Work in Progress 4

People take for granted today the many freedoms that did not exist in the past. Nowadays, different races can use the same facilities, enjoy the right to vote, be recognized as equals, and much more. And women have come a long way as well - with the ability to vote, seek a greater education, work toward career goals, etc. It is quite amazing once you really think about the advances that have been made in both aspects of inequality's past and present state.

When I hear of racism or gender inequality today, however, I wonder why the individuals involved are still stuck in the dark ages. Stories like the Jena 6 make me sick. Did those white people who hung the nooses in the tree really grow up in the same country and same decade as me? And did the black students who beat the white student (who wasn't even involved in the noose-hanging incident) even think about the consequences of their actions, or did they just act on animal instinct like they see in video games and media, thinking that violence is normal, acceptable, and necessary? It makes me wonder--what makes some people think violence and racism are acceptable in today's world? I realize that society's moral standards have gone down, but haven't we at least moved on in the department of race relations? I would venture to say that the majority of the country has moved on, so what went wrong in the minds of those people involved in the Jena 6 story and other similar cases of racial tension? It truly baffles me.

People who commit violence or unfairly treat other races should suffer equal consequences - no matter what their gender or race is. For the Jena 6 issue, I think both the white students who hung the nooses and the black students who beat the innocent white student should be punished to the fullest extent of the law - not only as a consequence for their actions, but also to serve as an example and a warning to other potential "thugs" in an effort to prevent such occurrences in the future. Violence like that which took place in the Jena 6 case should be punished severely. The black students had nothing but hate in their hearts as they kicked one helpless guy until he was out like a light. As for the white people who put up the nooses...they should be put in jail for a hate crime. What is wrong with these people? Seriously?!

Besides the instances dealing with racial tension, we still have gender issues today that we are trying to deal with. These days, men and women compete for the same careers and overall goals in life. So why would a man be offended if a woman makes more than he does or visa versa? It's not because it's only one gender's role to win the bread for the family, it's because both men and women are competitive. We both feel the need to win--whether we're striving for the best job, the highest paycheck, or even trying to be the one who pays for a nice dinner. In the past, men grew up with the idea that it was their job to provide for the family. Today, I think there is a slight change in that kind of upbringing, but I hope that it will continue to change for a more 'woman-accepting' upbringing. It's important for young men to learn that women can contribute to a conversation, a relationship, or a business as well as any man.

There is still progress to be made as far as equality is concerned. As teachers, it is our duty to model and encourage equal treatment for men, women, and all races. We are teaching the future leaders and citizens of America, and if we expect to see equality progress, we have to promote it.

I ended up changing only one word this time, so I figured I bettter supplement my blog post once again with some more ramblings. :)

As I stated in my last post, this week I have internship for the whole week instead of just the regular Monday/Tuesday schedule. Today (Tuesday), my coordinator came for the last time to observe me teaching a lesson. I taught a guided reading lesson using a small book dealing with weather (so I was able to incorporate science standards). It went really well. I was happy to hear that I had improved on giving students more specific praise---which is one of the things I was trying to get better at. :)

I still can't believe my internship's almost over! I'm going to miss it a lot! :(

Work in Progress 3

People take for granted today the many freedoms that did not exist in the past. Nowadays, different races can use the same facilities, enjoy the right to vote, be recognized as equals, and much more. And women have come a long way as well - with the ability to vote, seek a greater education, work toward career goals, etc. It is quite amazing once you really think about the advances that have been made in both aspects of inequality's past and present state.

When I hear of racism or gender inequality today, however, I wonder why the individuals involved are still stuck in the dark ages. Stories like the Jena 6 make me sick. Did those white people that hung the nooses in the tree really grow up in the same country and same decade as me? And did the black students who beat the white student (who wasn't even involved in the noose-hanging incident) even think about the consequences of their actions, or did they just act on animal instinct like they see in video games and media, thinking that violence is normal, acceptable, and necessary? It makes me wonder--what makes some people think violence and racism are acceptable in today's world? I realize that society's moral standards have gone down, but haven't we at least moved on in the department of race relations? I would venture to say that the majority of the country has moved on, so what went wrong in the minds of those people involved in the Jena 6 story and other similar cases of racial tension? It truly baffles me.

People who commit violence or unfairly treat other races should suffer equal consequences - no matter what their gender or race is. For the Jena 6 issue, I think both the white students who hung the nooses and the black students who beat the innocent white student should be punished to the fullest extent of the law - not only as a consequence for their actions, but also to serve as an example and a warning to other potential "thugs" in an effort to prevent such occurrences in the future. Violence like that which took place in the Jena 6 case should be punished severely. The black students had nothing but hate in their hearts as they kicked one helpless guy until he was out like a light. As for the white people who put up the nooses...they should be put in jail for a hate crime. What is wrong with these people? Seriously?!

Besides the instances dealing with racial tension, we still have gender issues today that we are trying to deal with. These days, men and women compete for the same careers and overall goals in life. So why would a man be offended if a woman makes more than he does or visa versa? It's not because it's only one gender's role to win the bread for the family, it's because both men and women are competitive. We both feel the need to win--whether we're striving for the best job, the highest paycheck, or even trying to be the one who pays for a nice dinner. In the past, men grew up with the idea that it was their job to provide for the family. Today, I think there is a slight change in that kind of upbringing, but I hope that it will continue to change for a more 'woman-accepting' upbringing. It's important for young men to learn that women can contribute to a conversation, a relationship, or a business as well as any man.

There is still progress to be made as far as equality is concerned. As teachers, it is our duty to model and encourage equal treatment for men, women, and all races. We are teaching the future leaders and citizens of America, and if we expect to see equality progress, we have to promote it.


Since I didn't have too many changes (except for the last paragraph) that I wanted to make to my blog project right now, I'll share a little bit about my internship. It's almost over! I can't believe it! Next week, I go for the entire week, and then after that, it will be Thanksgiving break. I'll only have the Monday and Tuesday following the break, and then my first internship will be done. It has been a great experience --- I can't stress that enough. I have learned so much and seen and experienced firsthand the things about being a teacher that they don't teach you in college.

Yesterday (Monday), I went on a field trip to Rollins College with the first graders. And wouldn't you know it --- I forgot my camera!!! So, unfortunately, I can't show you pictures of my class. :( They enjoyed the trip though. Oh--and one thing I learned today and wanted to share is that first graders don't know how to use a paper clip. :) I guess I never really thought about the fact that that is a learned skill. :-P :) Have a great week, and I'll see Christie and Olyvia on Thursday! :)

Work in Progress 2

People take for granted today the many freedoms that did not exist in the past. Nowadays, different races can use the same facilities, enjoy the right to vote, be recognized as equals, and much more. And women have come a long way as well - with the ability to vote, seek a greater education, work toward career goals, etc. It is quite amazing once you really think about the advances that have been made in both aspects of inequality's past and present state.

When I hear of racism or gender inequality today, however, I wonder why the individuals involved are still stuck in the dark ages. Stories like the Jena 6 make me sick. Did those white people that hung the nooses in the tree really grow up in the same country and same decade as me? And did the black students who beat the white student (who wasn't even involved in the noose-hanging incident) even think about the consequences of their actions, or did they just act on animal instinct like they see in video games and media, thinking that violence is normal, acceptable, and necessary? It makes me wonder--what makes some people think violence and racism are acceptable in today's world? I realize that society's moral standards have gone down, but haven't we at least moved on in the department of race relations? I would venture to say that the majority of the country has moved on, so what went wrong in the minds of those people involved in the Jena 6 story and other similar cases of racial tension? It truly baffles me.

People who commit violence or unfairly treat other races should suffer equal consequences - no matter what their gender or race is. For the Jena 6 issue, I think both the white students who hung the nooses and the black students who beat the innocent white student should be punished to the fullest extent of the law - not only as a consequence for their actions, but also to serve as an example and a warning to other potential "thugs" in an effort to prevent such occurrences in the future. Violence like that which took place in the Jena 6 case should be punished severely. The black students had nothing but hate in their hearts as they kicked one helpless guy until he was out like a light. As for the white people who put up the nooses...they should be put in jail for a hate crime. What is wrong with these people? Seriously?!

