I don't really know what to write about. If you look at the times on my posts today I've been at this for, what, four hours? I'm a little stressed because I still don't really understand what I'm supposed to do for my draft due this week, but I do appreciate the ability to turn it in. The snow just completely messed me up, and then I got wicked sick and was on pain meds that messed with my ability to think clearly. I'm finally starting to feel better and I can't seem to get enough hours in a day to do all the work I need. That's all I can think about.
I can try and think about something else. I don't know what these are supposed to do, or if they are supposed to be personal, but I guess I'll put a mix of professional and personal in today. I got approved the other day to be a substitute teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools. It's really exciting because I finally get to have some experiance with high school and middle school level kids. My mom is a middle school teacher and is already trying to figure out when I can sub for her so she can go visit my family up in Massachusetts. My poor brother will probably be stuck getting me as a sub because I speak Russian and his Russian teacher will be more then excited to have a former student come back and actually be able to teache the class. I can't wait to actually start doing something though.
Well I guess that's it. I don't know what else to say, but hopefully I'll be all caught up officially. If you do see anything that I'm missing I apologize and hopefully I'll be able to complete it!! Thanks
Sunday, February 28, 2010
#5:
Cars. I can see breaklights in front of me until I can't see anything anymore, and all I want to do is shout at everyone to move. The car directly in front of me is an SUV so I have to swerve a little into the turn lane to see how far ahead the traffic jam continues, and I know that nothing has really changed. The light at the next intersection has just turned red, and I start to slow down from barely moving to not moving at all.
Just a few hundred feet ahead of me is the wonderful amazing dirty snow filled turn to the McDonalds. Soon I'll be able to fill my stomach with more greasy food, and hopefully a caffeine filled coke if the guilt doesn't get to me. I really shouldn't drink caffeine, but there's something about not being allowed to have it that makes it even better.
The guy next to me is reading his newspaper, which always drives me crazy. I can't understand why people always insist on doing things in the car that will most likely end with them crashing into someone else. I see it all the time. Personally I tune my radio to anything with actual music playng (not that talk show crap) and turn up loud enough for me to sing at the top of my lungs, but not so loud that I have to force everyone around me to listen to it too.
Another few minutes pass with me doing a little dance in my seat as I wait for the light to turn that neon green, and it doesn't seem to ever want to. I know that even when it does turn traffic won't move very far, but please god let it be far enough that I can get some food!
Just a few hundred feet ahead of me is the wonderful amazing dirty snow filled turn to the McDonalds. Soon I'll be able to fill my stomach with more greasy food, and hopefully a caffeine filled coke if the guilt doesn't get to me. I really shouldn't drink caffeine, but there's something about not being allowed to have it that makes it even better.
The guy next to me is reading his newspaper, which always drives me crazy. I can't understand why people always insist on doing things in the car that will most likely end with them crashing into someone else. I see it all the time. Personally I tune my radio to anything with actual music playng (not that talk show crap) and turn up loud enough for me to sing at the top of my lungs, but not so loud that I have to force everyone around me to listen to it too.
Another few minutes pass with me doing a little dance in my seat as I wait for the light to turn that neon green, and it doesn't seem to ever want to. I know that even when it does turn traffic won't move very far, but please god let it be far enough that I can get some food!
#4: Types of Writing in Your Field
The nice thing about being an English teacher is that there are so many different kinds of writing available to you. You can do anything from creative writing to nonfiction and it would all fit into English. And they are all important. A person should always be able to express themselves creatively, and that is why creative writing is something that always should be taught in English classes. It also promotes the ability to give accurate descriptions. Being able to write research papers is also very important. An English class should always have different analytical papers assigned, and I should be able to write and grade that kind of paper. Research papers have been the cornerstone of the humanities for a very long time, and should remain in that position.
Another aspect of writing that I’ve recently discovered is the idea that nonfiction is also important. Being able to write a review, or to accurately retell a story from your childhood is just as important as being able to pull out obscure points in a classic novel and create a hypothesis based on maybe a dozen or so paragraphs.
#2: What are your strengths?
I get along really well with people, and my ability to empathis with a person is great. I can really walk in anothers shoes and know what they are feeling, and be able to see past that and find a solution. As a teacher that is wicked important, because most students won't be able to really express what they are feeling, you are going to have to figure it out. I can relate to people, and I don't often have a big problems with people. Of course that isn't true all of the time, but I am also able to keep my interactions with people professional.
I can also explain different ideas and rules to people in a way that is understanable. That is essential in teaching high school kids the different types of writing, and explaining styles of classic or contemporary authors. I plan on using that in my classroom every day. I want to be able to explain to the students why something is so exciting, and help them get excited about it too.
Another good point is that I'm realistic. I realize that not every student is going to be my friend, and I shouldn't get offended when someone just isn't as excited about english as I am. I want to help students understand, but I get that some people just don't want to understand. I am also wicked organized, so when those students don't do their work I'll know it!
I can also explain different ideas and rules to people in a way that is understanable. That is essential in teaching high school kids the different types of writing, and explaining styles of classic or contemporary authors. I plan on using that in my classroom every day. I want to be able to explain to the students why something is so exciting, and help them get excited about it too.
Another good point is that I'm realistic. I realize that not every student is going to be my friend, and I shouldn't get offended when someone just isn't as excited about english as I am. I want to help students understand, but I get that some people just don't want to understand. I am also wicked organized, so when those students don't do their work I'll know it!
Set 4: #1 Researchng/Writing Goals
I really want to learn how to more affectively use my own research. I can figure out how to write a paper that makes sense and has a purpose, but that doesn't mean that I can really back it. I want to be able to write and make my point with the added weight of others research with my own. I also want to be able to do research as I continue in my career. I want to be a teacher, and being able to teach research and to really be able to do it for years to come is important. Many students will be able to write a nice paper, but to really have a credible paper you need research.
