Kahne and Westheimer

Ryan Mottram
FNED 346
Mrs. McKamey
10/28/18

Response to In the Service of What? The Politics of Service Learning

By: Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer

Quotes:

"The ability of a service learning curriculum is to foster authentic, experience-based learning opportunities, to motivate students, to help students engage in high-order thinking in contextually varied environments, and to promote interdisciplinary studies has led some , such as John Brisco, a leader in the field, to label service learning as "the Trojan horse of school reform"." 

I feel service learning projects in schools is a good way for newcomers in the education field studying to become teachers to learn new ways of how to appeal to certain students in the classroom.  The reason why service learning is "the Trojan horse of school reform" could be because it is an opportunity for future educators to see errors by their mentors in the classroom, whether regarding discipline or curriculum and determine how to correct them.  I believe the three most important things for becoming an elementary ed. teacher are establishing your own curriculum based on material given, enthusiasm, and appealing to the age group of students through fun and educational activities.         

"Citizenship in a democratic community requires more than kindness and decency; it requires engagement in complex social and institutional endeavors." 

Service learning in schools surely satisfies and fulfills this engagement in complex social and institutional situations.   I believe teachers establishing their own curriculums in the classroom helps promote school citizenship by making class entertaining and encouraging students to learn and work together.  Since this article addresses the importance of curriculum and citizenship, I believe Shor's work is relevant here because she explains how a curriculum determines the outcome of a classroom.  At my service learning site, my mentor goes beyond pencil and paper with use of projector, group projects, and online activities and I wish to implement some of those methods as a future educator.  

"If we focus on the "numerous values we share as a community", writes Amitai Etzioni, the founder of the communitarian movement and a proponent of service learning, "our world would be radically improved"." 

The values members of a community share amongst each other certainly need to be implemented in public school classrooms by teachers who are with students for about 6 hours 5 days a week.  At my site placement, I have noticed that the third grade students are certainly mature enough to take initiative when needed.  It could be the smallest deed, such as if a student drops and/or spills something another student will help them before a teacher has the chance to walk over and do so.  If public school students learn and recognize true maturity and respect for others during their youth, then these schools can continue to be full of values a community shares.   

Comment/Point to share:

I feel having a class meeting where we discuss what methods we have used so far in helping students during our service learning sessions would be beneficial.  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-JcBFAuLc-0Uk96Z2g3NDI2bkU/view
http://www.utahciviccoalition.org/downloads/IntheServiceofWhat.pdf

August response

Ryan Mottram
FNED 346
Mrs. McKamey
10/21/18

Safe Spaces: Making Schools and Communities Welcoming to LGBT Youth
By: Gerri August  

Quotes:

"Curriculum, the word we use to mean a course of study, is derived from the Latin word currere, "to run", specifically to run a race. And, of course, when there is a race, there are winners and there are losers." (pg.85)

I feel that young students learn material presented to them better when teachers have their own curriculum they use to teach the subject instead of strictly going by the way a textbook explains topics of it.  I remember in middle and high school I had teachers who did either of these two methods, and I believe I did better in the ones where the teachers gave in a little more effort and enthusiasm by creating their own way to teach the material to us.  For example, I remember in middle school when I had the same English teacher 6th and 8th grade, but a different one for 8th grade.  The one for 6th and 8th strictly tested us on random facts from the textbook out of order, so her tests made no sense half the time and I did not do as well in those two classes as I did in my 7th grade English class, where I understood the material so much better because the teacher went out of her way to explain readings and English mechanics by giving us multiple examples on how to identify certain parts of a sentence or reading passage.  I remember completing her tests so easily and struggling with the other's tests as if the class was just a big nuisance.  I believe August is saying that if teachers are to create their own curriculum in attempt to appeal to the students' ages more than a textbook will, then all of them will be able to comprehend information about the subject more that they can use to do well on tests and for classes in upcoming grades.  




"Assumptions, if left unchallenged and unexamined, can devolve into active bigotry. Bigotry is a heat-seeking missile- it will find its target." (pg. 88)

Throughout my years in especially elementary and middle school, I have had teachers who seemed like they just assumed all the students knew the material and so did not bother to be available either before or after school for some extra help.  I believe bigotry can be related here to how teachers of young children make these assumptions.  Teachers should not only be vigilant in the hallways to make sure everyone gets to class safely and no bullying is taking place, but also in the classroom to carefully see if there is a student or two struggling with the material.  A lot of kids are shy to raise their hand during class and say how they need help and do not understand the material in especially elementary school, and so these teachers should be willing to go the extra mile when they only have about fifteen-twenty students to be responsible for daily.  



