blog 11

                 Writing makes a lot of people nervous and anxious. Writing is a very difficult thing to do. The writer has to worry about the grammar and the content and quality of the writing. There are many parts that make up different writing prompts. In chapter 12, the author brought up an interesting concept to writing. Patience is very important. Once again, this is difficult because most people what to just get things over with. However, writing is very time consuming and this can frustrate people. The author mentioned something that I do very often when I am stuck while I am trying to write a paper. He says to “turn off the computer and assign the project to my subconscious or my unconscious.” I usually just stop working until I figure out what it is I want to write and by then I can usually write a pretty good paper. Similarly, I will write a paper and when I am done I do not read it or anything. I save it and do not think about the paper until a few days later. By then my mind is fresh and I am ready to make the paper perfect. To me this is a form of practicing patience because I make myself wait until I can make the paper as good as I can.               Another thing that I found interesting is the voice in our heads when we write. I agree that we should not write until that voice knows how to feel about the topic. The voice in our heads need passion or persuasion. We should not be writing if we do not feel passionately about the topic. This way, you can know what points should be important in the paper. Personally, my voice is strongest in the morning. I like to write in the morning because my mind is fresh and ready to focus on the topic that I am writing about. My voice is strong and I am able to express my thoughts and knowledge more clearly. Writing is difficult and I think teachers could help students learn strategies that can make it a little easier on students.

Blog 10

            Technology is often a difficult thing for teachers to incorporate into the classroom. Since students know and like technology a lot better than most teachers, technology should be used in the classroom. However, it should not be forced into the classroom. If the content area allows some space for students to use technology than use it. I like the idea of writing a wikibook. I have hesitations with any kind of assignment where the students are independent. There may be some very obedient students but there are always students who are not. In spite of this, I think using wikibooks.org could be an interesting addition to a social studies classroom. It could be helpful in a large unit such as World War I or World War II. I like the idea of students adding videos or journal articles that have to do with the topic. Students are given the opportunity to interact with the unit and are critically thinking and learning about authentic material.
            I like the idea of the book trailer. Obviously I cannot have my social studies students reading adult literature. Instead, students can read any book about a person, place, or event in the time period that we are studying. They could read it and then make a book trailer about it. They could also introduce the person or give information about the book. It is just an interesting way for students to use technology to explain what they have learned from the book. Students could really have a lot of fun with this assignment. Students are able to express themselves in ways that may be easier than writing a paper or a having a classroom discussion. It is important to realize that this activity might be difficult for many students. For example, I think there are many students who do not want to and who might not be able to read a history book outside of the classroom. It is important to know the students and to determine the things they are capable of. I imagine that a classroom with advanced students would be excited to do this activity and they would produce excellent trailers. Wikis and book trailers are both technologies that could be used in a social studies classroom.

Blog 9

Students should engage in the classroom through conversations and other forms of dialogs. It is often very difficult to get students to talk with other classmates in the classroom. I know that there are instances where I do not feel like talking even in a small group. However, it is important that students are talking and having deep conversations and are critically thinking out loud. Teachers can give good instructions and support students but they cannot do all the work for the students. It is a reality that teachers must face. So instead, teachers should help students become engaged with the classroom and the content area.
            The chapter had a few ideas of how to involve and engage students in their reading. They could be successful depending on the students in the classroom. However, I am not too optimistic about such activities. I have a friend who is student teaching this semester and she has shared some discouraging stories with me. She teaches science in a high school and her students will not do anything. They have trouble and issues doing simple things such as completing work sheets and homework. She tried to have conversations as a class but the students would say crazy, immature things and they would get off task. In a mature and obedient classroom with students that behave, having students write questions about the text could work. However, I am worried that students ask silly or inappropriate questions that have little to do with the actual information in the text.
            I do like the idea of the Dialogue booklet. I think it is important for students to communicate with others within a group and it is good for teachers to provide guidelines and questions for students to answer and discuss. It is a terrific idea to create specific criteria for the evaluation of discussion in the classroom. I think it could be a good idea to share these criteria with the students so that they know what to expect when they are having discussions in the classroom. These ideas should be practiced in the classroom as much as possible. I think the teacher needs to adjust the criteria based on the students in the classroom. Some activities can be successful in one classroom while it is not successful in another classroom.