I also want to be able to write with better fluidity. I can have structure and organization, but sometimes that can lead to choppy sentences or other problems. I want to write a research paper with more style. I can write creatively and have it sound like it all goes together, but it become more difficult with more formal papers because of the rigid structure. I also would like to be able to learn my styles of writing. I know that even in nonfiction writing there are several types of styles that can be applied to more formal research papers and I would like to use those more often in my papers and have it make sense.
I also want to be able to write with better fluidity. I can have structure and organization, but sometimes that can lead to choppy sentences or other problems. I want to write a research paper with more style. I can write creatively and have it sound like it all goes together, but it become more difficult with more formal papers because of the rigid structure. I also would like to be able to learn my styles of writing. I know that even in nonfiction writing there are several types of styles that can be applied to more formal research papers and I would like to use those more often in my papers and have it make sense.
Article Summary 14: University
Taylor, Mark C. "End the University As We Know It" New York Times 26 April 2009. Web. 28 Feb. 2010.
Universities are becoming out of date for the times we live in. The jobs that students are being prepared for will most likely not exist once they graduate, or won’t be attainable. The way that Universities are set up does not allow for a more general education, and needs to be reevaluated. The author proposes that the separation of all the departments is harmful to the way students learn, and that the tradition dissertation does nothing to prepare a student for the real world. A six step solution is proposed to fix the problem that is created by the distance between the safety of school, and the reality that students are thrown into once they graduate.
The author also believes that there are too many subcategories for most topics. Writing a paper about the tiniest notation is not going to do a student any good. The way that the system is set up professors are creating a copy of their own ideas, but feel no need to leave the field when the younger generation comes along. Tenure is a guarantee that a professor will no longer need to work as hard, and that their position will be held for a very long time, keeping back students from getting jobs when they graduate.
Article Summary 13: Humanities
Simpson, David. "The Humanities and the Crisis of Everything." UCDavis 18 Nov. 2009. Web. 28 Feb. 2010.
There are more connections between the humanities and science than there used to be, and a major factor is that they are both under attack. The article talks about the need for humanities to remain a strong force in Universities, and that alongside science it should be seen as a valuable education. The humanities deal with the bigger picture, the more difficult questions in life. Trying to explain what exactly that does for greater society is very difficult, but the author tries to break it down into five points. Those five points outline the idea that everything humanities majors do is still important, but it might not be noticeable right away. The work that is put into research and credibility are very important, and without the ability to find those voices from the past that have already spoken out there would be no way to create validity when dealing with future works. The need for a historical reference is important, and the humanities graduates are the ones who do the work to create that.
The author also connects the way that humanities majors work to the way scientists work. They both create ideas and work towards proving them, but sometimes not everything works out to be the exact ending you expected, and can be even better. There are reasons for that process to be valued in today’s society.
Article Summary 12: Room For Improvment
Epstein, Jennifer. "Room For Improvment." Inside Higher Ed 21 Feb. 2010. Web. 28 Feb. 2010.
Many employers are finding that college is not preparing students for the real world economy right now. Hiring is very low at the moment, and education is not preparing students for the actual requirements that employers are going to be asking for. Most employers are looking for students to have better writing, oral, and critical thinking skills. These can all be achieved through internships and getting experience in the field that they hope to pursue. It is disappointing that so many employers find that college students do not actually have the skill set required to succeed today. Instead of the more specific subject education of the past many believe a more broad education even at the college level would benefit students.
Employers also look at the level of education that you complete. Now employers are more likely to hire someone who has gained there bachelors degree instead of someone with an associates or a high school diploma. Having some form of higher education is becoming more competitive, and it is more important than ever to get as much school completed as possible. People are being put out into the work force without any knowledge of what they are really getting themselves into, and colleges are failing in their purpose.
Article Summary 11: Across the World
Luedtke, Luther. "The Boss: Educator to the World." New York Times 20 Feb. 2010. Web. 28 Feb. 2010.
This article reads like the story of a man’s life. It starts off talking about the education he got as a young man, and how he was excused from chores by his father because his parents wanted a better life for him, and education was how to get to that better life. The idea that education is a way to move up in the world is not an isolated idea, and when he was much older the author talks about advising 3rd world countries on how to organize their classrooms. While one room schoolhouses are a thing of the past for
The author also talks about the need for diplomacy when visiting other countries. When going into another country it is always important to make sure that you know how different topics are viewed, especially topics that can make people very upset. That is something that can create a dangerous situation, and his fear for fellow teachers across the world are valid.
Article Summary 10: High School Diploma in 10th Grade
Dillon, Sam. "High Schools to Offer Plan to Graduate 2 Years Early". New York Times 17 Feb. 2010. Web. 28 Feb. 2010.
Soon there will be pilot schools in 8 states that will be testing a system that allows students to graduate at the end of 10th grade with their high school diploma. Students will be allowed to study and take placement tests that will be offered in subjects such as history, math, science, and english. The tests will be accompanied with detailed syllabi that will inform students hoping to graduate early exactly what they need to study. Most curriculums today do not have clear directions on what is going to be important and what is not. These tests give students direction and encourage hard work. The tests will also hopefully reduce the number of students that need to take remedial tests in their first year at a community college.
Students who graduate after taking the tests will be immediately admitted into a community college, or can take college prep courses at their school during 11th and 12th grade. The students will also be able to retake the tests at the end of 11th and 12th grade if they do not pass the first time around. These tests have been used in several European countries with great success, and will hopefully help American students catch up to the standards that are held in
Article Summary 9: FBI and Webcams
The Associated Press. "F.B.I. Queries Webcam Use by Schools." New York Times 20 Feb. 2010. Web. 28 Feb. 2010.
In
The FBI are looking into the legality of the schools to turn on the webcams, and the school officials are arguing that they only turned on the webcam to locate lost laptops. The district attorney is considering looking into the matter, and there is a lot of anger over the fact that the school did this without informing anyone that it was even possible. The schools have suspended the practice from now. Only two people were authorized to turn on the webcams, and are saying that it was only used to locate the lost laptops. They say that the webcams were never used to spy on students.
