Reflection 10

This class has probably been the most useful class I’ve taken throughout my college career. I am actually thrilled about the content that was taught to me in this course. I was actually taught things that would help me and prepare me for higher education when I transfer. I loved the fact that I was taught things that I really needed to know. I want to be a teacher, and I was taught how to do so. I liked learning about the different types of lesson plans. The work put into one lesson plan is strenuous. Lesson planning requires a lot of thinking and pre-planning. We learned the value of the new technologies that would help the lesson planning progress be less time consuming. Before this course, I had no idea that lesson planning took so much thought and preparation. I loved learning how to use as many resources as possible to make that job easier. I liked learning about the digital stories. I had no idea that this was such a hit all around with teachers. I use to think that technology would lessen a teachers importance in the classroom, but after being in this class I know that it is not true at all. The digital stories help portray a message to the students. This form of storytelling is both effective and creative. A teacher can tell a story using bright colors, audio, text, music, animation and pictures. I think that this helps all type of learners learn. It is an easy way to teach and get your message across to everyone at the same time. I loved learning about this because it made me excited to be able to complete something so great. The most valuable thing I have learned in this class, to be honest, is everything. Everything I learned in this course would help me become a better educator. This class has prepared me for what’s to come. I know that with the material that I have learned will better my chances at surviving in a university. I know that my hard work will pay off. I will try my best to keep all this information in my mind and put it to good use. I am grateful to have had such a great course. I hope that I continue to have a passion to become a teacher. This course has assured me that I want to do nothing else with my life except become a teacher. And that discovery is something very valuable to me.

Reflection 9

Teaching styles have evolved over the years. More and more technology has been integrated in teaching. Every year or so a new invention is created to better aide the teacher in the classroom. Grade books use to be all written by hand, now they have a program which allows them to grade faster. This program is almost virtually error proof and gives the teacher more time to use for planning, etc. Before the use of technology, teachers would use verbal instruction and some visual aids such as: maps, chalk boards, and posters. This helped the teachers instruction be more diverse. Some students learn information better when they can see it. Some need a text book and others might just need to touch and feel for themselves. With the new technology, The learning styles of students are taken into consideration. It helps them to understand the material and be more open to learning it. I have learned not to shun technological advances. I use to be skeptical about a classroom that was run by this method. I am more open to the idea because I now understand the benefits this can create. There are so many options for a teacher now a days. I have seen this technique first hand when I was doing my service learning hours. The students were learning how to create compound words. The teacher used a the over head projector to show the students how to do this in a fun colorful way. For example, the screen displayed a picture of a brain and a storm. The teacher would drag the pictures together and it would create the compound word. The picture was animated to show a Student “brainstorming” ideas. I thought this was the most wonderful thing I had seen. If this type of method was used while I was learning, I probably would have been more interested in Language Arts. Computers are being used to do amazing things. I think people should be more open to letting the teachers explore what other things can be done. I Also have gotten to like the idea of the digital story. Being a Visual/kinesthetic learner, I know first hand what its like to be stuck in an auditory classroom. I think that auditory delivery paired with the new technology, would be pleasing to all the students in your classroom. I can’t wait to learn more about the benefits of technology in the process of instructional delivery.

Reflection 8

When taking the educational philosophy Survey, I wasn’t shocked to see that my results barely changed over the semesters. This was the third time that I have taken this survey in the past year or so. My results have remained pretty constant. The highest score on my survey was Progressivism. It was 83 % of my results. I decided to research a little more in depth to why I have gotten this result over and over. Progressivism is based on the principles of humans learning in real life activities. What was very intriguing about this information was that progressive teachers believe that students are like a scientist, they need to be aware of the problem, question it and come up with the answer themselves. To progressive teachers, the students learn more through testing and “Learn by Doing”. They let the students learn through hands on experiments and problem solving techniques. They use collaborative learning to stimulate the students integration. Textbooks are not the main learning source in this type of classroom setting. Other learning resources such as magazines, internet, computer exploration, charts and projects are used more instead. I really believe that this survey got me on point. I truly believe that this teaching style is going the direction of my own ideals. The teacher not only provides the students with materials they need to learn, but the they integrate real world knowledge. My belief is children need to learn what’s going on in the world. They need to see with their own eyes something outside of their little boxed minds. With this type of knowledge they will be prepared for any thing. Many ideals came out progressivism such as : women’s suffrage, civil liberties, social justice, fair trade, feminism, and ethical conservation to name a few. I really liked learning about this style in more depth. I have really understood why I am the way I am. Why I think they way I do and why I feel so strongly about becoming a teacher. Some famous progressives were Francis Parker, a superintendent of schools, Philosopher John Dewey, Stanwood Cobb who founded the progressive education association, and Herb Kohl who founded the open classroom movement. All these people made progressive education possible in schools and universities around the united states. I am glad to have found out what kind of teacher I will be based on this survey.

