well, in class we went into some deep detail about what we wouldn't go into detail about! (ironic) we discussed if we were asked to write something we wouldn't want to write about- what would it be...?
i thought for a while because as much as i complain and I'm a cry-er-- i really dont have much to complain about. i have a good life with a lot of positive in it- then after i thought a while i came to the realization that if i was to publish an article, short story or even autobiography on my life and my family... i probably wouldn't want to (does that make sense?)
i have a big family- immediate (4 kids) we're only 2 years apart between all 4 of us. my brother 26. sister 24. me 21. little sister 19. we're all pretty close and at the same time want to kill each other.
i probably wouldn't want to write a story about us because honestly, i bet most of the readers wouldn't believe half of what i say.
of course there would be a long drawn out process-
i would start with the basics, clustering/webbing. i would write all of our names (Anthony Jessica Jennifer Carleigh) and cluster about each of us.. (I'm not going to go into details because i might get in trouble by the law! ha ha)
after clustering i would probably free write. the funny thing is when i was free writing in class- i couldn't stop my pen from moving. one thought led to the next and before i knew it i started getting mad. it would go from a good thought and a laugh to what a jerk! i cant believe that happened oh and then this and that. so i think my free writing process would be long and drawn out. it might even turn into a rough rough draft with different memories thrown together.
next i would probably read, read, and reread my free write and eliminate and add to make it more flow-y so i could make sense of it for someone who didn't know exactly what i was talking about.
i would start with my first rough draft after analysing my free write.
even though it would never happen or work- i would then probably interview or ask my siblings how they felt about a certain incident of what their fondest/least fond memory of all of us together was-
there would definitely have to be some interviewing because being the middle child, i probably have a different perspective as everyone else! ha. (yes whoa is me, they gang up on me ha ha)
next i might do a little bit of visual analysis- maybe if i sit back and see how they interact, it would be less hard for me to "fit in" and understand whats going on... we might actually get along if i do some visual analysis.
lastly, i would have to somehow compile all this mumba-jamba into some sort of organized literature to start the 1st book of my series- the MacDonald siblings because i know for sure, there will not only be one book. i could probably make 2 full books out of the first 20 years of my life with my siblings!
i probably wouldn't want to write about it though ha ha.
a thought and actually writing it down on paper is a fine line i don't know if i would want to cross- especially because my older sister might kick my butt!
(i hope this is what you wanted- i posted on your main post asking for help because i was a little confused-)
thanks =]
....the MacDonald siblings series has a good ring to it!!!!!!!!
About Me
- jennifer_macdonald
- I'm one of four kids, big family. I love food; eating and cooking it. I am really big on music, every type.(I am a huge Beatles fan). I'm a typical jersey girl- love the beach, night life, summer time fun, but enjoy the winter. I like going out- but appreciate a nice movie night. I have the best friends in the world and as of right now, I wouldn't change anything in or about my life, for the world. I am going to Kean University as an English Major (literature option)- Elementary Education (elementary, middle and secondary edu.) (k-5 5-8) I'm a glass half full kind of person with many aspirations which I intend to fulfill.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Blog 4; senior seminar
thinking into my near (hopefully) future about my senior seminar... my palms are starting to sweat! If I had to choose 3 possible research projects i might like to do for my senior seminar project they would obviously be "teacher education" based.
The first and most important "investigation" i might like to do would be something like all of the works we've read so far this semester; how has my personal experiences, education, family, friends, background in general, shaped the person i am today and how will it effect me as a teacher in the classroom..?
With this I would say there is a lot of personal research that needs to be done. It probably will be much like an autobiography but at the same time, i might not be able to finish it until I'm actually in the classroom to get interviews and visual analysis.
(that just gave me another idea-)
i would probably do the first part of my research before getting into the field. write the introduction, what i am looking for as a "newcomer" how i reacted or handled experiences in my life (how they've shaped me) and how I've overcome them. This being mainly in school- teachers I've had or had to deal with. what I've seen and what I've decided i definitely don't want to do in my classroom.
after I've compiled a rough list of the things that have shaped me in the classroom i would probably do some research into other teachers and their experiences as a "new bee".
then after being in the field, i could answer my own questions and form new ones for the years to come.
possible question 2...
how might the economic, ethnic and demographic setting of the region i teach in contribute to the positives/negatives in the school?
there would be a lot of visual analysis and interviewing. I would have to do statistical research to see the demographics and numbers to take into consideration and above all- the economics of the town/city I'm working for. that will definitely have a big impact on how i productively work in the class and the school system in general. depending on an urban or rural community changes the pay scale for a teacher's salary. that's a big part of waking up everyday WANTING to go to work. So definitely some research on demographics of a town in which i may become employed.
