SED and EDU

SED 125 taught me all the fundamental factors of students disabilities in the classroom. Without an education on the disabilities of students I wouldn't have a clear idea as to what I should expect from students that may be disabled in my classroom. This class was also beneficial to me because I got to take the time to do a project on Autism. I never knew exactly what it was and when I learned more about it I realized that Autism isn't just one thing, it is many factors put together to make it harder for a student to learn and function in a working society. I really enjoyed this class with Dr. Denison. She was informative and a great educator on the lives of disabled students in the classroom.

EDU 125 presented me with the opportunity to learn more about the historical aspects of education. It was great to be able to learn some of where the greatest educators started in life and how they have shaped the world today. It also gave me a clear understanding of different types of education in the classroom. I also liked being able to see portfolios of other students. It was great to see how they had things set up and also wonderful to hear about their experience at UMF. My favorite part of this class was being able to talk to the two first year teachers and one experienced educator. I had a so many questions in mind and they were able to answer a great deal of them without me even having to ask. I really enjoyed their input on education. This class was great as well. I learned so many new things and that is a wonderful feeling to walk away with.

I feel very confident with the career that I hope to have. I know that there are going to be struggles along the way but these first classes made me feel confident that it is what I want to do with my life. I am excited to get started!

Diversity

I can't say that diversity has ever had an effect on my up bringing. I have been around it since I was little. We were always taught to never be prejudice and to treat others as you would want to be treated. I think that because I grew up knowing different cultures and races that it has never been an issue for me. Currently we are renting out our upstairs unit of our house to a biracial family. They have four sons who are all Mulatto and also very adorable. Race, religion, culture, none of this has ever been look down upon by our family.

If I were to teach diversity in a class room I think I might go about using the same method that was used in Freedom Writers. The line game is a good way to show your students that even though they may be different in colors they all will have something in common with each other. Diversity is not suppose to be a negative word but some view it as something that could be potentially detrimental. I believe that diversity should be discussed in all schools and that it should ever be an issue in any school. Students need to learn that there are difference's among people and that they can be both positive and negative.

If I were to have a classroom that was diverse in a number of ways I think I might approach it by having each student talk about themselves and share with the class who they are as an individual. It can be challenging to teach students that don't have anything in common so as the teacher I would listen to their stories and find a common ground for all of them to stand on. I feel that this would be the best thing I could do. I also think that if it is a negatively diverse room then it might be more of a challenge and I am not sure how I would go about handling it. I would have to hear the stories of the students first. Each class is different, so you can't have a game plan, it is definitely something that you have to learn about first, before you can even think about teaching it.

Booker T. Washington and John Dewey

To be an influential educator means you need to make your stamp on the world. There are very few people who are able to achieve such greatness. There are two men who were both influential in there own ways that I have learned about, Booker T. Washington and John Dewey. These two spent a great deal of there lives educating those around them. Washington educated his fellow African Americans at the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute and Dewey educated many of his own students on philosophy.

Booker T. Washington wanted to educate everyone on how to better the economy and one of his biggest aspirations was to stop discrimination amongst different races. He once said; “In all things that are purely social we can be separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all thing essential to mutual progress.” His dreams of equality were the renderings of his teachings. He wanted all to know that he planned to stand on even ground with his fellow Americans and wanted to educate others to do and feel the same as he did.

John Dewey educated his students on philosophy. His ideas were based on a democratic way of life. He taught philosophy in many schools and even taught some of the best philosophers in the world. He felt that; “Philosophy recovers itself when it ceases to be a device for dealing with the problems of philosophers and becomes a method, cultivated by philosophers, for dealing with the problems of men.” He wanted to educated mankind on the great ideas that his philosophy had to offer.

Both men were influential in educating the world today and without either of them there were have been a significant difference in the way things are and could be. The time they spent educating others was time well spent.

Work Cited

Otto, M. C. (1996). John Dewey. (B. Johnson, Ed.). Collier's Encyclopedia ( Vol. 8, pp. 171-172). New York: P.F Collier L.P.

