accommodating as possible.

Assignment #1

When I thought about this assignment I had no idea where I would begin. An idea came to me like an epiphany, why don’t I go to an elementary school. The teacher I observed was in the teaching field for six years and she said that she could not imagine doing anything else. She is a teacher for the 2nd grade and she exclaimed many times how much she loves it. Her name was Mrs. Murray and she said her students call her Mrs. M because she wants an open and easy relationship with her kids. She said that she first had the idea of becoming an educator because of the experience she had with her 2nd grade teacher. “My second grade teacher was so loving and nurturing; she was like another mother to the students.” I found myself thinking back to this class and how the professor said that now-a-days we are more than teachers. After second grade her goal in life was to become an educator. She then went to school to become a teacher and luckily she found a job where she did her internship. She later married her high school sweetheart and had a son a year later. She explained to me that becoming a mother aided her tremendously in becoming a teacher.
Her teaching philosophy was that of Aristotle, “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” I of course asked her to explain because I didn’t understand. She said that everyone in this life must strive to be as learned as possible in all areas and in all cultures. “If a person is educated in all areas of life they will be able to understand and teach all people and all cultures.” She said that she is able to tell that her students are learning by how easily over time they grasp what is being taught. She said that she has some students that grasp the material immediately and some who take a little but more time than others to understand. She said the reason for this is because the students learn in different ways. “When I am teaching math I first do problems on the board and explain what I am doing and why I am doing it this way. I then ask questions to see how much information the students are processing. I later have a few of the students who understand better when they do problems on the board come up and do problems on the board.” This again brought me back to class and made me remember when we talked about different learning styles. She said that technology is extremely important to integrate within the classroom. “I know these kids are young but they know computers. These computers you see have also been a big help with my children’s learning.” For an hour a day she has her kids read interactive books on the computer or math problems using the computer.
She explained to me how a lesson plan is important but you cannot have it written in stone. “I try to dedicated two hours to reading and writing but at times that can be difficult because my children need time to grasp what I am trying to teach or many times I have to try different methods to try to get my kids to understand.”
When I asked her about another job that she may have had that prepared her for teaching she said that her first job taught her many valuable experiences. Her first job was at a movie theater and at first I could not find the connection between the two but when she explained to me why the connection became more visible. She said that at the concession stand she dealt with a lot of different personalities. “Some of the people were very sweet and others were rude to the point where it was unbelievable. I finally learned after a few weeks of working there that all every customer wanted was to be treated with respect and wanted you to take a little interest in them. That always brought the best out of them.” She says she applies this methodology to her students and it always works. If you find about what they like you will find out about how they learn and you can draw the best out of them.
I feel that observing Mrs. M was extremely important in my journey as an educator. She told me that an educator must have patience and a genuine love of the profession. I believe this because in class we talked about how easily you can get burnt out. What struck me as most important is when she told me that in order to be an effective educator me must be lifelong students. I agree with this because we can always learn to better ourselves.

Reflection 15

Homosexuality for many people is an extremely touchy subject. We all know how the highly religious feel about homosexuality and how some people who are homosexual feel about themselves. The highly religious feel that homosexuality is wrong. They feel that it is a choice. I believe that religious groups have many problems aside from their view of homosexuality and the people who feel the shame of being homosexual feel that shame because of all the negative connotations associated with being homosexual. I remember when I was in grade school, being homosexual was the worst thing in the world to be. If you were suspected of being homosexual you were alienated, teased, and usually only had all girl friends. I was one of the kids that would tease someone for being homosexual and could never imagine myself having a homosexual person as a friend. For some reason I hated homosexual people and so did everyone one else but no one had no idea why. I knew they liked the same sex but never thought that was a strong enough reason to have so much disdain in my heart for someone who was homosexual. I remember when I was in church we were told that homosexuality is a sin and it is wrong. We were told that people choose to be homosexual. I never really understood that because I know that I didn’t choose to be attracted to girls, I just was. I was born attracted to girls but I just went along with it because the church and the bible are always right. I grew older and started to formulate my own views. I realized that everything the church and the bible said my not have been true. I also realized that everything in the bible may not have happened.
My personal view on homosexuality is that you are born homosexual. As I said in the first paragraph, I did not choose to like girls or to be attracted to girls. I was born this way. I was born a heterosexual male. I know in my heart that homosexual people are born homosexual also. I know a few homosexual who have said that they have had these kinds of feelings since they were three years old. What are we supposed to tell these children, you were making a conscious choose at three years old to be homosexual. I also feel we should shed the negative stigmas of being homosexual. If this is done, people will be less ashamed and will to get treatment for AIDS and other diseases. Also, suicide rates of homosexuals will dramatically decrease. I am happy to see that homosexuality is becoming more accepted in society. I have had these views for a very long time and if the highly religious or prejudice take time to see that homosexuals are people like you and I than the world would be a better and more accepting place.