Reflection 7

Before reading up on this, I had no clue to what a digital story was. Of course, for obvious reason, I knew that I had to do with telling a story through technology. I had never experienced this method before. It’s a remarkable to see how powerful a digital story can actually be. In the past, before their was any use of written records, stories were verbally passed down through generations. Stories of that nature still live on today because of the power of their meanings. Now we have movies, television, computers and all sorts of nifty inventions to be able to bring the story to life. Digital stories a new way to express the art of story telling. They are the modern day storytellers. They use expressive pictures, voice recordings, and music in a creative combination. All those things mixed together help make the stories more captivating. Digital stories are about 4 to 5 minutes long depending on the story. They are told in a first person narrative and usually contain the speakers own voice. Instead of just listening to a voice or reading in pure black and white, digital stories help bring the colors and deep dimensions to enthrall your senses. Now, some say that this leave nothing to the imagination. My argument is that this doesn’t not take away from anything of that sort. Yes, digital stories do display the essence of the story, but your mind will always alter things to your benefit. Still images are the main factor of digital stories. This leaves all the motion to the students own mind. I think this a great invention. Not only does it give range but it makes the story come to life. I have never seen one of these done by a teacher. I am excited to be able to learn how to make something so amazing. This technique has become very famous in the education field. I think that this gives the students the chance to see things clearly and to explore the story in depth. This can also teach the children that out of a regular black and white story, you can create a masterpiece. This can enhance the students sense of wonder and imagination. I am amazed at how technology is working to help benefit the education system. Not only do these digital stories convey a message but they can be beneficial if they touch someone’s life. I cannot wait till I have the chance to construct a digital story of my own.

Reflection 6

Before reading the assignment, I questioned to myself what tellacollaborative could possibly mean. so, I broke down the word to find the meaning. I know that collaborative means to work together. Tella , I’m not so sure about. So this must mean that this type of learning has to do with working together. This type of learning helps the students get more comfortable with working with different types of students. The students are not learning the lesson you intend them to learn, but they are gaining real world experience in the classroom. The teacher is there to guide and facilitate the students during this time. It is a very crucial moment for the students. They are gaining tools that will not only help them excel in school but also in life outside of your classroom walls. I found the reading to very powerful. The teacher made her two classrooms evaluate what a safe classroom is and their country. These classrooms where from two different parts of the world. The results where amazing. Students masked their true feelings because it was what they think is expected from them. The children from the Israeli classroom did not mention the terrorist attacks at all. But when asked about safety, their true feeling come to the surface. The Israeli students did not feel safe walking the streets or even coming to school. Even though the students were in the same age group, the Israeli students expressed situations that the Canadian students could never imagine without this assignment. This assignment helped broaden the view of these students. They opened their minds to the endless possibilities in the world. They now know that the world isn’t just about them and where they live, but now they know the world is much bigger than what they imagined. The students got a chance to feel what someone their age, in another country and a different school feels about certain topics. The teacher gave them the power to explore the world with their own eyes. She gave them a chance to experience something true. In middle school, I was encouraged to get a pen pal from another part of the world. We had weekly assignments where we would have to talk about one topic and print out our discovery. We analyzed how different and how similar we are with one another. I think every child should have the opportunity to explore the world around them.

Reflection 5

Before starting this reflection, I had never heard of Cooperative or collaborative learning. I was interested to see what they could be. As I began to read about this topic, I began to realize that this subject was familiar. Collaborative learning is when the students are working together for a common goal. The students are learning by helping each other out. A good example of this would be when students are helping each other during homework. If one student knows what to do, they pass on the knowledge to a fellow student. Not only are they learning the work skills they need but they are also learning social skills. Collaborative learning helps students learn how to work together. It teaches students that in order to succeed you need to work hard but also to be a team player. This helps the students feel successful and ready for anything. It helps the students feel positive and confident when they are around their peers. Since the discovery of the great results this learning gives students, the use of cooperative learning has increased in classrooms. Not only does it help them in the classroom but it helps them later in life. They can use the skills they acquire to better themselves in the future. As a teacher, you have to know what will help your students and what will hold them back. Some research has been done that sometimes gifted students are held back because they worked with weaker students. Also, the more members you have the group the less successful it can turn out. Smaller pairings like 2 or 3 are the most successful. Technology has also made cooperative learning so much more accessible to students and teachers. Students can now email, web chat, and video chat in order to get their assignments completed. Web pages are created just for this use. More and more students are enrolling in online classes that involve high amounts of cooperative learning. I found this reading very interesting. I never knew that grouping students in order to complete assignment was so helpful. I find it cool that it not only helps them in the classroom but it helps them in future. When I was going to school, my teachers used a lot of this technique. I loved working with my classmates. It made us come together as friends. I was able to learn a lot of things from some of the gifted kids in my class. I hope that when I become a teacher, I will use this style of learning effectively for my students.