Besides the instances dealing with racial tension, we still have gender issues today that we are trying to deal with. These days, men and women compete for the same careers and overall goals in life. So why would a man be offended if a woman makes more than he does or visa versa? It's not because it's only one gender's role to win the bread for the family, it's because both men and women are competitive. We both feel the need to win--whether we're striving for the best job, the highest paycheck, or even trying to be the one who pays for a nice dinner. In the past, men grew up with the idea that it was their job to provide for the family. Today, I think there is a slight change in that kind of upbringing, but I hope that it will continue to change for a more 'woman-accepting' upbringing. It's important for young men to learn that women can contribute to a conversation, a relationship, or a business as well as any man.

Even in 2007, we still have a bit to go with the progress of an equal man/woman and race society.

Work in Progress 1

Revision of draft:

I have decided to cut and paste a few parts from my previous blogs into this, so if some of it looks familiar, you're not crazy, I'm just using it again. :)


People take for granted today the many freedoms that did not exist in the past. Nowadays, different races can use the same facilities, enjoy the right to vote, be recognized as equals, and much more. And women have come a long way as well - with the ability to vote, seek a greater education, work toward career goals, etc. It is quite amazing once you really think about the advances that have been made.

When I hear of racism or gender inequality, however, I wonder why the individuals involved are still stuck in the dark ages. Stories like the Jena 6 make me sick. Did those white people that hung the nooses in the tree really grow up in the same country and same decade as me? And did the black students who beat the white student (who wasn't even involved in the noose-hanging incident) even think about the consequences of their actions, or did they just act on animal instinct like they see in video games and media, thinking that violence is normal, acceptable, and necessary? It makes me wonder--what makes some people think violence and racism are acceptable in today's world? I realize that society's moral standards have gone down, but haven't we at least moved on the department of race relations? I would venture to say that the majority of the country has moved on, so what went wrong in the minds of those people involved in the Jena 6 story and other similar cases of racial tension?

People who commit violence or unfairly treat other races should suffer equal consequences. For the Jena 6 issue, I think both the white students who hung the nooses and the black students who beat the innocent white student should be punished. Violence like that which has occurred in that case should be punished severely. The black students had nothing but hate in their hearts as they kicked one helpless guy until he was out like a light. As for the white people who put up the nooses should be put in jail for a hate crime. What is wrong with these people? Seriously?!

Besides the instances dealing with racial tension, we still have gender issues today that we are trying to deal with. These days, men and women compete for the same careers. So why would a man be offended if a woman makes more than he does or visa versa? It's not because it's only one gender's role to win the bread for the family, it's because both men and women are competitive. We both feel the need to win--whether we're striving for the best job, the highest paycheck, or even trying to be the one who pays for a nice dinner. (Christie pointed out a couple of things for this part of my writing, so I'm going to try to address her comment.) In the past, men grew up with the idea that it was their job to provide for the family. Today, I see a slight change in that kind of upbringing, but I hope that it will continue to change for a more 'woman-accepting' upbringing. It's important for young men to learn that women can contribute to a conversation, a relationship, or a business as well as any man.


"That's all folks!"--for now anyway... :)

Happy Halloween!

Well, Halloween is over now because it's 1:30 on Thursday morning, but HAPPY HALLOWEEN anyway! Hehehe Wow...it's soooo late, and I don't really have anything to blog about right now. Hmmm... I suppose I'll do a Halloween poem. Again--I'm not really a poem person, but I resort to it on here when I'm at a loss for words. :-P :)


There was an old witch who flew at night,

And she happened to have bad eyesight.

She'd barely miss running into stuff,

So soon she decided she'd had enough.

She put down her broom - she thought for good,

But decided she'd fix her eyes if she could.

She stirred up a brew with hopes it would work.

When she drank the concoction, her ears perked.

But her eyes were no better, she still could not see,

So she tried one more time - adding mud to her tea.

Once she drank it, she could see all around.

Only problem was now, she couldn't hear a sound.


Oh, my....That was cheesy, random, weird, and appropriately scary for this holiday. :-/ Oh well. Happy Halloween! :)

Working Toward the Final Product for Blog Assignment - Inequality

Yes, Olyivia, I will use red pen to grade things once in a while. I will use other colors too though just to avoid monotony. :)

Well, here is the start of my final product for my blog. I have chosen to combine several of my blog topics into one umbrella topic - inequality (with a focus on gender & race). It is almost a cliche issue because many people choose it as a topic to write about, but I think it's an important issue that should be discussed and confronted.

I have blogged about many things that are seemingly random (and many of them are :)), but I plan to use some or all of the following past blog topics: the Jena 6, the adverse effect of the hip-hop culture on youth, money & gender, inappropriate ads (I'm sure I can use that one somehow), high expectations, and maybe a couple of others that I might be able to associate with the topic. I'll see how it pans out near the end. This is one of my first drafts, so it's only going to be the tip of the iceberg. Bear with me. :)

People take for granted today the many freedoms that did not exist in the past. Nowadays, different races can use the same facilities, enjoy the right to vote, be recognized as equals, and much more. And women have come a long way as well - with the ability to vote, seek a greater education, work towards career goals, etc. It is quite amazing once you really think about the advances that have been made.

When I hear of racism or gender inequality, however, I wonder why the individuals involved are still stuck in the dark ages. Stories like the Jena 6 make me sick. Did those white people that hung the nooses in the tree really grow up in the same country and same decade as me? And did the black students who beat the white student (who wasn't even involved in the noose-hanging incident) even think about the consequences of their actions, or did they just act on animal instinct like they see in video games and media, thinking that violence is normal, acceptable, and necessary?

Besides the cases of racial tension, we still have gender issues. These days, men and women compete for the same careers. So why would a man be offended if a woman makes more than he does or visa versa? It's not because it's only one gender's role to win the bread for the family, it's because both men and women are competitive. We both feel the need to win--whether we're striving for the best job, the highest paycheck, or even trying to be the one who pays for a nice dinner.

---I'm going to stop here because my 20 minutes are up, it's late, and I have to go to bed. So, I will continue with this at a later time. Have a good week, fellow bloggers and blog-readers! :-D

The Use of Red Pens Leads to Low Self Esteem?

I've heard that teachers are no longer allowed to grade students' papers using red pen because it lowers their self esteem. I'd like to know what 'psychologist' came up with that. These days, it seems like we are trying to make everyone happy all of the time, but we are forgetting the common phrase--"You can make some of the people happy some of the time, but you can't make all of the people happy all of the time"---(or something to that effect.) :)

I would think that no matter what color you use to grade a student's paper, if he got an "F," he's not going to be happy whether it's written in purple or aqua-marine. Instead of focusing on the color of pen we're using, the student needs to look at the grade and use it to see if he's learning the concepts or not. And we as teachers need to focus on the students' needs as far as giving them a good education is concerned.

No one likes a bad grade, and another color is not going to make it look more appealing. The color red is not going to ruin a child's self esteem in my opinion. Generations of people have lived through their teachers' usage of red pens, and they're just fine. Grading is a way to show what a student has/hasn't learned, his progress over time, and it also helps in self evaluation of success. Therefore, it's important to point out to children that the grade is a helpful evaluation tool for them and for teachers and the education system as a whole--it's not to torture them.

Red ink is our friend! :)

High Expectations

Before I begin with tonight's topic of "High Expectations," I'd like to respond to Christie's last response to my "Birth Control for Eleven Year Olds" blog. Wow, Christie, that is depressing that you've had to deal with the issue already in the high school where you work. You gave a good response to the girl. If I were in your place, I don't know what I would have said! I don't know what's wrong with people these days. Children don't need birth control--they need good parents! Now for tonight's topic...

Recently, I was forwarded a link to yet another website that conjures up some random, blog-worthy thoughts in my head. Here's the link... http://www.bju.edu/prospective/expect/dress.html The site is just a list of dress code expectations for the students at Bob Jones University (wherever that is--never heard of it.) After looking over the expectations, all I could really say was WOW. Their rules are so strict it's ridiculous.