"Far from what the children's chant would have us believe, words are sticks and stones. And those sticks and stones can either build bridges or break bones." (pg.95)

Even with young children in schools, actions speak louder than words and teachers try to explain this to their students as parents are also trying to get their kids to understand this at home.  However, public schools do not have as much initiative as we may think, and so once a student is bullied or a fight breaks out between two or more kids then teachers try to explain this concept to them and by then it may be too late.  People who especially teach grades k-5 and even say 6th grade need to remember to also branch out of their subject material to remind students of the values of life and how to deal with problems in a mature way.  It is commonly said that in life about 5-10% is what happens to you and the remaining 90-95% is how you deal with it.

Comment/Point to Share:

Perhaps a class discussion on whether each of us think a teacher's own curriculum or a textbook's method of teaching certain subjects to young children is beneficial, along with sharing experiences of them if we can recall.  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-JcBFAuLc-0SVJiRmNrcllrRlU/view

Christensen

Ryan Mottram
FNED 346
Mrs. McKamey
10/9/18

Response to Unlearning the Myths that Blind Us 

By: Linda Christensen

Quotes:

"True death equals a generation living by rules and attitudes they never questioned and producing more children who do the same." (Justine, Christensen 129)

This quote by Justine from The Empire's Old Clothes presented by Christensen seems to be implying what freedom should be in a way and that there should not be so much limitation on how to teach young children the ways of life, so that they can grow to be better educated and more mature than the previous generation. Children must also learn that there may be times where questioning something or someone, even of authority is the right thing to do in order to stand up for friends, family, and others.  Young students should be able to look up to the teacher(s) of a classroom as a friend, and in some cases a second parent depending on the current situation at home.  I believe that is a special part about specifically being an elementary school teacher, which is to maintain a friendly relationship with the 15-20 or so students they are responsible for 6 hours a day 5 days a week beyond classroom subject material.     

"Children's cartoons, movies, and literature are perhaps the most influential genre "read"." (Christensen 127)

Unlike high school and even middle school students who will sleep during a video in class, elementary students are much more energetic during the day I would say, and watching educational cartoon videos and movies every now and then will capture their attention.  In order for young children to want to learn in the classroom, the teacher(s) have to appeal to their age group and senses.  Christensen noticed that these students were attentive and more willing to learn when videos were playing in class.  I remember in 2nd and 3rd grade when there would be days of just completing various small worksheets for each subject, which was boring and tiring even though pretty simple.  Then there were the times we did writing activities based on Disney videos/movies and other small audio presentations that encouraged us to try harder on the work.  

"I start by showing students old cartoons because the stereotypes are so blatant. We look at the roles women, men, people of color, and poor people play in the cartoons.  I ask students to watch for who plays the lead. I encourage them to look at the race, station in life, body type of each character." (Christensen 129)

Although I feel having young students identify stereotypes in cartoons that may appeal to their sense of learning is not perhaps the most appropriate thing, it is good for these students to see videos that tend to have diversity.  I remember in 4th grade when my teacher had us watch a video on Martin Luther King Jr. that explained and gave a visual for everything from early childhood to the Civil Rights Movement. Although a rather serious documentary and not a comedic cartoon, the video was still more entertaining and even educational than doing a worksheet on MLK.  I recall in 4th grade that one subject we did not do very often was history, and I feel that for this subject in elementary school especially, kids should be shown videos more than worksheets and maybe even complicated readings for that matter.    

Comment/Point to Share:

I feel that using cartoons and kids' movies can be greatly beneficial when trying to appeal to elementary students in the classroom, especially when trying to teach life lessons and values.  Perhaps a class discussion on whether each of us would use this method as elementary education teachers or not to get students to want to participate in class, would be beneficial for schooling in the future.  

  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-JcBFAuLc-0NEFOT1BJZXVnZnM/view 

Rodriguez

Ryan M
FNED 346
Ms. McKamey
9/30/18

Aria

By: Richard Rodriguez 

Reflection: 