Reflection 4

Before this taking this course, I had never heard of inquiry based learning. I was interested to see what is was all about. The first the that caught my attention was the fact this it is based on the involvement of the student. It is a hands on experience rather than a show me and I shall copy. This type of learning pushes the students to ask questions and not be afraid to seek the truth of the matter. Students now a days are discouraged in asking too many questions because it takes away from the lesson and causes side tracking. But I disagree. I think students should be allowed to use their minds to find the truth for themselves. This helps students to use their minds in a complex manner. If nurtured correctly, the student will be able to convert and process complicated data and turn it into something they can understand. I remember growing up, a lot of my teachers made us memorize useless facts. I would only remember it for the test and then after that it was complete gone from my me memory. This is to me is not teaching at all. Memory for the sake of passing a test to me is not knowledge. Inquiry based learning is so much more than that. It is about comprehending the facts and material that is in front of you. Without understanding, what is the use of the information? If the teacher is acceptant toward this type of learning, the students will have gained a valuable tool for furthering their education. I think this a great method and I would probably be happy if my students would be confident enough to question things. I know that even today, I am always asking questions. When something sounds strange or expressed in a complicated manner; I have learned to use my mind to decipher the meanings. In high school, I was allowed to question the material that was being taught to me. I was always looking for a deeper understanding of what I was learning. I think that this learning type is a great way for students to break out of their comfort zones. They learn how to break information down and understand it from their own point of view. I really enjoyed learning how great inquiry based teaching is.

Reflection 3

When learning about the different types of lesson plans, I found the Constructivist lesson plan to be very intriguing. This lesson plan is based on thinking. The whole purpose of this lesson plan is to use the mind to solve problems, answer questions and come up with meaningful solutions. I liked that this lesson plan is focused more on the student doing the work than on the teacher. This lesson plan requires the students to come face to face with the task at hand. They are asked questions and put into positions where they will have to figure out the solution with only a minimal amount of help from the teacher. The teacher is seen more as a guide and go to for a clearer explanation. Students are encouraged to debate and keep the discussions flowing. In the lesson plan, the teacher must include what she expects the students will get out of the current topic. One thing that stood out was the fact that the students are put into groups. I remember that a lot of my teachers in middle school used this as means of getting the students in my classroom to relate to the problem at hand. We all came together and thought of answers to our questions. We used the logic and reasoning our teacher taught us. Because of this I am able to master a lot of problem solving techniques. Since choosing groups cannot be bias in anyway, the teacher must include how the groups are chosen in the lesson plan. There are many methods in which this can be. Being creative in how to choose the groups is another great way to make the topic more interesting. I also liked that the students get to “exhibit” what answers and explanations they have come up with. This can be in the form of a group discussion, role playing, game shows, a physical model, an artistic expression and many other possibilities. This lesson plan teaches student a form of educational independence. It shows them that they can solve anything if they practice and set their minds to it. I think this form of lesson plan helps students see that they are a big role in their educational success. So far, this lesson plan has stood out the most to me. Like all lesson planning, it requires a great amount of skill to produce. I can’t wait to learn more about this type of lesson plan.

Reflection 2

When reading about lesson plans, I was very intrigued at the fact that there are so many different ways to create one. The first lesson plan I read about was called a Behaviorist lesson plan. The format of a behaviorist lesson is very well explained. It must include following format: The objective is what the purpose of the lesson is and why the student needs to learn this. The anticipatory set is based on focus. It could be an activity that causes the student to “focus” on what the material will cover. The input is the skills that the instructor is inputting into the student that makes the learning smoother. The modeling is when the teacher shows the students first hand how to complete the assignment correctly. Guided practice consists of the teacher leading the students in the assignment, but the student is doing the work as well. Checking for understanding is when the teacher asks questions to the students to see if they understand what they have learned so far. This is vital because if they have not mastered the needed skills thus far, the teacher cannot move onto the next step. After that comes the independent practice. This is where the teacher has minimal to zero interaction while the students complete the work without any help from the instructor. Finally the closure, is like a transition to the next lesson that will be cover. The constructivist lesson plan is setup very differently. The step-up for this lesson plan includes situations, grouping, bridge, questions, exhibit and reflections. The first step would be situations. This is when the student is engulfed with questions and problem solving ideas. Then with grouping, the student is divided into either small groups or individuals to work. Then the bridge is when all the work comes together. Games and brain stimulation are encouraged. Then questions are used to keep the thinking juices flowing. And finally The students will reflect on what they have learned. The teacher will reflect on what the students will remember and how will she use this to their advantage.