I'm a Christian girl, but I'm sorry--wearing flip-flops is not a sin. I believe students SHOULD be required to wear appropriate, conservative dress in schools (and everywhere), but they should also be allowed to have more say in what the wear. "Morning Dress–dress shirt (no denim/chambray) with tie, dress or neat casual pants (no jeans, cargo, carpenter, or sloppy pants), dress or leather casual shoes; sweaters should show shirt collar and tie knot (no sweatshirts)." Aren't they getting a bit picky with the shirt collar sticking out just so, the no-jeans rule, etc.? Their rules are over the top in my opinion.

At Fern Creek (where I'm interning), they require the older students to tuck in their shirts so that they are presentable, and skirts must come to a certain length. Rules like these make sense to me because they allow children to choose what they wear but also make sure that they are wearing things properly and presenting themselves properly to others. It is good to set rules and expectations for students because they know what is required of them, but in the case of dress, it would make more sense to set some basic rules (like the examples from Fern Creek), and then if a few problems arise, deal with them on an individual basis.

Although I do believe in individuality---in some cases, I would opt for uniforms--but only in extreme cases. For instance, if a school has mostly low-income students who can't afford clothing, it would be beneficial to have them wear uniforms. Also, if there is a school in the inner city, where gang symbolism and inappropriate dress abound, then students should wear uniforms. Otherwise, give students the ability to make good choices about their dress.

Conservative clothing doesn't have to be 'un-trendy.' And I don't consider it a sin to have well-fitted clothes instead of "loose fitting shirts and pants." Students should be expected to wear conservative clothing, have 'normal' hair, and be free of distractions (like tongue piercings, green mohawks, and tattoos)--but they should be allowed to wear things found in an everyday department store--as long as it's appropriate.

My Siblings

Well, I'm borrowing a blog idea from one of you again---this time it's from Olyvia. She wrote a nice blog about her sisters, so I thought I'd share a bit about my two sisters and brother.

First of all, I have to say, I find it so strange when people don't like their siblings. I can't imagine my life without my siblings! I actually have three older half brothers and one older half sister, but to keep it simple and uncomplicated, I'm going to stick with talking about the siblings with whom I share my Mom and my Dad. (My Dad was married and divorced before he married my Mom, so that's the background info.) :)

I have an older sister Jill, a younger sister Brittany, and the baby in the group is my brother Gregory (Greg). So, I am a middle child...kinda--since I share that spot with Brittany. We are each about three years apart--Greg is about three & a half years younger than Brittany. So now that I have you thoroughly confused and bored, I will move on to what makes them special to me. :)



Jill, being the oldest of the four, has always been the protector and 'mother hen' if you will of all of us younger kids. She and I have fond memories of playing travel agent, beach party, restaurant, and so much more as children. She is one of my best friends ever. She has always been there for me--encouraged me, laughed with me, occasionally laughed at me, and helped me with all sorts of things. Even though we're three years apart, we are so close that we say that we are twins but that one of us was born a year and a half early and the other a year and a half late. I have always looked up to the great example she provides. We have a great relationship--one that I deeply cherish. She is currently getting her Masters at Georgetown University, and so she lives and works in D.C. It's hard having her live so far away. Her visits home are few in number and don't come often enough, but we keep in touch by phone, email, and instant messaging.

Then, there's Brittany. Brittany Brittany Brittany. She is quite a character. :) She is a lot of fun to be around; she comes up with the strangest things to say sometimes--we just have to laugh. It's hard not to smile when she's around. When we were kids, I used to force her to play school with me. I complained often to my parents because she didn't want to sit still and listen. :) She is a very friendly, accepting, 'bubbly' person, and she cheers me up when I'm down or bored or what-have-you. She is my best friend too. (I don't have just one best friend because they're all the best.) She is always there for me also, and I wish she were here right now making me laugh as I blog. She recently left for her first year at the University of Florida, so I'm the only girl (besides my Mom) at the house now, but she gets to visit pretty often, since she's so close---so that's a good thing. :)

With Jill and Brittany gone, I'm left with Greg. :) He's great too. He's my big little brother. :) I remember when he came home for the first time as a cute little baby---now he's taller than me! He's only 14, but because he's so tall, people often think he's my boyfriend. I'm like, nooooo, people--he's my brother! :) Anyway, he is a very talented musician. He's in both the marching band and jazz band at school, and I get 'jazzed up' about his performances. (Pardon the pun.) ;) But it is so cool to see what he can do with the guitar especially (he plays trumpet and piano too). It blows me away. Besides being talented (as all my siblings are with different things), Greg is just a good guy. He is a caring, loyal, trustworthy best friend. I know that I can count on him for his support, and I value his opinions. He's the best little brother.


So, that's all I can really squeeze into 20 plus minutes of blogging about my siblings. I am WAY over the time limit right now. Oops! Really, I could spend weeks talking about them, but I have other homework to do. :) The moral of the story (that is my life) is that I love my siblings!!! :-D They are the best, and they are irreplaceable to me. I would NEVER trade them for anyone else and would NEVER want to be an only child. My siblings provided me with 'built in' best friends, entertainment, love, and support. God blessed me with three wonderful siblings, and for that I am very grateful.

Birth Control for Eleven Year Olds?

I read an article about a middle school offering birth control to its female students. When I read the title of the article, I was like...you've GOT to be kidding me. But it was no lie--a school in Maine is actually going to do that. Here's the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/us/18portland.html?ex=1350360000&en=7fb352244936243a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

First of all, whose idea was that? I know that society's morals have plummeted to extremely low standard as a whole, but do we really have sexually-active eleven year olds? I don't believe we do! So, we don't need to be giving contraceptives to middle schoolers. Can't they keep their innocence a bit longer? A school providing birth control is not only inappropriate for the age group, but it's also not the job of the school to hand out such things.

I was offended when, at the University of Central Florida's orientation, they took us incoming freshmen to a room, and said, "Here are a whole bunch of free condoms. Have at them." Not only was I disgusted, but I was angry because---were we supposed to be going to college to engage in immoral acts with people we're not married to or to get an education? I don't know about you, but I'm sick of being lectured on 'safe' things to do---JUST DON'T DO IT, PEOPLE, and quit talking to me about it!

I think people have lost focus. School is for teaching and LEARNING--it's not a place where we offer contraceptives to young people who shouldn't be involved in such a lifestyle.

First Grade

Well, today marked my second day (on the 16th day of the tenth month) in my second placement in the first grade class. Hehe--how do you like all those ordinal numbers? :) Already, in working with the first grade class, I have found it to be quite--um--different (?) slash challenging (?) compared to fifth grade. OF COURSE, I expected it to be different, but I guess I somehow figured first graders would have good behavior mostly--just because they are sometimes known for just wanting to please the teacher and follow directions. In my internship, though, it was the fifth grade class that was good, and the first graders who are having a bit of difficulty with behavior. Right now, I'm thinking that teaching grades two through five is more for me. (I've worked with second and third graders in the past, so I know what they're like.) I'm leaning toward the upper grades though--third through fifth.

Don't get me wrong---the first graders are very cute, and some of the things they say are just amazing for their age, but with the lack of self-control, the baby-like needs, etc. ---it is not the ideal age group for me. I realize, however, that a lot of that depends on the teacher's discipline and classroom management, but it also depends on the individual child's maturity level at such a young age. Also, it seems to me that with the upper grades, since the kids are more mature and know more, there is an opportunity for more in-depth activities and higher expectations behavior-wise.

I am enjoying my time with the first graders--even though I am seeing and experiencing quite a few behavior issues. Ijust have come to the realization that I wouldn't want to teach them full-time for an entire school year. A few of the students are quite a handful! :) I'm not sure about my supervising teacher's methods of discipline yet....It seems like she's constantly correcting the kids, which takes time away from the others who are behaving well, but I'll see as time goes on what the real core of the problem is. My supervising teacher (Mrs. Preshong) said that the two days I've seen them have been bad days for the students and that they normally aren't acting like they did when I saw them, so I hope they'll be better next week when I come. It could be that they were just acting out for attention, since I was a new guest in the classroom. Who knows? Only time will tell.