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Reflection 14

Immigration is an extremely touchy topic for all Americans. Many people believe that immigration is the cause for many of America’s problems. I hear people say all the time: these damn immigrants are taking all the jobs. I also felt this way for a time when I was looking for a job and for mostly every job you had to be bilingual. I felt a lot of frustration during that time but it was mainly because I didn’t have a job. I also know many people feel that immigration is a good thing because immigrants take many jobs that Americans would never do. I feel that immigration has its positives and its negatives. I also realize now that because the area I live as a great concentration of Spanish speaking residences and that why speaking Spanish in Miami is important.
This article was an extremely important read. It gave you a better understanding of the wet foot dry foot policy. I thought this policy was put in place simply because of racism and prejudice. I was happy to learn some history about this policy. I didn’t realize that the people who fled the country were loyal to the leader who came before Castro. I also was not aware of the mass exodus from Cuba to America. I also was unaware of the conditions of Haiti. When we had a discussion in class on the condition of Haiti I learned a lot. I was always told that Haiti was in the current condition that it was in because of the Government. I still agree with this to a great extinct but I also know it is not the Government alone. I had no idea that foreign companies where stripping Haiti of its resources and selling the product back to Haiti for extremely more than what it is worth. Also I have learned from this article that the Haitian people had Aristide ousted out of the country and the events that followed were horrific. When the U.N. stepped in, it only made the situation worse. They cut off funds and gas to Haiti in an attempt to weaken the rebel militia. This did not work and in fact it had an even worse affect. The militia did not suffer but the Haitian people suffered. They were starved and abused by the militia. When the Haitian people tried to seek asylum from the U.S. they had to go to an office for help which was virtually nonexistent. If this was done they would be recognized to the militia and life put in more danger than it already was.

I feel that institutional racism plays a great part in this because even though Haiti is not a communist country, the citizens of that countries lives are in danger. The U.S. could make the wet foot dry foot policy equal to all countries that are in turmoil.

Reflection 13

Race and Racism is something that I believe will never go away. I believe because even though it was something that was created, it has been with us too long and now it is in our DNA. I now believe that many white people feel that they are inherently better than black people. I also want to make clear that many white people do not feel this way and I have met many that I know do not feel this way. On the other hand there are many that do. Racism has been written into our constitution. I say this because when the constitution was written slavery was in place. You see evidence of this when it is still voted on for the right for black people to vote. The right for black people to vote is still voted on today by Congress. Also, America has an extremely racist history. This also does not only pertain to the black race. Racism has been exercised against every race, religion and culture possibly on the face of the planet. I also do not want this reflection to paint the portrait of a naïve twenty-one year old. I understand that racism in a global problem and it has existed before the United States of America ever did and that is the reason why I feel that it will always exist.
I am surprised to see blatant racism in this century and that is where my naivety may shine through. The racism that I am talking about is the current situation in Arizona. The law is supposedly to protect Arizonians from undocumented illegal workers but I believe this law has a much darker rationale. From what I have learned in class this law is rooted in prejudice. The Hispanic community in Arizona is imensly large and is extremely active in Arizona. I believe this law has grown out of prejudice. As I also have learned in class prejudice is a form of racism and racism is grown from the seeds of fair. The white community is fearful of the power that the Hispanic community in Arizona has so that is why this law came about. This law is also accompanied by the banishment of ethnic studies. I see no reasons why ethnic studies have to be done away with. The only reason I can think of and many others can think of is racism.
I must admit, before this class I was prejudice but I have learned a lot from this course. From the readings and the lectures I have learned to be less judgmental and less prejudice. As an educator these will be skills that are invaluable.