Blog 8

The chapter brought up many interesting and sad realities of schools and families. It is unfortunate that schools are not communicating with parents in ways that are appropriate for the parents. School officials believed a stereotype and that stopped them from communicating with a parent who actually did show concern in her child. It is sad that there are teachers and school officials who do not care about students or their parents. It is also sad that a person’s dialect is judged and looked down upon. I have seen this happen before to people who have moved her from another country. My mom has a Dutch accent when she speaks and sometimes people act rude around her. I think that is bad enough. However, it is also terrible that people from the same country make fun of people because of an accent. People are being judged and ignored instead of being helped.
            I am in the class Understanding Language this semester and I am learning that there are different dialects. However, there is not one dialect of English that is superior to another. Unfortunately this theory is not carried out in real life practice. People judge other people just because of the way they speak. People’s socioeconomic class does seem to affect their literacy. Once again, this is so sad and wrong but it’s true. I mentor in Kankakee and even there I notice a huge difference between students’ sociopolitical and socioeconomic lives and their reading levels. Teachers must understand that poor children still need to and want to learn in school and it is the teacher’s job to teach them. Poverty can no longer be an excuse to why students can’t learn how to read and write. Students should also be able to use their language or form of dialect to learn. This will help them get into the reading and literacy world. The other chapter also talked about pushing poor children to do their best. I agree that teachers must push students and they cannot let students give up in the classroom. Teachers need to hold high expectations for all students in the classroom regardless of race or socioeconomic reasons.

Blog 7 ELL

            Since ESL is my minor, the chapter about English Language Learners in the classroom is interesting to me. The number of ELL’s in the classroom is greatly increasing every year. That is why teachers need to become aware of these students in their classrooms. I agree with the speakers in the chapter when they spoke about the benefit of cultural differences in the classroom. I think it is wonderful when there is diversity in a classroom. It is especially beneficial in a social studies classroom. Teachers need to encourage students to talk about their own country’s history or traditions. Diverse students give an American classroom so much more authenticity. Teachers need to use this to their advantage. They need to make the students feel comfortable and teachers need to support the students and let them know that their experiences are beneficial to the classroom.
            I think there are times when it is appropriate for an ELL student to use their foreign language for scaffolding. However, there is a time within a classroom setting that they must learn in English. They can and should speak their foreign language at home and even with friends. However, they cannot become fluent if they do not try to speak, read, and write in English at school. Also, bilingual education could be helpful but it could also leave some ESL students out. For example, most bilingual education classrooms are in Spanish and English. When I moved to the United States when I was eleven years old, I had only been reading, writing, and speaking English for 5 months. My first language was Dutch. There was no teacher in my school that knew Dutch. Clearly the problem is that there will not be teachers that are fluent in every language. Due to my past, I might be a little biased. However, if the student is a beginner and the student is struggling, the teacher should use the first language for assistance if they know it.
            ELL students should work in groups and have discussions. It is much easier to speak up in small groups compared to the entire class. Also, I think it is important for ESL students to work in groups with native English speakers so that they can hear and listen to their English. This will be helpful in their language acquisition process. I love the idea of blogs or journaling. It is a terrific way for students to speak their mind and for teachers to understand their students. These students are so fascinating to me and they just want to be understood and they want to fit in. Teachers need to make ESL students feel comfortable in the classroom.

blog 6 chapter 7

            Teaching vocabulary is often underestimated. Some teachers do not make the time to make sure that students truly understand the meaning of words. Honestly, I do not think that I really had any teachers in school that helped me figure out what words meant. I like to learn and I read a lot and so that is how I learned the meanings of many vocabulary words. Unfortunately, most students do not know how to learn the meaning of words on their own. So, they must be taught. Instructors must teach students strategies for learning words independently. Students must be given the strategies that they can understand and use them on their own.
            The word exercise in chapter 7 called Context Plus seems to be a pretty good exercise. I think I could use this exercise to help my students understand some historical concepts in the lesson. It certainly could not be used on every word because it would take too long. However, if I chose the right word, it could be an effective exercise. I don’t really like the idea of a word wall but I do like the idea of students making alphabetical lists of history words in their notebook. This way they are learning to organize the words and they will have the words with them when they are reading independently outside of the classroom.
            In one of my ESL classes I learned about an assessment or exercise called the Cloze test. Chapter 7 introduces an activity similar to the cloze test. It is a paragraph that has a few words missing in the passage. The students have to use their prior knowledge and the context of the passage to fill in the correct word for each missing blank. I think this exercise can be very helpful for students. It allows them to practice different reading skills and word comprehension. The students need to use the text to determine the correct missing word. It can be very successful in an ESL classroom as well as in a history classroom.