Lastly for senior seminar, i would probably like to do some research on how i, as a teacher, can impact and create a foundation for each child i teach. I aspire to have a well constructed and organized classroom which plays the role as a stepping stone for my children's futures. Without discipline and an enjoyable environment, the students won't get anything out of their experience. A lot of the early education and elementary education is memorization and repetitive learning. I don't want my kids to memorise, take a test and forget the information the next day or even their next year of schooling. I want my classroom to (in following years) say oh yeah! i remember when Ms. MacDonald told me a story about that and it reminds me of this.
Through research, statistical research (statistics of a town influencing my salary), ethnographically research (changes the way i may teach a class or how it impacts the general feel of the classroom) , visual analysis,(when i become a teacher, visually seeing my own class and how it's going as a whole) interviewing, (again, my own class) oral history (stories other teachers write) brainstorming (what i can do to better my teaching attributes) and archival research (methods other teachers have found to work) i can become a better person and teacher, eventually, through these seminar research topics.
*please excuse my spelling and grammar (or lack there of)...i was writing and it was flowing out of me, i didn't want to break my train of thought!
The first and most important "investigation" i might like to do would be something like all of the works we've read so far this semester; how has my personal experiences, education, family, friends, background in general, shaped the person i am today and how will it effect me as a teacher in the classroom..?
With this I would say there is a lot of personal research that needs to be done. It probably will be much like an autobiography but at the same time, i might not be able to finish it until I'm actually in the classroom to get interviews and visual analysis.
(that just gave me another idea-)
i would probably do the first part of my research before getting into the field. write the introduction, what i am looking for as a "newcomer" how i reacted or handled experiences in my life (how they've shaped me) and how I've overcome them. This being mainly in school- teachers I've had or had to deal with. what I've seen and what I've decided i definitely don't want to do in my classroom.
after I've compiled a rough list of the things that have shaped me in the classroom i would probably do some research into other teachers and their experiences as a "new bee".
then after being in the field, i could answer my own questions and form new ones for the years to come.
possible question 2...
how might the economic, ethnic and demographic setting of the region i teach in contribute to the positives/negatives in the school?
there would be a lot of visual analysis and interviewing. I would have to do statistical research to see the demographics and numbers to take into consideration and above all- the economics of the town/city I'm working for. that will definitely have a big impact on how i productively work in the class and the school system in general. depending on an urban or rural community changes the pay scale for a teacher's salary. that's a big part of waking up everyday WANTING to go to work. So definitely some research on demographics of a town in which i may become employed.
Lastly for senior seminar, i would probably like to do some research on how i, as a teacher, can impact and create a foundation for each child i teach. I aspire to have a well constructed and organized classroom which plays the role as a stepping stone for my children's futures. Without discipline and an enjoyable environment, the students won't get anything out of their experience. A lot of the early education and elementary education is memorization and repetitive learning. I don't want my kids to memorise, take a test and forget the information the next day or even their next year of schooling. I want my classroom to (in following years) say oh yeah! i remember when Ms. MacDonald told me a story about that and it reminds me of this.
Through research, statistical research (statistics of a town influencing my salary), ethnographically research (changes the way i may teach a class or how it impacts the general feel of the classroom) , visual analysis,(when i become a teacher, visually seeing my own class and how it's going as a whole) interviewing, (again, my own class) oral history (stories other teachers write) brainstorming (what i can do to better my teaching attributes) and archival research (methods other teachers have found to work) i can become a better person and teacher, eventually, through these seminar research topics.
*please excuse my spelling and grammar (or lack there of)...i was writing and it was flowing out of me, i didn't want to break my train of thought!
Rose; blog 3
I read the Mike Rose essay which was quite interesting. He, in detail, explained the problems with the education system and how it effects us today. He specifies especially in people who aren't able to get full education- and how they lack as a lesser educated society. He not only goes into the problem with lower educated students but how the education system, as a whole, needs a change.
Within Mike Rose's process- he took first point of view as a teacher in the educational system and analyzed the function/dysfunction to decide what needs to be done to change the problem. He also mentioned in the text that he was a victim of the "left out" part of the classroom in which he had no other means to become a fully educated child, almost deprived of education. Mainly through everyday in the classroom as a teacher, Rose was able to see first hand what needs to be changed to better the education system as a whole which motivated him to write this text.
First off, I would say like every other piece I've read, being an educator and analyzing the classroom as a teacher would be categorized as visual analysis and interviewing; asking the children / class what works... how it's going as an individual and as a whole classroom... what they liked and what they feel needs improvement.. etc.
Secondly- there is certainly autobiographical text in this piece since it's based on his life and his experiences.
As an assumption- I would also say discourse and statistics and research analysis to get his facts, stats, and other peoples (maybe other teachers) takes on his perspective.