Reflection 1

When I fist was interested in becoming a teacher, I started to hear the words “lesson Plans”. I was always hearing different definitions from different people. Some teachers would tell me they did them monthly; others would tell me they did them weekly and some said they weren’t required to do them at all. then finally, I got the courage to research it for myself. Not only did I find the definition for what a lesson plan, I also found out that it is a broad definition that is usually used. A lesson plan is said to be a teachers written description of the content for the lessons she is going to be using in the coming time. It helps the teacher to be organized and pre-plan her time and the time of her students. Lesson plans can be a great advantage for the teacher who knows how to do one correctly. It is imperative for students who are pursuing a degree in education, to be ready for this sort of commitment. Even if the school you work for does not demand a lesson plan, as a professional educator you should do so for your own benefit. If a teacher plans out the lessons correctly, they will come to find that they have some spare time that was not expected. This time could be used for further lesson planning, student one on one time, a short relaxation if needed and also a good time to get some work out of the way. A lesson plan, as I said, is very broadly defined. In a lesson plan, the teacher must include all the content she is going to be teaching the students. Not only does the plan have to include the content, it also has to include the objectives, state standards, what kind of practice will be used and how to check for the understanding of the material. All these steps are not only important to the teacher but crucial to the students as well. Many things need to be taken in consideration to make a great lesson. You must know your students and how they work best. Knowing the Learning styles, diableries and little things here and there about your students. help make your lesson plan much more effective. I have learned that the more detailed and precise your lesson plan is, the easier your job becomes. I am truly excited about learning how to do the lesson plans this semester. I know this skill will help me become the best teacher I can be.

EME2040 - New day, New Class

Today, January 5th 2010, is the beginning of the last chapter of my MDC career. This class, EME2040, is the final milestone of my Educational credentials. I am looking forward to learning and experiencing what this class has to offer. I am ready for whatever comes my way. I feel like what i have learned has prepared me for this very moment. I am ready for the learning opportunities and advancement in my chosen Field. I will be motivated to be the best student and Future teacher I can be. My Biography is simple... I am a 20 year old Female, whose backrounds range from all over the world. I am Cuban-american with a hint of other flavors. I am proud in my heritage and the way my family has supported me throughought my college career. they hold great pride in the fact that i am pursuing my dream to become a teacher. They know the true reasons behind my descision to stick to what i love. I am motivated to enhance my talents and grow not only as a teacher, but as a student as well. I am full of life, curiosity and ambitions. I am proud of where i am today. I hope that this class will increase my knowledge and make me who i want to be in the future.

Reflection 20

Intersexuality is basically having the termed medically condition of combined sexual differentiation. Some forms of intersexuality are hermaphrodites, female pseudo hermaphrodites and male pseudo hermaphrodites. Each of this has a certain difference, but all have a combination of a sexual gentile or reproductive organ. A Hermaphrodite is a person who is born with one ovary and one testie. Usually at birth it is hard to name place the child as female or male. This makes things rather difficult for the parent and the child later in life. Many arguments come about if the child was named a female then she will forever be female. But what if the person does not feel that way as they continue on in life? Does that make them less human? Some hermaphrodites end up discovering what they really are and change their whole life style. Some that were deemed women end up changing gender assignment to be a man or vice versa. This is very difficult topic to discuss because many controversies come into play with the assignment and choice of the hermaphrodite. Sex is determined by the two sex chromosomes. The male chromosome is Y and the female chromosome is X. Intersexuality is said to be caused by genetics. Some of the reasons are: by rare hormonal levels during pregnancy, and sometimes by unknown causes. It’s very hard to find the proper explanation for why this happens to only a same group of people. Some also find some comfort in surgeries. These can help the physical appearance look more like the sex they “feel” they truly are. Others may not decide to go under the knife. Being in that position seems incredibly difficult to handle. Not knowing who you really are, or being accepted for the way you feel you are, would be very hard for me to cope with. I applaud those people who have the strength to be who they know they are. By reading this assignment I got a lot more knowledge on a subject that was strange to me. It is very useful because now I know enough to keep me educated on this topic. I become more interested to research this into more depth. I am open minded to the stories that I found about real people who are going through the sexual identity confusion. The stories are very detailed and insightful to what it is like being a hermaphrodite.

