Gender Stereotypes in Media

Lori Mckenna-Ruby's shoes

white privilige "The Big Lie"

Tim Wise: On White Privilege (Clip)

What is White Privilege?

7th Visit To My Elementary School

When I got to my school I was buzzed in like usual. I headed to the main office to sign in and grab a visitor pass. I head to my classroom to wait for my kids to come in from recess. My teacher walks pass me saying hi and that she will be right back. I head into the classroom and get ready for the kids.While I was waiting for the kids to arrive I waited in the hall. When standing there I could hear the teacher across the hall screaming. All she seems to ever do is yell at her students from the few times I've been out in the hall. I just couldn't imagine a reason good enough to yell like that. It made me admire my teacher even more. They do their regular routine of going to the bathroom before heading into the classroom. While I was waiting for the last few students on of the little girls came up and gave me a huge hug. That made me smile so big. It was so cute. All the kids put their jackets and lunch boxes away then sat on the rug. The teacher went over the story they were going to read and ask them about what they think dogs could do to get into trouble, etc. During this process another class was out in the hall way using the bathroom and again the teacher was yelling. I couldn't believe it. Were all the teachers other then mine like that? After they reviewed the story she sent them back to their seats. They were all told to take out their grammar books and open to the page about pronouns. We did the first to sections then the kids put their grammar books away and take out their reading books to the story called, "bad dog dodger". Right when that was going on  the clock turned 2 o'clock and did I mention that my teacher had a meeting at 2 so I got to experience a substitute teacher. The sub came in and my teacher told her to play the book on tap then ask them questions about the story. The students seemed to really enjoy the book on tap. Though some of them weren't paying attention. From watching this having the students read aloud seems to be the better choice to keep kids attention where it is suppose to be. Anyways as for most subs the students really didn't like her. She played the book on tape and the kids listened. I walked around the classroom standing near the kids who weren't paying attention to keep them reading. When it was over she asked questions. The kid's seemed kind of frightened of her. They were definitely more comfortable with their regular teacher. I was standing next to this little girl while the sub asked some questions and she looked up at me and said, "I don't like her, she's mean." I was shocked, but I remembered from my experiences I preferred my teachers rather then subs. When the sub was done with asking questions she told them to choose one of the three questions at the end of the story and answer it in their reading notebook. While the student were doing that I walked around the classroom to make sure the kids were doing what they were suppose to. I knew more about what I was doing then this sub. She had to ask me about the questions they had to answer in their notebooks. I stood in between two boys in which I will not name. They are the trouble makers of the class. This kid the one who was mostly being trouble. Would not listen. I told him to stop and doing his work. He asked to go to the bathroom and I said no. Not till he can do his work. He wouldn't listen to me, but eventually after a lot of disrespect I managed to get two sentences out of him. While I was struggling to get him to stop having conversations he said to the other little boy something interesting to me. "Why would I talk to her she's a girl." This made me laugh a little because they are clearly at that level where cooties are a main part. That girls and boys don't really want much to do with each other. When the students were done with their question the sub had them meet on the rug and read them a book till the teacher came back. The teacher came back half way through the book. The sub left and the teacher had the students go back to their desks to get their spelling homework out and get ready to go home. Once they are all sitting silently ready to go she'd choose a group at a time to get their stuff and head back to the rug before dismissing them to go home. I had the teacher signed my sheet and headed out the door as I waved goodbye and told them I'd seem them next week. I signed out and put my visitor pass back. Normally this is when it stops, but I want to add one more thing. When I was walking back to campus the little girl who gave me a hug drove pass me and screamed at me out the window and waved. She is so cute and totally made my day. Her mom smiled and seemed to really like that her daughter enjoyed having me in her class so much. From the look on her face her daughter talked about me because she seemed to know in general who I am. This visit was a memorable one that is for sure. I really love all the kids in my class.

