Education Class Week 11

Last Monday we discussed the influence of the Achiever´s Academy and analyzed it´s importance. We realized that by putting these student´s into a positive light, they have gained confidence and willingness to proceed onto greater things. If I were the teacher of the Achiever’s Academy, I would view this progression as an opportunity to prepare my students for college. I think that thus far, the Academy has taught these students the necessary skills they need in order to move on to college and other forms of independent learning. Their ability to handle experiences on their own and perform independent tasks will  prepare them for the future. In high school, the teachers and the faculty tend to “hand hold” their students: constantly getting on them about missing assignments, calling home when they are missing school, and are given many warnings when it comes to behavior. College will be a wake-up call for many of these students. The teacher will not call home if you do not attend class, or even confront you about it. If you chose to miss class, you are wasting your time, money, and energy. College is all about the decisions you make. With that said, the Academy has taught them how to handle themselves, and in return has handed them the necessary skills they will take with them in the future. Because these students have a year under their belt in the Academy, they should understand the power of choice, and the importance of getting up every morning and doing what needs to be done. They ought to be mature enough to have a control over their lives, and will have the ability to influence others. These videos will set the tone  for the next class who come into the Academy. They will see how seriously they ought to be about making the change. The students now enrolled into the Academy  have the opportunity to be role models for the incoming freshmen and therefore will gain a responsibility to do the right thing. I am very impressed with the way the Achiever’s Academy is run and as you can see I think it has had an influence on many students at Concord.

Education Class Week 10

I learned a lot through the Achiever’s Academy project. Seeing everyone’s videos gave me an opportunity to “meet” all the students. I realized the impact one organization can make. Watching the videos I was able to recognize and see all the changes the students had made, especially in those that went and recorded in the Achiever’s Academy more than once. You were able to see their progression, and how dedicated they were to make the change. It was obvious that some students had more of a journey left than others, however, seeing the students that were fully dedicated, it was comforting to know that the organization was making a difference. I learned how important support is for success. For the majority of the students all these students needed was a little push, that they were not getting either in the classroom or in their homes. Most of the students thanked the Pastor and the teachers involved for caring, and they in turn looked up to them for doing so. However, I also realized how important support can be when I heard all the drama that was going on in Concord High School. I could only imagine the frustration the school was facing when the drama arose. I think it is sad that the faculty could not just let the kids have their moment in the spotlight. These students worked so hard, and deserved to be rewarded. Most of these kids were so excited that we were making a movie out of them, and it was sad that they were misinformed that the moving viewing in Willard Hall was cancelled. The students would have really enjoyed seeing the videos because I think we all did an excellent job. I hope that they still would be able to see them, and that through watching themselves and their peers they will see the progress each and every one of them has made, and will strive for more.

Education Class Week 9

I see a lot of similarities between Ms. Bishop and Ms. Gruwell. Both teachers abandoned their traditional styles of teaching when their vision toward each student surpassed the letter grade they had received in the class. For Ms. Gruwell, the diary entries allowed her to take a look inside the “real” student and see them for who they were outside the classroom, their hopes and their dreams, their strengths and weaknesses. She stepped into the students’ world, found out their interests, and discovered ways that she could incorporate certain aspects in their life that they truly cared about outside the classroom, into the curriculum. Similarly, Ms. Bishop found out who her students were when she eavesdropped on a rap battle going on in the lunch room. She abandoned her traditional views toward modern music and saw to her what had been a new “trend” as art. She saw past what I’m sure was a little bit of controversial lyrics as an art form. She began to see rap as what it was, lyrics that use all different forms of literary devices as well as certain aspects of poetry. Because Ms. Bishop was open-minded toward her more “up to date” students, she was successful in the classroom. She created a group called Baseline Entertainment, an after school program in which students started out spitting rhymes at one another to eventually producing music. For many of these students, academics were not something that the students enjoyed or they believed they even had a future in, however, Ms. Bishop opened up these students’ eyes to see that what they were doing was educational and could be a large part of their future. Ms. Bishop succeeded because it gave these students something to look forward to everyday. For some, it was a change to actually be part of something interesting and educational at the same time. They developed an enthusiasm toward this new style of poetry and as a result put a majority of their efforts toward the program. For many, Baseline Entertainment started out as a path but had eventually became a journey. These students who were once hesitant about the program now still keep baseline in their hearts and have grasped a further understanding of their futures, who they are, and who they want to be. I believe that in order to be a good teacher, you must teach your students what they ought to know about the world, what has happened and how to prevent the negative it from happening again. Yet in order to be a great teacher you must teach their students what they ought to know about themselves. When a teacher has accomplished this task, I think they can truly consider themselves successful.