It seems to me this article was mainly about a student, Rodriguez who at first had little to no interest in learning a second language, but then instantly studied and learned the English language and became appreciative of being able to be a bilingual person.  The first thing this article made me think of was my foreign language experience. For many years, throughout elementary, middle, and high school I took Spanish like many other students my age, enjoyed it for the longest time, and was excelling in it by getting good grades and moving up in class level.  Unfortunately, Junior year Spanish did not go very well due to difficulty of the course level and time management between other courses.  I had lost all interest in taking Spanish anymore and so was satisfied with taking it three years in high school.  I thought my Espanol career was over, but then after freshmen year of college I found out I had to take at least one or two semesters of a language.  I am sure this was a surprise to many students here at RIC, and not necessarily a very pleasant one.  I was told in high school that if I did three years of a language I would not have to take one in college.  Unfortunately, it seems a lot of high school and college students grow to despise foreign language because of how much we are forced to take it.  The attitude Rodriquez's family and he initially has towards being bilingual is what we tend to develop after taking the language longer than we really should have to.  In college, no none wants a repeat of high school, but rather to focus on whatever their major may be and spend quality time studying for those related courses.  The foreign language requirement encourages a repeat of high school if you ask me.  However, I do appreciate all the Spanish knowledge I have obtained through middle and high school.  Unfortunately, it has come to the point where I feel I am wasting my time taking Spanish still, as it is so far a lot easier here than high school, and I'm sure many other students feel the same way.  There are plenty of students who constantly switch their majors, have to retake general ed. courses and as a result have to stay a few extra semesters and years, and so the language requirement can surely get in the way.  There may be students who disagree with me and think taking a few semesters of a second language in college is beneficial, whether being one's major or not.  Maybe it is for the better of my education in the future, but all I can say is that I cannot wait to be done with Spanish so I can just focus on my major, which is what I came here for more than anything and complete all required courses in a reasonable amount of time.  

Comment:

Perhaps a brief discussion one class meeting about whether all students in elementary and secondary schools with average in-class capacities should have to take a foreign language, and if they should be permitted to decide to stop after a certain point even before high school to further focus on subjects they may be having trouble with such as math, science, or English, would be beneficial.  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-JcBFAuLc-0MW5DdnZyVnpGSHc/view

Kozol and All Lives Matter

Ryan M
FNED 346
Ms. McKamey
9/23/18

Amazing Grace: The lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation  

By: Jonathan Kozol

Quotes:

"I believe that we were put here for a purpose, but these people in the street can't see a purpose.  There's a whole world out there if you know it's there, if you can see it.  But they're in a cage. They cannot see."

As a Roman Catholic, I do believe God has put me on this earth for a mission to be fulfilled for the better of myself and my family, however that is entirely up to me to complete it and I do wish to pursue it.  It should not matter what religion one may be, for everyone is put on this earth to make the best of themselves at whatever it is they want to do.  A pursued career should not be the act of selling your own body to another for their own sexual pleasure and your misery, with just the thought of making money off of it.  It does not matter what religion you are or whether you believe there's a higher power or not, if you need help you are more than welcome to it.  Church's are open to everyone and priests are always there to hear all the positives and negatives going on in your life and to help give solutions for a better one, for they are normal human beings too.

"The dealers are sometimes jittery.  They look at you with this strange smile.  It's as if they're laughing at their lives- and yours."

I have honestly never taken drugs, and do not necessarily have anything against certain drugs such as marijuana either. Some people who take these drugs can get hooked enough to where they become a whole different person and might commit crime to be able to afford more of it and soon pressure others into trying it.  I have heard a few times that teachers are looked at as almost second parents and so should be able to give students advice on these matter if they have careless parents whether the students want to hear it, or if the teachers are seeing possible signs of addiction.

"In one of the most diseased and dangerous communities in any city of the western world, the beautiful old stone church on St. Anne's Avenue is a gentle sanctuary from the dangers of the streets outside." 

I believe the old church of St. Anne's explained in this quote by Kozol is an example of what schools are supposed to be for all students, especially those who may have a rough life in the household or neighborhood.  Every school that may be in an area where crime is frequent should act as a sanctuary for kids who are just trying to have a good day, make friends, and go to school, and also for their parents to ensure that their children are safe.  Personally, I am not in favor of the solution that teachers and other faculty should be armed.  Rather, schools that may be located in areas with bad reputations should greatly improve security measures, and there are in fact dangerous schools throughout the country that have implemented measures such as security guards and more cameras that are becoming more safe everyday.  

Comment:

Perhaps a brief discussion one class meeting about whether or not elementary or secondary teachers are necessarily permitted to talk with students about personal matters in their life such as how they feel about their parents' occupations, life-risking choices they may have made such as with drugs or alcohol, and where they feel safe within their surroundings, would be beneficial.



https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-JcBFAuLc-0Ml9vUkdMdFdoNDg/view

Splinter News: 'All Lives Matter'

By: Kevin Roose

Quotes:

"And so saying "all lives matter" as a direct response to "black lives matter" is essentially saying we should just go back to ignoring the problem." 

It does seem that in fact "all lives matter" is drawing people away from the unfairness done to African Americans and is causing them to be primarily concerned about middle and high class white citizens.  "All lives matter" should be concerned for all those currently facing unfairness and discrimination nationwide including blacks, Hispanics, and Muslims.  I feel the way schools can help this issue is by making their environment inside the building welcoming towards all students, disregarding whether their life falls under "All lives Matter" by society standards or not.  

"Culture, laws, the arts, religion, and everyone else repeatedly suggest that all lives should matter.  Clearly, that message already abounds in our society."