Reflection 19

When talking about homosexuality, you can see that many people tend to shy away from getting into how they feel about it. Not me. I am very open to my views on homosexuality. Based on what I know, I do not think there is a “cause” for homosexuality. Homosexuals are not caused to feel a certain way about the same sex; they have an emotional and physical attraction to them and are merely what anyone would feel about the opposite sex. They feel an erotic orientation when coming in contact with the opposite sex. To me, that is not strange whatsoever. Who are we to tell someone who it is right for them to get sexually aroused by? I think homosexuals are that way maybe from birth or when they begin to discover feelings during the earliest time of childhood. What makes homosexuality so hard is the reaction they receive from others. It’s a scary world out there and some people aren’t as accepting as others. I know that I would be afraid to show who I really am because of the way I would be treated. Homosexuals are discriminated against more and more each year. That’s why I agree with their demands for civil rights. Nowhere in the constitution does it say that because you love someone of the same sex, you will be denied your natural born rights. Religion and politics try to get together on this particular discussion for no apparent reason. Some religions where based on homosexual experiences, not because they were gay, but because it brought them closer as men. Homosexuals have been around for a long time, yet we still act like this is something new and scary. Everyone should take the time to be educated on this subject matter, whether they are homosexuals themselves, straight, and even gay non-supporters. My views on homosexuality have always and will always be the same. I was raised catholic; I complete disagree with the way Catholics are teaching everyone to condemn the gays. In my form of Catholicism, I was taught to love everyone no matter how different they were. Why is this situation any different? Why should we shun the children of god away? I have no right to exclude them from anything. To me, they are just normal everyday kind of people. I see so many forms of hypocrisy and would love to see the day that the gays are treated with respect any human being on this earth deserves.

Assignment #2

This assignment was a little confusing to me. I really didn’t understand what taking these surveys would prove. I know a lot of myself and where I stand with most of these situations and opinions. The mind body and spirit survey asked questions about what I thought about the different theories of the human ego. Some of the questions were very hard to understand at first, but with deeper reading the meanings were much more understandable. It went through many of the theories we have talked about in class. It basically focused on the theories of Freud and his ego, superego teachings. By looking at my results, you can tell that I really didn’t agree much when it stated that the human feelings and emotions are only chemical reactions and imbalances in our bodies. I don’t agree with that what so ever. I am more of a believer that emotions and behaviors are dealt with differently because of personality differences.
One of the surveys that I enjoyed taking was on the Core beliefs. It asked statements about what I learned from my parents. It gave me two different statements and I had to choose which one fit better with my parents’ teachings. When reviewing my results, I like the fact that my parents gave me the freedom to feel. They taught me that expressing my emotions was the best way I could live. They also taught me how to respect everyone, no matter who they were or what they do. They taught me to think and to create, not only by what they have instilled in me but what I came up with on my own. My mother and father also taught me never to be afraid of knowledge. I should never hide my intelligence or dumb myself down for anyone. No proper situation would call for such a matter. I should be ashamed of who I am. I was raised, above all else, to be something. They did everything they could to give me all the opportunities I needed to succeed. This survey was very eye opening. I think everyone should take this survey and really analyze the statements shown. Before I took this survey, I didn’t give my parents enough credit for the way I turned out to be. Not only did they give me the proper starting tools but they gave me the push I needed.
The survey about men was very eye opening. It was interesting to see how some women actually think about men and their position in society. Some of the statements showed were a little over dramatized, but some of them had a hint of truth. If you look at the answers to me survey you will see that I do think men sometimes think they deserve everything just because they are male. Even though most women won’t admit the truth, I am not afraid to point out my opinions. I do believe that men are more about wanting success and power than women are. Men value position and competiveness. Women are more into the emotion and feeling when it comes to most situations. It may seem that I am a sexiest toward the attitudes and beliefs of men, but I am nothing of the sort. This, like in many other cases, does not mean that ALL men are like this. I just think the majority of men I know are like this. To be clear, my opinions have nothing to do with men I do not know or have some sort of understanding for.
When doing the survey about women, I wasn’t in complete shock when I saw most of the questions had to do with emotions, feelings, and a women’s position. It was similar to the survey about men, but it asked more about what a woman is in tune with. I do believe that women are more emotional creatures when compared to men. Most women will not act without analyzing who will benefit and who will get hurt by her decision. Like in every circumstance, there are exceptions this belief. I’m not saying it’s impossible to find a woman who is not controlled by her emotions in that sense. I do think that both men and women make similar efforts when it comes to being successful. How this achievement is done, that is where the difference lies.
The Race survey was a little hard for me to cope with. It is incredible that some people actually think that there is a superior race. This just goes to show you how educated some claim to be. If they were truly educated, they would know that there is only one true race on the face of this earth; and that is the human race. Some of these statements were hard to believe. There were some stupid justifications that people actually agree with. I was shocked, utterly shocked, that human beings could be so judgmental about something they don’t know anything about. There is no such thing as a yellow race or a red race. Peoples skin colors and facial properties do don’t define there personalities, actions or race for that matter. No “race” is unfit for certain situations. Nowhere in any science does it claim that dark skinned men are better at sports, while light skinned men are better in school. These justifications are totally untrue. I think everyone should take the time to really read the survey. If you read it with enough time and understanding, you will see how absurd that way of thinking really is.
The sex and gender survey was sort of like the men and women’s belief survey. I think this survey asked the questions in a more comparative mode. It dealt with things such as gender identity and sexuality and also sexual orientation. By looking at my results you can see that I am very liberal when it comes to sexual orientation. I myself am not a homosexual, but I believe that everyone is entitled to the right to love whom they choose. Why shouldn’t gays be allowed to marry or adopt? There is no evidence that proves they are unfit to be married or take care of children. Most of the times, they are better parents than straight ones. I think it is ok to show the world who you are. Hiding your true sexual identity will only hurt you in the long run. No one should be ashamed of being different. I also believe that gays will not be condemned to hell. Nowhere in the bible does it say that homosexuals will be persecuted. From being a practicing catholic myself, I know that my God is a loving and forgiving God. He loves his children no matter what they do or what they look like. He loves everyone in an equal matter. To bring religious excuses into that argument is just a false justification.

