Community Service "After School Program"

A few weeks ago, I went to help out with the after school program at Martin J. Ryerson Middle School. I helped the children with their homework, set up activities for them to do such as play kick ball in the gym, and soccer. I set up a table where everyone can eat their snacks. The children were different age groups ranging between ages 5 to 10. They all took a liking to me because I sat with all of them and tried to help them in every which way that I could. One of the little girls in particular, was stuck on math problem and she asked me if I could explain it to her so that she can understand it because she said when her teacher explained it to her she didn't know what she was talking about. I told her I would do my best. She was learning subtraction and she didn't understand the borrowing concept. The problem was 25-6 and she needed me to show her step by step how to do the problem. I showed her how to do the problem and sat with her until she got it right and then she showed me how to do the next problem all by herself and she did that one correctly as well. She told me something I will never forget she said "you are so nice and I wish you were my teacher". I felt so privileged that I was able to help her. From then on I really knew this was my calling I love to help children and I love to see there smiling faces when they have accomplished something.

Shadowing

Ok so I wasn’t placed in the Arts High School to go shadow a teacher so I decided to go shadow a teacher from Lakeland Regional High School. I observed and saw some pretty interesting things. I also got to interview some of the teachers as well as the students. They told me some good things they like about the block scheduling and some things they didn’t like about the block scheduling. The teachers are all for block scheduling because one of the main reasons is that it gives them more time to go over the material they are teaching and they don’t have to cram everything together in one 45 min lecture, they can spread out what they want to teach and actually get the whole class involved. So I think I am off to a pretty good start I am probably going to go back there soon to do a little bit more observing.

Inquiry Project 2

OK I am still a little confused on what my question is going to be. I am in between "How does Phys Ed and Health play a role in Public Education?" or "Does block scheduling help students increase their focus and grade average in class?" There is a lot I can do for both I have been going to different schools around where I live and asking what they think about block scheduling and I got interesting answers.Also I would ask what they think about how Phys Ed and Health play a role in Public Education and got some good responses. But I need some feedback tell me what you think I should do??

Orientation

When I went to the Arts High School in Newark on Friday November 1st I was in shock. First of all I always thought of Newark to be such a bad area to be in, but really where the school is located it’s not too bad of an area. I was amazed on how big the school is and with such few students enrolled in it. The unique thing about the school is that it’s a public school and you have to audition to get in it. It was a lot different then my High School. My High School, the only thing the same was we had blocked scheduling, but even that was a little different. They made there block scheduling to fit there requirement for that school. I was also surprised on how nice and welcoming the students and faculty were. Everywhere I turned there was always someone introducing themselves and just being very polite. The classes were different then my High School, in my school each class was a mixture of freshman, sophomores, juniors and even seniors, but in the Arts High School each class was just a freshman class, just a sophomore class, just a junior class, just a senior class. I thought that was pretty cool. I couldn't believe the amount of talent there was in this school. They also had a class for everything it was crazy, our tour guide was like this is the arts section and they had a pottery class, a clay class, a sketch class, a painting class so on and so on where in my school it was all don’t in the same class as one elective. Then when we went up a level they had music classes for every different instrument when in my school if you wanted to play an instrument we practiced all together in one big room. Then when you go up another level that’s where the math, chemistry, English classes are and then there was one more level up, but I didn’t get a chance to go up there because I had to leave. I definitely had a great experience being at that school and I can’t wait to go back and shadow a teacher.

Inquiry Project

I have choosen to do my Inquiry Project on something to do with my major. I am a Health and Phys Ed major and my queation is What role does Health and Phys Ed play in public education?
I would research and interview different teachers, students, parents etc. to get a better understanding on why they feel physical education is improtant. I can ask different questions about how they feel about the subject and that will provide me with lots of different opinions and points of views and why phys ed and health plays a big role in public education. I want to be the best teacher I can be and I want to be able to make my students feel comfortable in my calss and encourage them to be physically active and make them have a better understanding on why exercise is really important.

Teaching Against Idiocy

What about other forms of Government?

"Among actually attainable ways of living together and making decisions about common problems and projects, democracy (that is, a republic, a constitutional democracy) is, as Winston Churchill said, the worst form of government except for all the others."

Democracy should be thought of as the definition of equality. It is the only government in history that doesn't force its citizens into categories. All other governments divide the population, primarily by social status. Democracy basically keeps this from ever being possible, making all voices heard with the same amount of volume, regardless of who you are. This can never be possible in an autocracy for example. In this case you have a government ruled by only one person. The voices of all the citizens may be heard, but through the discretion of one person. The final decision essentially doesn't have to have anything to do with what the people believed. The same goes for theocracy, ruled by clerics. Looking at aristocracy and plutocracy, the division of citizens and power is evident. Aristocracy gives power only to a permanent upper class, while plutocracy only gives power to the rich. Democracy is the reason for freedom for its citizens, because freedom can never exist in a world where equality isn't found.

My Little Angel

As a full time student I also have a full time job. I have been watching a little boy since he was 6 years old, now he is 9. When he was born the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck cutting off oxygen to his brain, causing him to have brain damage. He has symptoms like an autistic person, very short fuses and is very sensitive to sound. His name is Alexander. It is very hard to communicate with him because he does not speak. He says some words very clear and trys to say other words but they come out like jibber jabber. Over the years I learned to understand what comforts him and developed an understanding of his language. It's difficult when we go out somewhere if he throws a tantrum because you have everyone staring at you thinking you can't control this child and it 's hard because they don't know his condition. He looks like a normal 9 year old boy. He has his good days and bad days just like everyone else. He has a difficult time in the car he does not like car rides at all.
Alex can be a perfect little angel on moment and then when he doesn't get his way he can turn into a devil in the matter of 1 second. So you never know with him, I try to keep him as occupied as I can. I seriously sit in class and think what I can do with him today to keep him from throwing tantrums. The major issue I have is controlling the hitting, he doesn't do it often but when he does it is very hard to control. He normally will be crabby if he had a bad morning or if something happened at school. Other then those things I mentioned he is always in a good mood.
When Alex is in a good mood he is the funniest little kid in the world. He loves to eat that is what makes him happiest...LOL. He is very playful, he loves to laugh and it takes no effort to make him laugh. He will laugh at anything. If you get hurt he will laugh at that. By far I think this is the best job I ever had. I love his family and most of all him. I love him so much I am going to be sad when I have to quit this job to work in my real profession. He's my perfect little angel...sometimes!!!