Mrs. Preshong is very nice, and I am enjoying working with her. She is not as organized as Mrs. Abel (my first placement supervising teacher) is, so that's a bit different. But I think she is a good teacher overall, and she cares a great deal about her students, and that shows.

I look forward to learning more from this experience--even though I now know that teaching first grade full-time is not my cup of tea for the future.

What are you going to name him?

Before I begin with tonight's featured topic, I have to respond to Krystina and Olyvia's recent comments/questions left on my a couple of my recent blogs...

Krystina, you gave a very kind response to my last poem post. You really are toooo polite! I thought it was terrible, but I'm glad you enjoyed it. hehe :)

Olyvia, you asked if there is anything else I do in my church besides sing in the choir. Yes, I am the "webmaster" and web designer for the church website. (Check it out if you wish--http://www.geocities.com/fumcpinehills.) I am the 'youth minister' even though, right now, we don't have a youth group, and I am the Sunday school teacher for the youth also. And during the summer, I teach a class at Vacation Bible School, and I'm kind of their official decorator for the event too, which is always fun. I'm also on the Leadership Committee and a couple of other committees. I think that pretty much covers it! :)
You also asked what grade I would like to teach and at what school, and for the grade part of that question (which everyone asks), I usually just say third grade because I like all of the grades, but 3rd is in the middle, so I just stick with that answer. I just started in my second placement for internship in a first grade class today (Monday, October 15). Already, I'm thinking I might change my tune and stick with the upper grades, but I'll explain that later in an upcoming blog. As for the school I'd like to teach in, I would like to go back to the school I attended - Ridgewood Park Elementary--which is a very troubled school to say the least. I also like Fern Creek, though, which is where I'm interning right now because, even though the students there have issues, the school is great and holds high expectations. But we'll see where God places me to teach.


Okay--even though my responses themselves took up a good chunk of my 20 minute blog requirement, I will now move on to the subject of the night... :-P


"What are you going to name him?" a friend asks a couple expecting a child.
"We were considering these," the pregnant woman exclaims, pointing to the names "Tylar" and "Taiylor" on the list of baby names the couple had compiled.

Well, according to an article (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/08/international/europe/08names.html?pagewanted=1&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/B/Babies&_r=3&oref=slogin) I recently read, Denmark might refuse to allow the parents to name their child either one of those names without written permission from a government review board because they are not typical names and definitely aren't typical spellings. I was kind of surprised when I read this article. Here in America, we can name babies whatever we want -- whether it's the infamous "Apple" or "Pilot Inspektor"--without question.

Even though it is the American way to be able to choose whatever unique name or spelling of a name we want for children, I'm thinking maybe some people DO need to ask permission first. For example, one real-life couple named their child "Lemonjello!" First of all, what were they smoking when they thought of naming their child that? Were they inhaling powdered lemon Jell-O? In my middle school yearbook, I remember seeing a child whose name was "Seaborn Algae." He was an adorable little child, but I would like to know how many times he was made fun of for that name. I'm sure he has probably lost count by now.

The fact is, people need to take the naming of a baby seriously. They are going to be stuck with it the rest of their lives! It's not something that should be taken lightly or be given little thought. Denmark is quite extreme in its handling of the situation, but for some parents that don't have good judgment and plain old good sense, maybe I should name their baby for them. :-P ;)

"I'm a Poet and Didn't Know It."

At my internship, some famous(?) poet came and talked to students about poetry. I had never heard of her before, but then again, I'm not a poetry person. Her name was Sarah Holbrook, and she gave kids some good strategies and pointers on how to write their own poems, so...I figured I'd try my hand at it tonight for this blog.

First, she said to create a small list of things having to do with a particular topic or place and at the same time, try to keep in mind words that will rhyme with the words you thought of:

stress (mess, success)
assignment
class (pass)
book (cook, shook, took)
blog (jog, hog, dog)

Next, she said to come up with a few sentences using some of the words from the list and using some sort of poetry pattern for rhyming. (I will use A B C B , which means the last words in the second and fourth line will rhyme.)

A. Here I am writing my third blog
B. I have so much to do in just this one week
C. I am quite overwhelmed and tired.
B. A little bit of rest is what I seek.

A. I have assignments to do for each and every class;
B. It's very hectic right now, and it causes me great stress.
C. I'm ready for a break--
B. I need at least a long weekend and nothing less.

A. This semester has been so busy--
B. I can't wait to be done with all that is due.
C. How I wish my classes were over with
B. It would feel so wonderful just to be through.

A. Now I must end this awful poem
B. And move on to another thing I've been assigned.
C. With so much to do, which should I choose?
B. I have to stay focused and not lose my mind.

Ok, sorry, folks, that was pretty darn bad. Good thing my 20 minutes are up! Well, I'm off to do other stuff now... :-P

Good Bye, Fifth Grade! :(

Today (Tuesday, October 9th) was my last day in the fifth grade class at Fern Creek Elementary. :( As a going away gift, the kids presented me with a book of drawings they did. Many of them depict me or something that reminded them of me-----it is a pretty entertaining book. I love it! :) Next week, I'll be moving on to a first grade class. The second placement is at the same school, so at least I'll be able to see my fifth graders now and then in the halls. I would love to just stay with Mrs. Abel (my supervising teacher) and her class, but at the same time, I'm sure I will grow just as fond of the first graders as I did with the fifth graders.

Being in Mrs. Abel's class has been a blast. From teaching lessons, to observing, to going on a field trip to St. Augustine--I have had a great experience. I have learned a lot from Mrs. Abel; she gave me so many helpful tips and good ideas. I am glad I got such a great teacher to be an example and a mentor to me. The tight structure she has set forth for her class was one of the major things that impressed me. Because of the structure, her classroom management is very effective, and the class has almost no real behavior problems at all.

Fern Creek is a Title 1 school (which means it has a large percentage of "less-fortunate" students), and usually those kinds of schools are known for behavior problems. I have worked in/seen Title 1 schools before Fern Creek, and there is quite a difference in effective behavior management. At Fern Creek, there is structure, and there are rules to which the entire school adheres. The school promotes safety, making good choices, having & meeting personal commitments, and much more. I am so glad I was placed at Fern Creek because if I work at the school I hope to work at, I can take the good pointers to the people there and make it a better school.

I look forward to taking what I have learned and using it in my future classroom. My internship has been quite an experience and has made me grow, and I am anxious to learn even more as I go to a first grade class. It will be quite different, but I'm up for it!

Well, I'm off to study for a midterm...Geez Louise--I have so much to do! :-P Have a great week! :)

St. Augustine Field Trip! :)

This past Thursday I went on a field trip with the fifth grade class from Fern Creek Elementary School, where I am currently doing my first internship. It was a blast! Even though it was hotter than heck, I had a great time, and I think all of the children did too. :)

In case you haven't gotten a chance to see the other field trip pictures that I uploaded onto Facebook, here are three pictures to give you an idea. One is a picture of the whole class in front of a water wheel, one is of me with some of the students in my class, and the other is of the "Castillo de San Marco" (the fort).

We arrived in St. Augustine around 11:30 or so, and we had lunch right away. Afterwards, we got a tour of the fort. I have been to St. Augustine a couple of times before this, but the fort was cool, as usual--(literally and figuratively--because the wind off of the ocean felt sooo good, since it counteracted the extreme heat of the sun.) In and on the fort, we saw the barricks, the canons, some other rooms, and all of that good stuff--and we learned from our tour guide about how the soldiers and their families lived there. It was very interesting!

From the fort, we went to visit stations, where a soldier, a blacksmith, and a maker of leather goods talked about their crafts. That was pretty neat too. I got a video of the kids covering their ears as the soldier re-enacter shot his gun. :)

After that, we headed over to the oldest wooden schoolhouse, where we learned about the educational environment of the past. I guess it's the teacher in me that makes me enjoy that site so much. But it really is interesting to learn about the differences between then and now. For example, we don't use the dunce cap any more, and we don't close misbehaving children into a closet all day long! :)

After shopping for souvenirs, it was time to head back to the school and then home. It was a full day for sure. We were all exhausted by the time it was all over. But as my first field trip as the intern and not the student, it was an enjoyable and memorable day.