Article Summary 8: Dynamic Books
Motoko, Rich. "Textbooks That Professors Can Rewrite Digitally." New York Times 21 Feb 2010. Web. 28 Feb. 2010.
What if a professor had complete control over the content of your textbook? Well it’s about to happen. DynamicBooks.com is about to release a new e-book system that allows professors to edit the textbooks they purchase at the paragraph and even sentence level. They can then have their students read what chapters, sections, and version of a textbook that is most relevant to the course. The textbooks are also a lot cheaper in this format. Professors will be able to control exactly what their students have to read, and will be able to do it at a significant discount.
Some are not very happy about the idea. Not every author is comfortable with giving up complete control over their work. Some believe that if a book is edited too much it could affect the flow and feel to the book, and not everyone agrees on what the correct version of a topic is. An example given was the idea that a professor would be able to change a textbook about evolution into a book on intelligent design. The owner of DynamicBooks.com claims that they will not be monitoring the changes made to the textbooks, and are going to rely on the students and parents to report any abuse of power made by the professor.
Article Summary 7: Charter Schools
Dillon, Sam. "As U.S. Aid Grows, Oversight Is Urged For Charter Schools." New York Times 24 Feb. 2010. Web. 28 Feb. 2010.
Charter schools have a great premise. They have less regulations, and are completely held up to their standards. The life of a
Some are calling for there to be more strict rules on who can open a Charter school and what they do with it. There have been some people who are undereducated and have just created a chaotic environment because they don’t know what they are doing, and fail to meet the standards that are set for Charter schools to survive. The money is still wasted however, and it could have been put to better use. The rise in budget is a tremendous help, but some feel it could use a little more direction.
Article Summary 6: Careers
The Associated Press. "Pentagon Suspends Careers Aid for Spouses." New York Times 25 Feb. 2010. Web. 28 Feb. 2010.
Military families have a lot of issues that they deal with, and now there is one more to add to the list. The government recently set aside a budget to allow a grant for up to $6,000 for the spouses of military personnel to attend classes to further their career. The response was overwhelming, and now the government has put a hold on the grants, and is not allowing any more to be approved. The problem was that they had almost reached the threshold of their budget, and did not want to go over. Family members were upset when they found that the money they had been promised had been put on hold and would not be able to be accessed, some right before classes were about to start.
Military families have problems keeping jobs because of their spouses need to move every 3 years or so. That will make employers less likely to hire someone who doesn’t have amazing qualifications. The grants were a good idea, but to just yank them because the government wasn’t sure that it would be able to pay is not right, and has angered a lot of the people who had planned to take advantage of this opportunity.
Article Summary 5: Turnaround
Yednak, Crystal. "Protest and Promises of Improvments at Schools." New York Times 26 Feb. 2010. Web. 28 Feb 2010.
What do you do with low scoring schools? That’s been a question for a long time, and this article discusses the possible solution that has been introduced to
The School Board has taken action yet again, and closed more schools and elected more to be turned around. The communities of a few schools were able to convince the Board that there was no need to close their schools, and were saved. There are no studies released yet on how effective this new system is, but should be put out later this year. It will be interesting to see if there is actual improvement.
Article Summary 4: A Show About Something
Itzkoff, Dave. "A Show About Something: Marriage." New York Times 26 Feb. 2010. Web. 28 Feb. 2010
How long have people been waiting for Jerry Seinfeld to write a new show? A very long time, and the wait is almost over. People were crazy about the show Seinfeld that was big back in the 90’s. Now Jerry Seinfeld has come up with a new and creative idea, and is going to share it with the world. The new show, “The Marriage Ref” will be shown on NBC, and is going to deal with real life couples who just can’t seem to agree on one particular point. The premise for the show is that every couple just needs someone else to look at their situation and make a decision, so that they can move on from that fight.
A host of celebrity guests will be coming on the show, and will be making the argument for the two sides. The show will start off with a couple explaining a long standing fight, and trying to convince the panel that they are right. Seinfeld is hoping that the show will be easy to relate to for couples, and will be popular based on its content not that his name is attached to it. He has decided this will be the last project he will work on, which is understandable considering he is now 55 with three kids. Hopefully his last show will be at least half the success of Seinfeld.
Article Summary 3: Jeff Bridges
Dargis, Manohla. "The Dude Plumbs His Weary Soul." New York Times 25 Feb. 2010. Web. 28 Feb 2010.
This article is about the new movie “Crazy Heart” and the lead actor Jeff Bridges. The article goes through his career as an actor, and runs down all the good and bad choices he’s made when taking on a lead role. The roles he has chosen are never in big blockbusters, but are deep and have a lot of feeling to them. Jeff Bridges has never had the fame of some other actors of his time, but he is a face that has been seen in the movie industry for years. The directors that he has worked with later went on to have successful careers.
Jeff Bridges has most recently been seen as the villain in “Iron Man”. That role brought him back into the publics eye, and might have given him the opportunity to be considered for the movie “Crazy Heart”. Playing opposite Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jeff Bridges plays a cowboy with problems, but a big heart. Jeff Bridges is able to truly get into the character he is playing, and can even make the small things seem completely genuine. That is yet again apparent in the movie “Crazy Heart” and is worth seeing for his award-nominee (and hopefully winning) performance.
Article Summary 2: The Amy Bishop Case
Tanenhaus, Sam. "The Amy Bishop Case." New York Times 24 Feb. 2010. Web. 28 Feb. 2010.
Art is often a reflection of the mood of the civilization that it’s created in. This article discusses the way that art has been lagging behind in the reality of life for women today. Women have been rising in the business world for years, and now the stresses of being on top are bringing out a whole new side to what makes a woman. Violence and women have always been viewed as an abnormality. If a woman becomes violent it was because she was driven to it, not because it is a part of her nature. That ideal opinion of women has been forced into reality lately with more and more women acting in ways that are unexplainable.
