Blog #7 Romney vs. Obama - Education - Extended Comments (Jessica S.)
I wish I could say that I followed politics and understand what is being discussed at political debates. Unfortunately I find politics to be very confusing and hard to follow. As a college student going to school to be a teacher I understand that each candidates opinion on the topic of Education is important for our future as a nation, but I am often confused and I find what is being said hard to follow. When I read Jess's blog for the first time I was relieved because the way her blog post is laid out was very helpful.
I like the way that the article Jess found from The Washington Post explains where Romney and Obama stand on specific elements of Education. The article explains where each candidate stands on:
Vouchers - (using tax money to pay tuition at private schools) Obama opposes and Romney supports this aspect.
No Child Left Behind - As a future teacher I wish I knew more about this program of action because this effects my future directly. Each candidate states that he accepts certain aspects of the plan and since I don't fully understand No Child Left Behind I find it difficult to follow and support a specific candidate.
Higher Education - This aspect of education effects my future greatly due to the fact that during the next 4 years I will be in college. Based on the portion of the article I believe my understanding is that Obama and Romney have very different opinion on how to make college more affordable.
I also found this article Romney vs Obama online I liked how the article used quotes from pervious debates to demonstrate how each candidates opinion has changed or developed over time. I especially enjoyed Obama's speech at the end of his section I listened to the whole thing ( its 35 mins I don't expect you guys to watch the whole thing).
Thinking Points: I am so happy that Jess's blog was helpful but I still feel like I have more questions than I had before. Does anyone else feel the same way after researching their topic? Hopefully the class discussion will be helpful!
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Service Learning
Blog #6 In the Service of What? Extended Comments
I found this article very difficult to follow, unlike Nate who stated that he enjoyed this article. Nate sees the value of our journal entries for our service learning placements this semester. I see the value in researching the service learning placement prior to the first visit so that the volunteer knows what to expect and can relate on a more personal level with the people he or she will be working with. I also see the benefit of reflecting on our experiences in the classroom.
Service learning has value for college and high school students. I enjoyed my service learning experience in high school because I made it a priority to volunteer my time for something that I knew I would like to do. I worked with special needs students as they prepared for their special olympic games that take place at URI each spring. I agree with the statement in the article that says high schools should include service learning in their curriculum. Nate posted some helpful links that could help both high school and college students identify the many organizations and people that need help in today's society.
I found this article very difficult to follow, unlike Nate who stated that he enjoyed this article. Nate sees the value of our journal entries for our service learning placements this semester. I see the value in researching the service learning placement prior to the first visit so that the volunteer knows what to expect and can relate on a more personal level with the people he or she will be working with. I also see the benefit of reflecting on our experiences in the classroom.
Service learning has value for college and high school students. I enjoyed my service learning experience in high school because I made it a priority to volunteer my time for something that I knew I would like to do. I worked with special needs students as they prepared for their special olympic games that take place at URI each spring. I agree with the statement in the article that says high schools should include service learning in their curriculum. Nate posted some helpful links that could help both high school and college students identify the many organizations and people that need help in today's society.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Roger Williams Zoo...Jack O Lantern Spectacluar Saturday Night!!!
This Idea is credited to Lucy and Ashley!
Roger Williams Zoo Jack O Lantern Spectacular!!!! - I've never actually been but I have heard its a blast =)
Event Dates: Thursday, October 4 - Saturday, November 3Event Hours: 6 – 11 pm, with the last admission at 10 pm.NEW extended hours on Saturdays: 6pm-midnight, last admission at 11 pm.
Roger Williams Zoo Jack O Lantern Spectacular!!!! - I've never actually been but I have heard its a blast =)
Event Dates: Thursday, October 4 - Saturday, November 3Event Hours: 6 – 11 pm, with the last admission at 10 pm.NEW extended hours on Saturdays: 6pm-midnight, last admission at 11 pm.
Friday through Sunday nights: adults $15 ( Plus a $5 wheelchair fee incase anyone needs one)
Alex W, Lucy and Ashley are meeting at my house in Cumberland around 8pm. You guys are more than welcome to join us its an open invitation bring whoever you want! Its going to be a fun night out (away from homework) something different that people of all ages can enjoy. And it's not scary!!!!
p.s. if you decide to go and you want to meet up with us my number is: 401-556-8421 feel free to text or call for more information you can meet us at the zoo, we can drive to RIC, it's whatever is best for you!
