Authors Support

Gilyard: ...."was equally concerned with the best end to have in view."

hooks:  "Sadly, children's passion for thinking often ends when they encounter a world that seeks to educate them for conformity and obedience only."

Boyce: ...."but to promote positive qualities like empathy, citizenship, and strong friendships."

Hayes:    reward of gaming include "of being successful, connecting with others, and feeling curiosity, awe, and wonder."

Gilyard:  Humanities "are vital to the process of  the shaping critical and productive citizens that we need."

hooks:  "Critical thinking requires all participants in the classroom process to be engaged. "

brainstorming ideas

How teachers are treated
Teaching children to be optimistic, socially intelligent
Empathetic students, collaboration
critical thinkers, problem-solvers,  leaders, innovators
approach to teaching
academic standards for teachers
standardized tests should not be valued as the 'gold-standard' for achievement
stress of testing
building character
gratitude
engaging students

Rank

It was hard to rank them since they all had valid suggestions.

#1 Large-Qualities for successful individual-grit, curiosity, optimism-tough but positive-it not about failure, but how you handle it.
#2-Boyce-Mindfulness, empathy and good citizenship-make for a better world.
#3-Aronson- he advocated for voicing our opinions to effect real change that is measurable
#4-Gilyard- creative arts are very important, but STEM is being made the focus of the future.

Black and Rose

Both Rose and Black acknowledge that there is a problem with our education system.  Rose   advocated for young people to get an engaging and challenging education and to "stop making the standardized test scores the gold-standard of student achievement and teacher effectiveness".  Black advocated putting money into education and not get weighed down by titles.  Just make It "Folks education"

Omar.

Ideas for Change

Each of the authors support the ideas for change slightly with a different focus, but the end view looking over the horizon-is the same.  It is to educate children to be successful adults in society.  Jerry Large supports change by emphasizing the qualities that make for successful people.  They are grit, gratitude, optimism, curiosity, and social intelligence.  It is not about how high you score on tests.  Barry Boyce supports change in being mindful, having empathy and good citizenship.  Keith Gilyard saw change through creative arts and humanities.  bell hooks sees changes to education through critical thinking rather than conformity and obedience.  Interestingly, Sandy Hayes sees changed in education with Games.  Games can teach children about collaboration, problem solving, and accomplishing tasks through innovation, exploration and offers hope rather than failure.

Chalk advocating against education

Freire and Gatto both see the negatives from the current American education and curriculum.  Chalk reinforces this by portraying Mr. Stroope as a teacher not striving to better his students, but as a teacher driven by recognition (award).  Often Mr. Stroope is not as intelligent as his students.  Teachers should be qualified to teach.  When you have teachers who are not qualified to teach, the level of education will be lower.  Also, Mr. Lowrey is not motivated to enjoy what he does, teach.  They do not look to empower or lift their students to a place where they think outside the box, rather it is just the mundane routine they go through everyday, just to get through the year.  They don't encourage their students to be thinkers and leaders, just to follow the set curriculum and follow the rules.

Omar 

Chalk real time notes

The movie was released in 2006.  It is a mockumentary about teaching.  The main characters in the movie are Mr. Stroope, Mr. Lowrey and Coach Webb.  It is a movie from the perspective of the teachers.  It mentions that 50% of teachers quit during the first few years of teaching.  Mr. Stroope is noted as being sometimes less intelligent than his students although he wants to be Teacher of Year.  Mr. Lowrey is a history teacher who can't seem to find the joy or drive in teaching history.  Coach Webb is a woman gym teacher who tries to get her students to take her and her class seriously, as a class just like history or English.  It is a light movie with a serious subject underneath.  Teachers have an important role in children's education.  They need to enjoy what they do, be educated enough to teach, and have respect from the students in order to learn.

Omar 

WS pp. 32-37

These sections pertain to my current paper assignment by providing an example of a compare and contrast example essay, a classification essay, and a cause and effect essay example with an argument sample. The sample essays were helpful in giving me an idea of the structure of the compare and contrast essay and how to go about preparing my essay with identifying similarities and differences in Education by the different authors.  It helps with the argument and persuasion.

Omar

What is High School for?