In our society there are examples of true equality for all out there, including church's I have seen and been to having signs that say "All are welcome".  It is outrageous how in a country such as America, a simple slogan can be misinterpreted and exclude certain groups of people, one that is trying to promote equality.  As for younger generations, I feel a beneficial way schools can deal with this issue is to continue to encourage students to work together and make friends all over, and treat their students the same when it comes to extra help or discipline.  

"Imagine you are sitting down to dinner with your family, and while everyone gets a serving of the meal, you don't get any.  So you say, "I should get my fair share." And as a direct response to this, your dad corrects you saying, "Everyone should get their fair share"." 

I feel this example of unfairness could be related to how teachers should be available before and/or after school for additional help in a subject.  Not every student in a classroom has the same capacity as the next and so help should be available for them if they cannot learn the material as quickly.  Extra help seems to be an issue in public schools more than private schools, even though teachers in public schools tend to get paid more.  Not all students in public schools have the best or most fair home life, and so the least a school can do is help a student with certain work, especially if they are taking initiative on their own and asking for it.  

Comment/Point:

Perhaps a class discussion on whether or not these topics regarding equality, black lives and lives of other races being just as important as whites, and America proving the message of  "all lives matter", should be brought into more secondary education level classes including in middle and high school to see if younger generations of students can understand it more and come up with better solutions for the future.  

https://splinternews.com/the-next-time-someone-says-all-lives-matter-show-them-1793849332

  

Kristof

Ryan M

FNED 346

Ms. McKamey 

17 September 2018

U.S.A, Land of Limitation? By: Nicholas Kristof

Response to Kristof's Reasoning

  Quotes:

"The best metrics of child poverty aren't monetary, but rather how often a child is read to or hugged." (Kristof pg. 4)

The bottom line when it comes to children is that no matter how rich their parents may be, they will not receive a good or at least decent education unless the parents send them to school or homeschool them on their own by reading to them and explaining their mistakes on paper.  Also, if a child is showed very little to no love by the parents, he/she may not have motivation to do well in the early stages of their life.  I can honestly say that if my parents never did what they have done for me including sending me to good schools, teaching me right from wrong, helping me with work, and listening to me whenever I was upset about something, I wouldn't have turned out to be who I am today and I might not have even gotten this far in my academics.  A loving and caring relationship between the parents and children is far more important than parents throwing material possessions at them with no limitation or discipline.  

"Some think success is all about "choices" and "responsibility"." (Kristof pg. 5)

What one chooses to do in various situations with possibly serious outcomes and whether they choose to be responsible with their reputation and health or not are very serious matters that can determine the future.  For those who may have had rough childhoods, similar to Rick, with lack of relationship with parents, discipline, and loving and caring, it can certainly be difficult to make the right choices and be responsible all the time.  I feel those who are fortunate enough to have families who teach them right from wrong including myself and many others I know should be willing to help others who struggle with making good choices, for we all tend to encounter those with challenges and even face them ourselves.  Even though you can still be successful with a reputation of being a jerk or coward, it's much more worth while being successful through hard work and inspiring others.  

"Success is not a sign of virtue." (Kristof pg. 5)

It seems that everyone in this world must develop the urge to work for what they want and not be granted everything they desire one way or another.  In today's world we have the power and opportunity to be successful at things such as a certain career or parent regardless of social class, race, religion, or gender, especially in the United States of America.  I believe that if success was only a sign of pure virtue, then a lot of people I know would not be as successful as they have made themselves to be over many years of hard work.  

Comment:

 I feel it would be beneficial if we took time during a class to seriously discuss what is absolutely necessary for children to be just as, if not more successful than their parents. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/opinion/sunday/nicholas-kristof-usa-land-of-limitations.html 

about me

Who is Ryan??

Hello everyone, 

My name is Ryan, and I am a sophomore here at RIC.  Declaring a major has been a rather difficult decision for me over the past year due to having different interests including speech pathology, sociology, and teaching.  I must say I am heading towards education the most and may want to teach history, english, or physical education, however I'm not sure whether I want to do elementary or secondary ed..

Aside from school, I had a very fun and relaxing summer.  I worked over at Dave's Marketplace Seafood in Coventry.  I also made time to hang out with old friends from high school and spend quality time with relatives I don't get to see very often.  I enjoy hobbies and activities such as exercising, fishing, golfing, bowling, basketball, swimming, and playing cards and games.  

Unfortunately, this summer there was no time to take a vacation as I do most summers with family members.  Next summer I am going on a Disney Cruise with some relatives however, which should be a very exciting time.  Every winter break I go to New York City with my grandparents, which is always a great time.  I must say I am also greatly looking forward to turning 20 years old soon.  

Thank you for listening, and I hope to add some memorable photos of myself very soon!