Finally, I took the survey that outlined my political typography. I have taken this particular survey in another class. I came to find that my results have not changed at all. My result said that I am a Liberal. This wasn’t shocking to me whatsoever. Liberals represent 17 percent of the American public, and 19 percent of registered voters. The results stated that liberals have the strongest preference for diplomacy over use of military force. We are Pro-choice, supportive of gay marriage and strongly favor environmental protection. Liberals have a low participation in religious activities. We are also the most sympathetic of any group to immigrants as well as labor unions, and most opposed to the anti-terrorism Patriot Act. This basically defines where I stand today. This clearly defines what I believe in. I am very open to others and what they feel needs to be corrected in this government.
In conclusion, the surveys were not only supposed to let us know a little bit more about ourselves, but to also show us where we stand. Some of the surveys just showed me that my ideals have remained pretty much the same over the last 2 years of my life in college. And some of the surveys helped my redefine and reprioritize where I should be at a mental point. These made me think about how others might answer the questions given. It’s interesting to think that because it shows how diverse the results of the same survey could be. I really hope that people will take the time to do them thoroughly. Yes, it is tedious work, but you will be surprised to see that some are pretty accurate and hit the nail on the head. I have come to understand myself a little bit better than before. Who knows, maybe if I take the same surveys in two more years my results could be the same. Maybe they will be different. It all depends on the information I intake and believe in.

Reflection 18

When reading a tale of Two Islands, I began to understand much more of what I had already known about this issue. Being from Cuban Origin, I Love the place where my family has thrived from. Many different instances have put the U.S.A. and Cuba in very odd circumstances. The relationship between both countries has often been denied, but I know that Cubans might just have it a little easier than Haitians. Both Haiti and Cuba are near Florida in the Caribbean. During 1980, in the Carter Administration, Haitians and Cubans came to Florida on the Mariel. Unlike Cubans, The Haitians were not allowed to apply to be permanent residents. To me, that just seems unfair. What really are the differences and the reasons that justified that law? Just likes Cubans, Haitians were trying to escape a form of persecution and unsatisfied freedoms. I see no difference between the two. If you are going to grant a certain amount of Cubans entrance to the states, the same should be done to the island of Haiti. One reason to justify the passed laws was that Cubans were political refugees trying to escape communism. Communism as we know was one of the United States biggest fears. To have an island so close to our boarder that is based on communism terrified us greatly. Haitians were just trying to escape economic depressions. Just because the country is poor, it does not give the U.S reason to accept them. I think people stereotyped the Haitians just because they were “black”. Being a colored immigrant showed the image that you were low class and uneducated. I don’t think that was the reason the U.S did not let them pass the boarder or let them stay as permanent residence. It’s always easy to play the race card and state injustices that way. This is a totally different situation. I think the problem is much deeper than skin based. Some Cubans are dark skinned or very tanned. If that was the case, those dark Cubans would not have been accepted to stay either. Tanned people are also looked down on. Because their skin is so brown, some assume they work in manual labor because they are uneducated. I think this problem needs to be analyzed more deeply. The problem here is not race. The problem here is merely a political loss and gain system.