Church Family

Usually on Wednesday nights I have choir practice at my church, but tonight the choir decided to visit a sick church friend at his home so we could sing to him and cheer him up a bit. His name is Mr. Tufts, and he and his wife are just wonderful people. There are special people that touch your life --- and they are two of those people to me. They have gone to my church ever since I can remember and have been an integral part of the church for a long time.

Now, Mr. Tufts is dying of cancer, and so tonight, we showed our love and support to him by singing several hymns for him. It was great to see him doing remarkably well for his condition. Although he is very thin and frail now because of the chemo treatment, his spirits were high--especially after the visit from the choir. He was very happy that we were there, and we were all happy to be there.

I go to a very loving church. We are a family of believers, and that is one of the things that makes my church so special to me. For those of you who don't already know, I go to the First United Methodist Church of Pine Hills. (Check out our website!--at http://www.geocities.com/fumcpinehills) We don't have a lot of people in our congregation, but the faith and friendliness of the people make up for the few in number. I have been going there for about 14 years or so (ever since I was about 7 years old), and it has been a blessing in my life to be a part of such a good place of Christian fellowship.

Having a church family who loves and supports me in my spiritual life (and life in general) is important and special to me. God has truly blessed me.

Extreme Education

Here are some websites with background info from which I took my talking (or blogging) points:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,297542,00.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/chi-0411280298nov28,1,4893220.story?coll=chi_news_custom_religion_util&ctrack=1&cset=true

http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9767809

The first of the three articles listed above talks about some high schools in the state of Oregon adopting curriculum from the Mexican education system in order to aid Spanish speaking students in the language acquisition process. The people who support this move say that it will benefit students because they will improve upon their native language, which will improve their ability to learn English. Through numerous classes I have taken on the subject, I have seen that the improvement of one’s own language does help with learning English, but why do we feel the need to adopt Mexico’s curriculum? It would seem to me that Oregon would want to create their own blended curriculum based on what they know about teaching English to speakers of other languages. I could understand doing research and maybe taking note of some of the things Mexico does and doesn't do, but using Mexico's curriculum when it doesn’t even successfully teach its own children? That doesn’t make sense.

In the Chicago Tribune article, the author talks about children who are taught extremist views in the classroom. Terrorism is supported in textbooks used by schools (like in Pakistan), and they encourage students to become martyrs. The anti-American and anti-Western “rhetoric” is what the children are bombarded with daily. It’s a scary thought that the future leaders of regions such as Pakistan are being totally brainwashed into thinking that we (Westerners) are their enemy. Just imagine the implications stemming from what those children are being taught!

The last article in the list above talks about Middle Eastern history & culture and the Arabic language being taught in New York schools. According to the article, many have said that the inclusion of these things could result in terrorist “breeding grounds.” I once heard on the news that a public school in New York gave children 3 hours during the school day to allow prayer. First of all, how is that separation of church and state? Second, how come in grade school, I only got a “moment of silence” to say a prayer if I wanted to?—and it only lasted 30 seconds IF I was lucky and IF could concentrate in spite of the noise of my classmates??? If you’re going to give 3 hours of praying time—fine—build your own religious school, but to have tax payers pay for that when students should be there to get an education? Uhh.....no.

So, after reading these articles, I ask—what is with education in some places today? I strongly support diversity and acceptance, but advocating terrorism in Pakistani schools, adopting Mexico’s curriculum in Oregon, and praying 3 hours during the school day in a New York public school are all really extreme examples of education gone waaaaay wrong.

Inappropriate Ads

These days, there are inappropriate ads everywhere you go. Whether it's a pop-up on the internet, a billboard on a busy highway, a television or radio commercial, or something in newsprint - it is hard to go one day without seeing some kind of disturbing or disgusting advertisement.

When I open my Yahoo email account, it has a disgusting 'character,' who is bloody and zombie-like, and the sight of him just makes me sick, which, I suppose, is the point of the ad. It's for a "Howl-o-scream" event at Busch Gardens or some place like that. And yesterday, I saw a billboard with the same disgusting person on it. If it disturbs me, I can only imagine how some children might react. Then again, they might be desensitized to things like that, so maybe it doesn't even bother them anymore. Isn't it sad that children have lost their innocence and naivety?

My sister Jill told me about one ad that featured gross (and I would go as far as to say porn-like) pictures of people on a billboard somewhere, and it said, "Life's short. Get a divorce." Days after it was first posted, the law firm that put it up had many people coming in to get a divorce. It was later taken down because people complained about the images on the sign. Here's the link, so you can see for yourself: http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/LegalCenter/Story?id=3147979 Like FOX News says, "We report-- you decide."

There are signs galore on the interstate advertising strip joints and other disgusting places, television commercials for problems people should share with their doctor--not me, late-night TV commercials for "hooking up" with some creepy stranger, and the list of examples goes on and on. Why is this filth allowed to be shown to and paraded in front of the population--and to youth people especially? Like the people outraged about the divorce billboard, we should stand up and call for the removal of tasteless things we see. I know society has become accepting of so much, but I think it is past time we label the ads as the immoral, disgusting ads that they are.

Whatever happened to family-friendly ads? I don't need (nor do I want) drugs, promiscuity, alcohol, obscenities, and violence used to sell me something. I prefer ads with professionalism, intelligence, good taste, and clean humor--not to mention ads featuring people who are dressed. Is that so hard to ask?

Finding Old Friends

Isn't it great to find old friends? Wednesday night at choir practice, the director asked if we remembered a guy that went to our church a while back. I was friends with his sister, so of course, I remembered him too. They had moved to Indiana or Michigan probably ten years ago, and I lost touch with my friend (Heather). It turns out that her brother, who I remember as a cute little 5-7 year old, is now in college(!!!), and he's in Orlando for some kind of project or something. Anyway, the choir director is planning to invite him to church Sunday, where he used to be a regular--back in the day. If he decides to come, it will be great to to see him and catch up with what he and his family have been up to for the last decade. :)

So, while I was on Facebook tonight, I decided to look Heather up (which I had before but did not find her), and now we have been reconnected. It's so interesting to see what long lost people you once knew are doing now. That is one of the great things about Facebook. Besides the fact that it is addictive and a great procrastination tool, it helps you keep in touch and reconnect with people. ;) :-D

Not only is it interesting to find long lost people, but it's pretty weird that they become long lost people in the first place, isn't it? I mean--you never really expect people you're around every day to one day be completely out of your life for the rest of your life. I don't know--it's just weird when you think about it.

And then again, you never know when you'll meet someone who will touch your life forever.

Money & Gender

Last night I read an article in which young women were complaining about their mates or dates who complain about the fact that they (the women) make more money than they (the men) do. The women said that their dates often openly admitted or implied in one way or another that they were not comfortable with women making more money than they did. For some reason, the women took offense to this. They wondered why men couldn't accept women being more driven and/or successful in business than men in some situations. Why?

I am one who is all for a woman being successful, getting a top job based on her skill, knowledge, and experience, and bettering herself instead of staying at home making children. As a woman, I am no less qualified or less able to do jobs that formerly were dominated by men. I can tell from the article, that those women agree. But unlike them, I am able to see why men would be upset with women making more money than them.

If my mate/date made more money than me, it would bother me too! I don't buy into the 'conventional wisdom' that says the man is the "breadwinner." I believe a couple should work together and contribute equally in a relationship. The scales should not be tipped one way or the other.

I believe that no matter the gender, people are naturally competitive. So, if a woman makes more than a man, he'll probably be upset. And if a man makes more than a woman, she'll probably be upset. I don't think it has anything to do with which gender earns a better salary.

The women in the article were also saying that sometimes they dated older men because they were more on the same financial level as they were. To me, that is stupid. If you are looking for a mate based on what they make, rather than what makes them a great person for you, then how will you ever be happy? Look for personality--not money, people!

It's time for people to accept the fact that people will be upset when they make more than them--no matter which person in a relationship makes more.

Here's the link to the article if you're interested: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/fashion/23whopays.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&oref=slogin

Can't We All Just Get Along?