Sixth visit to my elementary school

      It was a normal day as I walked into the school after being buzzed in. I walked past the kid lined up outside  up the stairs and into the main office. I signed in on my VIPS paper in the VIPS binder and grabbed my visitors pass. I head to my classroom to wait for my students to come in from recess. They pile through the door and line up at the bathroom. The children that have to go take turns while the other who don't go to the back of the time. This goes by quickly the girls are told to enter the classroom first while the boys finish going the bathroom then the boys join the girls. They scurry into the classroom and put their jackets and lunch boxes into the closet and head to the rug.
     The teacher then talks about the story they were just reading before lunch and what they just read to just refresh their memories. She asked them question's about what they have read so far. What I love about this teacher is she make sure everyone participates even the student with autism. Once they went through what they just read she sent them back to their seats and together we started to read the rest of the book. After each page the teacher would ask questions about what they just read. Literally more then half the class almost jumps out of their chairs with their hands in the air ready to answer the question. It's nice to see their enthusiasm for learning. We got through about two pages before the public librarian came to visit our classroom. She is the librarian at the Mount Pleasant library. She was visiting the school to read to the second graders. When she walked through the door all the kid's got so excited. They all recognized her immediately. It was amazing to see how excited they get over reading. She read them a new book that no one has checked out yet. It was about a tracker and how he saved the day. The librarian read with incredible enthusiasm. I wish I could do that, but I guess it takes practice. The kids loved the story. They all sat there quietly and paid perfect attention. Too bad they can't be exactly like that with the teacher. Maybe it's because they have gotten so use to her. When the librarian was done reading her story the children were allowed to ask questions. She answered about ten all together. At the end all the kids kept telling her that they were going to go to the library after school. It was great to see them so excited to read. It's a great ability they should have at that age. It helps them grow and learn. The librarian said bye and the children were sent back to their desks.
    The teacher had a student pass out the worksheet on prefix's. I help two boys  when they arrived back in the classroom. First they had to work on the worksheet then they had to take the four prefix's on the board and figure out which one belongs to the twelve words she wrote up on the board. I helped them get through both exercises very prophetically. They were so proud of themselves. They had a little bit of a hard time sitting still but overall they did pretty good. After that I sent them back to their desk's while another student went around and collected their worksheets. Then the teacher had them rip their spelling homework our of their workbooks like usual and calls the rows one by one by the students who are ready. They grab their bags and jackets. They put their planners, homework, and any other objects from their desk they need to bring home. Then they put their chairs on their desks and went to the carpet. By that time the teacher signed my paper and I waved good bye to the class and head on my way home.
   Overall it was a very productive day. I had a blast working with the kid's and watching them be all excited over learning and reading. I can't wait to see them all again.

Education Is Politics

Shor Education is politics  

Caitlin Rennell

Quotes:

"The participatory classroom is a "free speech" classroom in the best sense, because it invites all expressions from all the students. An empowering class thrives on a lively exchange of thoughts and feelings. The way students speak, feel, and think about any subject is the starting point for a critical study of themselves, their society, and their academic subjects."

This quote means that in classroom children have a freedom of speech to a point. Meaning they can voice their opinions, but not to the point where the class looses control. Also no one's ideas gets shot down. Great classes achieve this by having debates and active communication and exchange of ideas, thoughts, and feelings. Letting the kids like I said voice how they feel and whats on their minds. Their feelings on subjects is what helps them grow and learn. This connects to the reading because freedom of speech is a political term. In other words is part of the political side of things. This whole article is about the political aspect of education and how it is an a way education. 

"To many people, the very idea of regaining any real control over social institutions and personal development is abstract and "nonsensical." In general . . . many people do see society's economic, social, and educational institutions as basically self-directing, with little need for their participation and with little necessity for them to communicate and argue over the ends and means of these same institutions."

This quote means that people see us as a society to be independent in all aspects, with little help from the people themselves. This contributes to the reading because it talks about the political part of education and how people don't believe they need to contribute or fight  for the institutions. Also that us as a society are very independent when it comes to economics, social, and educational. This connects to the whole reading because of its political views. 

"As teachers see other teachers and student experimenting, more may be encouraged to test participatory empowerment in their own classrooms, and in the process promote the positive emotions that students need in order to embrace critical and democratic learning as the politics of their education."

This quote means that as teachers and students experimenting it will help in their own classroom for them to encourage positive emotions aka having the students be happy and having fun. This will help them embrace the critical and democratic learning as well as the politics in their education. It's in other words important to embrace everything as a teacher and student in your learning. This contributes to the reading  because it connects again to the politics in a classroom and how you have to embrace it.

Questions/Comments/Points to Share

I'm not sure what to make of this reading. It was a different view on education that is for sure. It showed how education has to do with politics. Theres a lot of things I didn't realize till I read this article. It was pretty easy to read, but a little hard to understand at some parts, but for the most part it was a good read. There is so much to take in. It relates to the other tests we have read because it talks about media  and how it affects education, as well as other things. How is it possible for politics to be apart of every part of our society today?

Schooling Children with Down Syndrome

Christopher Kliewer Citizenship in School                                                                         Caitlin Rennell

Quotes:

"How absurd to be judged by other at all, especially by those who have never experienced a disability or who are unwillingly providing us with support or who don't listen to the voices we have."

This quote means that us as human its in our nature to judge without even thinking, but its ridiculous that we judge others at all. Its worse when someone who is perfectly normal and hasn't ever had a disability before to sit there and judge you and not support  you or listen to what you have to say or get to no you for who you are. This contributes to the article as a whole because its about disabilities and how we treat them so differently. We don't even really get to no them. We walk past them in the hall like they don't even matter. 

"Knock it off! Knock it off! Becky is a girl who has cerebral palsy.... She's not allowed in school because of her handicaps. I think her school should just knock it off and let her in.

        She needs an education. just because she is handicapped doesn't mean she can't learn. She's just got to do what she can do, which can be just about anything.

        Becky is smart enough to fight back, just like I would if I wasn't allowed in school. I have Down syndrome and I can still do anything I want to do. If I wasn't allowed in school, I wouldn't have learned to do all the things I so now. I have Down syndrome, but I am not handicapped."