Tanenhaus sites the case of Amy Bishop, a woman who shot into a room of her coworkers. Her attempts to get tenure were shot down, and she became violent. She also was later implicated in the death of her brother when they were children. Tanenhaus sites the rise in women’s awareness has brought out the more ruthless side to women, a side that has been present in men for hundreds of years. That connection is brought out more in the written side of art then in painting or demonstrations.
Article Summary 1: Chile
Lacey, Marc, Alexei Barrionuevo. "Chile Toll at 700; 2 Million are Displaced." New York Times 28 Feb. 2010. Web. 28 Feb. 2010.
Sunday an earthquake hit
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Set 3 Part B
I decided to go home and sit in our sun room at around two in the afternoon. The sun was coming into the room and everything was warm and relaxing. At first that was all I could focus on, because I was getting drowsy. I shook myself awake and cracked open a window, letting the cold air take over the room. At first I didn’t really notice anything special going on. My cat was in the other room scratching on her post, and the dog was whining because he wanted to be in the room with me. A few minutes went by before I realized that I could actually hear a lot of birds singing outside. This winter has been so strange it was nice to hear the sound of birds, a sound I associate with spring.
What I really started to notice more than sounds was the smells. Everyone was out of town for the weekend so I had the house to myself, and I hadn’t really done anything but eat fast food. Outside I could smell that one of my neighbors was using their wood fireplace, and it smelled so refreshing. Next thing I really noticed was that there were more sounds of people outside. I could hear a neighbor walking their dog in the neighborhood behind us, and everything was just really calm. Nothing was too hasty and it felt really nice to just relax and focus on what was going on around me. I would normally have gone out and sat in the woods for an assignment like this, but the weather has been so cold that I settled for the sun room. Being able to sit in my own house and still feel connected to what was going on outside and around me was amazing.
Another thing that really stood out was a ridiculously loud running sound about 37 minutes into the assignment. I couldn’t figure out what was running all over the woods in our backyard until I saw two deer sprint out onto the yard. Nothing seemed to be chasing them, but I could hear a dog barking in the yard diagonal to mine. Their dog has a tendency to bark for hours, so it hadn’t seemed like an odd sound to me at the time. Now there were too overexcited deer running around the yard and my own dog was freaking out. Being around 120 pounds this was a little annoying. I didn’t do anything though, just observed what was going on, and a few minutes later the deer had left and everything went back to peaceful relaxation.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
#7 Open Topic
I don't really know where to get started. I don't have a lot of intersting topics to write about. Usually when I write a freewrite for 10 minutes it's to talk about what's going on in my life in my journal, but that isn't exactly what this class is for. I am taking a creative non-fiction class that also requires a blog, but I don't really post very much on it. I don't know what to think about creative non-fiction. I don't think you can be creative and write something that can be catergorized as non-fiction. What on earth can be creative about an actual event?
Anyway, that is one of the classes I'm taking that really confuses me, the other being grammar. I'm taking the basic grammar course, and it is mainly focused on the lingustic part of grammar instead of the actual rules. It can be really confusing, but so far it has been very enjoyable. The big snow storm has canceled classes for tomorrow, so we are going to be pretty far behind come wednesday in all my classes.
Oh, what about the affect that texting has on grammar? It was so interesting (to tie everything together) when in my creative non-fiction class a student wrote an entire piece with capitalization. The professor was confused, because it didn't match the piece that he had written. I can understand if the piece had been a reflection on texting or IMing, but the piece was completely unrelated. People don't even think it's weird anymore to see a person writing without any capital letters, but that is grammatically incorrect. Does that mean in a few decades they won't use capitalization like we do now? Will it be phased out over time as we slowly go more and more towards the technology version of works? It's an intersting topic, and a fun one to debate with friends. It's also interesting to follow your own typing and see if you find there are times outside of texting or IMing that you fall back into the habit of using incorrect grammar.
Anyway, that is one of the classes I'm taking that really confuses me, the other being grammar. I'm taking the basic grammar course, and it is mainly focused on the lingustic part of grammar instead of the actual rules. It can be really confusing, but so far it has been very enjoyable. The big snow storm has canceled classes for tomorrow, so we are going to be pretty far behind come wednesday in all my classes.
Oh, what about the affect that texting has on grammar? It was so interesting (to tie everything together) when in my creative non-fiction class a student wrote an entire piece with capitalization. The professor was confused, because it didn't match the piece that he had written. I can understand if the piece had been a reflection on texting or IMing, but the piece was completely unrelated. People don't even think it's weird anymore to see a person writing without any capital letters, but that is grammatically incorrect. Does that mean in a few decades they won't use capitalization like we do now? Will it be phased out over time as we slowly go more and more towards the technology version of works? It's an intersting topic, and a fun one to debate with friends. It's also interesting to follow your own typing and see if you find there are times outside of texting or IMing that you fall back into the habit of using incorrect grammar.
#6 Theory Toolbox
This book is really interesting in the fact that it deals with things in a more abstract way. Instead of telling the reader what to think like a textbook would it allows the reader to take the information and be lead where they want to be lead. I really like the way that chapter 2 Author/ity discusses the way that it isn't always the author that dictats the way a person views a book. I like that you can read a book and have a theory that is completely different from everyone elses, and it can still be considered valid. The most amazing part of reading a book is getting new meaning out of it that hasn't been discussed before.
I do understand that not all opinions are as valid as others, and that it was addressed was nice. Sometimes people say that every opinion is valid, but a person really needs some facts to back up an opinion before it's truly valid. The best ideas are ones that have some great facts to back up the information instead of just being made on vague ideas and concepts that have no proof. Not every idea is valid, but the ones that are can be very different.
The opinions of the reader don't always have to follow the author either. The author might have had an idea for how the book would go, but that doesn't mean that the reader is aware of that. Everything that the author worked towards can be completely put aside by the reader, because the author isn't there to dictate what they should believe. Especially after death the author has no control over what happens to his work. It's the scariest and most amazing part of reading, because you never know what you're supposed to think, but only what you hope is the most logical and rational inturpretation.