Lastly I would just like to add that every text I've read so far has given me an extra edge on my aspect and view on becoming a future educator. I guess you don't know until you literally get into a classroom. You can never learn or be taught the ways of a classroom in college, you can only read other teachers perspectives and hope they improve or give you light on your own classroom.
Within Mike Rose's process- he took first point of view as a teacher in the educational system and analyzed the function/dysfunction to decide what needs to be done to change the problem. He also mentioned in the text that he was a victim of the "left out" part of the classroom in which he had no other means to become a fully educated child, almost deprived of education. Mainly through everyday in the classroom as a teacher, Rose was able to see first hand what needs to be changed to better the education system as a whole which motivated him to write this text.
First off, I would say like every other piece I've read, being an educator and analyzing the classroom as a teacher would be categorized as visual analysis and interviewing; asking the children / class what works... how it's going as an individual and as a whole classroom... what they liked and what they feel needs improvement.. etc.
Secondly- there is certainly autobiographical text in this piece since it's based on his life and his experiences.
As an assumption- I would also say discourse and statistics and research analysis to get his facts, stats, and other peoples (maybe other teachers) takes on his perspective.
Lastly I would just like to add that every text I've read so far has given me an extra edge on my aspect and view on becoming a future educator. I guess you don't know until you literally get into a classroom. You can never learn or be taught the ways of a classroom in college, you can only read other teachers perspectives and hope they improve or give you light on your own classroom.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
relative methods
to begin with- i know for a fact that visual analysis works best for me so i've decided that it might be a great idea to incorporate it into my future as a teacher-
i've always thought that as a "future educator" the best way to learn or even teach a classroom full of young, extremely distracted children is to do everything hands on. during student teaching, i've seen first hand that children relate to and pay attention more when there is something they can 1. relate to directly 2. be involved in 3. Tangibly hold 4. talk freely about.
I feel like this applies to "adults" as well. my best way of learning something is to see it first hand. i need something in front of me- or relatable to my own life. that being said, i think the best methods for me to focus on are probably visual analysis mixed with interviewing.
visual analysis makes sense because just doing my student teaching is visually helpful to me in fulfilling my future endeavors in the elementary education field. when i student teach or observe i can see the way children react to a certain way the teacher instructs and conducts a lesson.
my main goal is to conduct a successful/fun/challenging environment for my students while at the same time, keeping them involved and intrigued in the topic at hand. i know that seems like something that every teacher should achieve but- easier said than done.
Interviewing plays a role in my future career because just asking the students themselves is a type of "interview" that works 100% best. if you see the kids arent responding well to an activity or reading or whatever is being taught at the time- simply asking them why they didnt like it ? or what could have been done to change their opinions to make it work? could easily help you get where they are coming from.
when the kids in your class are happy and you can actually reach to them and feel like they've grasped whats being taught, would probably be the best feeling for an educator- which is why these methods would work best in any scenario in the classroom. on page 86 in our book- the author expresses that visual analysis is the way into written materials. i took this as, if we can get our students to like something that's a visual/tangible material- then we can add the text that goes with it.
example--- (wish me luck)..
if i'm teaching a section about oceanography and pollution and how it effects everything that grows in the ocean- mammals plants food wildlife (etc) i could introduce fish and their habitats- i could first read a short story that the kids might enjoy to hear. then i can tell them after i read this story- i want them to draw/color a picture of themselves if they were fish in their own habitat- what might be in their habitat? who would live in their habitat (etc.) then relate it to the ongoing struggle pollution has on the ocean.
using their own drawings they could tell me how it would feel if they lived with garbage in their "home" in the ocean.
i don't know if that fully expressed what exactly i was trying to explain- but kids relate and honestly, just enjoy doing something that's not just reading, writing and listening. they want something they can do themselves which is why i want to focus my research on visual analysis and interviewing because not only does it personally work for me when i'm learning in the classroom but it will also be extremely beneficial when, one day, i'm actually teaching in the classroom!
i've always thought that as a "future educator" the best way to learn or even teach a classroom full of young, extremely distracted children is to do everything hands on. during student teaching, i've seen first hand that children relate to and pay attention more when there is something they can 1. relate to directly 2. be involved in 3. Tangibly hold 4. talk freely about.
I feel like this applies to "adults" as well. my best way of learning something is to see it first hand. i need something in front of me- or relatable to my own life. that being said, i think the best methods for me to focus on are probably visual analysis mixed with interviewing.
visual analysis makes sense because just doing my student teaching is visually helpful to me in fulfilling my future endeavors in the elementary education field. when i student teach or observe i can see the way children react to a certain way the teacher instructs and conducts a lesson.
my main goal is to conduct a successful/fun/challenging environment for my students while at the same time, keeping them involved and intrigued in the topic at hand. i know that seems like something that every teacher should achieve but- easier said than done.