Blog 5

            I have always been a good student but I admit that I did not learn very much in high school. I learned what I needed to receive A’s in all of my classes but I do not remember half of it now. The concept of truly understanding is what chapter 4 discusses. The activity that the woman did with the students in the high school was amazing. I agree that the best way for students to learn is to get them emotionally involved in the topic. Students need to be able to relate and connect with a particular event especially in a history class.
            It is important to teach students how to critically think about the text and material that they are reading. They should be taught how to reread important sentences, instead of the entire chapter. It wasn’t until I was a college student that I began developing effective reading strategies. I will not make my students wait that long; I will teach them the strategies to remember what they are reading. It’s important that students learn to recognize and connect the new information with their schemata. Also, they need to be asking themselves questions while they are reading the text so that they can develop a deeper understanding of the text. When reading long chapters or passages, it is important that the students learn how to decipher what is important and what is not as important. Lastly, students need to try to make an emotion connection with the information. They need to use their imagination and their feelings. People think history is boring, and honestly, it can be if you study it incorrectly. That is why it is essential that students make connections between their own lives and the material being read.
            I agree that teachers should take more time in teaching certain concepts in class. Often times it feels like things are being taught so quickly and it is rushed. History can become very complicated if the students do not understand the concepts and cause and effect. Teachers should take their time in teaching these subjects so that students have the time to understand and to connect with the topic. Allow time for the students to walk in other historical figures’ shoes. It is very difficult to learn when you feel that time is running out. Teachers should also discover how the students learn and understand best so that students can practice those methods.

Blog #4

It is important for English teachers to pay attention to the Young Adult books that are popular these days. This way, they could incorporate those types of books in the curriculum. I will probably not be an English literature teacher but what I remember from High school is that teachers did not really have an opinion about the books the students read. There were certain popular books that students were required to read. The only thing the teacher might be allowed to do is inform the students of new and interesting Young Adult books and the students could be able to read it in their spare time. The chapter was interesting because it gave me more insight in the books of this generation. Books and shows have certainly changed and they do reflect our society.
            The topic of school shootings is very difficult for me to handle. I have prayed for guidance in this area and I still wonder what my role as a teacher is when it comes to school shootings. Are we supposed to talk about that issue with our students? What are the correct things to say? Those are all questions I struggle with. In chapter 6, Lesesne briefly explains that there are now books that discuss school shootings. Often times, bullying was the cause of a shooting and so it would be wise for teachers to explain the hurt and terror that can come from bullying. However, our world has become so corrupt that schools shootings are not always related to school bullying anymore. Since there is such a vast selection of books that are being published, we should monitor or censor books that are inappropriate for those students. Books, as well as the media, are very persuading and influential. This is why we need to protect our students.
            Burk provided many different strategies to incorporate reading into the classroom. If I become an ESL teacher then I will certainly set aside time to have sustained silent reading. I like that students are able to bring their own books to read. In a history classroom I will not have time for my students to read anything they want. I could make them read a history book, however, that is not always so fun for all the students. In any classroom, it is important that the teacher makes it a comfortable learning environment. I think it is vital that students are able to discuss what they are learning or have just read. This way, students are able to critically think about the information that they read. I have never done this in my history classes in high school. Instead, I learned about the importance of this in my college history and ESL classes. I will use this skill even if I teach in a middle school. It is always helpful to talk about the reading material. Students who understand it can talk and express their opinions and this will also help those students that did not understand the reading.

Blog #3

            Chapter 3 is interesting but it does not interest me too much. I realize that students are living in a different world that teachers grew up in. Language is learned and communicated through digital methods now and so students enjoy using video games and other forms of technology. Students should still read books and students still have a responsibility to learn in the classroom.
            On the other hand, chapter 16 was fascinating to me. Ever since I have been an education major, I have been concerned about students’ reading progress. I realize that I will have students in my class who could be reading three or four levels below their grade reading level. That is very discouraging to me because then it will be impossible for those students to read and comprehend the material in the History books that we are supposed to be reading for that level. Chapter 16 discusses this problem and it offers advice that I appreciated. I think it is important to incorporate authentic literacy and literary that is relevant to the students. The students need to be able to connect and relate to the things they have to read otherwise they will not read it at all.
            Another problem that students have is that they do not always try anymore. Frankly, many students are lazy and they are not expected to work hard for things anymore. They might try to work hard but if they feel like they cannot do it, then they will give up. They do this because they feel dumb and so they no longer try. As teachers, we need to believe in those students that are underachieving in school. We cannot give up on them. We need to use techniques that will help students comprehend the text that they are reading. Students will never be able to connect and care about a subject if they cannot understand it. It is so important for teachers to help fill in the missing information and give them sufficient prior knowledge so that students can understand things completely. I mentor a student in reading every Monday and Wednesday and she was having difficulties understanding the book. Finally, I began asking her if she understood what certain words meant and half of the words she was not familiar with. I was happy to explain the words to her and after I did, she could summarize the chapter perfectly.  I simply had to provide her with some extra knowledge about words and this helped her understand the entire book. We need to help our students get to their reading level by encouraging them and allowing them to read material that is suitable for their current reading level.