I do understand that not all opinions are as valid as others, and that it was addressed was nice. Sometimes people say that every opinion is valid, but a person really needs some facts to back up an opinion before it's truly valid. The best ideas are ones that have some great facts to back up the information instead of just being made on vague ideas and concepts that have no proof. Not every idea is valid, but the ones that are can be very different.
The opinions of the reader don't always have to follow the author either. The author might have had an idea for how the book would go, but that doesn't mean that the reader is aware of that. Everything that the author worked towards can be completely put aside by the reader, because the author isn't there to dictate what they should believe. Especially after death the author has no control over what happens to his work. It's the scariest and most amazing part of reading, because you never know what you're supposed to think, but only what you hope is the most logical and rational inturpretation.
#4 Refine Research Topic
I really like the concept of looking into the major themes that Shakespeare uses being spanned over several of his books. I feel like he has so many similar charactors that there has to be similiar themes between the different novels. What was he aiming for with the use of stock charactors? Shakespeare is so interesting, and he is both creative, and had some of the most similar charactors. I want to explore that, and see what connections can be made from the charactors that are simliar. Are there themes that he has in a good many of his books?
Now that isn't the only idea that I have. When I was looking into making the last post I found an article about using e-readers to help teach ESL students. That would be so interesting to research and write a paper on. Does it help? Is there something that can be improved on the system? I personally think that the use of e-readers would be a great improvment, but I think the idea needs to researched before really make a concrete conclusion. Has it been tested? What were the students responces? Are there any specific types of lessons that work with that kind of technology? How would you go about teaching that?
I think both topics are valid, and I know I have to decide soon!! Hopefully I'll be able to pick between them =)
Now that isn't the only idea that I have. When I was looking into making the last post I found an article about using e-readers to help teach ESL students. That would be so interesting to research and write a paper on. Does it help? Is there something that can be improved on the system? I personally think that the use of e-readers would be a great improvment, but I think the idea needs to researched before really make a concrete conclusion. Has it been tested? What were the students responces? Are there any specific types of lessons that work with that kind of technology? How would you go about teaching that?
I think both topics are valid, and I know I have to decide soon!! Hopefully I'll be able to pick between them =)
#3 Survey of Current Topics
Honestly the most interesting topic that I found on the internet was the introduction of e-learning for students learning english as a second language. It really is an interesting idea. I am personally a fan of e-readers, I think they are not only practical, but wicked fun. To be able to have a class taught through e-learning is a great idea. Also it allows the students to have more auditory experience with the language. Instead of just learning the language from a textbook they can actually listen to the sentences out loud.
Another great idea is usuing video chat to connect students from different countries to each other. Being able to have a conversation with a native speaker of the language is such a great advantage when trying to learn that language. There are so many parts to the english language that depend on inflection or how you structure the sentence. Being able to talk to someone, or to hear the sentences spoken, is a great idea for teaching ESL. I personally would love to live in Russia and teach ESL, so I really related to the concept of using the latest technology in the classroom.
Another great idea is usuing video chat to connect students from different countries to each other. Being able to have a conversation with a native speaker of the language is such a great advantage when trying to learn that language. There are so many parts to the english language that depend on inflection or how you structure the sentence. Being able to talk to someone, or to hear the sentences spoken, is a great idea for teaching ESL. I personally would love to live in Russia and teach ESL, so I really related to the concept of using the latest technology in the classroom.
#2 What are you passionate about?
Reading. I love to read. If I could read every day all day I would. There isn't anything more enjoyable to me then reading. I love all kinds of books, but I focus mainly on fantasy. I'll read the same authors several times, and I still read my favorite authors from when I was a young teenager. I have certain books almost memorized because I've read them so often. I love to read new books, and I try and expand my experiences to things beyond just fantasy. I don't like mystery all that much, but I do read just straight fiction authors at time.
I love writing almost as much as I love reading, but only almost. I write anything from freewrite entries in a journal, to letters, to short stories. I keep a notebook on me at all times in case there's anything I want to write down when I'm on the go. I have something similar to my notebook for reading. I have an ereader that I can buy a new book on at any time. I am always connected to a way to read or write.
Reading and writing has everything to do with my hopeful carrer. I love to read and write, and I want to teach people how to love it too.
I love writing almost as much as I love reading, but only almost. I write anything from freewrite entries in a journal, to letters, to short stories. I keep a notebook on me at all times in case there's anything I want to write down when I'm on the go. I have something similar to my notebook for reading. I have an ereader that I can buy a new book on at any time. I am always connected to a way to read or write.
Reading and writing has everything to do with my hopeful carrer. I love to read and write, and I want to teach people how to love it too.
Week 2 #1 Recent Dream
A recent dream? I don't remember most of my dreams. I've had a few really big nightmares when I was a kid. I was at my house, and I couldn't find my parents. I couldn't have been more then 6 or 7 and I just kept on looking for them. The house was dark, and I just felt so afraid, but I didn't know why. Then I heard something behind me, and it was like a horror movie. I couldn't stop myself from looking back. Behind me was this big dark shadowy monster. I tried to scream, but I couldn't, and I tried to get away but I was frozen to the ground. I knew that the monster had eaten my parents, and my siblings, and it was going to eat me.
I woke up terrified, and I had to stay with my parents for the rest of the night. There aren't any other dreams that I really remember, I usually remember them for about 10 minutes and then they are gone. Even nightmares don't really stay all that long, they usually have to be very intense and I need to talk about them right away for me to remember. It's the terror that sticks the most after a nightmare. Even if you can't remember why, you just know that everything is not alright.
I woke up terrified, and I had to stay with my parents for the rest of the night. There aren't any other dreams that I really remember, I usually remember them for about 10 minutes and then they are gone. Even nightmares don't really stay all that long, they usually have to be very intense and I need to talk about them right away for me to remember. It's the terror that sticks the most after a nightmare. Even if you can't remember why, you just know that everything is not alright.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
#7 List
Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet:
Does the reflection of our time on the piece really flavor how we view it?
Does their age matter, or should we just project what they would see as a mature age into something more familiar to us, such as being 17 or 18 years old?