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Cinderella Ate Me...
BLOG # 5 - CINDERELLA ATE ME (ARGUMENT)
Peggy Orenstein is very opinionated and analytical in her writing style concerning the marketing of children’s toys and her interpretation of Disney movies. The author begins with her version of the Disney Kid / Princesses and proceeds to discuss Barbie dolls, Shirley Temple, American Girl Dolls, Bratz Dolls, the color pink on all things girly and originally meant for both genders, i.e.: Monopoly, Tinker Toys for girls, and how Barbie dolls were marketed to the younger child.
Every topic the author brought up was dissected and ripped apart. Young children do not watch Disney movies with judgmental eyes. They watch with fascination and develop their own imaginations. These children are playing. They do not believe what they are watching is real, is exactly what their lives will be someday. Fantasy or make believe is a valuable tool to express oneself, find out what you like and don’t like, and to decipher right from wrong.
I grew up with an older brother. He is 2 and half years older than me. Jonathan’s toys were always available for me to play with (age appropriately) but my mom told me that I always gravitated to my own genders toys, baby dolls, tea parties, doll carriages, shopping carts, cleaning toys, Pretty Pretty Princess board game (played with dad - too funny). I never even glanced at Jonathan’s trucks, trains, tinker toys, screwdrivers and hammers, etc. But put me in a sand box with some water, bowls, and spoons and I was in my glory baking mud pies. It wasn’t anything I was taught, it was innate.
This article makes me uncomfortable, upset and disturbed about what is going on in society. Big business, in its insatiable quest to make more money, is manipulating children’s toys, toys that are clearly gender neutral. I agree that a girl would hesitate to invite a boy to play Monopoly on a “Pepto Bismol” Monopoly board (her words). I happen to like the color Pink. It has always been my favorite color. There is no need to rip it to pieces. Yes, there are too many pink toys. But don’t make the color seem so taboo.
My mom always taught me to not let people’s opinions of my own likes and dislikes bother me. But I do. Let the kids be kids. Don’t over analyze every move they make. Let them fantasize. They will find out soon enough how the world works....won’t they?
Thinking Points: Wether you agree with my blog post or not, Do you think children (both girls and boys) suffer any kind of set back by playing with toys that are meant for both genders or a game that simply has a PINK box on it?
Thinking Points: Wether you agree with my blog post or not, Do you think children (both girls and boys) suffer any kind of set back by playing with toys that are meant for both genders or a game that simply has a PINK box on it?
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Who doesn't like Fairytales????!!!!!!!
Blog #4 Christensen: Education Beyond the Classroom: Media Literacy ( Reflection)
We are all told from a young age that Fairytales like the ones described in this article are not real. But this is a very hard lesson to learn and accept. Fortunately I already learned that people don’t always mean what they say when they are 15-18 years old. Promises are shot to hell, feelings get hurt, hearts get broken and friends decide to walk out of your life for whatever reason. Learning that life does not always go how you picture it at 15 years old was a huge life lesson for me when I was 18 years old because I was destroyed and angry and sad that “MY FAIRYTALE” didn’t have a happy ending”
I like that this author developed a term “a secret education” - which describes the bigger message that these stories implant into the minds of anyone who reads them or watches the movie. A secret education gives readers a deeper message of what these stories are trying to tell us.
The first time I read through this article I thought that the high school students where a little dramatic in their responses but the truth is I was just like these students a couple of months ago. Whenever someone asked me if I was ready to go to school or excited for my birthday I would say something along the lines of, “I want to go backwards and be 8 again.” but the point is we cannot go backwards we have to push forward and learn from the tough lessons that life throws at us and stop living in the past and embrace the future. It’s ok that the fairytales that were read to us and the cartoons that we watched growing up are not everything we thought they were.