This quote was written by Christine who writes a weekly column called "Christine's Corner".  This is a part of her column about a school's districts refusal to allow a student with cerebral palsy to enroll in a non-segragated school. It talks about this girl Becky who just happens to have cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a condition marked by impaired muscle coordination and/or other disabilities, typically caused by damage to the brain before or at birth. Her school wouldn't allow her to enroll because of her disability. That to me is totally unfair. Just because she was born with a disability, which by the way she can't help doesn't make her any less smart then the students you do let in. Christina also talks about how she has Down syndrome and if she wasn't allowed to go to school because of it she'd fight back because if she hadn't been allowed to learn she wouldn't be who she is and where she is now. The last part is the most powerful "I have Down syndrome, but I am not handicapped" to me thats incredible and very true. Having a disorder does not make a person handicap and a lot of people today misunderstand that.

"[Community] requires a willingness to see people as they are --- different perhaps in their minds and in their willingness and ability to contribute to the mosaic of society. It requires the "helper" to have the humility to listen for what the person says he or she needs. Also, the "helper" must see that the interaction "helps" both ways.

This quote was said by judith Snow who holds that the dialogic of democracy is ultimately a set of values based on respect, humility, and creative listening. It means that us as people have a desire to see individuals for who they are. Though they maybe be different in their opinions and learning their will to care and ability to contribute or give to our society.When someone gives to or help a person with a disability they need to be able to listen  to what the person needs and realize that interactions help in multiple ways. This contributes to the article as a whole because this article is about Down Syndrome and this quote says that just because a person has a disability doesn't mean that it makes them who they are. People who don't have a disability treat people who do differently, but really they are just like us. 

Questions/Comments/Points to Share:

This reading was very easy to read, but at the same time very inspirational. It gives you a view on how we treat people who have a disorder or birth defect something they really cant help. It horrifies me that we act like they are handicap when they aren't. All they want is acceptance and to be treated just like the rest of us and if a school isn't going to let them have an education because of their disorder then thats messed up. They are people just like us and the privilege of learning shouldn't be taken away from them. It does relate to the other texts we read because it shows privilege and how people who are in our society are "normal" are privileged while the people with disorder's make them outsiders when really they are just like us. My question is why would a school not let a child into school just because she has cerebral palsy? and how could we be so cruel and not notice?

Fifth Visit to my Elementary School

Going to my fourth was the usually routine signing into the VIPS binder and grabbing a guess pass then heading to my classroom. When I'm in my classroom its so natural like I'm suppose to be there. I love working with all the kid's. I wish I went everyday. This visit in particular they finally changed it up. They came in from recess and did the same bathroom routine then went into the classroom and put all their stuff away in the closet the teacher calls it. Then they sat on the carpet like usual and the teacher went over what they were doing in class that day. They where in partners and/or groups doing science. They had little books that they had to read in their groups then write in their OWN words what they just read. This was a very good lesson for the kid's to find out a way to write what they learned in their reading without plagiarizing. I sat with two of the groups to help keep them focused because they are a little chatty. They wrote notes very well then even drew some pictures. My groups where learning about the stars, planets, moon, and sun. Other groups where learning about weather changes and storms like tornados. After they finished their science they passed their science notebooks into the teacher who will correct them later. Then they were sent back to their seats where they took out their grammar books. Today they were going over Pronouns such as he, she, it, we, they, you. Then they went through the three activities that came with pronouns. Then they put their grammar books away and took out their literacy notebooks where they took notes on suffix and went through what they were and examples of them are. Then when they were done with that they put that away and took out their workbook and ripped out their homework like usual and went and back up their stuff. Then put up their chairs on the desks and went to the rug. The teacher asked them questions till the bell rang. That was my Que to leave before all the kid's trampled me to leave. It was a fun day and I loved how the teacher changed up the activities for a nice change. That was my fifth visit.

Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Schooling

Jean Anyon Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Schooling  

Caitlin Rennell

Quotes: 

"It's no surprise that schools in wealthy communities are better than those in poor communities, or that they better prepare their students for desirable jobs. It may be shocking, however, to learn how vast the differences in schools are - not so much in resources as in teaching methods and philosophies of education"
This quote means that schools located in wealthier communities are better and more equipped with materials for the children because they can afford everything they need to make sure the students have a good education. Then there are the poor communities who cant afford what the wealthier ones can. They have limited materials as well. Making it harder to prepare their students for desirable jobs compared to the wealthier communities who can give their students a good education. The most shocking is that the differences are not really in the resources but the teaching. This means that the poorer the community the less the teachers try. This ties into the reading as a whole because this whole article is about the differences in schools from the upper, middle and lower classes, and how its not the resources, but the hidden curriculum.

"These differences may not only contribute to the development in the children in each social class of certain types of economically significant relationships and not others but would thereby help to reproduce this system of relations in society. In the contribution to the reproduction of unequal social relations lies a theoretical meaning and social consequence of classroom practice."
This quote means that the differences between classes not only contributes to the learning and development of the children in the social classes, but would also help to reproduce the system of relations in society.  In the contribution of unfair differences between classes lies a a hidden meaning and bad consequences in the classroom. Saying these differences are affecting the learning of children in the classroom and that these differences contribute to the unequal classes. This ties into the reading as a whole because this whole article is about the differences in classes and how it affects the students and how unfair it is to have such a significant difference between the classes.