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Reflection 12

Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing are two of the most horrible crimes against humanity but are usually sinuous with one another. What leaves people, government, and militia to the point of genocide against other cultures, religious groups or ethnicities? We touched on this subject in class. Many factors can get you to this point but one of the leading factors is prejudice. Prejudice leads one group to believe that they are better than the other group or that group is the cause for all of their problems. They may feel this way for a multitude of reasons. In the case of the Holocaust, Hitler felt that the Germans were in their current condition because of the Jewish people. I am also guessing that he felt that their lives would be better without the Jews.
These genocides and ethnic cleansings around the world have many similarities. Many of the different groups were forced out of the homes or where they had been living by the oppressing force. Many had been raped. Women and children were attacked or even killed during the time of ethnic cleansing. The leaders of these ethnic cleansing regimes had extremely radical ideologies. Something that was very similar in each situation is that little to none was done to stop these atrocities. I find myself asking the question: why was nothing done? Is it because the government or the country did not know what was going on nor did they not care? Did the government agree with what was going on? To answer one of my questions, in the case of the genocide in Darfur, the government was behind it. The government was in bed with the Janjaweed, the militia that attacked villages and killed hundreds of Fur people. The Janjaweed were also under government protection. In many cases of the genocide the government is behind it. To my knowledge the United Nations (UN), has knowledge of what is going on but acts to slowly or sometimes do nothing at all.
To go back to the point made in the first paragraph, these atrocities happen because of ethnocentrism. This happens when an ethnic group or any other group feels as though it is superior to another. From the beginning of time, this kind of thinking has inspired violence. This has happened with the crusades or the Holocaust. In this class we are learning that no ethnic group is better than the other and we are also learning to combat or prejudices against other groups. I have found this to be difficult because I have grown up this way but I have also realized that this kind of thinking is not progressive. These genocides and ethnic cleansings could have been prevented if many people felt this way.

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Reflection 11

The holocaust was one of the most horrible atrocities to happen in the history of the world. This takes me back to the documentary we watched in class two weeks back. I was utterly flabbergasted and at loss for worlds. I remember the professor asked me what I thought about the video and could not find words to describe how I felt. Now is my chance to tell how I felt about the documentary we watched on those horrible events many years ago. I was shocked that human beings could be treated this way. How could humans perform these cruel absurd experiments on other human beings? I was shocked when I saw the many Jewish beheaded and cast to the side like tennis balls in a cage. I was also shocked to see the malnourished bodies in the hospital that were infected with diseases while their family and friends thought they were being cared for in the concentration camp hospital.
Something else that surprises me about the holocaust is how someone with such radical ideals could cause this to happen to the Jews and other races. We also touched upon this in class. This is what happens when ethnocentrism takes place. Ethnocentrism also has deep roots in prejudice; which we also know is a danger to society. Ethnocentrism is being that your face is superior to another. Hitler believed the Jewish were the cause of all the problems that Germany was having. Not only did he believe this but he also believed the German people were better than the Jews. When this types of thinking takes place it is dangerous for everyone involved. With this type of prejudicial thinking any type of negative behavior is possible and as discussed in the reflection prior to this one, it is a very difficult mind set to break.
I think the people who say the holocaust didn’t exist are the most ridiculous people on the face of the planet. I would ask them about the millions of evidence found at the concentration camps. I would ask them where the videos and pictures came from. I would show them pictures of holocaust survivors with numbers tattooed on their arms to identify them. These people who try to deny the holocaust exists do this because if it is denied then it never happened. This will not happen because the Jewish people will not let us forget. Not forgetting is important because we must remember the past so we do not repeat it.

Reflection 10

What is prejudice? Does everyone one show signs of prejudicial behavior? The article Understanding Prejudice suggests that prejudice is a learned behavior. I would have to agree. I feel this way because usually when you see a prejudice child, there is a prejudice parent right in front of them. They were taught to act in a prejudicial fashion because of their parents. As everyone knows a young child is a sponge and they soak up everything you see or do. A child will especially imitate the actions of a parent and have that action become a part of their personality. This also goes for attitudes as well and as I stated earlier, that is the reason it is not surprising to see a child acting in the same prejudicial way the child is.
To answer the first that I asked in this reflection, (what is prejudice) I would have to say that it is a judgment about a race that is negative and puts your race on a pedestal in comparison the that race. An example of this is the prevalent stereotype that white people are smarter than black people. I also would like to state that not all white people believe and I know black people do not believe that all white believe this. Because of this we had slavery in America and we were not treated like humans. Also, because of this we had segregation. Black people were not good enough to drink from the same water fountain as whites.
To answer the second question, (does everyone show sighs of prejudice), I would have to say know. We must remember that prejudice is a learned behavior so if someone has not witnessed or have been told about prejudicial actions or thought they will not act according. I would say that prejudice is the single most easily accessible intangible that there is. The reason I say this because it is all around us and sometimes it has nothing to do with the parents. We see prejudice when we turn on the TV. It is on the news and in shows. Every time I watch the news I see the mug shot of a black teen who recently robbed a liquor store or I see the black drug dealer on the show of the all white academics. That is why I believe that it is sometimes a hard thing not to learn prejudices, which are detrimental to our society. This is also the reason it is our responsibility to negate these prejudices through education and nonjudgmental thought.

