My Final Visit :(

This past Monday marked the last time I'd be visiting my school for the semester. It was probably one of the saddest days of the year for me as a whole. While sitting around in my dorm room I didn't really know what to expect going into the day. Were the kids going to be sad to see me go? Did I accomplish my job as a tutor? Did I teach these kids anything? I mean for the first time all semester I was second guessing myself as an educator. Now I know this isn't a good thing, but I was nervous that now that my time was up I didn't do enough. It was a definitely an unfamiliar place for me to be in. Anyways the time finally came for me to go to the Cosgrove School. Since it was my final day I decided to get a little extra spiffy for the kids. When I walked into the school it was very melo being the first day back from vacation. I said hello to the secretary at the front office for the last time along with the Asian paperwork guy. I said hello to the reading coach and she was saying that whenever I wanted to come back or needed more volunteer hours where to find her. She also murmured a couple of compliments and wished my luck in the future. After this conversation I made my way up the stairs to the classroom where my kids were located. When I got up there to my surprise they were working with another tutor in the hallway the same place where we had worked. I recognized the tutor because the week before I had showed her how to conduct the activities. So I sat down at the group and watched them work. They smiled at me while they were competing the task at hand. I just sat quietly while they continued to work and here or there I would talk to the tutor about the lesson. It was odd not being the one conducting the activity but for the first time I got to see the kids work and instead of worrying about everything, I just got to see them work. As time went on the kids played a vocab game and I played with where we had some laughs. One girl sang single ladies by Beyonce and umbrella by Rhianna. It was probably one of the funniest things I've heard all semester while tutoring them. Slowly, minute by minute my time as a tutor with these wonderful kids was coming to an end. Eventually that time came and I had to leave the Cosgrove School. I went into the classroom to talk to the teacher for the last time discussing her son going to college next year and she wished me luck in the future. After the disposition sheet was filled out I said thank you and high fived everyone in the class. One girl wanted me to touch her book because I believe she had a crush on me so I thought that was cute. Once I left the classroom it was time to say good-bye to the kids I had tutored all semester. One girl came running up to me as I left the classroom and gave me a big hug saying thank you for helping her get smarter. Then the boy came up to me and gave me a big high five while saying thank you Mr. Mike. It was extremely sad to say goodbye and it was even sadder because one of the girls was absent, so I couldn't say bye to her. I left the Cosgrove School that day being grateful for the opportunity I had to tutor the kids. Well that's all from me...See ya

Education is Politics

1. "Education can be described in many ways. One way, suggested above, is to say that education is a contested terrain where people are socialized and the future of society is at stake."

This quote from the reading is very powerful in my eyes for a couple of reasons. The first being that in today's society I feel that the necessity of education is lacked by people. High school kids don't mind dropping out and other students at younger ages feel like taking random days off. Now I'm not saying that a break from school isn't necessary, but people these days are taking it to a new level. Like this excerpt says school is suppose to challenge the individual in order to prepare them for the future. Not only is the future important for them to have an education, but for our country and even the world itself as well. A lot of people just don't understand that concept. It's unfortunate that our society doesn't grasp that either because the future on the world as we know it depends on people having an education. The more we learn the better prepared we are for whatever comes at us. We need to accept the challenge of the educational society, raise up to it and accomplish the goals that are set for us. We need to be prepared, let's hope more people understand that.

2. "In classrooms where participation is meager, the low performance of students is routinely misjudged as low achievement."

Okay I chose this section from the reading because I see this occurring a lot in classrooms. In previous readings like the down syndrome one, people misjudge a lot of what actually occurs in a classroom. Just because a student participate doesn't mean that they can't achieve what the educator is asking of them. Is it frustrating as a teacher to receive no participation? Of course because you love the interaction amongst your students because they can learn from one another. However this doesn't change the fact that students don't have to participate or have low performance in a classroom doesn't mean that they aren't achieve anything. Trust me they are learning when they go to school no matter the circumstances. Maybe in a way we should be grateful that the students attended class that day because it shows that they care. A lot of people don't even go to class. It came up in the last reading and it comes up again, we need to stop nit-picking the littlest things in people. It's frustrating to see it coming up in reading after reading because it's so true.