"Scholars in political economy and the sociology of knowledge have recently argued that public schools in complex industrial societies like our own make available different types of educational experience and curriculum knowledge to students in different social classes."
This quote means that public schools offer more of a variety of education, such as vocational schools, which give you hands on experience for your craft. Also it expands learning and gives students a choice of what they want to learn. Public schools also expand the curriculum in every social class for all the students. Public schools in other worlds make it so that there really isn't a huge difference in the classes, but instead gives them different experiences and knowledge. This ties into the article as a whole because it shows that though there are huge differences in social classes having a medium like public schools help even though a lot of the upper class believe they are too good for public schools, believe it or not public schools are just as good and in some cases better. 


Questions/ Comments/ Points:

This was a good article. It opened my eyes to how some teachers treat their students of different privilege. Everyone should be able to have an equal education no matter there class or where they go to school. It was very interesting to see how schools of lower classes work compared to private schools made up of the upper classes work. It seems to me that children who pay more get more education, but is that really fair. What about the children who cant afford an amazing school shouldn't they get a good education too? Teachers can play an important role in their students life. They are the main source of education. Its up to them to fill the children with knowledge. When the teachers show positive reinforcement to their students' work, the student will begin to feel more confident.  They are the ones who decided whether the child is getting a good education or a bad education. 

Fourth Visit to my Elementary School

Theres not much to say about this visit it was very similar to the past three time I have visited. I walked through the door walked up to the main office and signed in on my VIPS sheet. Then grabbed my visitor pass and headed to my classroom. Only to find out my teacher went home for the afternoon, so the kids were getting split up. We got them back to the classroom and had them get all their stuff ready and put their chairs on the desks. A few older kids help bring the kids to their separate classrooms. Three children to each classroom. After all the children where separated and brought to each of their classrooms, I followed the last group to their classroom. I got to experience being in a third grade classroom, which was different in many ways. In the end though I was mostly working with my kids because the teacher wasn't expecting me. I love seeing the smiles on their faces every time they see me. I cant wait to see them again, but they have vacation next week, so sadly I have to wait a week before I see their smiling faces again.

Third Visit to my Elementary School

Going back to my elementary school  for a third time seems like a routine already. I just started walking there instead of driving. Its great exercise. Walking in to the building feels so natural like I'm meant to be there. Knowing that I get to go and make someones education that much better makes what I do well worth it. I love walking through the door seeing their faces just light up. This visit one of the little girls complimented me on hair she was so cute. Like I explained before Im not a reading buddy, I get to work with the whole class, which for me broadens my experience. I get to experience all different types of students and how they learn. I get to help a knew group of kids each visit it seems. They all learn at different speeds and levels. I learn so much from just watching the teacher I work with. She's a huge inspiration for me. When it's my turn to become a teacher I want to be just like her, but a little more organized I hope. 
    When I walked into the school the children were still in recess, so I signed in, grabbed the visitor pass, and walked down to the classroom to wait for the children. While waiting in the hall next to the classroom door I got the chance to observe all the work on the wall. There was work from the students of all different grades, as well as posters that have saying on them such as "success starts with believing in yourself" or "Who you are begins with what you do." They came in shortly after and did their usual routine of lining up at the bathroom. Girls go first then the boys. Yes they use the same bathroom, but know not at the same time. Then when everyone is finished they head into the classroom and like I said before put their jackets and lunch boxes away. 
     They all went to the carpet like usual. This week the teacher reviewed the work they learned the passed two days because she has been at meetings so she's missed the last two days. They were learning about Helen Keller and her life as someone who was blind and deaf. The kids seemed to have a pretty good grasp of her. While the teacher was talking to the children I got to correct some of the kids work on Helen Keller. It was pretty cool seeing examples of work they have to do.  When she was through talking to them about Helen Keller she tells them to go back into the story about Helen in their reading books and answer the three questions at the end of the story. She then sent them back to their desks.
    She picked three students for me to to work with. She chose these three because they can speak great ideas, but when it comes to getting them all down on paper is a whole different story. I got to help them take what they speak and put it into words. They are extremely intelligent and know exactly what they are talking about.  We talked about the answer first then I had them tell me what they were going to write and thats where they got lost. So I came up with an example and they started writing. They did incredibly well, sometimes a little nudge in the right direction makes all the difference.
    When everyone was done with all the questions they were sent back to their desks. They had to get their spelling homework out to take home. I passed out papers for them to take home to their parents while another student passed back corrected work. Then I had the teacher sign my paper and watched the kids get ready putting their jackets on and pack their bags, as well as putting their chairs onto of their desks. Then I say goodbye to all the kids and walk back to the office sign out and put the guest pass back. I walk back to campus. I cant wait to see my kids again next week. 

