Unlearning the Myths

Being the Mom of two daughters’ I have had these conversations both in and outside of my head. What to “let” them watch, how to help them have positive body images, etc… I thank having a fairly feminist sister-in-law who had a daughter before me for her example. My niece’s favorite Disney movie, of all time, was and still is Ariel. How??? From a “feminist”?? What my sister-in-law did, and I do, is use the movie to teach about how girls don’t really look that way, it is a cartoon. We can use what is there to also show what is not, if that is what we are looking for. I was a little shocked to think that some parents might just plop their child down in front of a movie (or cartoon) without previewing it first to see if it is deemed “acceptable” to that families values. I also think that our entertainment industry is trying to change along with the times and that they are slow to adopt new values within our society but can be used to see, collectively, where we have come from. I have taught my children to be skeptical of anything that is on TV. And actually other media also. A joke in our house is “the TV said it, it must be true!”. Even our news is sensationalized and biased. We have done over a year without TV also and they still know things that we never taught them (I blame the kids on the bus). Anyway I guess that my overall point is that we can teach them to view the world tentatively and try and consider the source, politics and such surrounding an item and that this is a healthier way of refusing to just swallow what they media is trying to sell us, and that these are transferrable life skills, as opposed to getting all PO’ed at Popeye who was probably quite progressive during his time, just not so much now! “Look how far we’ve come baby!” We will not be there to shelter them forever let’s help them develop the skills necessary to scrutinize the beliefs that they internalize.

Evans, Hill, and all

Wk 12

I think that Hill has hit the nail on the head so to speak. If we are to be granted the privilege to teach the children of a neighborhood then we must involve the members of the neighborhood. I have been reading “Waiting for “Superman”” and this issue is also addressed there. We must be trusted, reliable member of the community of our children’s lives in order to be able to teach the children. I intend to have a classroom mission and vision. I think that it grants accountability when these are placed in writing. I intend to involve any who want to be involved.

Hill demonstrates how lucky we are to live in an age where we have sooo much access to so many different technologies. Everything from paper and pencil to films complete with sound track. How could we not find something for every child to excel at? I appreciate the idea of each student producing one major project in which we can embed many, many lessons as opposed to producing many, many little lessons that are not necessarily real world connected. This just seems to me to be less of a contrived environment and a more sound learning environment. Evans also refers to this idea of extending of a lesson by recreating a text in a different mode.

“The Silent Stage” stresses the importance of us as teachers being willing to involve our students in the process of their learning. “I needed the system to meet me half way, to collaborate, to include my thoughts and feelings” (p.16). If we are to be granted the privilege of being allowed to influence a student we must first respect their right to learn about what they are interested in, what stimulates them.  

MGRP

I love the MGRP formats. I love to be creative and I really enjoy the freedom that comes with being able to "think outside of the box". I actually found that I had more ideas for genres than I had time to create projects! I love it. I think that I could come up with an example of just about every genre in our MRGP book with the info that we gathered. I like that some genres allow us to be lees formal and more wordy than the traditional research format while others require us to be more concise and detailed with our words. I hope all had as much fun as I did.

MGRP 5&7 and Amir

I cannot wait to create a class character!!! I am picturing a cardboard cut out sitting in the corner! Well or hanging on the wall, or climbing the pole, something. I loooovvee it!!! The children get to create it and all can use it and no one has to worry about offending anyone in their real lives so they can use the full spectrum of descriptive words without inhibition. Wow. Allen says “Our students become the resident experts on their topics”(p.63). Wow, how cool??

For me the essence of Chapter seven is “ When we allow students to write in multiple genres and incorporate the finr and performing arts, we help them express their ideas in ways that tap alternative thinking processes. They now have a broad repertoire of entry points into their topic”(p.86). Facts are facts and this is the research part. But… if we open up the door to different presentations of those facts then we can work in more of a strengths based environment and that is always more rewarding! And usually more creative too.  

Amir

I find it interesting that he seems to believe that there is an “American” way of being neighbors where there is an underlying rule about not getting to know your neighbors but yet he, who is from India also does not know his neighbors. He is very satisfied that the garden has helped to build a sense of community in his neighborhood. All participants are more willing to see each other more in the light of a new role (fellow gardener) and this allows for more acceptance and less preconceived ideas about what people are based in their past experiences and/or believed knowledge about the person.

MGRP 4 and Van Sluys

I love the idea of using poetry with children. It is such a verbal genre. Children looovvveee to rhyme and the smallest unit of participation is just a rhyming sound so... all can participate and be successful. Lessons can be designed where there are no "rules" or guidelines can be given. Allowing for all abilities to be incorporated.
Invitations also lend themselves to all learners. Being an opportunity in and of themselves to evaluate your views and incorporate possibly new information into your view point makes it something anyone can do. You literally start where you are ;).
Van Sluys point out that we must be prepared and prepare our students with what will be expected of them. This holds true for all of our lessons and class activities.
I thought that keeping in mind that we as teachers are facilitators or resources but not part of the group doing the inquiry is important.
I intend to use journals and reflective responses in my classroom. I feel that it allows individuals an opportunity to express themselves as an individual apart from the group about their group experience. Also allows for students to experience their topic from another vantage point. In addition allows for qualitative assessment. One final, it will be a tool for students to guage their own progress.
Both readings mentioned the benefits of peer praise. We have been reading more about like peer explanations lately but the idea of doing something well that you are proud of and your peers thinking that it is good too, seems wonderful. I also think that this will help build skills in giving compliments and creative criticims.

MGRP and doughnuts

You know part of the reason that I am seeking the reading certificate also is because through my courses I have discovered that my experiences with words and reading and writing are not the same as everyone elses and that I am in a way lucky. I don't ever remember not being able to read. And by read I mean see a movie play out as I read the text, not just understand the words. Reading for me has always been an enjoyable activity, like others go to the movies or watch TV, I read-like a fiend! I believe that my strong reading skills have allowed me to love research also. I have always loved research papers! Once upon a time I volunteered for the IUN newspaper (for fun???). I have always enjoyed the challenge of taking a one dimensional topic and creating a multi dimensional paper. I am so excited to learn about how to teach others how to do this!!!! And with the addition of multigenre we can also tap into everyones strengths and passions too, it's soooo exciting!
Love the idea of the Process Journals! Think that it will allow us to share the journey with our students in a more authentic way, not just give a grade for a final product. much like what we have been learning in Math it will allow us to give credit for all of the effort too and not just the "right/final answer".
Love the idea of doing a project with the class. What better way to demonstrate that what we are doing have relevance and that the skills that we use will continue to develop over our lifetimes.
I was reminded of our trip to the local library and how they are willing to help our classes and students (and ourselves) create meaningful library research experiences with us, if we just give them a little notice.
I am soooo going to have a donut shop in my class!!!! My head is just racing with possibilities and ideas!!! I can't wait.

Making Rubrics

I actually love making rubrics!!! I like thinking them through.... This skill at excellence level looks like... at good level looks like.... at ok level looks like... and at unacceptable level looks like... I also love the idea of involving the children and letting them define the different skills and how they will be represented. I really think that this can have the effect of empowering them. And, I know that for me, when I look over a rubric for an upcoming assignment it helps to stimulate thoughts or to organize my ideas, I would hope that this kind of exercise, along with student participation would have the same effect for the students. Also I think that it can help to see "huummmp, if I do this (say turn it in late) it will have this reaction (loose 5 pts.). I think that putting it down in wrtiing helps me as ateacher to remain accountable and for the students allows them to feel more stable (or trust) in a more predictable.