3. " Students in empowering classes should be expected to develop skills and knowledge as well as high expectations for themselves, their education, and their futures."

Part of going to school is discovering who you are as a person. On top of this in any classroom the guidelines set above in this quote should be applied to every student. The higher the bar is set the more people will grow and learn. If we maximize expectations for individuals then the success rate will lead to a brighter future. Everyday a student should step into a classroom wanting to improve their knowledge on some topic whether it's math, history, reading, etc. We need to force the development of individuals and even if the fail now they will learn to get back up and try again. This will help immensely in the future because the real world isn't so kind and the better prepared we are as a society the better off we will be. On a final thought, the lower the bar is set in any setting the less people will get out of something, but the higher the bar is set the more people will get out of it.

Overall, this reading was very informative and provided a nice insight on certain aspects of the classroom. It also exploited the politics in education and that can be an unfortunate situation for a lot of people. I just wish we would all stop being so byist in society and just see people for what they are. We should set high standards in order to better prepare ourselves and the more people succeed the more others are going to want to join in. Again another great reading.

CitizenShip in School : Reconceptualizing Down Syndrome

1. "Now we know that people with disabilities can learn and have full, rich life. The challenging is to erase negative attitudes about people with developmental disabilities, get rid of the stereotypes and break the barriers for people with disabilities."

You know when we talk about the American Society, Johnson summed it up with why can't we all get along. We are suppose to be the most capable species yet we can't along with each other. Again this ties in to another reading like this one because once again we don't respect one another. It's truly sad to read a story like this and learn about how people with disabilities are so easily down graded. And the unfortunate part is it's so true!! Think about it, have you ever thought that a person with disabilities was as intelligent as a person without disabilities at first sight? I know that answer is no. People are so bias it's not even funny. This huge challenge that lies ahead of us can be overcome but our mindset needs to change in a hurry or it's just going to get worse. We need to finally realize that everyone is equal no matter what shape, size, or disability they have. Students with disabilities need to be let to take regular classes if they please and not be segregated unless it's asked for. Change is a necessity.

2. "To value another is to recognize diversity as the norm. It establishes the equal worth of all school children, a sense that we all benefit from each other, and the fundamental right of every student to belong."

This quote above, might be one of the best quotes I've read all year. It's so true when it states that to value another is to recognize diversity as the norm. When we value another human being instead of nit-picking at whats different about every specific one then we have finally accepted diversity. Unfortunately I don't see this happening anytime soon in our society. People always have something bad to say about one another especially on a racial level. The fundamentals of acceptance begin at the elementary level and that's where good habits need to be enforced and developed. Like the quote states, every student has a right to belong. America is a free country and instead of making people change their culture for us, we should adapt to theirs. That's when we become better people and a better country. Diversity has been a huge issue for a long time and it's time to end it.

3." We will not recognize the diverse contributions of those who wear obscuring labels until we move our focus from the disability and look for the complexity and individually we take for granted in ourselves."

This excerpt is crucial for the mind set we need to have as humans. Instead of judging people at first sight or putting labels on people we need to see who they really are. Equality is the key for acceptance in society, but hey that's just my opinion. I feel that this article really presents a huge issue in educational settings because students don't really accept others with disabilities without mocking them. It's sad to witness, but it happens everywhere. It comes back to not segregating students in classroom either because the more they work with one another they more comfortable they will get. With this their acceptance level will go up and it'll be a good starting point in their lives on accepting all kinds of people. Who knows maybe this change will influence the stubborn adults that refuse too.

Overall, this article was really interesting and it brought up a new side to diversity. Diversity isn't just an ethnic war its a disability one as well. When you first read the story at the beginning of the story it's really an eye opener. I don't think some people realize how crude they are until they look back on it. I agree 100% that we should start to slowly integrate students with disabilities into a regular classroom, especially when they want too. Normality is the key comfortability and acceptance by others. If certain people are treated differently than others than that raises eyebrows that they are different or weird. This was a very good read and I look forward to influence a normal classroom with lots of diversity as an up and coming educator. Fight for equality!!