Teaching Boys and Girls Separately

Teaching Boys and Girls Separately by Elizabeth Weil                                   Caitlin Rennell

Quotes:
"Even if one could prove that sending a kid off to his or her own school based on religion or race or ethnicity or gender did a little but better job of raising the academic skills for workers in the economy, there's also the issue of trying to create tolerant citizens in democracy."
This quote was said by Richard Kahlenberg, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation. He brings up the fact that even though it may improve scores it will also take away from a lot of other experiences that come with having a coed school. Like Richard said issues of trying to create tolerant citizens in democracy are something that can not be overlooked just to improve learning. There has to be another way. This also contributes to the reading because it takes the take about teaching boys and girls separately and how it will improve scores, but theres more components to that decision that some people are not seeing like how it takes away from other things that only coed schools can do.

"While there's some dispute over whether there's an ongoing education crisis for white, middle-class boys, there's no doubt that public schools are failing poor minority students in general and poor minority boys in particular."
This quote has to do with our other readings and SCWAAMP and privileged.  It talks about being white, middle class, males and how the minority students are failing, but not only the poor minority students specifically boys. It shows how your gender and class contribute to your education. Despite six years of No Child Left Behind this is still a problem between rich and poor students and white and black students have not significantly. This contributes to the rest of the reading because it brings up another reason why boys fail more then girls.

"Boys are active, girls are passive. Boys should go out and have jobs, girls should stay home and have babies."
This quote is very popular and I'm sure you've heard of it time and time again. Back in the day people use to believe that men would go to work while the women would stay home and have babies. No or days thats not true at all. Girls are more independent with careers. I believe in know time at all we will have a women president. This quote was pretty much said by Dr. Sax. This quote contributes to the rest of the article because it brings up the fact that times have change and now more girls are succeeding while boys are slacking when it comes to education. Like the quote says boys are active so seating in a desk all day really isn't their thing. While girls are passive to they are able to sit there for long hours.

Questions/Comments/Points to Share:
Before reading this article I wouldn't have ever thought about the difference in learning between boys and girls. I wouldn't actually even consider separate public schools for genders. I still am for coed's, but it's defiantly a different view on this problem. I feel like to separate the genders though may be good for schools scoring it would take away from so many other things that help us as students become tolerant citizens. Boys use to be the higher gender, but no or days it seems that girls are more serious about their education then guys are.  I found it interesting that boys make up two thirds of special education.  My question is why boys are what makes up the most of special education? Overall this was a very interesting reading and it opened my eyes up to a different views on education between genders.

Second Visit to My Elementary School

Going back to my elementary school brings me so much joy. Seeing their faces light up with excitement every time I walk through the door makes me want to be a teacher more and more. Im not a reading buddy, but a teachers helper you could say. I love the teacher I work with I really look up to her. I work with second graders and as most know they are hyper active youngsters. They don't like to sit in their chairs especially after lunch, which just happens to be the time I go to visit. They just replenished their energy and are all antsy in their seats. Try to control them at this time is in no way easy, but my teacher has the perfect sternness that keeps all the children in line.
When I walked backed through that door I signed in grabbed the visitors pass and right as I went to head to my classroom my teacher walks in. She asks me to follow her and when we go to the stair case she tells me to wait there, so I wouldn't get trampled and she headed out to get her class from recess.  All the kids pilled in from the youngsters all the way up to sixth grade. I felt so short compared to those sixth graders haha. Shortly after the big kids came in my class walked up the stairs and I joined the teacher as we lead them to the classroom.
Before the kids could enter the classroom they had to line up at the bathroom. The girls went first then the boys. This was so that they wouldn't have to interrupt the class later. After everyone was finished everyone was told to put their jackets and lunch boxes away and meet on the carpet. From their the teacher talked about lunchtime and recess and all that happened. Recapping them on how they should behave during those times.
From their she split them up into two groups she got the children who need more help and I got the advance group. I had them read through the story that was being taught that day. Then ask them questions about the story to see how much they were listening. This helped them broaden their understanding of the reading. I had the teachers book, which was a lot of fun and quit a change. Then I assigned them the three questions that were given at the end of the story to answer in their reading notebooks.
There was this one girl in my group who walk into the classroom after lunch with a little attitude and it stuck with her through the whole rest oh the school day. She didn't want to participate, but I tried to get her involved as much as I could. I asked her questions and asked her to read parts of the story as well, but she pushed herself off to the side away from the group. After the activity I told the teacher and she wrote a letter to the child's parents to let them no her behavior in class that day.
Having that experience with trying to help a student and teaching a whole group of students for the first time was so satisfying and an awesome experience. I cant wait to have many more experience's and learn  from all of them. In the end it will just make me a better teacher. That was the second visit at my elementary school.