Reflection 17

In this class, we have extensively studied what Racism is. All throughout my schooling, I was taught that Racism is not a born trait. It is a trait that is taught thorough the years of one’s life. This class helped affirm that statement. As a child, we are not born to feel hate and racist attitudes toward anyone. On the contrary, as a child we love to explore and look at all the different wonders around us. But as our brain begins to develop, we come to “learn” different forms of discrimination in our behavior. When we are finally engulfed in a school where everyone is a different race, religion or gender, our taught habits come into play. Maybe one day the child was watching the news and saw a black man’s picture as the most wanted. He may think that all black men are criminals and cannot be trusted. Or he heard his mother say something negative about the African American next door neighbors. The media and others help influence this terrible derogatory feeling. The feelings of racism might not always be shown on the outside. Just because one doesn’t see the racism in action does not mean that it does not exist or go one in everyday life. It’s horrible to think that some people think these feelings are normal. Feeling hatred and negative feelings toward anyone is not acceptable in my eyes. People should not condone racism. This is a serious issue that has been around for years and years. This is a problem that is always shoved under the rug. Everyone should at least try to see the world through different eyes. The one feeling the hatred toward the race should take a walk in the shoes of the man he hates. Only then, will he be able to see clearly and justly. I recommend that people should take a diversity class at least once in their life. It can help explain situations and maybe help clear the air for some. Like I have stated before, we are not separate races. We all belong to the grand scheme of the Human race. No one is less important than the next. Everyone has a role to play and a purpose in this world. One of the main reasons I think our world is so beautiful is because we are all so different. The world is an exciting place because it changes constantly. Being diverse is part of way I enjoy living where I do. I walk the streets and see so many different people. I feel that everyone should take the time to step back and see how remarkable our life is due to the factor of differences.

Extra Credit: Emmett Till

The story of Emmett Till is a tragic one; probably one of the hardest stories I have had to hear. I was unaware that this was the main cause of the civil rights movement. If I would’ve known that a mere child’s death was the cause of such revolution, I would have had more of a grander interest in the expansion. Emmett Till was sent to Mississippi to visit his family for a break. He got on the train and headed south. When he got off the train he was mystified by the beauty of the south. Emmett and some of his cousins went to a corner drug store to get something. When they entered the store Emmett was being a little “fresh” with the woman at the counter. When they walked out, that’s when the trouble began. Emmett whistled at the woman and that was the end of that. A few days later, Emmett’s body was found floating the Tallahatchie river. He had been severely beaten, shot, mutilated and tied to a 70 pound cotton gin fan. Emmett’s mother and the police could barely identify the body because of the state of his face. When looking at the pictures of what he looked liked, I was in complete and utter disbelief. He barely looked human. His face looked like melted leather and his body was in terrible condition. I have no idea how a human being could be so cruel and rotten. Emmett was only 15 years old. He was barely a man. It’s scary how three grown men could do that to a child. It is like they didn’t have a heart to begin with. At the trial, they looked like they could care less about what they did. They smirked and smiled at camera because they already knew that a white southern man would never be convicted for killing a nigger. The way they spoke about the blacks in the community, was like they were speaking about worthless cattle. Emmett’s mother would write letters to the Supreme Court and even to the president of the United States and would get no reply. It’s as if the world didn’t care about a little black boy who “fell” into the Tallahatchie. But one good thing came out of this case. Because of the courage Emmett’s mother had, other African Americans raised their voices and forced people to listen. This was the beginning of the civil right movement. I feel such disgust when I think about those murders. The injustice in this case is clear. I hope the world will learn from this mistake. This story should inspire all people to change their racist ways because this can happen to anyone. I hope that when people read about Emmett Till, they think twice about treating different people with detestation.

Reflection 16

Genocide is defined as the deliberate destruction and slaughter of part of or an entire racial, religious or ethnic group. The best example of genocide has got to be the killing of the Jewish people during the holocaust. The holocaust is taught to not be easily forgotten. It is embedded in us as children, that this crime against humanity should never be repeated. The holocaust only happened roughly 68 years ago. This isn’t a long time ago. History books are haunted with the pictures of hungry, sick and mistreated Jews in concentration camps and Ghettos. For me, The Holocaust is the greatest example of a modern genocide. Of course, there are other places that are going through or have gone through atrocities such as the Holocaust. The Ethnic cleansing in Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur are problems our society has recently been faced with. Ethnic Cleansing is when a group is either eliminated from its society by genocide or migration. This involves mass killings and military force for the removal of the unwanted group. In Bosnia, women were raped and pillaged, while their sons and husbands were being forced to watch. Beatings and killings occurred daily on the streets, right outside of homes and schools. Millions more were sent to concentration camps, like the jaws, called Omarska. Many people were refugees with no place to go, no food to eat and no hope to be saved. Darfur has got to be one of the other well known acts of genocide and Ethnic Cleansing. The government abused the people of western Sudan. Mosques and Islamic relics were destroyed daily. Killings, Looting and rapes were common scenes seen in western Sudan. Citizens were not allowed to move freely. There every move was watched and followed. They were told what to do and when to do it. If anyone should disagree, death was the only answer for those who stepped out of line. Reading these passages, I can’t help but think of how ashamed I am to be counted as one race. How can people be so blind and full of hate? How can they sit back and think that what they are doing is right? Living lives full of detestation and anger will only bring about pain and suffering for those who cross your path. I am a firm believer that one day, maybe one day the different people of the world will finally see that we are all part of one big chain. We are all connected by our humanness. Those who refuse to see the connection are just pretending to be blind. I have hope that one day they too shall see the light.