I like the idea that the students had for a project about analyzing and grading the cartoons that are on TV and giving them a report card to hand out to parents with their findings when the students analyzed the shows while watching them in a different way. We could do this project with cartoons from any generation. Cartoons from the 90's include:
Another reason why I think this article didn't bother me (as much as it would have bothered my Senior in high school self) is because my FAVORITE show on TV right now is called Once Upon A Time. The writers of this show put a spin on the fairytales that we love and know. The Evil Queen cast a curse that sent all the characters into REAL LIFE and they are trapped living in Stroybrook Maine. On her 28th Birthday, Emma Swan meets the child she put up for adoption 10 years before. Henry believes Emma is the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, prophesied to break the powerful curse and being back everyone's "Happily Ever After"
This show is now in its second season and is on ABC on Sundays from 8-9 p.m.
(P.S. if anyone is interested I just bought the first season on dvd from target I won't be giving it out but id be more than happy to watch it again...and again...and again....)
THE CASTLE <3
Me and Cinderella <3
My Best Friend Katelyn and I in DISNEY! She goes to Tampa University and this was my first time seeing her since she came home for winter break...
We spent the day in Animal Kingdom!!!
The Big Hat at Magic Kingdom I believe?????!!!!!!!
P.S. space mountain is my favorite Ride in this park my good friend Bryanne and I did it about 20 times in a row because we where stuck in a thunder storm and had nothing better to do...
The HUGE and AWESOME firework display at the Grad Night Party we got to run around Magic Kingdom until 3 Am <3
I know that a good number of friends from my graduating class have had the opportunity to take part in the Disney College Program which allows college students to live and work for Disney for an extended period of time. I've tried to look into this program in the past but I had a hard time finding information for opportunities for Education Majors. I've heard a lot of good things about this program and I've been meaning to take the time to ask Dr. Bogad if she knows anything about the Disney College Program and if it would be a good opportunity for Education Majors....
Thinking Points: Wether you've run through Disney's parks or spent time WATCHING a disney movie do you think you will share the Disney experience with your students or future children someday?
We are all told from a young age that Fairytales like the ones described in this article are not real. But this is a very hard lesson to learn and accept. Fortunately I already learned that people don’t always mean what they say when they are 15-18 years old. Promises are shot to hell, feelings get hurt, hearts get broken and friends decide to walk out of your life for whatever reason. Learning that life does not always go how you picture it at 15 years old was a huge life lesson for me when I was 18 years old because I was destroyed and angry and sad that “MY FAIRYTALE” didn’t have a happy ending”
“Although these stories are supposed to merely entertain us, they constantly give us a secret education. We are not only taught certain styles of violence, the latest fashions and sex roles by movies, magazines, and comic strips, we are taught how to succeed, how to love, how to buy, how to conquer, how to forget the past and suppress the future. We are taught more than anything else, how not to rebel.”
I like the idea that the students had for a project about analyzing and grading the cartoons that are on TV and giving them a report card to hand out to parents with their findings when the students analyzed the shows while watching them in a different way. We could do this project with cartoons from any generation. Cartoons from the 90's include:
Another reason why I think this article didn't bother me (as much as it would have bothered my Senior in high school self) is because my FAVORITE show on TV right now is called Once Upon A Time. The writers of this show put a spin on the fairytales that we love and know. The Evil Queen cast a curse that sent all the characters into REAL LIFE and they are trapped living in Stroybrook Maine. On her 28th Birthday, Emma Swan meets the child she put up for adoption 10 years before. Henry believes Emma is the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, prophesied to break the powerful curse and being back everyone's "Happily Ever After"
This show is now in its second season and is on ABC on Sundays from 8-9 p.m.
(P.S. if anyone is interested I just bought the first season on dvd from target I won't be giving it out but id be more than happy to watch it again...and again...and again....)
My Senior Trip To Disney!!!!! Grad Night 2010 <3 <3 <3 <3
Cumberland High School class of 2010
Students who went on Senior Class Trip Grad Night
THE CASTLE <3
Me and Cinderella <3
My Best Friend Katelyn and I in DISNEY! She goes to Tampa University and this was my first time seeing her since she came home for winter break...
We spent the day in Animal Kingdom!!!
The Big Hat at Magic Kingdom I believe?????!!!!!!!
P.S. space mountain is my favorite Ride in this park my good friend Bryanne and I did it about 20 times in a row because we where stuck in a thunder storm and had nothing better to do...
The HUGE and AWESOME firework display at the Grad Night Party we got to run around Magic Kingdom until 3 Am <3
Epcot!!!