School Visit

This week at school was quite different from any of my other previous 12 visits this past semester. I had already finished my Syllable activities so the reading coach had nothing else for me to go over with the kids, which was odd because I was now on my own in order to help the kids learn. As I walked into the classroom at the Cosgrove school the mood in the classroom was very depressing. Everyone was quiet, which is completely strange because the kids are usually all over the place due to the fact that recess/ lunch has just ended. So I walk into the class and I ask the teacher if there is anything specific she wants me to help her with. She says that I can read a story with my usual kids about the Incas because she felt they'd grasp it more in a smaller group with me guiding them. This sounded like such a great idea at first, but I was quick to learn that it wasn't. So we get together in our usual spot in the hall way and begin reading the story out loud when all of a sudden kids come out of the classroom and start talking so loud. Well about 5 seconds later their teacher came out of the classroom probably yelling louder than any other human I have ever heard in my life scream. This just wasn't in 2 minute shout either he was yelling for about 10 minutes. So of course the kids I'm trying to finish this book with are completely unfocused now. After it got quiet again we started reading the story again except this time now one of my students was looking all over the place not paying attention, which led to another girl doing the same. Eventually it got to a point where I had to start quizzing them after we had completed two pages of reading. This was extremely frustrating for me because now I had to slow down to make sure they were paying attention and it took a lot longer to read the story than it should have. After we finished reading I had told the kids I didn't have to many more visits that I would be able to see them and the looks on their faces were so sad. It's amazing how deeply affected they were by a stranger that they have just began to get to know. It was heart breaking because these kids weren't just normal elementary school students anymore, they were my friends. Now on Monday something, was different too.

When I walked into the classroom to gather the activity for the day I realized that there were no more activities to be completed. As a result of this the reading coach at the school told me to just ask the teacher what she needed help with, which made sense. But as I walked out of the classroom the reading coach changed her mind and told me to teach another VIPS volunteer how to conduct an activity. I felt special that she told me to show another volunteer what to do. So on Monday I showed her how to conduct the activity yet make some variations so the children have more fun yet still learn a good amount. Sometimes that involves having competitions or grouping the students, it'll depends on how you feel is best for the kids. At the end of the day she said that I did an excellent job showing her what to do and it made me feel really good. So that was my exciting, yet very different week at Cosgrove School. I look forward to my last week there even though it'll be very depressing to say good bye :(

Anyon

"The procedure is usually mechanical, involving rote behavior and very little decision making or choice. The teachers rarely explain why the work is being assigned, how it might connect to other assignments, or what the idea is that lies behind the procedure or gives it coherence and perhaps meaning or significance. "

Okay well this whole excerpt from from the piece written by Anyon brings up a lot of problems in this classroom. One of the most important requirements of a teacher is too involve students with different challenges that involve decision making or choice because those keys are huge in life. On top of this students like a challenge and it keeps them intrigued in a classroom setting. Now another part of this quote that is really disturbing is how the author writes that the teacher didn't explain why the work was being assigned or its connection to other works. Like are you kidding me? How can you consider yourself a teacher without explaining what is going on? The students need to understand the meaning of the assignment and how it connects to others. This quote is honestly annoying to ready and makes me angry that this actually goes on, but once again I'm not shocked.

"Serious attention is rarely given in school work on how the children develop or express their own feelings and ideas, either linguistically or in graphic form. On the occasions when creativity or self-expression is requested, it is peripheral to the main activity or it is "enriched" or "for fun."

Creativity is a huge key in a classroom in my opinion, especially for young students. They should be able to express their feelings in a constructive way in order help influence other discussions in the classroom. Another piece to this is what makes a classroom so special is the individuals personality and how the kids work with another, which allows them to grow as individuals. The thought of forced fun that is also talked about in this quote is morally wrong. There is no turn on or off switch for creativity and you can't expect a student too suddenly have all this creativity just for the specific assignment. This statement is sad to here and like the above quote is honestly ridiculous if it occurs daily in a classroom, let a kid be themselves!!

" Children are continually asked to reason through a problem, to produce intellectual products that are both logically sound and of top academic quality. A primary goal of thought is to conceptualize rules by which elements may fit together in systems and then to apply these rules in solving a problem. Schoolwork helps one to achieve, to excel, to prepare for life."

