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.