comments on: si m mouri, ou pral mouri! and hb2281

This poem is addressing the current state of Haiti. It talks about the current state of the country and how mainly everyone on the island is impoverished. It also talks about how the people are crying out how they do not want to die and the country is crying back out to them “I am dying.” The poem also gives solutions to the current problems. If the Haitian people are able to pull together then the country can be saved. I agree with this but I also know it will take a lot. One of the main changes that will have to take place is the corrupt government.

This poem is addressing the current state of Arizona and who it is trying to wash away a part of its culture. That culture that is being washed away is the Hispanic culture. The poem talks about how other languages and cultures have become extinct and how the similarities of the current Arizona situation are uncanny. I agree. The Hispanic culture will be gone and maybe lost forever in Arizona. What the people need to do is protest and fight.

Reflection 8

The article Beliefs, Values, and Attitudes is an extremely important read. It outlines culturally, what beliefs, values, and attitudes and helps you better understand them. I agree with the definition that the article gives. I believe many things and my beliefs have shaped who I am today. What I believe has come from my culture and the many subcultures that I belong too. Some of these things I believe are what I consider good or positive and some of what I believe is the opposite. One of my many beliefs are God is the creator of the universe and the most important being. Because I believe this I see this every day. When I see a tree I think about God or when I see a person I think about. There are also some things that my culture believes but I do not. Reason for that is because I received conflicting information and I learned that they are not true with maturity. One of these beliefs was given in the article. That belief was creationism. I believe that the evolution theory makes much more sense than the creation theory. One reason is because there is more evidence to support the evolution theory e.g. fossils but there is no evidence to support creationism. Also I do not take the bible for word. I take it as a guide for you to live and I believe everyone can benefit from reading it. As the article read, my values are shaped by my beliefs. Things that I consider important have been influenced by my beliefs. I value education because I believe that education gives you opportunities that you would not have without it. I know many people who would argue that you don’t need an education so they don’t value it. My attitudes reflect my beliefs and values and as the article read attitude is action. As I stated early in this reflection I believe education is important e.g. that is why I am currently in school.
As an educator, I find that understanding prejudice will be imperative to me. We discussed prejudice in class and how dangerous it can be. Affiliation is okay because it is physiologically important but prejudice is not. The article describes prejudice as disdain for a group that is different from your own because they share different attributes, physical or any other, that is different from your own. As a teacher I cannot hold these prejudices toward any group. As a person I cannot hold these prejudices because I will not be able to gain multicultural awareness/consciousness.

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Comments on: Emmett Till

This poem is not just about that tragic event that happened to Emmitt Till. It is also about what may have gone on in the psyche of what men at the time. Why they felt is it so unacceptable for the black man to integrate. They felt that black men wanted their women, women who they didn’t deserve. One question that was never asked was why the white man at the time felt this way. I found this point in the poem very interesting. The single most important question was never asked. Was this question not asked because a white man could not speak on behalf of a black person or would the answer reveal the true nature of the white man? Would it reveal the hate in the heart of the white man that lead to the death of a young fourteen old who whistled at a white women? Will American society ever find an answer to this question? Maybe we will find an answer to this question in the heart of the Arizonian law makers who to have regressed.