I think the purpose of High School is to prepare students for college.  The foundations in English, Math, Science, History, Art and Tech Classes are set to give you a basic understanding of the major subjects and perhaps give you an insight into each so that maybe one subject will peak your interest for the future direction in studies that you might be interested in.  Peer pressure, competition, more homework, harder case loads, learning to drive/driving, jobs, relationships are all factors that students will/might experience and have to juggle while learning in an education program (experienced in both high school and college to different degrees).

Freire/Gatto

Freire and Gatto both agreed that the current state of education programs were lacking in providing  an education for children. They both question the purpose of education programs. What they were currently providing was 'schooling' to either fill empty vessels or  "designed to produce mediocre intellects" (Gatto).  Gatto compares secondary schools to "prisons" and "drill centers" that serves the purpose "to dumb people down". Freire also sees the schools as places where teachers just drill facts into the minds of the students or has he calls it "banking education" (Freire).  Freire's solution is problem-posing education that generates creative power.  I think that Gatto sees the problem as coming from beyond teachers to a government generated cause, while Freire sees the problem as coming more from the structure of the education system, teachers and curriculum. Changing the teaching style, teaching method and curriculum can be a solution for both views in which the current education  programs lack in their ability to encourage creative thought, individualism, and leaders. 

Using Sources Effectively

• According to Harrison Lowrey, Teacher at Berkeley HS for Social Studies, "We [the teachers] learn as much from our students as our students learn from us"(123).
• In an interview with Sean Connery on Goldfinger, he indicates that he was and will always be Hollywood's best James Bond.
• In the book The Amazing Spider-man, HS student Peter Parker writes,"With great power, also comes great responsibility"(115).

Micheal Bay is a movie director for the Warner Bros. Movie Institute, where he has been directing blockbuster movies for several different companies. In one of his movies Transformers, where one of the characters were gazing out to the sunset, he says, "Their is more to them, than meets the eye". In another movie, Terminator, in which one of the character's defeats an enemy, he shouts,"You've just been terminated!"    

Omar

Against School

I really think that what John Gatto wrote and believes about the purpose of public schools has some validity. I like that he backed up his argument with examples of successful people who went without formal public school education.  I also liked that he used examples of famous philosophers to back up his ideas.  He is obviously well educated and is familiar with the public school system since he worked in it for several decades. I do not have that kind of experience, although I am considered a public school student in High School.  However,  I am home schooled although receiving education materials from an online public school.  It is anything but boring.  My teachers are educated and encourage voicing opinions.  They look to produce thinkers and adventurers.  I cannot imagine sitting at a desk for hours every day at school.  I don't want to become an employee or a follower.  I want to be the entrepreneur who makes his own decisions and isn't worried about what he says.  Public Schools teach students that it is the 'land of the free', when in reality it is a land of fear and conformity. America used to be the most powerful continent in the world, a leader in everything.  It is no longer the leader. American students are no longer the ones in the front getting the best jobs, because they are not encouraged to be leaders anymore. I am happy to be home schooled.  I know that there is so much more to life, free of boredom and childishness.   

Reading Assignment: Paragraph and Essay Development

These sections were helpful as they pertained to the current Paper Assignment.  It is always good to start a paper with an outline to help you develop the structure of the paper or body, main points with supporting details and examples. The information on transitions between sentences and paragraph hook is important to the current assignment because it helps me to remember to make sure the paper is flowing smoothly.  Is the thesis statement clear and backed up by examples and details? Will it be in chronological order or enumeration?  The readings also provided sample paragraphs and essays to see as examples.  Who is the audience?  What message are you trying to convey?  Can the reader visualize it from the figurative language that I used?  These questions were all identified from reading the pages. The reading assignment helped me to brainstorm ideas,  and be comfortable in identifying the body structure of the paragraphs and essay that I will be using for my paper.

Omar

A Teacher Like Ms. Gruwell/Ms. Watson

I have had the privilege of having a teacher like Ms. Gruwell and Ms. Watson.  My teacher has tried to open my eyes to the possibilities and wonders of Science as Ms. Gruwell and Ms. Watson did with writing and art.  His teaching style and approach is unorthodox compared to other teachers, but he inspires me to look at Science from different perspectives, to love Science, and to believe in myself.  I can tell that he really cares about me learning and understanding what he is teaching just as Ms. Gruwell and Ms. Watson cared about their students. He goes above and beyond what is required to help me realize my potential.  I appreciate the opportunity to be a student of his.   