Education Class- Week 8

I really enjoyed listening to the student speak about his experience at Baseline Entertainment because I could relate to him. I understood what he meant when he said that this experience got him to get into his daily routine: to get up every morning and go to school, because for once he had something to look forward to. When I got the lead in my high school musical, I looked forward to school more because I knew that after school I would have rehearsal and I would perform. I saw a pattern whenever I would have an activity after school whether it be a sport or a musical, I would get better grades because I was more focused and into school. I see how Baseline Entertainment got him to steer him away from the negativity in his neighborhood and got him on the right track to a better life.

His intelligence for music relates to the theory of multiple intelligences. He said that he hated school and that he did poorly but when it came to music theory, he was very successful. In his song he learned about chords and used poetic conventions in his lyrics. It just goes to show teachers that you have to use different teaching styles in order to get students involved. For a student who is interested in music, it is very easy for a teacher to incorporate that into an English curriculum because English, music, and theater go hand in hand. Also, I think it is important to incorporate technology into a curriculum. Regarding the lesson on Millennial learners, traditional teaching is no longer an option. I think with keeping an open mind, more people with benefit from education and it will no longer be considered a chore.

Education Class Week 7

Maybe this will be biased because of the generation I was born into, however, learning through the internet is far more interesting and easier than traditional learning. For example, I have about three Spanish-English dictionaries for my major and I do not think I cracked each one open one time. With all the websites and translation devices via the internet, I don’t have time to sit there and look up and translate a list of thirty vocabulary words when doing it through the internet will take a matter of seconds. However, I do see the downfall in this and I understand I am fortunate to even have a computer. I grew up in an upper middle class suburban area and I understand that not all students are as fortunate as me and my classmates were. I am impressed how textbooks for schools are now including more than one sources into their websites. They are putting websites at the bottom of their pages. I believe that this will help our culture. I believe that the way our education system is set up that sometimes we are considered to be behind other cultures educationally and I think that by being open minded to new forms of learning will only help the education systems in the United States. This technique as well as the mediated immersion teaching style will help students learn more efficiently. For example, baseline students wanted to be real producers which allowed them to physically move throughout a real location. This is more of a hands-on teaching experience. Instead of just reading about it, students will be able to experience it. This is the reason why Erin Gruwell in the Freedom Writer’s Diary was so successful. She was able to make such an impact on the students because she didn’t just preach the students about how amazing the museum of tolerance is, she gave them the opportunity to experience it themselves. As I teacher I will be open to different methods of learning. I understand that everyone is different therefore they learn differently and at their own pace. I hope I will find ways to make my classes more interesting even if it is broadening my horizons by doing something I was never exposed to before. I think that as technology improves, my students will be able to teach me  new and interesting ways we can learn, and it will make my classroom innovative and far more interesting in the process.

Education Class Week 6

This weeks lesson was focused around my major. Because I am a Spanish education major, I really benefited from the lesson regarding education vs. educación. I learned that education counts on standardization and content. It is based on learning and teachers in American culture tend to over-interpret behavior and attitudes as rebellion. Because there will be a time in which I will be teaching students some of which who are of Spanish decent, I need to be able to distinguish between both cultures. I was taught that educación is inseparable from relationships, commitment, and caring. Instead of just focusing on the curriculum, the education system in Latino cultures as a whole provides instructions on how one should live in the world. Fortunately for my students, I will be able to incorporate both cultures. Since I will be teaching children of both American and Latino decent, I will not just focus on one type of teaching method. It is necessary to incorporate the rules of an educación system even in an American setting in order for students to really emerge themselves in learning Spanish. I personally learn better when the teacher makes lessons more personal. I understand why the educación system allows teachers to include relationships into their learning because as a teacher I believe you are not only an instructor but a role model as well. Erin Gruwell in ¨The Freedom Writer´s Diary¨ incoropated commitment and relationships into her methods of teacher, and the students really benefited from them. Most of the students did not have that support system as well and could not believe a teacher cared so much. I think that if teachers followed Erin Gruwell´s example, they too would make a lasting impression. I don´t believe you can connect with a student without including both styles of education and educación. I think using both techniques can really help prove your worth as a teacher.