Reflection 9

I believe that Freud had many great ideas about the mind. He also shaped many theories about the mind. His work is extremely important because it was one of the first findings on how the mind works. His views on personality are widely accepted because they seem to be correct through observation. Also as the professor said in class earlier, we should not throw out everything that Freud because some of the things he said were considered ridiculous. We must also take into consideration that he also gave of many insights into the subconscious and unconscious mind that no other psychologist in his field has given us.
Freud believes that there are two factors that affect every single thing that we do in life. He believes these two factors are sex and aggression. I personally do not agree with this. I believe there is much more to life than sex and aggression. I believe that love is a guiding factor. I do feel that sex and aggression are guiding factors but I also believe there are many guiding factors and sex and aggression are not top on that list. Freud explains more of what he means by saying that these factors are our need to procreate and protect ourselves. Freud also talks about the Id, Ego, and Superego. Each one of these driving factors guides our actions through life. Each was has greater priority over different phases in our lives. The Id is what we all are born with. This is what allows us to get our basic needs met. He gives the example of babies trying to get their needs met and having on regards for our needs. The example he gave was that babies do not care if we are sleeping. We develop the Ego by age three. The Ego realizes that what we do affect others so we learn to think before we act. The Ego main focus is to satisfy the id but we learn to control to think about our actions first. The Superego develops at age five and that is what regulates our morals. Freud believes the Ego is the most important driving factor and if the Id is what’s in control then are impulses will guide our actions. On the other hand, if the Superego is our number one guiding factor then our morals will guide us.
Freud believes that our emotions are in our unconscious minds, which is not accessible to us. He believes that our conscious mind is used as our perspective on the world. The subconscious mind is what we use as our database to retrieve information.

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This poem is about the new law that Arizona has decided to adopt, which grants police the right to ask anyone who is acting suspiciously for the papers to check if they are here illegally. The author of this poem feels as though this law is not right. He also feels a though Arizona has created a monster that will backfire on them. He feels that this law is inherently racism and laws like that do no good for society and this theory has proven to be correct. Such examples are laws of Segregation and the Jim Crow Laws. He feels this law has been spurred from feelings of fear which lead to irrational thinking and irrational laws.

Reflection 7

I felt that the article Teaching For Inclusion was extremely helpful in my goal of becoming a teacher. It had many tips on how to accommodate all genders, races, and sexual orientations in the classroom. I believe it is very important not to offend any of these categories in the classroom.
This article wanted you to understand how to teach to the individual rather than any specific race or anything else. This article wanted to make it clear that that was one of the most important things. In order for this to happen we must regulate the discussion in the classroom. We must also try to accommodate every type of student that we have in the classroom. The article gave many helpful tips on how to make this happen. One of the tips was to let students volunteer to speak and also call upon students. When we do this we let the students who want to speak their mind speak and the students who are too shy to voice their opinions a chance to talk also. Another tip was that we set ground rules for discussions in the classroom. These grounds rules are set in place so that each student understands their contributions to the discussion are valuable but also they are to not offend anyone in the class. If an offensive commit is not made, you don’t want to ignore it or you don’t want to reprimand the student. Another option is to let the class know that commits like that are hurtful and they are personal attacks.
One thing that you also do not want to do is stereotype students. Instead of lumping students into a category, you want to look at the student individually. If this is done, it may inhibit learning for the student. You should not assume that a black student does not understands the material, but you should look at the students progress and make a decision on his grasp of the subject matter. As an educator you must also be aware of the different learning styles which may inhibit learning for certain students. In your classroom, you should try to employ different types of teaching methods. If you do this, it will encompass all students and help students keep up with the material.
In a classroom you should try to use language that all students will understand. Be aware that you have more knowledge in the particular subject that you are teaching than the student. If you make an example of something that they are not aware of or something that only a few students are aware of then the students may feel left out.

reflection 5

I think it would be an understatement to say that what the group of students who were apart of the Little Rock Nine had to go through was disgusting. This country has a long history of racism, which still goes on today, with the law in Arizona, and this was a one of the many times when racism was at its worse. These nine students were very courageous in the fact that even though none of the students wanted them there, they went anyway. This showed the true character of the students and the true character of Little Rock. I was also immensely appalled of the actions of the governor at the time, Orval Faubas. It was extremely mind-boggling to here that he had the National Guard deployed to prevent these nine brave students from entering the school.
I would not have liked to be one of the Little Rock Nine. What they have gone through is unthinkable for another human being to go through. It was really shocking to me to know that people could act in such a horrific fashion. What’s more shocking to me is to know they acted so stupidly was because the students were a different race than they were. But I wonder if it was really the students fault. I am definitely not giving the students a pass for their action but they may not have known any better. Unfortunately the students may have been a product of their incredibly racist environment. This is what they were bombarded with all the time. They received this kind of thinking at home and everywhere else in little rock. This was their culture and as we have learned in class, everything about culture is not good.
The way that I am as of now, it would not make me happy that I would have to be taken to school with armed guards but I am going to look at this from a different perspective. I am going to look at this from the perspective of a black student going to a newly desegregated school. I feel that I would react with much sadness. I would react with sadness because I would pity each person in the crowd for their ignorance. I would know that their ignorance is preventing them from seeing people but instead seeing a color. A color in which they believe to be inferior. The racial slurs would make me very angry but I would know they were coming from an ignorant place. I would not say anything back because I would know that would put my life in danger.