Lorde: "My first grade teacher was named Sister Mary of Perpetual Help, and she was a disciplinarian of the first order, right after my mother's own heart."

Me: During tenth grade, we had a science teacher we always use to call Mr. Holmes, and he was both a Chemistry and a Physical Science teacher at K-12 HS.

Rose: "Mike Rose is anything but average: he has published poetry, scholarly research, a textbook, and two widely praised books on education in America."

Me: Mr. Holmes is anything but average: He is a Brilliant chemistry teacher, an amazing scientist, a science encyclopedia, and the biggest and craziest football fan that exists today, all wrapped up in one.

Lorde: My father leaves his psychic print upon me, silent, intense, and unforgiving.

Me: Mr. Holmes always leaves his psychic print upon his students, motivational, inspirational, and unforgettable.  

Omar

Two Schools

Wellesley High School in Massachusetts and Woodrow Wilson High School in California were very different schools.  First of all, Wellesley High School was a preparatory school for young girls whose parents were affluent enough to pay for the private school located in a New England style atmosphere of having social standards and demanding good grades from their students.  Woodrow Wilson High School was a coed public school with students from a mix of ethnic backgrounds whose families were not financially well off.  Wellesley High School was more rigid in its curriculum and standards with the goal of preparing young girls to be valuable members of society.  Woodrow Wilson High School was not as specific in standards and did not see the potential of the students to be valuable members of society and their goal was just getting them to pass and graduate from high school. 

Omar

Is Ms. Gruwell a Good Teacher?

After watching the movie Freedom Writers, I can conclude that Ms. Gruwell is in fact a very good teacher. She was willing to go to any length and do anything to help her students succeed. For example, she got several other jobs other than the teaching job just so that she could buy new books for her students from her own pockets. She tried different approaches to break down the barriers so that her students would learn such as taking them to the Museum of Tolerance and have a speaker come to class to discuss her own experience and how it related to the reading of Anne Frank.  She even put her students education above her marriage.  She honestly cared about her students and was willing to go above and beyond what was required of her so that her students could reach their potential.

Omar

The Teachers I Will Write About

The two teachers I have chosen to write about for my Compare and Contrast paper are Mr. Holmes (my HS Science teacher), and my math teacher Ustadh.

Omar

Compare and Contrast Ms Gruwell/Ms. Watson

Ms. Gruwell and Ms. Watson are different in that they teach different subjects (one is English and the other is Art History), and their approach to teaching is different.  Although both try to open their students eyes to their own potential by introducing curriculum that is different, Ms. Watson leaves teaching at her school when she is forced to stick with the curriculum given to her.  Both teachers encourage their students to be more, but while Ms. Gruwell encourages her students to attend college and complete their high school education, Ms. Watson tries to encourage her students (all girls) to not just seek out just marriage, but to strive for a college education and more.  Both teachers do have to deal with adversity from within the upper management of school, but Ms. Gruwell also has to deal with the everyday violence she is surrounded by.  

Omar

Compare and Contrast Mr. Macfarlane/Ms. Gruwell

There are similarities and differences between Mr. Macfarlane and Ms. Gruwell.  Both teachers taught underprivileged students.  Other people saw both groups of students as un-teachable, but both teachers saw the potential of their students.  Both teachers also taught English. They introduced new and exciting authors/writing for their students to be exposed to.  Ms. Gruwell introduced them to the writing of Anne Frank and Mr. Macfarlane introduced his students to Nietzsche and Frost.  They both went above and beyond what was expected of them to break through the barriers to reach them and get them excited about learning.  Both teachers were well educated and chose to teach underprivileged high school students.  They ignited their student's interest in reading and writing. They both encouraged their students to go beyond high school, to go to college.  However, Mr. Macfarlane was more interested in expanding their knowledge, while Ms. Gruwell also did but taught them also about tolerance.  She also had to deal with constant violence around her, while Mr. Macfarlane did not.

Omar

Freedom Writers Reflection

I thought the movie was inspiring.  The teacher, Erin Gruwell,  starts teaching English at a High School in Long Beach, California.  The students and faculty resent her efforts to change their lives.  She sees their potential and doesn't give up.  She tries new approaches to help them change the way they think of those who are not part of their gangs.  She introduces writing from Anne Frank and takes them to a museum.  She teaches them about tolerance.  She risks her marriage and gets other jobs to provide books for her students.  She breaks through the barriers put in front of her so that she can help them achieve their potential and succeed. She was an amazing teacher.  

