Pogodam's Weblog

New Book

pogodam — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 19:39:16 +0000

The new book we started in class this past week, Lives on the Boundary, is about the struggles of Americans in Education. We have only read a brief section of the book so far, but it gives you something to really think about. Mike Rose talks in the second chapter ” I just wanna be average” about his life and growing up. I think many times we over look people who lead lesser privileged lives than us in suburbia. Not to say that we all don’t fight our own battles but (in my opinion) I know I over look some of the struggles these people face. The hardships they have and how it may affect their learning.

The first chapter of the book really made me think. There are so many people that are in the same situation as the English A students, in regards to not knowing the fundamentals of English. I have talked with students from St. Rose before and I still agree that there should be some sort of (as silly as this sounds) basic English class. I think many people may not be labeled as the students of English A were but only because they know how to figure “it” out. I consider myself to not know anything about English. I am not a good speller, I know almost nothing about grammar or sentence structure. I know enough to get my by. Now tell me…how should I go stand in front of a classroom of students and teach them something I am not even strong in.

Maybe I am a little off base with this book, but these are the cords that were really struck for me!

Oppression

pogodam — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:13:13 +0000

The book Pedagogy of the Oppressedbrings oppression to the front of our minds. I think that it is really important to remember the main ideas of this book. We focused last class on the ideas of antidialogical and dialogical. Just by looking at the chart we created in class it is obvious what the ideal situation would be. Everyone would want to lean towards dialogical. Being all about groups, and banning together for a single uprising movement. Everyone on the same page and everyone working towards a common goal of no longer being oppressed.

I feel however that this may be a little bit unrealistic in a real elementary classroom. In most classrooms there is one teacher and about thirty students. I like the idea of one classroom all working together to gain one goal of knowledge and creating a good learning environment but I feel that in order for students (whose knowledge is limited) have no other choice but to learn in a more antidialogical environment. Sometimes there nothing you can do, the teacher is the source and the students are the “empty receptacles.”

Students being oppressed is pushed upon them through the school district, the school community, and then the classroom teacher. I think that in order for the students to get the maximum amount of knowledge from the classroom environment, and teacher that the teacher must remember what is was like to be a student. The teacher must realize the important of not trying to oppress his/her students but to fill them with knowledge and allow them to make the decisions about what to do with it.

Flesh and Blood

pogodam — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 13:34:56 +0000

Although I haven’t gotten in to deep with the book Flesh and Blood, I already a little surprised by it. I never expected the story to start like it did. I like the lay out of the book. I like that it gives you the year and then tells a little story that allows you to get inside what is going on in the house hold. The story has many surprises and gives a good image of the family (mostly the father) struggling to have a semi “perfect” life.

Group Members: I apologize for not making it to class on Wed. I’m very sick. I have a flu like virus. I intend (depending on how I feel) being in class on Mon. Sorry! You can reach me at Pogodaa927@strose.edu

Lit Circles

pogodam — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 03:38:44 +0000

I think lit circles are a great tool to use in the classroom. They not only incorporate reading but also group speaking, group management, organization and accountability. I think that the fact that everyone eventually will be assigned to a different job gives everyone the opportunity to see what they enjoy and excel in the most. Some like the jobs of sitting back a little, not talking so much and just giving a little in put. You might get away with that if you are the illustrator. That way you can express yourself and how you felt through art. The discussion director is the person who gets the ball rolling. This person can really shine in task management and group participation. This person makes sure everyone is involved and giving input. The other jobs are important as well. The goal of lit circles is for everyone to work together towards one goal. The group also needs to set deadlines and there is alot of responsibility regarding when pages get read, who is in what position and each person is responsible to make sure they are prepared each time.

I really like lit circles and would use them in my classroom. They not only help interpret a book but they do so much more!

