Blog Post 4

Lisa Delpit's quote, "[Teachers] should recognize that the linguistic form a student brings to school is intimately connected with loved one’s community, and personal identity. To suggest that this form is “wrong” or, even worse, ignorant, is to suggest that something is wrong with the student and his or her family", is very accurate in our world today. Children are often made to feel like their culture isn't accepted. It may be OK for them to speak their native language at home but they shouldn't speak that way in the classroom because it will cause them to not read as well as other students who speak English. It explains how often times teachers will think the language a student speaks at home is a problem and will make it more difficult for the child to learn in an environment where this language is not spoken. This is not true. We do not need to conform our students to the way we see fit because that is not always the right way. As some teachers did in the reading, it's important to somehow fit this child's culture into their learning. This shows that the way they are accustomed to speaking at home is not wrong and also allows other students to learn from them. It adds diversity to the classroom and create a workplace where students are more comfortable and proud of who they are. 

Blog Post 3

T-Chart

Interpretations: Many people were sitting in large groups with their friends.

Some were talking to one another and others weren't. They might have just been enjoying one anothers company.

Some people were sitting alone because maybe their friends schedules differed from theirs.

The cafeteria seemed to clear out all at once because people might have had afternoon classes to attend while others who were still there could have been done with class for the day.

I noticed a lot of injuries that looked like they were sports related.

A lot of people were carrying their book bags with them so I assumed they had just come from class or were heading to a class after lunch.

Noon was a very busy time in the cafeteria because this was a time many of the students were free in-between classes.

Descriptions: 
Many students were wearing John Carroll apparel. 
Everyone was in the cafeteria to eat.
Some were using this time as a study session or a place to meet with friends to do group work because of what they were talking about.
Based on the conversations I heard, some were helping one another with homework.

Parking Lot:
The people who were sitting by themselves had no one to eat with.
People who take a lot of food and don't think about the hungry people behind them.
Someone could've been having a bad day and was disrespectful to the cafeteria workers because of it.

During this experience, I learned not to judge people so quickly but to try and interpret them and what they were doing. It helped me realize there is so much more to people than what we see when we first look at them. We often judge people so quickly based off of things such as what they are wearing and who they are hanging around with. I think it's so wrong to do that because you are missing out on who they really are. I know I am guilty of judging a person immediately after I see them without even knowing them at all. You make yourself not want to get to know people solely based off of what you see when you look at someone and it really is crazy to think about. It makes you wonder about all the people who have looked at you and gotten the wrong first impression and didn't even want to give you a chance. This made me want to work on changing the way I look at people. When you look closely, you start to see them for who they truly are. You no longer have some false judgment about them but begin to wonder about them and what they are like. There is so much more to people than what we see on the outside and I think this is so important to realize.

Blog Post 2

I believe Lisa Delpit's quote, "We do not really see with our eyes or hear through our ears, but through our beliefs" is very true. Often times people only see what they want or do not want to see and this blocks them from reality and what is actually there. Little kids do not think this way and this is why their imaginations are so much greater than adults. You may not even realize that this is happening because this is the way you've been accustomed to seeing things for so long. As you get older, you set boundaries and form your own opinions. Little kids have a much different way of thinking and approaching situations. They really observe everything and see it for what it truly is. Bill Ayer's describes this well in his book. He explains how the teacher was surprised at all the different groups the little kids could split the colored rocks into. Many of them were ways the teacher would never have thought of on her own. It shows how our perception really changes and we often times don't have the imaginations we use to have when we were younger. I think it is definitely possible to work on the way you see the world. It's important to expand your ways of thinking and let go of the walls you've set up for yourself. Once you allow yourself to do so, you will see the world in a way you have never seen it before.

Class Survey

1. I prefer to  be called Natalie or Nat.
2. My hometown is Mentor, Ohio. 

3. I would like to teach either 2nd or 3rd grade.

4. I love traveling although I have not gone as many places as I would like yet. My favorite place I have visited so far would be Colorado. I enjoy bike riding, hiking, painting, and photography. I work at an ice cream shop near my house during the summers. During this semester, I plan to get involved with service and join clubs but I am not sure which ones yet.

5. 

Life's Struggles

Life contains a good number of ups and downs. Throughout the course of my life, there have been many times when friends have come to me crying seeking consolation. In those cases, I find myself in an awkward position because I’m not very good at cheering people up other than myself. I believe that people should take every bad thing that happens to them and learn to overcome it instead of sitting and crying about it. If it’s one thing I believe, it’s that people should learn to be optimistic and see the bright side of things. Thinking negatively, will never get me anywhere. There’s no good resulting from showing sadness. I think crying is a sign of defeat and letting life get the best of you.

In my life, I’ve seen myself having to face many struggles and obstacles put in my path meant to weigh me down. Even though it’s the most logical way of looking at it, that’s not how I see it. These obstacles have been placed in front of me to make me stronger. My parents’ separation wasn’t the easiest thing to live with. I live with my mom, but talk to my dad just about every day and see him fairly often. That’s what I consider to be the bright side. At least, I know my dad and I can see him and talk to him whenever I wish. I believe that there’s a positive side to everything, even to tragedies. It’s the healthiest way to think because absolutely everything happens for a reason.

I’m the type of person that keeps everything to myself no matter what it is. I could be going through the toughest times of my life, but you wouldn’t notice. I tend to cheer myself up and don’t depend on anyone else to be there for me. I find it pointless for someone else to be the one to put you back on your feet. There have been times when it seems like everything is falling apart, but seeing it the way it actually is, it could always be worse. If I’ve lived through harder times before, any other moment would be just the same. There’s no reason to be pessimistic when that’s only going to put me down. Hard times come and go, and they’re just put in front of me to make me stronger and a better person, that’s how I see it.

Reference: Andrea. "Life’s Struggles." This I Believe. N.p., 3 June 2009. Web. 01 Sept. 2015.

This article is significant to me because it explains how life can be really difficult sometimes but it's how you deal with those situations that define you as a person. It can be hard to not let things get to you but staying strong will only benefit you in the end.

6. To help me become comfortable in taking risks in a college classroom, I enjoy working with friends and forming relationships with my classmates so I am less nervous when participating.

7. A formative memory I've had as a student was when I realized I wanted to become a teacher. It was clarified during my high school career because I figured out what age group I wanted to teach and what age group I did not want to teach. I had done volunteer work with younger children and after that experience it became very clear to me that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

8. Concerns I have with the education field right now would be finding a job after I graduate. In my area at least, it does not seem like there is many open positions so that is definitely something I fear. It does not stop me from wanting to choose education as my career because I'm open to moving somewhere else where there is job opportunities. I'm also concerned that it might be a difficult process to receive my teaching license in a different state and cause me to be limited to jobs only in Ohio.

9. How many years have you been in the education field? Have you taught in different states?