Omar

Audre Lorde's Essay

Audre Lorde had a lot of teachers that she acknowledged in her writing.  Most of those who inspired, taught, or influenced her were women. Her Mother was one of the first teachers in her life.  She described her Mother as “a very powerful woman.”(pg. 15, Zami)  She taught her about her approach to perceiving reality.  Lorde wrote, “It was so often her approach to the world; to change reality.  If you can’t change reality, change your perception of it.” That is how her Mother dealt with things like when white people spit at her children because they were black. She interpreted it as them not spitting at her children, but how the wind moved the spit by accident to hit her children. The second woman who taught her was the local librarian, Mrs. Augusta Baker.  She taught her to love reading.  Lorde states, “By the time she had finished that one, I was sold on reading for the rest of my life.” (pg. 23, Zami) She took the time to read her two stories, which changed her life.  The third person who taught her was Sister Mary at Catholic School.  She taught her about discrimination.  She separated students into Brownies and Fairies. Audre Lorde worked hard in school to be part of the Fairies.    

 

Omar

What I believe makes a good teacher

After reading “What Makes A Good Teacher”, by M.F. Hassett, I have gained some new insights on what I believe makes a good teacher.  The first quality that I think that a teacher should have is the ability to adapt to both the students and parents individual needs. Not all students have the same temperament.  Teachers must be able to adapt their teaching style to optimize the learning experience of different students. The second quality that a good teacher should possess is the being able to enjoy both their work and their students. They have to really want to make a difference and like what they do.  They will find ways and teaching approaches that will make students more interested in what they are trying to teach. The third and final quality is that all teachers should have is the ability to be reflective and emotionally responsive to their classroom practices, materials, methods, and students. This leads to improvement in the way teachers teach students and provides a positive connection between teacher, student and parent.  Good communication and responding to feedback is important so that both the parent and the teacher are working towards the same goal of providing a positive learning environment that optimizes the learning experience of the student.

Omar

Paper Self-Review

1. I am happy with my paper so far. It meets the standards and criteria of how the paper look and feel. I think I could do a little more elaborating on my experience, but otherwise I am happy with it.
2. After looking at my peers papers over the past week, I have noticed that each of my peers, including myself, described simple and honest events that had a big impact on their lives. This helped me come up with more ideas for my final paper, as well as what needed to be fixed and revised.
3. I feel like I need to have more descriptions and feeling in it.
4. I wrote about how, for the first time, I got a taste of something new and exotic and how it left me wanting more.
5. I wanted to show readers that even though my paper was about something simple, I wanted readers to come away with how big the impact was on my life.

Fine Dining

As I look back to my earlier years, one experience stands out.  It was an educational experience that gave me a taste of something new, which left me wanting more. It happened when my grandmother took me out to a fancy Japanese restaurant called Hakata. It was an educational experience I will never forget and it has shaped my choices and decisions for my future.

    I just turned 15 years old, and I was staying for the week at my grandmother's house and she decided to take me out to dinner. I had never eaten out at a before at a restaurant let alone a five star restaurant. She thought it would be an excellent experience for me to get out and experience "the finer things in life", as she put it. She told me if I ever wanted to take someone out on a date or/and travel the world one day, it was essential for me to know how to act and behave in a formal setting.

    After my Grandmother had told me about all this, I became very nervous and excited, both at the same time. I didn't know what to wear, how to act, or even how to speak, for that matter. However, I knew that my Grandmother would not embarrass me. She told me to not be afraid of new things, otherwise if you are too afraid, you will miss out on so many things. So, the day before we went, she taught me all the basics things that I would need to know, from how to tip after a meal, to how to dress for certain occasions, even where to ask to be seated (next to the window).

    When we got there the next evening, I followed all the steps that my Grandmother had told me.  When I stepped inside the restaurant, everyone in restaurant looked at us (mostly me) and just stared. I tried not to notice and just take in the sights and smells. The inside of the restaurant was decorated with the colors black, white with touches of grey and red. I felt like I was in Japan with everyone there speaking and ordering in Japanese. There was an area where you could even watch the chefs cook the meals. Maybe that was why everyone was looking at us. We said and did everything in English that evening. When we got to our tables (with the view), the manager took our order that night, because she was an old friend of my Grandmother.