I don't know if you girls keep up with the news or not, but have you heard the story about the "Jena 6"? In case you haven't, here's the story.......At Jena High School in Louisiana, there was a tree under which white guys were known for 'hanging out.' One day, some of the black students asked administrators if they could go under that tree, and they were told that was fine. Before the black students got under the tree, they saw that a group of white students left nooses hanging in the tree to taunt them. Days later, six black students beat one white student to the point of unconsciousness. The white student, however, had not played a part in the hanging of the nooses. Now, the black community is in an uproar because they say the black students, who are being accused of attempted murder, are being treated unfairly and getting an undeserved, harsh penalty. Since the occurrence, people have protested the treatment of the students, and the infamous tree has been cut down.

First of all, why do we still have idiots who can't accept people just because they are of a different race? The white guys who hung the nooses are stupid--plain and simple. And the black students had a right to be angry and even to confront the whites for their stupidity. But six guys beating one guy until he was unconscious?? That's outrageous--and the fact that the person they beat wasn't even involved?? How does that make sense--even to those who committed the act?

The people who beat the victim should be convicted of attempted murder--I don't care if they're aqua colored with purple polka dots! I find it hard to swallow that some black people would support these thugs just because they are black people who were offended by something other people (not the victim) did. I don't say, "Hey, let so-and-so-white-guy out of jail after he beat up a black person just because he's white, and I am too." I say, PUNISH THE GUILTY. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, as usual, are standing up for the wrong things for the wrong reasons and leading some of the African-American community astray--others, thankfully, think for themselves and know that the black students in this case were in the wrong no matter what.

Violence like that which has occurred in this case should be punished severely. The black students had nothing but hate in their hearts as they kicked one helpless guy until he was out like a light. I also think the white people who put up the nooses should be put in jail for a hate crime. What is wrong with these people? Seriously?!

As for the tree, I don't like when people cut down trees. Couldn't they have just planted flowers all around it, so students couldn't congregate under it? :-P

"Tree Huggers"

Thank God I have my sister to ask what I should write about every now and then! Tonight, she sent me this link to an article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7000991.stm When I read it, I was disgusted.

In case you don't get around to reading the article, I'll give you the gist of what it said. It talked about the Beavan family, who embarked on an "experiment," where they shut off their electricity, used bikes and walking as transportation, quit using toilet paper, and used baking soda, vegetable oil, and the like in order to clean themselves.

I'm in favor of helping the environment, but many of the things Mr. Beavan was having his family do were ridiculous--to the point where I believe his child should have been taken away from him by child protective services. There are those who are interested in things like recycling, and then there are nutty people like the Beavans who go way beyond ridiculousness. Luckily for the Beavans' child, the family "experiment" will not be carried out for the rest of their lives.

I recycle and turn off the lights when I'm not in a room, but I'm not about to stop using soap, toilet paper, refrigeration, and air conditioning for the sake of an "experiment" done to in some minute way to "save the world."

UCF College of Education

After reading Olyvia's most recent blogs about her problems with UCF's College of Education, I figured I'd share my dilemmas about it too, since I can't think of anything else to write about tonight.

Well, UCF has let me down in one way or another every semester I've been here. I swear they try to keep you at this place until you're old and on the verge of death. Often times the classes I needed were full, and they wouldn't let me enroll, so I would either have to try to get an override or pray that the class would be available the next semester.

The College of Education specifically is awful about informing students of what they must do for the program. For probably four to five semesters, I mysteriously had to get overrides into classes even though they WEREN'T full, and then someone finally said, "Oh, well, you're still listed as Education Pending." Well, what do you know? Nobody noticed that and called it to my attention for several semesters?! What's the problem?!

The advisors (or at least the two that I've had) STINK. They never seemed to know what the heck was going on or what I needed to do. Why are they hired to do something they do not and apparently cannot do? It just doesn't make any sense to me.

And now, because of all the fooling around and messing up UCF has done to my classes and scheduling, I am being forced to graduate a semester late! I went to the office last week to get my internship 2 application signed, even though I knew I still had to take 2 more classes (which I wanted to, tried to, and should have been allowed to enter earlier in past semesters but couldn't because UCF messed everything up...) I figured they would let me do the classes during internship 2. But nooooo. It turns out, that they want me to take the 2 classes I'm missing and a surprise third class BEFORE internship 2. So, this means, I won't get to graduate on time in spring 2008 like I had hoped and tried so desperately to do. I'll have to take the 3 classes (and probably a fourth one to keep my Bright Futures scholarship) during spring 2008 and wait until fall 2008 to do my last internship! I am sooo sad, frustrated, and mad about the whole situation--even though there is nothing I can do now. I've tried so hard to fight against the program that has sabotaged me so many times, but it looks as though they won.

Anyway, THIS MESSES UP EVERYTHING! I was sooo upset when they wouldn't let me take the classes with internship 2. I really can't wait to be rid of this school--not only because it's terrible and many of the classes treat us like we're elementary school kids, but also because I AM PASSED READY TO BEGIN TEACHING! I can't wait! And now that I'll be graduating in the fall, I'm pretty sure that will dash my hopes of getting hired at the school of my choice, since it will be in the middle of the school year.

So thanks, UCF, for ruining so much for me. I'm praying that God will make something good of what I consider to be a real bummer--for lack of a better word. :-/ I could definitely use your prayers for patience!

Classical Music's Effects on Children

My last blog featured me spouting off about the negative effects of the "hip-hop culture" and entertainment on young people today. Now, I will move on to something that has a positive effect on children's minds - classical music. Keep in mind, if you will, that the following will be from my own random thoughts, research that I have heard via news articles and/or classes I've taken, and from my own experience. (Therefore, I cannot cite things, since I do not remember where I heard the research--I'm thinking it might have been from Yahoo articles and textbooks???)

I have heard (somewhere) that studies have shown that classical music does wonders for students. It somehow stimulates their brain and allows them to think clearly, focus, and sometimes even perform better academically. Not only do I think it is wise and beneficial to expose children to something that could have such a positive impact, but I also believe that exposing them to different forms of musical genres is good for them - especially to those whom have a musical mindset (Gardner's Eight Multiple Intelligences.)

My very own experience with the positive effects of classical music began when I was in third grade. During handwriting, my teacher would put on a tape of Beethoven or Mozart, and I remember really enjoying that time of writing. I somehow felt very calm and relaxed, and I seemed to focus well with the music playing in the background. Music effects mood as well as academic progress. It would seem to me, then, that teachers would want to encourage students to listen to classical music during class time (and even at home) and use it to help themselves.

Classical music is not only beautiful, calming, and good for the brain, but it is also a simply wonderful alternative to the many inappropriate songs one can hear on the radio today, and that is why I plan to make it an integral part of my future classroom.

The Adverse Effect of Hip-Hop Culture on Youth

As a girl born and raised in a neighborhood I commonly refer to as "the ghetto," I am used to seeing drug dealers, men with their pants hanging so low you can see their undergarments, and many other distasteful things. I live in Pine Hills. As a child, I attended Ridgewood Park Elementary, and later as an upcoming teacher doing service learning in my old school, I heard many stories of unruly/dangerous children.

I attribute these problems greatly to the "hip-hop culture" that is glorified in the entertainment industry. "People" (using the term loosely like I did in my previous post) like "50 cent," "Snoop Dog," Mike Tyson, "Eminem," and countless others are terrible examples for young people. And yet, parents (for whatever reason) do not shelter their children from the garbage these "entertainers" spew, so the children emulate them and their lifestyles.

I'm sorry, but someone living the gang-life, doing and selling drugs, committing crimes of all sorts, and making fatherless babies does not make for a good role model. I don't know why people find it appealing instead of appalling. A few times when I'm flipping through radio stations on the way to school in the mornings, I have stopped to listen momentarily to stations like Power 95.3 or 102 Jams, just to see what they are saying in their morning 'dialogues.' (It's not a good way to start the day because it makes me mad, but hey.) What I notice is that not only does their English totally stink, but 98% of the time they are laughing about the fact that yet another rapper has been jailed for doing some illegal activity. How is that funny? I really would like to know!