Comments on: most interesting of our american birds

What this poem is about is the pelican and how it is becoming extinct because businesses destroyed and is continuing to destroy its habitat. J. Mcnair is explaining how the pelican has come to the point of where it is now. It has come to this point because of what happened in the past, with pesticides and what is happening now with the oil spill in the Gulf coast. He feels that these events are tragic and unfortunate that this has happened to the pelican. He also feels this is a failure on our part to live along side of nature and to protect it.

Quiz 4

EDG2085 Quiz 4a » Quiz School

Reflection 6

Rites of passages are extremely important in our society. They validate certain points or stages in our life. An example is a birthday party. I consider this a rite of passage because it celebrates someone’s getting older, which signifies adulthood or old age. In many cultures, adulthood is a very important rite of passage. Another reason why rites of passages are important is because they help cultivate culture. I believe this because rite of passage is an important part of the different cultures that exist. Many cultures have different methods or ceremonies which accept someone or acknowledge the entrance into that culture. These ceremonies symbolize these rites of passage.
What I have learned by reading these articles suggest that every culture has rites of passage. It seems that an important staple in every culture is the transition into adulthood. This rite of passage seems to be especially important in every culture. Because cultures are very different, the transition into adulthood is different for every culture but each one is equally important. I found it very interesting how the Sambia tribe in New Guinea conducts the process for the rite of passage into adulthood. In a way, it is very similar to the rite of passage in the American culture. When a male begins puberty, he is beginning his journey into adulthood. The same is also considered for a female. I also found the article, Sitting Quietly, fascinating. The story of their passage into adulthood was interesting to hear because some of the boys did not make it into adulthood because they were eaten by the foresee monster. In many cultures, when you become a certain age you are considered an adult and you becoming that age is you rite of passage. These ages vary from culture to culture.
Rites of passage in education share a very important relationship. In every grade level there are certain benchmarks that you must meet in order to progress to the next grade level. As educators, it is our responsibility to make sure that you meet these qualifications. Also we must understand that there is going to be different cultures in our classroom and different learning styles in our classrooms. We must develop a curriculum that will satisfy the needs of every culture in our classroom. With this in mind we must have a classroom culture that will enable you to gain your rite of passage into the next grade level.

Quiz 3

EDG 2085 Quiz 3a » Quiz Maker

reflection 4

What is culture? Many people have their own definition of culture. My definition of culture is a group of people who share the same ideas, beliefs, and views. They also share the same belief systems and have similar thought process. This is my definition because this is what I have observed and been a part of. I personally am a part of, and have been a part of many cultures. Because I am a man I am a part of the of the culture of men. Because I am black I am a part of that culture. Because I am Haitian I a apart of that culture and so on and so forth.
I do not feel that being a part of a culture is a bad thing. In fact I believe the contrary. I feel that being a part of a culture teaches you the love and gives you a sense of being and much more than that but it also has its negative features. Cultures at times teach people intolerance and hate. They sometime teach the individuals within that culture that their culture is better or that their culture is more deserving. There is an example of this in the article with the development of haute couture. The people who could afford these clothing felt as if they were better than the people who could not.
Intercultural competence is very important. What this means to me is to try to understand the point of view of someone that has different life experiences and views than your own. As the article, Transformation: Creating Context, Part 2, suggested, this process takes time to learn so you cannot expect to master something like this over night. What this in tells is that you become very opened-minded and know that the person you are having a conversation with will never fully comprehend where you are coming from. The reason for this is because the two of you have different life experiences and different ideas. This is because the two of you are from different cultures. A person that has intercultural competence will be able to identify something like this and understand that it is perfectly fine.
I have gained many insights from reading these articles. I know that I have still have a lot to learn about cultures including my own but I know that I am taking a step in the right direction. I also know that this is a lifelong process and I must work at it every day to attempt to perfect it. Intercultural competence is just as important because this will help me communicate with other cultures. This is also important because I will be in a class with students that have many different cultures and subcultures. What I have learned by reading these articles can be applied to the classroom.