     For an appetizer, my grandmother and I ordered the coconut shrimp tempura with a side teriyaki sauce. She told me to eat at the same pace as her because it is good manners. She chews her food very slowly so as to enjoy the flavors. Then for the main course, I had fish cooked in teriyaki with sticky rice, and a side dish of Japanese salad.  I had never tasted anything so delicious.  I did take my time and chewed my food very slowly.  I appreciated how they presented the food on the plate and also how polite they were. Dessert was Asian ice cream. It was so creamy and light.  They finished it off with tea.  I was so content.  It took me a little time to relax.  I didn’t want to make any mistakes and look foolish.  

     When we left the restaurant, my Grandmother told me that I did well.  She said, “Omar, I am proud of you.”  I was so happy.  It was just one experience, yet I learned so much.  I learned how to take care of the person you take out, how to calculate the tip, how to eat and where to request where to sit.  However, the most important thing that I learned was that I knew so little and wanted to learn more.  I wanted to eat at many more restaurants, to travel, to explore.  My Grandmother exposed me to a new experience.  She said, “If you study hard and get a good education, then you can find a job that will let you travel, try different restaurants, meet new people and many more new experiences.” She opened my eyes to all the new experiences and possibilities out in the world that I could experience and to not be afraid. It was a valuable lesson.      

Group Cubing

Cubing--Our topic is "finger paint," and each of us will develop ideas on this topic by using one of the "modes" or strategies on the handout.

My group had assigned me "Apply it"

Define it: Finger paint is paint that is intended to be applied with your fingers. If you Google finger paint one of the first things that come up is eatable finger paint recipes. It is fairly easy to make and is easy to clean up.  You can also buy it from any craft store.  This product is geared toward children so it is washable and non-toxic. It comes in all colors and sizes.

   Finger paint is a paint that comes in many different colors and is used for decorating many different things. It can also be used in many different ways as well.  Although most people apply it to the fingers before painting on whatever they choose, some use many different parts of their body as well. It can be used on mostly anything, from newspapers to walls, to practically anything.

    Finger paint is made of non-toxic pigments and other goop that is safe for kids to eat, because if there's one thing that kids like to eat more than white school paste, it's finger paint.  The darker the color, the more they like it--in their mouths, on their clothes, on the furniture.  Once you have spread down lots of newspaper or drop clothes, you open the lids, give the kids some sheets of paper (or whatever you are o.k. with them getting colored goop on), and tell 'em to "go for it!"  In my experience, this is where the fun starts: first they test it by sticking their fingers into the jars, and then they smell it, often getting some on the outside of their noses (and sometimes on the inside too).  Once they've done that, the next step is to rub some onto the paper.  This is then followed by smearing some of it on their face, their clothes, the drop cloth--whatever isn't covered up--and sometime even on what's been carefully covered up.  Often, this is followed by more exuberant experimentation, such as deliberately painting their faces, or even other people's face, and even those of other people who don't want their faces smeared with dark red and green goop.  There are many other steps that may follow, but the last one is usually a trip to Urgent Care, because someone gets sick from eating it, sticks some up their nose, or slips on the drop cloth and sprains an ankle.

     Hide your most cherished items, furniture, carpets and pets! Out there in the darkness lurks a terrifying menace.  This menace is known only as finger paints. The seemingly fun activity for children is one of the most destructive forces in nature. Sure it seems like fun, open a tube of your favorite color, dab your finger in it and go nuts. Your imagination is truly free so is your child’s. Giving them paper to paint on will only be a short deterrent! After the child has finished painting his or her puppy, kitty, or stick figure painting, the fun quickly moves to grim places. I’m talking about your expensive furniture or that t-shirt you got at a concert when you were in high school. With my daughter on the way I know that she will want to play with this fiendish creation so I have thrown all of my possessions away now, to spare me the horror and heartbreak of the inevitable future. I advise all of you to do the same.