Blog 2 Ch10

            Since the world is changing, teachers need to be altering and changing the assignments that the students complete in class. Teachers must teach them different skills that the students will need in this “Flat” world. I agree with Jim Burke’s opinion that analogical reasoning should be taught to students. Analogical reasoning is when one is able to see the relationship between completely different things. He explains that teachers can teach this skill to their students by giving assignments where students are required to compare and contrast different things in order to discover a deeper meaning and understanding of a certain concept or idea. As a future history teacher or ESL teacher, I think that analogical reasoning is a very important skill to possess. I could apply it fairly easily in my history classroom because I could simply have my students compare and contrast different historical figures or even different political thoughts. For an ESL classroom it is important for students to understand the American culture if they just moved here from another country. I could have my students compare and contrast the United States to their homeland (or a country they find interesting if the U.S. is their homeland). It is good that I realize that students need these special skills in today’s society.
             There are many other skills that students should be learning. Unfortunately, I will not be able to alter my lesson plans enough to contribute all of those skills into a History or ESL classroom. I think that technology should be used more inside of the classroom. However, requiring students to use a lot of technology outside of the classroom could be difficult since I could be in a classroom where students do not have the means to that technology. I refuse to single students out in that way and making them feel uncomfortable. Another problem with changing the curriculum for a “flat” world is that teachers are graded by how their students perform on assessments. I will try to alter things a little bit for this changing world. However, if I want to keep my job, I also have to teach the students the information and things that will be on the assessments. I think that teachers find themselves stuck in the middle of those two important things and hopefully there will be a way to contribute both in a curriculum and lesson.  

Blog 1 Chapter 1 Beers

In Chapter 1, Kylene Beers brought up some very interesting points. The twenty-first century is very different from any other time period, especially when it comes to the educational system. In schools, it seems that the only thing that administrators are concerned about is the adequate yearly progress and state assessments. This is due to the No Child Left Behind Act. However, I think focusing on just test results is not good for students. It is very discouraging that the state government solely looks at test grades to determine how smart someone is. The story about Derek is important to remember because there are certainly a lot of students who are dealing with a lot of pressures and difficult times at home. School administrators need to pay attention to other needs of students besides their educational one. If a student is starving and has to take care of siblings, then how are they supposed to care and do well in school or on tests? Unfortunately they can’t and that’s the problem. When teachers have students similar to Derek they should stay positive and concentrate on the student’s improvements. Positive reinforcement is detrimental to the student's success. Also, it is vital that teachers collaborate and work together. This way, they are able to get to know students better and they can focus on the students’ needs. Also, in this century I think it is important for students to connect and become involved in their own learning. I am a Social Science Education Major and in my future history class I would love for my students to read about a historical event. However, I think it would be wise for the students to read about something historical that they are interested in. I will decide on a specific time period and then the students would chose to read about ANYTHING in that time period as long as it is school appropriate. (I would have to approve the topic before they read it.) I think that would be a good assignment because students would have a say in their homework and they would have more intrinsic motivation to do it. Overall, I found the chapter very interesting and I agreed with Beer’s opinions.

Introduction of myself

My name is Kimberly Powers and I am a Social Science Education major. Last year I added English as a second language as my minor. I was born in Sacramento, California and I have a twin brother. I also have an older brother and a younger brother. When I was a baby, my family and I moved to the Netherlands. My mom is Dutch and her entire side of the family lives in the Netherlands. While we lived there for ten years, my dad worked for his doctorate in the New Testament. When he completed his PhD, we moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado. I am excited for Spring Break on March 1st, because I will be going on a mission trip with a team from Olivet to Cuba. I have studied Cuba a lot in my history classes and so I am thrilled and feel blessed to go there and meet the Cuban people. I am also excited for this reading in content areas class because I think it is vital for students to read and I know that it will change their lives tremendously when they do.