Comments on: stormy weather

A young boy sees a beautiful woman on the silver screen. He doesn’t know what has come over him. Is it love, is it lust, or is it more than that? This poem explains how J. McNair felt when he saw the beautiful and amazing Lena Horne in the movie Stormy Weather and a Cabin in The Sky as a twelve year old boy. Lena made him feel like he could be little Joe in a Cabin in The Sky. He also felt that he could be the one to cheer Lena up because her man left her in Stormy Weather. He said that he may of felt this way because of hormones or some other reason. I fell that it was the latter. For him, she was an inspiration. She was what he could be and what he could do. She taught him about love and its hardships. She was what black women could be and what black men could have.

Comments on: awaiting an appropriate provocation

What this poem is about is the law that Arizona wants to pass that will allow police to card all suspicious looking people to see if they are illegal immigrants or not. J. McNair is clearly against this law. The message that he is trying to convey is that this law is discriminatory. The reason he feels this way is because it will elicit racial profiling. This will happen because police will affect every immigrant as described in the poem. Law enforcement or the law cannot decipher between the immigrant who is here illegally but pays taxes or has been here for years and the immigrant who has been here a few months and is the resident drug dealer. McNair feels this law is sprout up through law makers with bad intentions and if they really want to get the immigration problem under control this is not the way to go.

Quiz 2

EDG 2085 Quiz 2a » ProProfs Quiz Maker

Reflection 3

You were driving one day and realized that if you take 8th St instead of 10th St you would get to the Wal-Mart much faster? You begin to tell your family and friends this but they do not believe you. They believe you are lying and there cannot be a faster route to Wal-Mart. You implore them to try out the new but strange route for themselves but they feel the way have been driving cannot be driving is the fastest around. Your brother comes in the house and is elated because he shaved five minutes off his driving time to Wal-Mart. He has finally tried the new route and has seen for himself that the new route is quicker. He tells everyone and now everyone knows that the new route is faster. You have finally been given the validation for your finding that you deserve.
In very simple terms this is a paradigm shift. Before I explain to you what a paradigm shift is, I must first explain to you what a paradigm is. A paradigm is a new finding or more efficient way of getting something done that is not yet widely accepted. A paradigm shift is what happens when this idea becomes widely accepted. I gave in the paragraph above, an example of what I experienced a few years back when I found this new route. Like most paradigms it was met with reservation and doubt but in the end it was found to be true and efficient. An example that was used in class was the example of Copernicus, who said that the Earth did not revolve around the Sun. Many people did not accept his finings because the refuted the findings of Aristotle, the greatest mind ever. Also his findings were to radical for his time. His finds were later finally accepted.
Paradigm change is very important in the classroom because everything changes and education is not immune to these changes. The way that students learned five years ago may be different than the way students learn today and because teachers are in the classroom for many years, they must adapt to these changes. Also, teacher must try to meet the needs of the different kinds of learning capabilities in their classroom. At the moment students learn very well with technology so technology must be incorporated in learning. As teachers, we must be able to identity these paradigms in order to better assist the children in the classroom. Student’s education is very important and accepting these paradigms will aid teachers to accommodate very type of learning style, whether visual, audio, or kinetic.

Reflection 2

Transformation… What do you think about when you here this word? Do you think about something or someone turning into something totally different than what it once was like it is a Transformer? Is this even possible? Well, this is possible. Take the example that was used in the article Transformation: A Beginning. This article gave an example of the metamorphosis of a butterfly. The butterfly is the only species known to man that is able to turn into a different creature entirely. It starts off as a caterpillar and then forms a cocoon around itself and later transforms into a butterfly. This is still a very mysterious process but if this can happen with a caterpillar, this means it can happen with each and everyone one of us according to the two articles: Transformation: A Beginning and Transformation: Creating Context, Part 1.
Of course this cannot happen in a literal since but this happens through a multicultural awareness/consciousness (MA/C). What MA/C means to me is as follows: someone who knows that everyone is different in many aspects of their life but has the utmost respect for the other person’s views as well as their own. As I learned in class this past Wednesday, it takes more to MA/C than to just hanging out with people of different ethnicities and different cultures. What it takes is changing the way you think and feel about situations. An example that was given in class was of a child acting out in a supermarket. Almost everyone’s natural instinct would be: why is his mother letting her child do this, why doesn’t she take him outside and beat his butt. This is an incorrect thought process for someone who has mastered MA/C or of a person that is truly transformed. First a transformed person would look at the situation without any judgment and then he would try to figure out if this is a child who is just having a bad day or is this a child with behavior problems. The child may very well be acting out because of a recent trauma, such as a divorce. This type of transformation in my opinion is not easy to attain but it is not an obstacle that cannot be passed.
There is defiantly more to transformation than the paragraph above. A few other key factors that are to transformation is being tolerant, nonjudgmental and accepting of everyone’s ideas and beliefs. Being tolerant does not mean keeping people in your life only because of what they do for you but accepting everyone for what they bring into your life. Being nonjudgmental means having no bias or un-bias about someone or an idea. You must just be understanding of the idea. Accepting someone means having the ability to let someone in and take them as they are.

