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?