Blogging in the Classroom!

pogodam — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 16:42:06 +0000

“blogging plays a role in developing a sophistication in reading interactions”

I really agree with this quote and think this is why blogging should be included in the classroom. Students should be able to have opinions about things. This is a great way for students to learn about current events, see what others think about a book they have read or just about anything. I feel blog reading will absolutely help children better their reading skills. This is due to the fact that you are not forcing a child to read something they don’t want to read. It has been shown that students who want to read and are interested in the material strive. Students can have some freedom to read what they like. They are also reading “with an intent to write.” Children want to have an opinion that people listen to. After reading a blog or article they can write (which will enhance writing skills, spelling, sentence structure, and vocabulary) anything they thought while reading.

The article also talks about the benefits of students learning how to make connections in their writing to reading. The article shows how well that works with blogging and I agree. I feel it goes back again to the fact that students get to have an opinion, a say. They aren’t being told what to write or say its up to them. Because they have just read something (blog, article, ect.) they have the information fresh in their minds. They will write in regards to what they have read. Therefore making a connecting effortless.

I would most definitely use blogging in my classroom. I think (for all the reasons above) it is beneficial to the students in numerous areas of learning.

Sameness

pogodam — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 02:20:00 +0000

After browsing through many lesson plans that suggested numerous ideas about how to approach this book I noticed that many teacher focused on the sameness factor of The Giver. I like the idea that students would have to think about sameness, and how it would affect the community, people, and the way life was lived in general. I, however, would really focus on the feelings of the book. I like the idea of these people not knowing. I think that’s what really brought the book to life for me. The fact that Jonas was content living the life of sameness within the community. He followed all the rules and did as he was told. There were no objections….until he started to learn things and get a better understanding, a different perspective, a choice. I’ve really given a lot of thought into this idea that these people lived the life of sameness due to the fact they had no outside knowledge. I think the idea that knowledge is power comes into play here.Jonas received the knowledge of the how things really were in his community and also what it was like in the world “Elsewhere.” The more knowledge he acquired the more he could decide for himself what was best, what he really wanted.

The Giver

pogodam — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 22:29:59 +0000

The Giver, at first seemed extremely strange. I couldn’t quite grasp this “new world” concept. I felt it difficult to imagine a place of “Sameness.” This, (probably very common), fact is mostly likely due to the fact that we as readers read with prior knowledge. I know I have never encountered a community that all believed in the same rules, all rode bikes, applied for children and had aging or moving up ceremonies instead of birthdays. No where have I ever experienced or learned about a place like in The Giver. Due to this fact it is very difficult to understand where Jonas is coming for at some points. Don’t get me wrong the author does a great job of clearing up any questions you may have in the beginning. I assume this question and answer cycle will continue. I assume that because that is what I have come to know about reading. This technique is what keeps the reader involved and interested. This being a good example of why someone reading The Giver may find it difficult to understand.

This book is an easy read, and does keep the reader wanting to know more. I think as the reader it is just difficult to place yourself in Jonas’s shoes. This is due to the fact that I have no prior knowledge of the type of life Jonas leads. When reading this book you are forced to read it as the author writes it. You have nothing else to go by. The way the author envisioned this story is (most likely) the way it pans out in your mind.

The book is interesting and I am eager to discover what happens next.

First Blog…here we go!

pogodam — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 02:05:18 +0000

Part 1

The blog I read was Blogs have feelings too. This was a blog about blogging. The author makes some good points about how many news blogs don’t deal with the emotional aspects of stories.

Part 2

The article I found in reference to “the good life” is by a man named Martin Seligman. His article EUDAEMONIA, THE GOOD LIFE states in the opening paragraph what “the good life” is. Its straight to the point and very easy to understand.

The third form of happiness, which is meaning, is again knowing what your highest strengths are and deploying those in the service of something you believe is larger than you are.

I think this quote is really interesting due to the fact that I believe that you can achieve great happyness when you are giving something you love. This passage expresses that if you have a great strength in something to put it to use for a greater good. Doing so, would bring any person happyness like no other.