Education Class-Week 5

I really enjoyed reading and learning about “The Freedom Writer’s Diary.” I believe that as undergraduates in the University of Delaware school of Education, this book is very inspirational. It goes to show you that even with a few years of experience as a teacher or even in your first year of teaching you can really make a difference. Ms. G is your ideal teacher for what she has done with her students. With just patience and time, she found ways to transform typical inner city students into ladies and gentlemen. She redefined teaching by basing her curriculum around novels that the students could relate to, and just with a simple writing assignments, she encouraged the students to dream again.  At the beginning many students didn’t even believe they were going to live to see tomorrow due to all the violence they were facing in their everyday lives. By their Senior year, all of the students had dreams of going to college or having some plan of the future. Ms. G taught them much more than the curriculum. She shaped their lives reinforcing that they are much more deserving of the American Dream than any other person in this world, no matter their backgrounds. Ms. G taught them that with hard work they can do anything. She went beyond the classroom and developed a relationship with her students that her colleagues envied. Because she was willing to step inside their world, they in return stepped inside hers. Before you know it, the students became so enthusiastic about a class that many wouldn’t even dream of missing school. In general, “The Freedom Writer’s Diary” is very inspirational for up and coming teachers. It shows what being a good teacher is all about and to never give up on either one student or a classroom of students. The message in the book is that anything is possible and it shows how education alone can save many lives.

Education class- Week 4

I particularly enjoyed Ms. Emlynn DesGannes coming to our class to speak. It is interesting to see a play and then hear the directors take on it afterwards to see if their vision came true. She gave me a lot of insight about teaching after hearing her experiences counseling young women.  She said that as a teacher it is very important to watch your actions at all times, and to make sure you are being a positive influence to your students. She said that being a young teacher in the teaching world would make the students want to know more about us, and if they look up to us, would imitate our every move. This comment really hit home because I really looked up to one of my Spanish teachers in high school, and I believe she had something to do with me wanting to become a Spanish teacher.  I want to make sure that when I enter this profession that I really try to monitor my actions and make sure I am providing a positive example for my students.      Her speech also got me thinking about what kind of teacher I want to be. As a student, it is obvious what teachers care and what teachers may be in the profession for the wrong reasons. Hearing Ms. Emlynn’s experience with the young girls and their writing, I smiled because she said that she would make them rewrite their writing pieces even if it was something as small as sloppy penmanship. This small gesture shows that she knows they could do better and won’t settle for anything less than their best. I believe this strategy is effective because it shows the students to never settle for anything less than the best, and to always push themselves to do better.

As far as Friday’s class, the presentation about the Achiever’s Academy Profiles really made me excited to meet the student I will be working with and make the video. I was nervous because I don’t know much about video equipment but I was assured that the library has all the resources we need to get the job done. After seeing video’s such as hoop dreams and the video about how money affects a student’s live, I’m excited to see how my video will turn out, and I hope that the student I am working with will be just as excited.

Education class- Week Three

This weeks video “The Hobart Shakespearean” as well as the play “Voices” opened up my eyes to new perspectives. I particularly enjoyed “The Hobart Shakespearean.” It was amazing to see what one teacher can accomplish in a whole year. I’ve never seen or experienced anything like it. I was amazed and impressed by the student’s talents especially by their interpretation and appreciation for literature. The student’s were reading novels well beyond their years. “Hamlet,” “The Lord of the Flies,” and “A Separate Peace” are novels usually read by High School students. These were novels that I struggled reading in High School, and these children who were only ten years old comprehended the material and somehow related it to their young lives. I was touched when the children were able to put emotion into their work, for example when rehearsing for Hamlet, the girl who was reading for Ophelia put more emotion into her monologue than most Shakespearean actors do. I really understood what type of children they were working with when many of the students started to cry at the end of “Huckleberry Fin.” I was amazed that these children could see the messages portrayed in these novels at such a young age. It makes me realize that you can never underestimate our youth, and that children are smarter than people give them credit for.