I think I may me going to Florida for spring break to visit Katelyn (i've never actually been to see her at her school before) and we want to take a trip to DISNEY!!!
I know that a good number of friends from my graduating class have had the opportunity to take part in the Disney College Program which allows college students to live and work for Disney for an extended period of time. I've tried to look into this program in the past but I had a hard time finding information for opportunities for Education Majors. I've heard a lot of good things about this program and I've been meaning to take the time to ask Dr. Bogad if she knows anything about the Disney College Program and if it would be a good opportunity for Education Majors....
Thinking Points: Wether you've run through Disney's parks or spent time WATCHING a disney movie do you think you will share the Disney experience with your students or future children someday?
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
2:30 A.M. on a Wednesday Morning....
Ok so I just had break down # 109324-28-1340-93123 of the last six weeks of pure disaster (I almost used a swear word but I decided to use better vocabulary) I am getting really personal in this blog but I think its an important topic because it is all about having second thoughts as to wether or not the career of teaching is for me. These thoughts have never occurred to me so I freaked myself out even more because of it. To say I am over whelmed this week would be an understatement but I am trying to be a college student and I'm not convinced its going so well but thats a topic for another time...
My freak out of the day occurred while I was looking up information of my placement school Asa Messer at Bridgham Elementary School. I was trying to look up the date of when the school reopened as a new elementary school after the Providence School Committee decided to close 5 schools in Providence. After reading angry blog posts of unsupportive parents and learning about an unsupportive Teachers Union I totally lost it and started to wonder if Dr. Bogad was trying to scare me out of wanting to be a teacher. I don't like angry / unhappy people it makes me uncomfortable and I don't know what to do or say when I feel like a don't have the right answer and totally over react (^^^) and watching video's of a community who was clearly distraught over the situation made me extremely uncomfortable. I've never dealt with parents in an educational setting before and I'm very nervous about meeting parents because I've never had to before and I get very nervous before I do things I've never done before.
I understand that the point of this assignment is to NOT give me anxiety about my future or career choice. Or to make me question or feel uncomfortable about attending my placement (which is not an issue I am actually looking forward to Friday) This assignment is meant to expose us (college students) to what is going on in the real world - Which to me right now is Providence Rhode Island, PAST (the history), PRESENT (now), and FUTURE (my own classroom or next semester even)
I think that what Dr. Bogad is trying to do is expose us to knowledge so that we can decide what we want to do with it as students trying to become teachers. I'm sure I will read articles and watch video's in the future that will make me very uncomfortable but I'm not going to run away from what I want anymore. It's time to embrace everything... I may be overwhelmed on a wednesday morning at 2:30 A.M. but someday I'm not going to remember the day I wanted to change my major because of a YOU TUBE video.
My freak out of the day occurred while I was looking up information of my placement school Asa Messer at Bridgham Elementary School. I was trying to look up the date of when the school reopened as a new elementary school after the Providence School Committee decided to close 5 schools in Providence. After reading angry blog posts of unsupportive parents and learning about an unsupportive Teachers Union I totally lost it and started to wonder if Dr. Bogad was trying to scare me out of wanting to be a teacher. I don't like angry / unhappy people it makes me uncomfortable and I don't know what to do or say when I feel like a don't have the right answer and totally over react (^^^) and watching video's of a community who was clearly distraught over the situation made me extremely uncomfortable. I've never dealt with parents in an educational setting before and I'm very nervous about meeting parents because I've never had to before and I get very nervous before I do things I've never done before.
I understand that the point of this assignment is to NOT give me anxiety about my future or career choice. Or to make me question or feel uncomfortable about attending my placement (which is not an issue I am actually looking forward to Friday) This assignment is meant to expose us (college students) to what is going on in the real world - Which to me right now is Providence Rhode Island, PAST (the history), PRESENT (now), and FUTURE (my own classroom or next semester even)
I think that what Dr. Bogad is trying to do is expose us to knowledge so that we can decide what we want to do with it as students trying to become teachers. I'm sure I will read articles and watch video's in the future that will make me very uncomfortable but I'm not going to run away from what I want anymore. It's time to embrace everything... I may be overwhelmed on a wednesday morning at 2:30 A.M. but someday I'm not going to remember the day I wanted to change my major because of a YOU TUBE video.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)