Alder, M. J. (1998). Booker T. Washington. The New Encyclopedia Britannica (15th ed., Vol. 12, p. 509). Chicago: Britannica Inc

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booker_T._Washington

http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/activity/bookertwashington/

http://www.nps.gov/archive/bowa/btwbio.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dewey

http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-dewey.htm

http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/janicke/Dewey.html

The First American High School

The first American high school was actually founded in 1635 to prepare only young men for college life at Harvard. At the time this school was based on government and state rule so women were not allowed to attend. This school was known as the Boston Latin Grammar School. However, the first American public school was founded in 1821. This was an educational facility that was made to prepare young men’s minds for the future to come. This was known as the English Classical School which was built in Boston, Mass. The school was conceived by a subcommittee which included Samuel Adams. It was successful school because it allowed free secondary education. It was the rival of the Boston Latin School and still is to this day. Most of the schools back in its day were based heavily on a large tuition for its students to attend. Most students from the school graduated with a degree in business.

The English Classical School was built with the intent that those who would be attending it would not have to attend college but be able to work in some fields that would normally require a college education. The boys that attended this school were able to learn a various amount of things. Subjects that were frequently taught were math, history, science, geography, bookkeeping, and surveying. At the time men used these subjects the most so they were the more important ones to teach. Some of the most distinguished men such as J. P. Morgan, General Matthew B. Ridgway, Charles Hayden, Leonard Nimoy, Henry Kidder, and Samuel Langley have graduated from this school.

The school changed its name in 1824 to English High School to more practically represent what it was. It was built on Derne Street and high since been torn down. The school name itself still exists but has been rebuilt to fit the needs of the growing population. It has been moved a half dozen times since 1821 and it is now located on the Jamaica Plain. The school name is still same as it was in 1824 but the activities and educational programs have changed. It has now become a coeducational school and is more intone with modern society.

WEB SITES USED

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:cmoz5D2J89IJ:spectrum.troy.edu/~mjparker/history.ppt+English+Classical+School+(1821)&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10&gl=us

http://books.google.com/books?id=U_HSk9YheBYC&pg=PA128&lpg=PA128&dq=english+classical+high+school+1821&source=web&ots=pXix1Ziqd4&sig=8tD3FAOlJG1hpvdIVc7gEHf8mT0#PPA129,M1

http://www.boston.com/news/education/gallery/English_High_91407?pg=17

http://www.boston.k12.ma.us/english/alumni/EHShistory.htm

www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/hsinit/papers/history.doc

Informally Learning

I have learned so many things in life. I must say though that the best lesson I have learned is not to mourn the loss of someone but rather celebrate the life they have and would continue to live if they were here. The first loss I remember in my family was when I was 9 years old. My aunt Tammy had passed away from pancreatic cancer. My mother always called it the "silent killer." I, being so young, remember only the things that I actually saw. It was so powerful to see someone so innocent going through something like this. When my aunt did pass my father told me not to mourn the loss of her but to celebrate her life. I feel he probably told me this so my mother wouldn't see her children cry but it did stick with me. We should be here to celebrate the wonderful life and spirit of the family we have or had and remember that just because they aren't hear physically doesn't mean we can't keep the memory of them alive.
Another very important part of my life was when I joined the Big Brother Big Sister program. I had a little sister who was in third grade and although I can't give to many specifics on this girl she was wonderful to learn from. I would say she is the reason I want to teach children. They are truly my passion. I have never been more willing to dedicate my life to someone as I am to them. They have this perfect innocence about them and it has become my dream and goal to influence and impact the life of as many people as I can. She is the reason why I am going to be a teacher and I am forever in her debt for the wonderful things she gave to me. I never would have thought that a third grade child would be one of my greatest influence's in life but she is and will always be.
My mother is my "informal educator." She has taught me right from wrong, how to tie my shoes, how to do math, and even how to love the simple things in life. There are so many things that she gave me, including the opportunity to be in college today. She is the woman that gave me life, gave me love, and gave me the will to succeed in life. She is the woman I owe my everything to and she doesn't ever expect anything back from me. Even as a little girl when I needed a kiss to fix my boo boo to now when I need her to show me support she is always there. She has taught me compassion, honestly, and given me the strength to keep my head up at an all time low. She is my educator and the one I will always look to for advise. She is my hero.

first day

Hello,
Trying a blog for the very FIRST time!