The Hip-Hop Wars

The Hip-Hop Wars by Tricia Rose Caitlin Rennell

Quotes:
There's been so much energy expended either defending hip-hop or just frustratedly saying it's idiotic drivel that it's a good question - why does it matter? Of course it matters, because it's on the one hand a profound cultural force. You just can't look at American society today and not see its impact everywhere - marketing, advertising, representation, images.
This quote explains why hip-hop matters. It matters because on one hand like said above its a profound cultural force. You can't look at our society as a whole today and not see the impact of hip-hop through media such as marking, advertising, images, etc. 
This obviously has to contribute to the video because the whole video has to do with the book The Hip-hop Wars by Tricia Rose where she talks about how hip-hop is a huge part of our society as a whole. 

We live in a country where race matters so much, and yet we don't have the skills to read what we're consuming about race. And hip-hop's a very powerful and easy way to help us with this.
This quote means that we live in a place where the color of your skin aka your race the outside of you matters way to much to a person. Its the main way someone judges you. It also says that we as consumers are obvious to actually see whats right in front of us; the things we take in everyday. Hip-hop is an easy way to help us understand what we are taking in on a daily bases. 
This quote contributes to the video because it talks about how hip-hop make sure that we are understanding what we are reading and taking in on a daily bases.


But what are we partying to? Are we partying to ideas of each other that spoil our appreciation for who we are, that make it harder for us to be vulnerable, that make it harder for us to see each other?
This quote talks about how you no we go to parties because their fun and for a good time, but do we just like the idea of partying with each other or do we appreciate the people we are having a good time with. Meaning are we there for the alcohol and hot girls or are we having a party with great friends and enjoying the people they are. It says that if we are partying for the idea of each other then it makes it harder to be vulnerable to another person and harder for us to really see who each of us are past the looks.
This quote contributes to this video because it talks about how again we just see people for looks instead of appreciating who we are on the inside.


Questions/Comments/Points To Share:
In my opinion the video was very beneficial and brought up some good points. It was easy to follow and understand. She's a very smart women. It defiantly brought in a bunch of our readings when it talked about how much the media effects our society and how a person's race matters so much to us. This also brings in SCWAAMP and how being white is a privilege and how people judge you by your looks. My question is to Tricia Rose How did hip-hop because such a huge part of our society today?

In the Service of What?

Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer In the Service of What? Caitlin Rennell


Quotes:
1. A transformative educational experience requires that students engage in critical thinking in the "strong," not the "weak" senses.
This quote means that to be able to be critical thinkers as students will help you in a good way and make your sense of self stronger. To be a critical thinker as a student you must be able to consider other arguments that may justify a conclusion thats outside your beliefs and self interests.
This contributes to the reading because as we grow our thinking does too and to be able to analyze service experiences from a variety of different perspectives.
2."In the service of what?" is question that inevitably merits the attention of teachers, policy makers, and academicians who take seriously the idea that learning and service reinforce each other and should come together in America's schools."
This quote pretty much summarizes the whole article. It talks about how this question "In the service of what?" is brought up with different educators who take it very seriously and believe that it should be reinforced to students and society that volunteering and helping others not only in good for you and the people or person your helping but to bring a community together and help others.
3."While an additional emphasis on charity might lead to service learning activities that raise self-esteem, impel students into new experiences, and demonstrate the value of scholastic abilities in real-world contexts, educators who focus on a transformative vision would want to carry this work on step further."
This quote means that charity is a good way to boost ones self-esteem, broaden experiences, and demonstrate the values of helping others and being out in the real world.
This contributes to this article because most of its about charity believe it or not. Charity is a form of service learning. Its not only doing good for others but as the article states helping you grow as a person; making you feel good about yourself.

Questions/Comments/Points to share:
This article about the politics of service learning was easy to read. It opened up new ways of looking at service learning and taught me things I didn't even really know about. Like our other readings it ties into what we are doing in class because we are all doing volunteer working at schools which is a form of service learning. Its giving without getting something in return. This article gave examples of different projects teachers gave out to show students about helping others. It opened up a knew view on what we can do for our society. It not only helps others when we volunteer, but can make you feel pretty darn good about yourself. Why is it so hard for our society to simply volunteer; to help others in need?

unlearning the myths that binds us

Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us by Linda Christensen Caitlin Rennell

Quotes:

"The impact of racism begins early. Even in our preschool years, we are exposed to misinformation about people different from ourselves."
This quote means that racism begins early then we think. Children in preschool are going through it. When we were in preschool we were exposed to racism and information that wasn't true about people who are different from ourselves.
This quote contributes to the who article because the whole article is about the "myths" that we learned at early ages and how what was said has lead us in the wrong direction and blinded us to the truth.

"A Black Cinderella? Give Me a Break." She wrote: "Have you ever seen a black person, an Asian, a Hispanic in a cartoon? Did they have a leading role or were they a servant? What do you think this is doing to your child's mind?" She ended her piece: "Women who aren't white begin to feel left out and ugly because they never get to play the princess."
This quote means that she doesn't understand how cinderella can be anything but white and how white is a higher privilege and that we should be putting things like a black cinderella in a child's mind. Towards the end of the piece she makes it clear that because some many of the roles are played by white it may make other races feel left out.
This quote contributes to the who article because the whole article states that our media is mostly white and that lately fairy tails are being changed such as cinderella from disney white princess to a black princess.

