Here's my latest blog on myspace (don't tell anyone!!!). If you'd like to be my "friend" (*cringe*) look me up! Check it out (just go to www.myspace.com and 'search' for my name):
Educate Yourself
Current mood: contemplative
Category: News and Politics
Hello! I was recommended the following website to view by one of my professors at SFSU:
http://www.mediathatmattersfest.org/6/index#
The shorts are all about 6 minutes long and full of knowledge. If you want to know what is going on that may not be in the 10 o'clock news, go and see what these filmmakers have to say. :) I viewed all of them and 90% rock.
As the bumper sticker says, "If you're not outraged you're not paying attention."
Peace!
Currently reading : Jubilee By Margaret Walker Release date: By 21 January, 1999
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Jesus Land - Could not put it down!
Hello People! I am taking 21 units this crazy semester, but I still love to read for pleasure. I picked up Jesus Land by Julia Scheeres because, 1. The cover was a cute, retro photo of a blond, blue eyed girl, next to a smiling little black boy, 2. The title. When I read the back I found out it was a memior about these kids (the little boy was adopted by the little girl's parents) in the Mid-west. I'm always interested in people's stories and this sounded like it would be a very telling one. Boy, was it EVER!!! It's a hefty 300 pages or so and I busted that b- out in a week and we are in midterms! Click on 'Julia' and it will take you to her personal webpage. Please pick up a copy at your bookstore or, better yet, borrow it from your local library!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Teach Teacher Teach
Kids are fun, kids are silly, and sometimes inappropriate. The kids I work with as a Student Teacher are in a Special Day Class (SDC). This is the Mild to Moderate group. You know, Mild to Moderate Disability ranging from Learning Disabilities (LD), to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) and emerging Emotionally Disturbed (ED). Are you starting to catch on to the prominent use of abbreviations?
So, let me rephrase that: I'm a ST working in a SDC with a Mild to moderate group of students diagnosed with LD's and/or ADHD, and some with the beginning stages of ED.
So Johnny (pseudonym) is really quiet and you often have to get on his level and constantly check to see that he hasn't gone into his own world. But this isn't an easy feat when Sam, Mike and Joe have ADHD and are up and down out of their seats and continually talking out of turn; hence drawing negative attention to themselves. For example, Mike starts making farting sounds in the corner and turn to him and say, "Be quiet, Mike! Points off for you (as I walk up to his desk chart and write, minus 10.)!" Oh, they are all on a point system, which I have mixed feelings about. At grad school we are taking Positive Support Systems. It is really Behavior Modification for Special Education populations. Focus on the positive, etc...
So I have been learning to use the "Speak to the Hand" method of settling these Talk-out-of-turners. Let's go back to Mike making toileting sounds during reading and I'm trying to get Johnny to comprehend that he needs to focus. I have been told to put up my hand in Mike's direction, not to make eye contact and say, "You are interrupting and it's Johnny's turn; you need to raise your hand to make comments." The ones that are in the lower grades (3rd) usually want to please and raise their hands. I just think it's funny that I get to use the "Speak to the Hand" method in my everyday work. :) Just imagine if you used that with your Dad. "Dad, you are interrupting right now, I'll talk to you in a minute." If your dad's anything like mine that would mean trouble with a capital T!
So, let me rephrase that: I'm a ST working in a SDC with a Mild to moderate group of students diagnosed with LD's and/or ADHD, and some with the beginning stages of ED.
So Johnny (pseudonym) is really quiet and you often have to get on his level and constantly check to see that he hasn't gone into his own world. But this isn't an easy feat when Sam, Mike and Joe have ADHD and are up and down out of their seats and continually talking out of turn; hence drawing negative attention to themselves. For example, Mike starts making farting sounds in the corner and turn to him and say, "Be quiet, Mike! Points off for you (as I walk up to his desk chart and write, minus 10.)!" Oh, they are all on a point system, which I have mixed feelings about. At grad school we are taking Positive Support Systems. It is really Behavior Modification for Special Education populations. Focus on the positive, etc...
So I have been learning to use the "Speak to the Hand" method of settling these Talk-out-of-turners. Let's go back to Mike making toileting sounds during reading and I'm trying to get Johnny to comprehend that he needs to focus. I have been told to put up my hand in Mike's direction, not to make eye contact and say, "You are interrupting and it's Johnny's turn; you need to raise your hand to make comments." The ones that are in the lower grades (3rd) usually want to please and raise their hands. I just think it's funny that I get to use the "Speak to the Hand" method in my everyday work. :) Just imagine if you used that with your Dad. "Dad, you are interrupting right now, I'll talk to you in a minute." If your dad's anything like mine that would mean trouble with a capital T!
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