Quiz 1

EDG 2085 Quiz 1a » Quiz Maker

Reflection 1

A few insights that I have gained from reading the article Prehistoric Human… is that we have a great ability to adapt to our surroundings and circumstances. We witness this adaptation in our ability to control fire unarguably 230,000 to 300,000 years ago. We also witness this in evolution. Evolution has been a survival mechanism for all animals since the beginning of time. In this article it is suggested that because the Homo erectus learned to use fire to cook their teeth became smaller and so did the entire face. The females also evolved because of the need to protect the food from the stronger males while the food was cooking. Because of this need, they became more sexually available to attract a male that could protect them during times of cooking.
Another insight that I have gained is that the early human’s capacity to learn is enormous. I write this because this article suggests that when a lightning strike ignited a fire the Homo erectus learned to reap the spoils of the burnt forest.
A few insights that I have gained from The Invention of the Wheel is again, man’s ability to make our lives easier. The invention of the wheel was an immense stepping stone in the power to make our lives easier. If you look at where the wheels has taken us today (the automobile), it is simply amazing. In my opinion the invention of the wheel was one of the first technology revolutions. The wheel is a device that was created to make our lives easier and simpler and I was developed further and further. This also makes aware to me that man’s ability to improve his life is endless.
A few insights that I have gained from the article History of Writing is that our need to communicate with one another is a necessity and that is why through time it was developed and perfected. What I find to be extremely interesting is that humans first communicated through pictures and then it later evolved to words.
I believe we are being asked to read these articles because as pre-teachers we need to gain an understanding of our beginnings. It is imperative that you know where you came from so you know where you are going. These articles have shown me that our capacity to learn and to adapt is endless. It is up to the teachers to tap into ourselves and to our students to get the best out of them. I think that these articles are extremely important to read because they give you a sense of what we were like hundreds of thousands of years ago and how far we have come.

Who is Plutarch?

Everyone has a lot of questions about who they are. Apparently that is a question that takes a lot of meditation and reflection to figure out and after that you still don't truly know who you are. Some people say the road to figuring out who you are is a life long journey. I would say that I agree. You must go through many stages and fazes of life to fully figure yourself out.

At this point in my life I am at the college stage and faze of my life. I have a good idea of who I am and who I have yet to become and I am excited to say the possibilities seem to be endless.

Here is a little bit of what made me who I am. I am the fourth child of five and the youngest boy. I have one sister and she is the youngest. My mother and my father have been together for over twenty-seven years. They have been the most loving and caring parents to each and every one of us ever since a can remember. I remember when my mother used to talk about the days when it was just her, my dad, and my two eldest brothers. My mother decided that she had enough of talking about sports and sport cars so she decided to have a daughter. Five years later she had my third eldest brother. She still didn't have someone on her team so she tried again. When she did try again, eleven months later, I was born. You know what they say, fifth time is a charm so she gave it one more go. Finally, on her fifth try she was granted her wish of a beautiful healthy baby girl by the baby fairy. At last the Thelus family was whole with a mother, a father, four boys and one girl.

I remember my first day of elementary school. I was so nervous. I was worried about if the other kids would like me or hate me. I was worried if the teacher would be nice or mean or pretty. I was also worried about the red and blue polo shirt that I had to wear as a part of the school uniform. I remember my brothers telling me that everything would be okay and I didn't have to be nervous but I was doubtful because on their faces were malicious grins. I remember being dropped off at this massive structure with my three older brothers. We began the long walk to the entrance of the building. When we finally arrived to the strange building there were creatures even more massive inside. My brothers told me that these creatures were fourth and fifth graders and in order to survive I had to stay away from them. They also told me that where I am was called the cafeteria and that it was the place where they served food. I was happy to know that my new school wasn't all that scary if it had a cafeteria.