Do people disregard the influence that a family actually had on children back in the time that Romeo and Juliet was set and written?
Should the text been seen as a piece set in time, or as something that changes with each person that reads it?
Do different interpretations really influence the text itself, and if it does should we take a step back?
Asia:
What do people feel now?
What did people feel then?
How much influence have we had on their culture?
Do we need to pull away and let them stand on their own?
Are Americans condescending in thinking that we needed to take care of them for so long?
Does the main populace see us as being condescending?
Does anyone think that the military presence has been helpful?
If it is helpful what has the military done to improve the environment around it?
Are there more then two sides to this argument?
What if we didn’t leave?
Would there be benefits to not leaving?
Oscar Wilde:
What happened in his life to influence his work so strongly?
Who was in his life?
Who could be reoccurring characters in his works?
If the characters do reoccur does that mean that they are more important or just fillers?
Do the characters represent a position that he might take personally?
Does any of the opinions in the plays or the novel seem to be opposed to things that he would advocate?
Did any opinions change or become more temperate as the plays progress?
How long did he write for?
Was there time for change?
Does the humor have more purpose then just being there for comedic relief?
Does the reflection of our time on the piece really flavor how we view it?
Does their age matter, or should we just project what they would see as a mature age into something more familiar to us, such as being 17 or 18 years old?
Do people disregard the influence that a family actually had on children back in the time that Romeo and Juliet was set and written?
Should the text been seen as a piece set in time, or as something that changes with each person that reads it?
Do different interpretations really influence the text itself, and if it does should we take a step back?
Asia:
What do people feel now?
What did people feel then?
How much influence have we had on their culture?
Do we need to pull away and let them stand on their own?
Are Americans condescending in thinking that we needed to take care of them for so long?
Does the main populace see us as being condescending?
Does anyone think that the military presence has been helpful?
If it is helpful what has the military done to improve the environment around it?
Are there more then two sides to this argument?
What if we didn’t leave?
Would there be benefits to not leaving?
Oscar Wilde:
What happened in his life to influence his work so strongly?
Who was in his life?
Who could be reoccurring characters in his works?
If the characters do reoccur does that mean that they are more important or just fillers?
Do the characters represent a position that he might take personally?
Does any of the opinions in the plays or the novel seem to be opposed to things that he would advocate?
Did any opinions change or become more temperate as the plays progress?
How long did he write for?
Was there time for change?
Does the humor have more purpose then just being there for comedic relief?
#6 Refine List of Research Topics
Shakespeare:
I could do something about a play that Shakespeare did that has several hard and different interpretations. I know Hamlet tends to get a lot of attention, but I think that Romeo and Juliet needs a new outlook. Everyone already has a strong opinion on Romeo and Juliet, and as my least favorite Shakespeare play it would be a nice challenge. I could create an entire paper centered around the concept of age and how the 21st century mindset has projected back onto the tragedy roles that were not originally meant to be there. Or I could write about the comparison between love and obsession, and attempt to prove the love that Romeo and Juliet feel was not actual love, but an obsession that borders on insane for children of that age.
Asia:
Right now I know that there is some controversy about what to do with the troops that are still stationed in Japan from World War II. The troops either have been or are about to be pulled out, and a paper about the different reactions that are being shown by the Japanese population would be interesting. The mindset of the Japanese people is diverse, and looking into what influence we have had and how welcome that has been over all these years would be a great paper to write.
Oscar Wilde:
I could write about the life of Oscar Wilde and how that affected his writing. Over many of his different plays there is always a character that remains the same and is similar to the man he was seeing. There are also other characters that might change names, but have very similar opinions and reactions as each other. There are also entire passages that are in some of the plays that are taken from Dorian Grey. How much influence did others have on Oscar Wilde, and if he stole his own material does that mean that the plays are not as original as everyone praises them to be?
I could do something about a play that Shakespeare did that has several hard and different interpretations. I know Hamlet tends to get a lot of attention, but I think that Romeo and Juliet needs a new outlook. Everyone already has a strong opinion on Romeo and Juliet, and as my least favorite Shakespeare play it would be a nice challenge. I could create an entire paper centered around the concept of age and how the 21st century mindset has projected back onto the tragedy roles that were not originally meant to be there. Or I could write about the comparison between love and obsession, and attempt to prove the love that Romeo and Juliet feel was not actual love, but an obsession that borders on insane for children of that age.
Asia:
Right now I know that there is some controversy about what to do with the troops that are still stationed in Japan from World War II. The troops either have been or are about to be pulled out, and a paper about the different reactions that are being shown by the Japanese population would be interesting. The mindset of the Japanese people is diverse, and looking into what influence we have had and how welcome that has been over all these years would be a great paper to write.
Oscar Wilde:
I could write about the life of Oscar Wilde and how that affected his writing. Over many of his different plays there is always a character that remains the same and is similar to the man he was seeing. There are also other characters that might change names, but have very similar opinions and reactions as each other. There are also entire passages that are in some of the plays that are taken from Dorian Grey. How much influence did others have on Oscar Wilde, and if he stole his own material does that mean that the plays are not as original as everyone praises them to be?
#5 List of Research Topics
Brainstorm? Well if we’re talking about topics that I really like I love to write about novels. I have taken courses in Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and basic courses. I would love to be able to do more with the Eastern Asia history class I took. We discussed the later part of Eastern Asian history up until the present. I found everything in that class interesting, and that would be fun to do more with.
I just like to write papers about topics that I can get an opinion on. If I can’t feel something strong for the topic then I tend not to do as well. Without something to really make you look into the subject there isn’t any incentive to do it well. Something to wrap my mind around and want to find the real meat of the subject. That can be something to do with current events, or a controversial view on a classic novel. I like all of those ideas, they all seem like something to really look into.
I just like to write papers about topics that I can get an opinion on. If I can’t feel something strong for the topic then I tend not to do as well. Without something to really make you look into the subject there isn’t any incentive to do it well. Something to wrap my mind around and want to find the real meat of the subject. That can be something to do with current events, or a controversial view on a classic novel. I like all of those ideas, they all seem like something to really look into.