Assignement 1 : Observation

Doing my observations in my field experience school, I have seen many amazing things that the teachers has done in her classroom. Her classroom is very diverse. She has a variety of different races and religious beliefs. Right off the bat, you can tell this group will have very different opinions about things they are learning. One day while in the classroom, I noticed a pattern in her daily assignment routines. When it is reading time, the children all must follow along and read out loud in unison. They follow along with a tape of the story being read to them correctly. I think this is a brilliant idea because not only does the child associate the word with the correct pronunciation but it gives them an equal chance to read aloud. No matter what type of story was being read whether it was fantasy, fiction, nonfiction or poems, the children were encouraged to express what they personally thought of the story. The teacher uses her knowledge and education to treat each of the children with love and respect. She treats them with equality yet acknowledges that they are different. She does this by making examples of how they can integrate their ideas. When it comes to gender, you can see no discrimination. Each child, no matter boy or girl, is given the attention they deserve. When the classroom begins to get unruly, the teacher does not exempt a child based on race, religion or gender. If the class is behaving in a bad manner, those who started it will get reprimanded. I also noticed that everyone does the same amount of work. No student is given special treatment because of race, gender or religion. She also uses a wide variety of materials. She finds a way to blend in all the types of learning so every child’s needs are met. For those who are visual learners, she shows pictures, gives textbooks, charts and visual aids. For those who are kinesthetic, she uses puzzles, arts and crafts and hands on activities. For those who are more auditory, she reads or has tapes of readings already made. Each child’s need is met in her classroom. If she only used one style, there would many students who would fall back because they need different direction. I like the way how she uses each of these learning styles to increases the education for everyone in her classroom. I can tell her students enjoy being there because she gives them all the attention they need. I have never once seen any of the students upset or fell neglected by her. The children are always excited to do the next subject because they know it’s always going to be something different. I feel honored to be able to observe this teacher. I hope that I can take what I have seen and in the future, bring it to my own classroom.

Reflection 15

The Holocaust was a terrible crime done upon the human race. Jews were treated like vermin and disregarded as a race itself. They were considered sub-human in the eyes if Nazi Germany. Sub-humans are weak, thieves, money hungry, corrupt and above all else, impure. Nazi Germans saw themselves as the only ones who can rid the world of these leeches. Whenever I read something in relation to the Holocaust, I can’t help but feel ashamed and hurt. How can human beings do such a thing? How can human beings watch the torture they ensued upon the Jews? They were throw into gas chambers the resembled a bath house. Jewish women and children were deceived into believing they were finally going to take a shower. The Germans would watch as the women and children suffocated to death. Claw marks are still seen in the concrete walls for the gas chambers today. They were thrown into small barracks filled with sickness and lice. They hurt and dying were sent to the “doctor” in the concentration camps. The doctor would then do false amputations and give them medicines The Jews were used as lab rats to test effects of chemicals and other medical things. They would burn them with acids and leave them to die. This doctor did nothing to try and save them. He would then make his diagnosis and either send him back to his barrack or send him to the crematorium. Inside here, Jews were burned alive, skinned to make soap or paper. This grotesque action would make anyone squirm in their seats. I get a horrible feeling at the pit of my stomach when I read about all these monstrous actions. What kills me the most is the fact that people think this did not happen. That the Holocaust was just set on a Hollywood stage to bring support to the war. To these people, all I have to say is that they need help. How can you deny so much evidence and documents that fully support the truth? Just because of the intensity, doesn’t mean that human beings are capable of such genocide. They should be encouraged to take a history class and be engulfed in the truth. The most amazing thing about the holocaust is that the Jews just didn’t give up. Still today, they are not keen to let anyone forget the past. They know they didn’t deserve this destruction and ill treatment among their people. They knew “Jew” was not a race, but a religious belief. They ultimately belonged to the one TRUE race, the human race.