Books vs. Blogs Part 2

Out of the four  Educational Narrative reading assignments,  I liked the "How I learned to Program Computers" the best. I could relate to the writer better.  He started creating sites at an early age.  I liked that he put pictures of himself on the his blog.  I also learned a lot about the different programs you could use because he listed them. I was happy to check some of them out. I was impressed by how many sites he created through self-motivation.  It gave me inspiration to not give up on my dreams.  It takes some effort, but if you keep working hard, you can succeed. He did succeed.  He was offered a job at a great company.  I like working with computers.  Maybe someday students will be taking an English class and reading my blog.  I forgot, they already are!

Omar

Books vs. Blogs

I think there was more emotion in the printed books than in the blogs.  It evoked more visual images, feelings and had more depth than the blogs.  The blogs did not include as many outside influences or experiences as the print autobiography samples.  The blogs had a lighter tone than the print.

Omar

Generating Ideas

I had a general understand of the structure of the Educational Narratives from the samples that I read.  I found that it was very useful to read other blogs to see how they were getting along with their ideas.  It is good to know that we are all in the same boat. 

Omar

Free-writing on an Educational Experience

     The most educational experience that I had was when my grandmother took me out to a  five star Japanese restaurant.  I was staying for the week at my grandmother's house and she decided to take me out to dinner.  It was an educational experience I will never forget.  
      I had never eaten out at a before at a restaurant let alone a five star restaurant.
      She thought it would be an excellent experience for me to get out and experience "the finer things in life," as she put it.
      She told me if I ever wanted to take someone out an a date or/and travel the world one day, it is essential for me to know how to act and behave in a formal setting.
      After my grandmother had told me about all this, I became very nervous and excited at the same time. I didn't know what to wear, how to act, or even how to speak, for that matter. However, I knew that my Grandmother would not embarrass me.  

Omar

First Paper Assignment Commentary

After reading the four Education Narratives, I have a clearer idea of the structure of a model Educational Narrative.  These essays have helped me to start brainstorming ideas for my essay.  I am more comfortable with the assignment ahead. 

Compare and Contrast Malcolm X and Mike Rose's Ed. Narratives

     Malcolm X's and Mike Rose's Educational Narrative essays have both similarities and differences.
In Malcolm X's essay "Learning to Read" and Mike Rose's essay "I Just Wanna Be Average", both authors describe an event or series of events that led to their desire to be better educated.  Both writers aspired to become educated in spite of the situations (institutions) that they were put in. Malcolm X was sent to Norfolk Prison Colony and Mike Rose was sent to Our Lady of Mercy. The authors similarly write about how education had changed their lives.  Also, both authors wrote of their experiences as children of minority groups. However, the essays also have differences.  In Malcolm X's essay, he changed the direction of his life through a "homemade education", while Mike Rose's essay indicated that his direction was changed by education at school.  Also, Malcolm X's motivation was to be a better reader, writer, and speaker. The focus of the essay was mostly about himself.  While in the essay by Mike Rose, he observed and was concerned not only for his own education, but also the education of those around him.  Both essays were inspiring. 

Sample Education Narratives

     The two education narrative samples, "How I Learned to Program Computers" by Feross Aboukhadijeh and "How I Learned to Live Google Free" by Joshua J. Romero, both were interesting to read.  However, I liked the narrative "How I Learned to Program Computers" by Feross Aboukhadijeh better. His narrative appealed to me more because he use more visual pieces in his narrative and used language that was simpler and intended for a younger audience. 
     It was a good exercise reading the two model education narratives so that I understand the upcoming assignment more clearly.  I will be writing about an education experience that I had, as both writers had done. The samples can give me a general model to refer to when writing my narrative.  It also helped me generate ideas for my upcoming narrative.              

Group Notes from 1/7

Today we gathered in groups to discuss why it was we came to choose the templates we did for our Google blog pages. The group, consisting of Dan, Casey, Omar, and Travis all took a few moments in setting up our individual sites to our preferred specifications. While Dan created his page to "pop" with a background that "jumps from the screen", Omar chose his theme because he enjoys travel, it looked nice and was simple. Casey, who chose his background to include a blurred image of a highway landed on the picture because it looked sunny and "nice". Travis, choosing the template with a black and white of a small bridge, picked that image in particular because it looked peaceful and was a quick click away from starting on the next part of the assignment. Each member of our group was able to easily choose a template for their blog page.

Omar Hammou

First Post

Hello,

This is my first day of college, and it is going very well so far. I hope I will do well in class this semester.

Omar