#4 Current Major and Career Goals
I am currently an English major with a concentration in creative writing. I want to write. Every day I find an excuse to write something. Right now my thing is to write letters to a friend going to school across the country. If I could just sit down and write every day and make money from that I would be a happy woman! I know that isn’t going to work out, so I want to be a teacher and put that passion into other people. I also love to read. To be able to spend the rest of my life discussing classic novels is something that I know I would love.
I plan to graduate in 2011 and take a year off. I’m going to minor in Russian and I might get a job in between Grad school and graduation that has to do with that minor before I really focus on the teaching. I would love to use my major and minor in my career as a teacher, and a way to do that is to teach English as a second language to Russian students. I love Russian and would love to have an excuse to speak it as often as possible, and to live in Russia. I don’t plan on being there for the rest of my life though, maybe just a year or two.
In 5 years? I’ll probably be in Russia (hopefully) or I’ll be a teacher in New England. I do want to settle down be secure in where I’m going to live out the rest of my life before I start a really serious relationship, so that will probably be the best time to settle all that. I just want to work and be happy and be near my family. That is what I want from life. I want to be near family and be doing something that makes me happy. I would like to travel a lot too, but I know that would probably not happen all that often on a teacher’s salary. I want to get as much of that done as possible before I really start teaching full time.
I know, I seem really certain in what I want to do. People tell me that my plan for life can be a little inflexible, but there is something about knowing what I want to do and how I’m going to accomplish it that makes me feel happy, and I don’t plan on changing anything in my plan any time soon. I really do think I’ll love being a teacher, and I think I would love to teach English as a second language to Russian students. I can’t wait to reach it!
I plan to graduate in 2011 and take a year off. I’m going to minor in Russian and I might get a job in between Grad school and graduation that has to do with that minor before I really focus on the teaching. I would love to use my major and minor in my career as a teacher, and a way to do that is to teach English as a second language to Russian students. I love Russian and would love to have an excuse to speak it as often as possible, and to live in Russia. I don’t plan on being there for the rest of my life though, maybe just a year or two.
In 5 years? I’ll probably be in Russia (hopefully) or I’ll be a teacher in New England. I do want to settle down be secure in where I’m going to live out the rest of my life before I start a really serious relationship, so that will probably be the best time to settle all that. I just want to work and be happy and be near my family. That is what I want from life. I want to be near family and be doing something that makes me happy. I would like to travel a lot too, but I know that would probably not happen all that often on a teacher’s salary. I want to get as much of that done as possible before I really start teaching full time.
I know, I seem really certain in what I want to do. People tell me that my plan for life can be a little inflexible, but there is something about knowing what I want to do and how I’m going to accomplish it that makes me feel happy, and I don’t plan on changing anything in my plan any time soon. I really do think I’ll love being a teacher, and I think I would love to teach English as a second language to Russian students. I can’t wait to reach it!
#3 Expand on 2 A & B
Mrs. Moldoff was the most amazing neighbor I could have ever had as a kid. She was my next door neighbor, preschool teacher, and safe haven. Young girls have so much that they go through, and having that person who was so warm and caring to turn to was the most amazing experience of my life. When I was really young I had decided I was going to run away for some reason or another, and I was going to live with Mrs. Moldoff for the rest of my life! She took me in and talked to me about why I was so upset, and what it was that Mom and Dad had done. Before I knew it I was headed home and I knew that if I needed help she would always be there.
I want to be able to help a kid like that. I know practically I can’t save everyone, or even help most of them, but I want to be able to at least put myself out there for them to come to me if they need to. I mainly want to teach high school, but elementary school also appeals to me. I love people and kids, and I want to do something that will work with them. I was able to connect my teachers to people of authority as well as safety my entire life, and it started with Mrs. Moldoff. After growing up with her I knew that I could almost always trust my teachers, and they would always do their best for me. That is what a teacher should be, right? A person that is neutral and willing to help the students in any way possible. That is what Mrs. Moldoff taught me a teacher should be, and I feel that there aren’t enough like her out there. I wish everyone had a Mrs. Moldoff when they were young.
I want to be able to help a kid like that. I know practically I can’t save everyone, or even help most of them, but I want to be able to at least put myself out there for them to come to me if they need to. I mainly want to teach high school, but elementary school also appeals to me. I love people and kids, and I want to do something that will work with them. I was able to connect my teachers to people of authority as well as safety my entire life, and it started with Mrs. Moldoff. After growing up with her I knew that I could almost always trust my teachers, and they would always do their best for me. That is what a teacher should be, right? A person that is neutral and willing to help the students in any way possible. That is what Mrs. Moldoff taught me a teacher should be, and I feel that there aren’t enough like her out there. I wish everyone had a Mrs. Moldoff when they were young.
#2B Three Significant Events
I want to be able to be there for people who can’t do anything for themselves. When I was a teenager I was so insecure, and I just wished for one person to look at me and see that something was wrong. The most important event would have to be the rejection of a bunch of my friends when I was in seventh grade. My teachers were so amazing to me when I was down, and I feel like the best way to repay them is to try and do the same thing for some kid who doesn’t have anyone else to relate to. Being a young adult is hard enough emotionally without having to be alone. Teachers who are aloof and have no connection to the children that they are teaching always make me want to work harder. I want to show that helping children is more then giving them an education, but having them know that they can respect you, and trust you all at once as their teacher.
I also want to be my next door neighbor from when I was a kid. Mrs. Moldoff was my preschool teacher and my neighbor, and every day with her was like another adventure. Even when I was older she was always teaching me new things. Specifically she would have us over for dinner and let us talk to her about things that we didn’t want to tell Mom. She was our safe haven, and I want to be able to be that to some kid one day. Maybe a little more general, but it makes me feel good to know that I’m working towards at least being able to help some kids.