Why are violence, promiscuity, and drugs accepted and tolerated? Well-educated, decent people in the community should stand up against this ridiculous problem facing young people today. Where are the voices of reason to overshadow the foul-mouthed crap that is featured in "ghetto" entertainment? It's infuriating!

September 11th

Before I begin my blog, I just want to respond to Olyvia's question about me doing poetry. No, really I'm not into reading or writing poetry. Poetry for small children can be cute, but it's just not my favorite form of writing. In spite of that, I will still encourage students to experiment with poetry because it might be something they will really enjoy. I'm glad you enjoyed my poem though--either that or you're just being polite. ;)

As for my response to Krystina's recent comment on my fashion blog...Christmas sweaters?! Yikes! lol No--I know what you mean. I'm sure you will be able to make it stylish in some way. :)

Ok---now for tonight's blog topic: September 11th...

Today marks the day six years ago, when terrorists managed to kill thousands of innocent people, bring down two towers, destroy a section of the Pentagon, and crash into a field--all with the use of four planes carrying innocent civilians-turned-heroes. Despite their efforts, however, they did NOT manage to bring down the American spirit. One thing that amazes me is that a lot of good came out of something so horrid--it brought Americans together.

Back then, we as a nation banded together in support of our great country and in support of those who lost so much that day. Six years later, some of that has faded. Many have moved on with their lives. In some respects, that fact is saddening, but on the other hand, moving on is a way of healing. Although I can sympathize with the victims' families and friends, I cannot truly comprehend the sadness because I did not lose anyone, but I still get teary hearing their stories and watching footage of that fateful day even now.

To this day, I still remember exactly where I was when I first heard the news of the attack. I was in tenth grade--in Mr. Wilson's English class. My class was in the library for some reason, instead of our usual classroom. The principal's voice came over the loudspeaker, and he said that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. I had never heard of the World Trade Center before this occurred, but I could tell by the name it was an important place. At first, I thought the plane crash might have been just a terrible accident, but once I heard of the second plane, I knew something was terribly wrong--it was no accident. The rest of the day at school, people were somber, and teachers kept their televisions on for news coverage.

I couldn't comprehend why 'people' (using the term loosely) would be filled with so much hate that they would kill themselves for the sake of killing others. And now to know that there are thousands more just like them who would do the same in the name of extremism is beyond me. It doesn't make sense that people fall for this "religion" and/or cults (like the KKK and Black Panthers). Why is violence so appealing to those who have no support system? Terrorists (and cults and gangs) prey on people--especially young people--who lack hope and a promising future. These people are brainwashed in order to be recruited. If Osama Bin Laden was not such a coward, why did he need others to do his dirty work? Do you notice how the majority of 'people' (using the term loosely again) like Osama Bin Laden (i.e., Hitler, Ahmedinejad of Iran, Stalin, etc.) force mostly uneducated, hopeless, and often times poor people to do their unmentionable deeds for false rewards? It is past time for Muslims to stand up against the radicals in their religion. Earth to terrorists: There is no reward for blowing people up!

I pray for the those who lost loved ones, and I pray for our country's and its people's safety. I also pray that the terrorists' efforts will be thwarted every time, so that we will not have to witness another attack. God bless America!

Boredom Is A Horrible Thing

I am extremely bored right now, even though I have things I could be doing--I don't feel like doing them right this moment. So, I'm getting a head start on my blog for the week. What to write, what to write? I'm kind of at a loss for words, so I think I'll copy Olyvia's good idea by making some kind of random poem out of my name. Here goes nothing...!

K ids are fun to teach.
R eading, writing and arithmetic are...
I nteresting subjects
S o many things to teach in 180 days--so little...
T ime--but we have to use our time wisely.
Y oung people are the future, so we must teach them well.

Z 's can be difficult to find a word for, so I'll skip it, since I'm drawing a blank. :)
A nyone can learn if they try.
B elieving in one's self is key.
E very child needs to know he/she is special and that he/she can learn anything if he/she tries.
L earning can be fun and should be made fun.

Wow--that really stinks, but hey, I suppose it's better than nothing. I'm no poet, and I know it! (That rhymes.) :)

I hope you all are enjoying your weekend! Oh! I just remembered! I got an email today from school saying I won a ticket to the UCF football game on Septeember 15th. Is anyone else going? I don't want to go by myself--that would stink, so I'm seeing if anyone I know is going. Just thought I'd ask. Well, have a good week! :-D

What Not to Wear

Well, I put this off until I couldn't any longer. Here I am--blogging at one o'clock in the morning. Sheesh! I had a heck of a time trying to think of something to write about, and then my sister suggested going off on a fashion tangent. So, here I go.... :)

Teachers are known for a lot of things, whether they apply to all teachers or not--professionalism, well- (or at least decently) educated, low pay, and working overtime. Another thing they're sometimes known for--bad fashion. Too many times I've seen teachers wearing flip-flops, long floral, shapeless dresses ("old maid" dresses), and sometimes, yes, even MOM JEANS! Why can't teachers respect themselves, their profession, their students, and their superiors enough to dress like they care what they look like? It's not like it takes any more time to wear something that fits well and is from this century than it does to put on a Hawaiian shirt with "dress pants" from the Granny Department in a store.

I like watching the show What Not to Wear on TLC, and yes, sometimes Clinton and Stacy (the hosts of the show) say that expensive clothing is better. In reality, though, you can get some nice things for a great price! Have you ever heard of Target, people? Maybe teachers should be given an allowance for clothing like news anchors get. I think that part of the problem could possibly be that many teachers don't like spending money on themselves. The same goes for mothers. But I say, why not spend some money on yourself? It doesn't make sense to spend it on others but totally forget yourself and let your own fashion fall by the wayside.

Looking decent in the classroom not only helps you feel good about yourself, but the administration and even the students notice when teachers make an effort to look professionally decent. Just because we're working with children doesn't mean we have to look like we just rolled out of bed. If we look frumpy, unkempt, and out of style, that shows that we lack self-respect and gives the impression that we don't care, which could be a reflection of how we teach. We should care about the impression we give to others.

And so, I request that all of my colleagues take my petition to heart. No mom jeans, no flip-flops, no tapered pants, no Hawaiian shirts, no 80s suits---none of that awful stuff! I don't even know why they still sell that! It's AWFUL!!!!! Please wear nice clothing that is from this time period. If you need advice, watch What Not to Wear or see what people are wearing in ads, but whatever you do, don't dress like you don't care!

Rules for Writing

I just got through catching up on reading everyone's blogs. I have successfully added everyone, and you all have successfully invited me, so that's great! We're all set now! Isn't it interesting to see the different writing styles we each have? I think it's pretty neat to see the differences, and it makes me realize and/or reminds me that those differences don't make one writer better than the other necessarily; it just makes reading the blogs more fun!

I saw the comment Christie wrote on Krystina's wall, which I thought was very thoughtful. It was about punctuation and/or subject/verb agreement. First of all, if I can improve my writing, I would appreciate helpful tips/comments like Christie wrote for Krystina because I am interested in bettering myself whenever possible. One more thing before I go more into that---Wow! We have a Christie, a Krystina, and a Kristy (me)! Olyvia, by any chance is your middle name Krystal or something? :) I don't remember if I told you all, but my internship supervising teacher's name is Kristin Abel, and mine is Kristy Zabel, so with all of these similar names, I'm bound to answer to anything even remotely close to my name! Hehe :-D

Anyway....back to the topic at hand---punctuation. Also, I'd like to branch out and include some of the other basic rules of writing--capitalization and subject/verb agreement. Ever since I learned the rules for those things, I have been a stickler for them in my writing and in whose writing I read. Even when I'm IMing or emailing or doing any kind of casual writing, I just can't live without my subject/verb agreement, punctuation, and capitalization being correct. :) Once in a great while I'll let it slide, but it bothers me when I do, so I avoid it unless I'm in a huge hurry. Is anyone else like that? When people don't capitalize or use punctuation in instant messages and such, it annoys me. Maybe I should join Writing Rule Sticklers Anonymous or something. :-P :)

Although writing well is important, I have come to the realization that maybe sometimes it is more important for students to be writing in the first place than it is for EVERYTHING to be perfectly written--especially when students know the rules but choose not to use them for convenience's sake or what have you. I grasped that this past summer, when my music teacher said that sometimes you should just appreciate the fact that a student is reading a Nickelodeon Magazine instead of not reading at all. Reading and writing is so important, and I think we should praise any little effort that students make when they are engaging in literacy on their own apart from assignments.