It's unfortunate to hear that this only occurs in an upper economic classroom because it should take place in every classroom. Problem solving is an important skill to have especially as you get older in life. Another important key in the classroom is the idea of setting goals not only as a student but as a teacher. So it's nice to see that a primary goal of the educator is to conceptualize rules by which elements can relate to one another in different systems. Connections are crucial in an educational setting! Not only this it's even more crucial in solving a problem, not only school but in life. This is why these schools are so successful maybe we should start taking some time an educate teachers of other schools to think this way. We need to prepare our students properly for life.

Overall this piece was probably one of the better ones that I have read all year. I loved how the author took five different school settings and compared them in order to show why higher economic school's have a better success rate. It's troubling at the same time however, to hear about how different these schools are and how the teachers play such a large role in it. It makes you want to get out there improve the schools that truly need it. The higher economic class shouldn't be the only ones getting prepared to be a doctor it should be everyone in school. Goals need to be set by everyone in order to students to succeed.

Teaching Boys and Girls Seperatly

"Foley Intermediate School began offering separate classes for boys and girls a few years ago, after the school’s principal, Lee Mansell, read a book by Michael Gurian called “Boys and Girls Learn Differently!”

I think it's honestly ridiculous to even consider having boys and girls taught in different settings. The only time I could see this being a possible idea is an elementary sex education lesson where the kids are immature. Yes I know woman mature early than men, but it definitely doesn't change the fact that they should be in the same class room. Segregation isn't approved anymore in this society, so it doesn't make sense to me on why they'd have gender segregation. Another concept that comes out from this excerpt is the influence of a book effecting a classroom setting that greatly. It makes you wonder if he just uses that as an excuse to configure something like this because it's what he wanted to do. I just whole heartedly believe this arrangement of a classroom is morally wrong, it's different to have all guy or all girl schools than schools that aren't that have separate classrooms. People have to remember that children can grow from one another they don't just need the same sex all the time.

“You need to get them up and moving. That’s based on the nervous system, that’s based on eyes, that’s based upon volume and the use of volume with the boys.” Chadwell, like Sax, says that differences in eyesight, hearing and the nervous system all should influence how you instruct boys. “You need to engage boys’ energy, use it, rather than trying to say, No, no, no. So instead of having boys raise their hands, you’re going to have boys literally stand up."

Okay, I agree with this statement somewhat in the sense that males tend to want to be more active than females generally speaking. I agree that you should engage a person's energy and use it in a positive way rather than tell them no. That shouldn't just be done with boys though, it should be any child in general that has a high energy level. I don't know the scientific facts between the differences or boys and girls or women and men, but I do feel that their learning differences aren't substantial enough to point to separate them. On top of this, I don't think it's to a point where boys have to stand up instead of raising their hand. Other aspects of the class can be differentiated in order to make adjustments to the higher energy levels.

"One of the first things she did when she got serious about trying to start an all-girls public school was to hire a lawyer, George Shebitz, to explore the legality of a single-sex school. Tisch started visiting elite Manhattan all-girls private schools like Brearley and Spence, and once she had a vision of girls in blue-and-white uniforms sitting in circles around tables instead of at rows of desks, Tisch met with Evelyn Castro, who was then the superintendent of New York City’s District 4, the district that encompasses part of East Harlem and one known for its innovation. "

I honestly I don't understand why people would want to create a public school for all girls. It just blows me a way that a person would go out of their way to make this happen. Eventually they are going to have to learn in a coed setting they mine as well get used to it at a young age. I understand there is some learning differences, but are they honestly that serious? I don't have a problem with being an occasional private all girls or guys school, but a public all girls school is a little sketchy. I admire the effort that is taken place in order to improve the educational setting, but I feel like it's gone to far.

Overall, this reading was extremely interesting and made valid points. The research that has been conducted in order to discover differences between boys and girls. However, I don't feel that same sex public schools should be put in place. I understand that they may have different learning abilities or ways to learn, but it doesn't mean they should separate them. Eventually coed learning environments occur in life, so the earlier kids get used to this the better. Some people will disagree with this point of view and I can understand that there are benefits by separating the different sexes. However by separating them we have to ask ourselves will to help or hinder them in the long run?