Interviewing plays a role in my future career because just asking the students themselves is a type of "interview" that works 100% best. if you see the kids arent responding well to an activity or reading or whatever is being taught at the time- simply asking them why they didnt like it ? or what could have been done to change their opinions to make it work? could easily help you get where they are coming from.
when the kids in your class are happy and you can actually reach to them and feel like they've grasped whats being taught, would probably be the best feeling for an educator- which is why these methods would work best in any scenario in the classroom. on page 86 in our book- the author expresses that visual analysis is the way into written materials. i took this as, if we can get our students to like something that's a visual/tangible material- then we can add the text that goes with it.
example--- (wish me luck)..
if i'm teaching a section about oceanography and pollution and how it effects everything that grows in the ocean- mammals plants food wildlife (etc) i could introduce fish and their habitats- i could first read a short story that the kids might enjoy to hear. then i can tell them after i read this story- i want them to draw/color a picture of themselves if they were fish in their own habitat- what might be in their habitat? who would live in their habitat (etc.) then relate it to the ongoing struggle pollution has on the ocean.
using their own drawings they could tell me how it would feel if they lived with garbage in their "home" in the ocean.
i don't know if that fully expressed what exactly i was trying to explain- but kids relate and honestly, just enjoy doing something that's not just reading, writing and listening. they want something they can do themselves which is why i want to focus my research on visual analysis and interviewing because not only does it personally work for me when i'm learning in the classroom but it will also be extremely beneficial when, one day, i'm actually teaching in the classroom!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Moreno
Prompt (for the assigned essay): 1. List what you see as the essay's main focus (what it "shows") and the points or evidence it offers to "prove" that point. 2. Discuss or describe the essay's methodological approach, its methods, and how the author analyzed her data. 3. What other kinds of research projects or problems would this author's approach be good for? What might you use this methodological approach for?
To begin with, Moreno took me by surprise. When I read the first few paragraphs- this paper sounded like an opinion paper. I thought there would be a lot of strong, passive remarks regarding her take on race, ethnicity and culture and how it intervienes with education and literature in the classroom.
After reading deeper, I came to the conclusion that this was a way of reaching out and telling readers that there is a fine line between knowing how to write well and being educated in writing well.
One of the best aspects about this paper is when she tells us that based on someones social background, ethnicity and culture, their ability to connect and process their take on literature, varies.
She tells us that background has an impact on the way we learn. This right here-shows me there is ethnographic methods in this paper. Based on location and ethnicity; certain perspectives can be influenced.
Reading further, academic discourse came into play when Moreno took it into her own classroom.
Moreno also told us that based on ethnicity it can alter not only challenge the students in literacy but the classrooms perspecitve as a whole.
Through ethnologcial, visual analysis, interviewing and academic discourse, Moreno tells us that all students, no matter race or ethnicity, should be educated equally.
In my opinion, there should be no scapegoat for someone who isn't "white american". We all learn at different rates which is taken into consideration, but to baby or even punish someone who isn't fluent in the English language because they are not 100% american, is un-american itself.
I think that this essay really brought light to the people (myself) who are planning on being future educators. This study is great to read when you're going to teach your own classroom. Being educated yourself on knowing the in's and out's of the classroom flow, ethnicially, socially, literally, can create a warm enviroment for your students.
To begin with, Moreno took me by surprise. When I read the first few paragraphs- this paper sounded like an opinion paper. I thought there would be a lot of strong, passive remarks regarding her take on race, ethnicity and culture and how it intervienes with education and literature in the classroom.
After reading deeper, I came to the conclusion that this was a way of reaching out and telling readers that there is a fine line between knowing how to write well and being educated in writing well.
One of the best aspects about this paper is when she tells us that based on someones social background, ethnicity and culture, their ability to connect and process their take on literature, varies.
She tells us that background has an impact on the way we learn. This right here-shows me there is ethnographic methods in this paper. Based on location and ethnicity; certain perspectives can be influenced.
Reading further, academic discourse came into play when Moreno took it into her own classroom.
Moreno also told us that based on ethnicity it can alter not only challenge the students in literacy but the classrooms perspecitve as a whole.
Through ethnologcial, visual analysis, interviewing and academic discourse, Moreno tells us that all students, no matter race or ethnicity, should be educated equally.
In my opinion, there should be no scapegoat for someone who isn't "white american". We all learn at different rates which is taken into consideration, but to baby or even punish someone who isn't fluent in the English language because they are not 100% american, is un-american itself.
I think that this essay really brought light to the people (myself) who are planning on being future educators. This study is great to read when you're going to teach your own classroom. Being educated yourself on knowing the in's and out's of the classroom flow, ethnicially, socially, literally, can create a warm enviroment for your students.
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