"Instead of leaving students full of bile, standing around with their hands on their hips, shaking their heads about how bad the world is, I provided them the opportunity to make a difference."
This quote means that as a teacher its our obligation to make sure the this misinformation doesn't happen. We should be making sure that all types of people are known to be accepted. That there is nothing wrong with who anyone to accept everyone for who they are.
This quote contributes to this article because like I said before the whole article talks about how we give misinformation starting with preschoolers and how we should be making sure that from an early age kids no that they should accept everyone for who they are that differences are a good thing.

Questions/Comments/Points To Share:

I thought this article was extremely inspiring and well written. I like how it states how even as preschoolers we get this misinformation when we should be teaching acceptance for everyone. I think we should show the diverse movies to preschoolers and grades up to make them aware. My question is how could we not as teachers realize this misinformation being teach?

First Visit to My Elementary School

On Wednesday March 3, 2010 I had my first visit to my elementary school. I needed to be there for 115, so at around 12 I got ready and maybe sure I was well prepared. When I get to the school I make my way through a small opening in the gate to the door that said Main office on it. At first I couldn’t figure out how to get in, but then I noticed the buzzer on the wall and pressed it. They buzzed me in immediately. I walked straight up the stairs following the arrows for the main office. I enter the main office and the room was cluttered and small. There was one secretary who was very welcoming she handed me the VIPS notebook and gave me a yellow guess pass telling me I had to wear it always. Since I got there at 1 o’clock she suggested I wait till 1:05 because the teacher and children were just getting back from lunch. I waited anxiously and at 1:05 I was instructed to go through two sets of double doors and I would find my classroom on the left.
The kids were very excited when they saw me walk in. The classroom was crazy with papers and posters all over the walls. There was three teachers in the room, one for the child with Autism, a teachers aid and of course the teacher herself. The teacher was extremely welcoming and warm. Thought she wasn't sure what she wanted me to do She got me right to work with a child helping him with his spelling words.
Then they had reading and writing before school ended where they had to read a store and answer the questions at the end. I was assigned to help a child answer the questions that went with the reading. He lost attention very easily, but that was because he found writing very boring. I manage to get him back on track and we finished all the questions.
I noticed that all the kids were very antsy but who aren't at that age. All the kids seem very open to having me there. There was one child who had Autism he seemed very smart and had his own special helper. The children were chatty at times, but the teacher had a nice stern way about her voice that kept them in line and doing what they were suppose to be doing. Being there made me want to be a teacher even more.
I had so much fun and the environment was warm and welcoming. All the kids wanted to have time with me it made me feel good. At the end all the kids packed up to go home with their backpacks and jackets, putting their chairs on top of their desks and lining up at the door. Then it was my time to leave so I said goodbye to the teachers and children and walked out the door. I made my way back to the main office dropped off my visitors pass and headed back to college. I had an amazing time and cannot wait for my next visit.

Gayness, Multicultural Education, and Community

Dennis Carlson, Beyond Black and White Caitlin Rennell


Quotes:

1."the first group in the United States diagnosed with AIDS were male homosexuals."
This quote is pretty clear on its meaning. It says that the first type of person to get diagnosed with AIDS it the gays or homosexual men.
This quote contributes to the reading because this readings about gayness and how it affects the community.

2."In my sociology class we were talking about AIDS. One guy said,"I think gay guys are just sick. How could they do that?It's just wrong!"
This quote means that this guy has know clear idea of what AIDS is. Just because the first group to have been said to have AIDS were the gays does not mean that they are the only ones it is very much possible for heterosexuals of both genders to get them to.
This quote contributes to this article because its another stereotype of who gays are. It shows that we as a community should be teaching kids to accept everyone no matter what. Also to make sure that stereotypes are not continued.

3."We cannot and should not attempt to impose "politically correct" beliefs on students; but we have a responsibility as public educators in a democratic society to engage them in a dialogue in which all voices get heard or represented and in which gay students and teachers feel free to "come out" and find their own voices."
This quote means as human beings we should no impose our opinions on students that as teachers we need to let them have their own voices/opinion and make sure everyone accepts everyone for who they are. As well as make it comfortable for gay students and teachers to feel free to accept who they are and not have to hide it.
This quote contributes to the article because it sums up the whole thing. It makes it clear that no matter who you love and/or are attracted to that its very much ok and that everyone should accept you and not think lower of you.

Question/Comments/Points To Share:

To me this reading was a good one it showed that its ok to be homosexual and that people shouldn't judge on who your attracted to but who you are as a person. It also showed that as a community we shouldn't let our opinions get the best of us we should let everyone have their own voice. It was good to read it has a lot of detail and good points through out the reading. The question I have is though you've read this and say you have no problem with a gay or lesbian but if you were in the same dorm or even class as a gay or lesbian would you treat them differently? Would you accept them?