The first time my mom let me help her go over some homework for her students I knew that I was right, and I wanted to be a teacher. I know that the teacher always has more homework then the student, and that excites me. Helping Mom figure out what one student had meant in this paper, and what the other had meant on this homework assignment was just too much fun to pass up. I truly enjoyed it. I do know that I will have the complete opposite teaching style from my mom!
I also want to be my next door neighbor from when I was a kid. Mrs. Moldoff was my preschool teacher and my neighbor, and every day with her was like another adventure. Even when I was older she was always teaching me new things. Specifically she would have us over for dinner and let us talk to her about things that we didn’t want to tell Mom. She was our safe haven, and I want to be able to be that to some kid one day. Maybe a little more general, but it makes me feel good to know that I’m working towards at least being able to help some kids.
The first time my mom let me help her go over some homework for her students I knew that I was right, and I wanted to be a teacher. I know that the teacher always has more homework then the student, and that excites me. Helping Mom figure out what one student had meant in this paper, and what the other had meant on this homework assignment was just too much fun to pass up. I truly enjoyed it. I do know that I will have the complete opposite teaching style from my mom!
#2A Three Significant People
My entire life my mom has been there helping and teaching people. When I was really young Mom had her own daycare that she ran out of our house. She would help the kids with their homework everyday, and taught the younger kids about the alphabet and numbers. When she was in her late 30's Mom went back to college and graduated with an English degree and promptly got a teachers license. Watching her go from creating her own business to getting her degree and helping children in a lower income area learn more effectively made me want to do something similar with my life.
My Nana has always been a big part of what I want to do with my life. My entire life I have watched my Nana look at the world around her and regret that she wasn’t able to participate in the new advances that women have made today. At 76 years old Nana is one of the most strong women I have ever met, and every time I see her she tells me how lucky I am that I live in a time where I can truly be whatever I want. I can go to college and get a degree and actually do something with it. She tells me about how when she was young she was expected to get married and take care of her family. She loves her family, but she always wished that she had been able to do something more with her life. That makes me want to work harder and do more, because I have so much more opportunity then she did.
More recently I want to do something with my life for my Dad. Growing up I almost never saw Dad because he was always working. He fought his way to the top and wanted to be something so that we would never have to worry about anything. When both of my sisters didn’t go to college I was the one that was looked to. I want to show Dad that I can do something with my life, and take my own path.
Overall my entire family is my inspiration. They always will be, and I will always look to them for role models and support.
My Nana has always been a big part of what I want to do with my life. My entire life I have watched my Nana look at the world around her and regret that she wasn’t able to participate in the new advances that women have made today. At 76 years old Nana is one of the most strong women I have ever met, and every time I see her she tells me how lucky I am that I live in a time where I can truly be whatever I want. I can go to college and get a degree and actually do something with it. She tells me about how when she was young she was expected to get married and take care of her family. She loves her family, but she always wished that she had been able to do something more with her life. That makes me want to work harder and do more, because I have so much more opportunity then she did.
More recently I want to do something with my life for my Dad. Growing up I almost never saw Dad because he was always working. He fought his way to the top and wanted to be something so that we would never have to worry about anything. When both of my sisters didn’t go to college I was the one that was looked to. I want to show Dad that I can do something with my life, and take my own path.
Overall my entire family is my inspiration. They always will be, and I will always look to them for role models and support.
#1 My Earliest Memory
I don't really remember much from when I was really young. Growing up I lived in this tiny little town in northwest Massuchusetts, and everything seems blurred together. I remember my Nana and Papa's house the best. Every week we would spend saturday at their house and visit with my cousins. They had this tiny little house that Papa had built with his own hands for my Nana when they were young, and had livd there ever since. The first place we would all go when we got there was the hall coat closet. The door was on a hinge that made it swing back shut if left open, and our little hands were never strong enough to open it without help. It would always take at least two of us to drag the big wooden door open. Usually it was me and Ellie, my cousin. The closet always smelled like Nana. It was mostly her coats hanging up in the closet, because Papa always said he only needed one.
We would dig our way to the back of the closet, and that was where all of the good toys were hidden. They had everything, from Barbie, to G.I. Joe (the original), coloring books, and dress up cloths that were amazing. And the blocks! They had amazing old wooden blocks that never seemed to run out, and we would always try and build bigger and better castles. Everything that I remember from my childhood eventually leads back to Nana and Papa. They are the most amazing grandparents, and we were always excited to go to their house.
I do remember a lot of the town events too. Every year we would have a town Christmas Pageant, and all the kids would be in it. One yeari was an angel and I was so nervous. Mom had made my costume, so it fit me perfectly, but I was only 7 and I knew that I was going to trip in front of everyone. I was just about to go on when I ran to the trash can and threw up. After that I never really participated in the Christmas Pageant again. Oh speaking of Angels though, one year when I was about 5 for halloween Mom wanted me to be an Angel. October in Massachusetts is about December for Virginia, so it was completly freezing out. I was so excited to be an Angel, until Mom made me wear my winter jacket underneath my costume. The entire time I cried about how I was a fat Angel.
We would dig our way to the back of the closet, and that was where all of the good toys were hidden. They had everything, from Barbie, to G.I. Joe (the original), coloring books, and dress up cloths that were amazing. And the blocks! They had amazing old wooden blocks that never seemed to run out, and we would always try and build bigger and better castles. Everything that I remember from my childhood eventually leads back to Nana and Papa. They are the most amazing grandparents, and we were always excited to go to their house.
I do remember a lot of the town events too. Every year we would have a town Christmas Pageant, and all the kids would be in it. One yeari was an angel and I was so nervous. Mom had made my costume, so it fit me perfectly, but I was only 7 and I knew that I was going to trip in front of everyone. I was just about to go on when I ran to the trash can and threw up. After that I never really participated in the Christmas Pageant again. Oh speaking of Angels though, one year when I was about 5 for halloween Mom wanted me to be an Angel. October in Massachusetts is about December for Virginia, so it was completly freezing out. I was so excited to be an Angel, until Mom made me wear my winter jacket underneath my costume. The entire time I cried about how I was a fat Angel.
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