Keep in mind, if you will, as you read my blogs that I am not writing as I would for an essay to turn in to a professor. I write my blog as I would speak in a conversation with you. So, if you get lost with the blabbing on and on, let me know, and I will try to help you decipher it. Even though I take a more casual approach in keeping with true blogging form, I still try to punctuate correctly and so forth. But again, please feel free to add helpful comments! Thanks! :)

Labor Day Weekend

Hi, everyone! I hope you had a great Labor Day weekend! I did! Friday evening I picked up my younger sister Brittany from her apartment in Gainesville. (She goes to the University of Florida.) She wanted to come home for the weekend, and we (the family) wanted her to come, so she came! :) We didn't really do anything Saturday afternoon, but that evening, we went to my favorite Italian restaurant (The Sicilian --on 436) for my birthday dinner. Since my birthday was last Tuesday, we decided to celebrate on the weekend, since my sister would be in town and just because weekends are more fun than weekdays. ;) :)

On Sunday, we went to church as usual in the morning, and everyone was surprised and happy to see Brittany. Then my family and I went to lunch with friends of the family, and that was fun. After that, my long weekend was uneventful. :-P I did, however, manage to sleep in each day during the short break though----that was great! I needed it. I need to get a better sleep schedule going though! Here I am right now at 12:39 A.M. writing my blog, when I should be asleep! Sheesh! When will I ever learn?

I hope I haven't bored you too much with this blog--or at least no more than usual. lol Anywho, I did have a nice weekend, but I could use a couple more days!

Tuesday is internship day again, and I'm looking forward to that. I would take internship days over 3-hour college classes any day! It's a lot of fun being in the classroom. I guess that's why I'm going to become a teacher though-- because I enjoy it so much, you think? hehehe :)

Oh! I forgot to mention that I talked to my older sister Jill Monday night. I hadn't talked to her in over a week because she went on a vacation with her fiance Daniel to Costa Rica and Guatemala. Jill was excited because it was her first time going to Spanish-speaking countries. She speaks Spanish fluently after years of taking it in school, so she was happy to finally be able to use Spanish somewhere besides America. I saw some of her pictures, and it looks like she did some pretty cool things. It was nice to finally talk to her on the phone. She was gone ten days, but it seemed like a month! (I'm used to talking to --or instant messaging-- her quite often.) She's planning to tell me the stories behind the pictures once she gets all of her pictures uploaded to the internet. I'm sure she has a lot to share; she said she took over 1,400 pictures!!! That will take a while to look through.

My 20 minutes of blogging are up, so I will say good night now. I better shuffle off to bed. Have a good week! I'll see you all Thursday in class. :)

My 21st Birthday!

Well, like I said in my previous blog, Tuesday was my 21st birthday! It was kind of uneventful like most birthdays---especially those that fall on weekdays. It was nice though. I had to get up early because I had internship again. The interning part of my day went well. I handed back the notes the students had written to me along with my response to what they wrote. Even this first correspondence with the kids has gotten them more familiar with me. I think this is going to be a busy (and hectic) but fun semester.

When I got home after internship, I was totally pooped, so I took a nap for a couple of hours. (Am I boring you yet?) Then, I opened presents and had some cake. That's about it! I got some nice gifts though---and useful ones too! I got a hair straightener, which I was excited about because my younger sister took hers with her to college, so I could no longer borrow it. I got some colored pencils and pens, candy, a huge birthday balloon, stamps of my signature, money, and some other things. I was pleased--and thankful!!!

I was just fooling around on the computer and remembered I needed to write a blog, so here I am! I thought I'd share my birthday experience with you. My family is planning to take me out to dinner on Saturday night. And...since there is no school Monday, my younger sister is coming down from Gainesville (University of Florida) to celebrate my birthday during the weekend, so I'm looking forward to that---even though I saw her last Saturday for her birthday! :)

Also on Monday, my older sister and her fiance will return to Washington, D.C. after vacationing for ten days in Costa Rica and Guatemala. I can't wait to see their hundreds of pictures! They went through rainforests, over volcanoes, and much more, so I'm sure the pictures are going to be really cool.

I guess I'll sign off now, since I'm just jabbering, and it's been about 20-25 minutes! I hope you all are having a good week so far! Take care.

Internship 1

I began internship 1 today at Fern Creek Elementary School in a fifth grade class. Although I didn't end up doing that much, I was still so excited to be there! It was kind of a hectic day for the class, my teacher said, so it was a bit atypical. I'll see how tomorrow goes.

My supervising teacher's name is Kristin Abel, and she picked me because my name is Kristy Zabel---so similar and confusing when the kids say one of our names! I really like her though; she is very nice and willing to help me in any way, which is great. She had the kids write notes to me about themselves, and they were very nice and, at the same time, entertaining. Some of the students were at a loss for words, while others wrote a lot about what their favorite food is, what they do in their spare time, what game they played the other day, and just some random thoughts. I always love to see students' informal writing. The notes they wrote for me gave me great insight into not only what they like, but who they are and how they think. It's fascinating. It will also be interesting to see how they grow as writers as the year progresses. I'm looking forward to seeing what improvements are made.

I like the school as a whole too. It is a quaint, little school in Downtown Orlando with a great mix of students. I want to work at a Title 1 school once I graduate, so working with the student body at Fern Creek is going to be a good experience for me professionally and personally. I get a greater satisfaction from teaching the less fortunate. Teaching is always rewarding, but I have found the teaching of students at Title 1 schools to be even more rewarding because they lack certain care from settings outside of school. As for the grade I'd like to teach, it doesn't matter to me because I like all grades. I'll have to see how fifth grade pans out during this internship; I'm loving it so far, and I can't imagine that feeling will change.

I am looking forward to tomorrow. My birthday is tomorrow, so interning will be a nice present. I'll be 21!!!--which means I'll be old enough to rent a car! Woohoo! :) No drinks for me! Anyway...are you all in internships now? I'd love to hear how your days of interning are going! :)

Literacy Biography

My earliest memories of reading are few in number - not because I didn't read as a child, but more because my memory stinks. :-P Anyway, when I think back on the times when I was reading as a child, I recall myself sitting with my grandmother and making her listen to me read Dr. Seuss books. I don't know if she enjoyed it as much as I did, but she pretended well. I also remember writing as a child. I used to 'play restaurant', and I would make menus, write down my siblings' orders, etc. I also remember really enjoying handwriting time in third grade. I thought cursive was such a cool thing that only older people did when they wanted something to look pretty.

(As I'm typing this blog, the memories are actually coming back, and so I'm enjoying this more than I anticipated!)

In school, I don't really remember learning how to read and write in the very beginning, but I do remember the books I used in first grade; I think they were called Red Fish, Yellow Fish, and Blue Fish---each color having something to do with the reading level. I also remember using brown clay in kindergarten to form letters and then we as a class would write them on paper. Other than that, I don't remember much about learning to read and write---but I do know I did eventually learn how! :-D

As for spelling and phonics, they went hand in hand. The teacher taught the class what sound each letter makes, and then I guess we repeated after her until it eventually stuck over time. Once I learned the sounds of the letters, I used that knowledge to spell words correctly, and most of the time I was actually right. :)

I liked language arts in elementary school the most, and it was still enjoyable and/or tolerable in middle school and high school. The last couple of years of high school were more challenging because I had to 'over-analyze' things at times, or at least, that's how I saw it. Sometimes it was a bit of overkill with the analysis, but I still look back on those times as experiences that made me grow as a writer and reader.

Nowadays, I don't really read for fun. I'm not a novel person. I do read articles online quite often though, and I read emails, instant messages, and other electronic postings. I read to learn more than I do to relax or "get away." I suppose that is one of my downfalls, but right now, that is all my time and taste allows.