Hunger Of Memory

Richard Rodriquez, Hunger of Memory Caitlin Rennell

Quotes:

"Memory teaches me what I know of these matters; the boy reminds the adult. I was a bilingual child, a certain kind---socially disadvantaged---the son of the working-class parents, both Mexican immigrants."
This quote means that Richard's memories are what reminds him that he was the outcast at one point. He was a son of Mexican's who traveled over here to America to live a better life. They work hard for their kids. He's memory is of how he was disadvantaged in the fact that he didn't speak english, so he had to struggle to learn it and communicate with people around him.
This contributes to the reading because this reading is about his childhood growing up as a boy fluent in spanish not being able to understand anyone. His parents started to speak english at home instead to help him and eventually he looses his confidence in speaking spanish.

"I grew up victim to a disabling confusion. As I grew fluent in English. I no longer could speak Spanish with confidence."
This quote means that he grew up confused on what language he should be speaking and knowing. The more he learned to speak english the more he lost his heritage and language of spanish.
This contributes to the reading because he was forced to learn english to become part of our society making him forget his heritage and his language.

"An Hispanic-American writer tells me, "I will never give up my family language; I would as soon give up my soul."
This quote means that the writer would never loose his heritage and language because it would be like loosing his soul.
This contributes to the reading because richard lost his soul because he gave up his family language when he learned english and grew up to it making him less confident in his language.

Questions/Comments:
I think this reading was very interesting in how it illustrated how important it is to remember who you are. It was good to read a little hard to follow at times but other then that good. It relates to SWAAMP which has to do with every other text we've read. It has to do with being someone other then white and who our english language is superior.
Why did his parents starting speaking english at home instead of keeping to spanish?
As an adult do you think he should make sure his kids grow up remembering their language and who they are?

Amazing Grace

Jonathan kozol and Amazing Grace Caitlin Rennell

Quotes:

"I went to the clinic last week with my mother. Out in front there was a table set up on the street. On the table there was paper bags with condoms and clean needles. I saw the prostitutes lined up waiting for the condoms. I saw the drug users lined up waiting for the needles. It was like seeing a line of ghosts. It looked like all the people there were dying."
This quote means these health clinics are supplying people with materials that they think will help keep people protected from STDs but in the end the needs will become dirty once again and are only being used for drugs and shooting up and the condoms could break they aren't a hundred percent.
This quote contributes to this article because this little boy David who's taking care of his sick mom is seeing these people waiting for needles and condoms knowing exactly who they are, as well as seeing that these people are killing themselves. They all are high or possible carrying STDs but either way are wasting their lives away.

"I believe that we were put here for a purpose, but these people in the streets can't see a purpose. There's a whole world out there if you know its there, if you can see it. But they're in a cage. They cannot see."
This quote means that god puts on us on earth for a reason we are here for a reason, but some of us are to blind to see their purpose in life so they waste it. They do not see all thats in front of them how much potential they have as human beings.
This quote contributes to this article because the people who are out their selling their selves or doing drugs are wasting away who they are, while people are dying of cancer or aids and don't have that long to live. Either way these people need to open up their eyes and stop wasting the person they are and live up to their potential.


"Heroin's making a comeback in our neighborhood. There's something different in it from before, so it's stronger and, I guess, more lethal." He tells one of the street names for the drug is "DOA" - dead on arrival. "If you walk on St. Ann's Avenue at night, you hear the dealers call it out. It's like they're saying, "Come on over here. I'll show you how to end my life.' The dealers are sometimes jittery. They look at you with this strange smile. It's not just hatred. It's as if they're laughing at their lives-and yours."
This quote means that drugs are getting worse as the years go on and more deadly. It says that drug dealers though they don't realize it but they are pretty much asking people if they'd like to end their lives and giving people who want to end their lives a way and that's pretty much told them its ok to commit suicide.
This quote contributes to this article that drugs especially in this story have taken over peoples lives more like young teenagers to people in their late twenties. When teenagers go through bad childhoods or live in a poor household or even with abusive parents its more then likely they will end up in jail and/or get into jail. Just like in this story theres death of children, drugs, and even STDs.

Questions/Comments/Points to Share:

This article left me speechless. Theres so many horrific things going on in this world. People who have had hard childhoods have grown up blind to their potential getting into drugs or prostitution not realizing that they are wasting who they are till its to late and they are dying of cancer or aids. To read this article was intense. It was like hearing that humanity isn't perfect for the first time. A lot of people are really blind to all that was stated in this article. Not everyone is as privileged. Someone dies everyday. This shows the class level of SCAAWMP for all these people are in the lowest level living the poorest lives. Nothing about the middle or high class having these horrific issues.

Why aren't we doing something about people who are suffering and lowering themselves to prostitution and/or drugs? Why are we letting humanity deteriorate like this?

Introduction

Im Caitlin a freshman at Rhode Island College and in my second semester, which is surprisingly going really well except for the fact that I'm sick already. I enjoy all my classes and plan to apply for the school of education this year. In my free time when I'm not in classes I'm either hanging with my friends, reading, doing homework, eating, or semi boring stuff. I don't know what else to write so I will leave it as it is and come back to this if I can think of anything else.