However, a part of me doesn’t believe the situation is realistic. Most teachers do not have the support nor the funding that Raff had. It is almost seems impossible to incorporate everything into one curriculum. I think that you have to know your audience, and see what types of students you will be working with. The children in “The Hobart Shakespearean” were extraordinary, and more talented than any group of students I have ever encountered. I think it is amazing that Raff found the time to incorporate guitar lessons and field trips to D.C, however, most schools to do have the money nor the time to do such things. For example, the children had two very famous actors guestspeak at their classes. I guess the location of the school contributed to this experience,but most schools are not so lucky. I am very pleased that there are students in this world who will be able to experience unforgettable classes like this one, however I think that my fellow classmates and I will just need to find our own ways, maybe without money, or enough time, to make our classes unforgettable.

As for the play “Voices,” it really changed my perception of the word “incarceration.” Most people when they hear that word, they solely think of a person serving jail time. The director’s dance, as well as the speech made by the mother who’s son was serving a 14 year sentence, changed my perspective of that word. I realized that to be “incarcerated” is to be strapped down. It is not solely in confinement. Many people may experience incarceration even if they are not behind bars. The director dance helped me realize that. She felt “incarcerated” because she was unable to see her husband everyday, and because she was waiting for him to leave prison. In the mother’s speech, the audience realized that it is not just the criminal who is incarcerated when he/she goes to jail, but it is the whole family as well. The sister of that man would be incarcerated because she would be unable to see her brother in the most important years of her life. Seeing a play like “Voices” just makes me realize how unfortunate it is that people and families have to go through that. It is unfortunate that people put themselves through that. People make mistakes, and it is upsetting that once that happens people can spend up to 1/4, or 1/3 of their lives in jail. It is unfortunate that society puts them away in isolation for that long of a time. Imagine being reminded of your mistake everyday for 14 years. Its almost makes it impossible for people to forgive themselves. I understand that some crimes are more serious than others, but there are people out there who are not bad people, they just make  poor decision. That is why I think programs such as “Voices” are so powerful. I don’t think that juveniles realize the life they are choosing for themselves. I think that showing “Voices” at all high school would do justice, and really get the message across.

Both programs opened up my eyes to different perspectives. They are talking about subjects of different extremes. Adolescents who are extremely fortunate, and those who may have made poor decision while they were adolescents and are now suffering the consequences. I think the important message here is that as a teachers we need to constantly provide the students with good role models, so that their lives can be more like “The Hobart Shakespearean” experience. I think that if we start at a young age, we will be able to get the message across, and as a result save many lives.

Education Class- Week two.

The video of the students within the Achiever’s Academy  at Concord High School was informative as well as uplifting. Because I will be spending a lot of time working with the students in the Achiever’s Academy, I was curious to see what the program entailed. I wanted to know what kind of students we would be working with, how I would relate to them, and do my best to help them further their goals and dreams. I was impressed to hear the student’s insights: to hear their own definitions of the word “achiever,” and what success means to them. Most students, especially the upperclassmen, seem to be very driven, but just might be in the academy because they need a little bit more of a push. I liked the video in particularly because it gave me the opportunity to learn more about the students. I liked hearing about the student’s personal stories as well as their individual goals. In most inner-city high schools, it is common to hear negative stories about the student’s families, and it was a breath of fresh air to hear how a mother-son relationship could be so strong. One student in particular, who was studying to be a fashion designer, claimed his mother was his best friend. Hearing the advice she gave him, helped him shape his definition of the word “achiever” and I think it is up to my fellow classmates and I to install positive influence in the students who aren’t so fortunate at home. I am excited to meet these students in person, and see how I could assist them.

The speaker did an excellent job because it was someone they seemed to look up to and respect. She knew the ropes, had that been there done that mentality, which made it easier for the students to relate to her. They seemed interested to hear her own insight and as a result had no problem opening up to her. They knew she could relate to them, and i believe the informal teaching arrangement made it easier for the students to relate her story to their own.

As far as becoming achievers’ is concerned, I think the program is definitely pushing the students in the right direction. Just by observing their interaction during the video, I could infer that the students have various excellent methods to becoming an achiever. A couple of those are as follows. One student suggested that networking could really help him get to where he needs to go, and that it is important to profile yourself as professional when doing so. Another student analyzed the speaker’s quote “Don’t accept being stuck” as don’t settle for anything less than you deserve. The students then engaged themselves in a conversation and decided to never accept  limitations no matter what struggles they may face.

When the speaker admitted she became an achiever once she started to take life seriously, I immediately thought of the students. Just by enrolling themselves into this program, they have decided to work towards a brighter future. I see potential in each and everyone of these students. I am excited to work with them, and I can not wait to see what they have accomplished when they have graduated from the program.