Re: Blog #: 10 - Chap. 8 November 11, 2010

This is the last and final blog; so sad - Blog # 10.
**Team Group Activity: Discuss our personal experience for Section 4 homework assignment. Attendees: Christine Connell, Lena Yeoh and Jarmaine Strickland.
    A) Christine read "Who Was Harriet Tubman?" (a former slave who risked her life to save other slaves
          escape to freedom). Christine picked this book for inspiration to teach her students.
    B)  Jarmaine went to visit a mosque in Orlando - the 'Elrahman Mosque'. Very interesting visit as she went
         with a friend from work who attends that mosque.
    C) I watched "Waiting for Superman" and no one in particular seemed more moved by it than me.

Geography:  Geographic Influence - Main Ideas
Understanding geographic influence provides a context for teaching and learning based on students' experiences. Identity is closely linked to the geographic area in which we grew up and now live.

Geography is the study of places.

*Less than 5% of the world population lives in the United States.
*More than 50% live in Asia.
*Degree of diversity differs across regions of the U.S.
*Demographics plays a substantial role as well.
*Students in suburban schools typically have higher academic performance on standardized tests (most
  probably because they have resources to the latest technology and well-qualified teachers).

Video Clip: Globalization (http://www.democracy.now.org/)
"The End of Poverty?" documentary and political views on how to repay global debt, directed by Philippe Diaz. History dated back to 1492, back to the Conquistadors, etc. depicts progression on where we are today and what resulted the impact of our problems today in this world. Excess consumption for those who can afford rich lifestyles counters those who cannot. Someone has to suffer to accommodate survival of the fittest. The world is in alot of trouble. What are the solutions?

Research Darfur, Sudan. If Africa is the cradle of civilization, why then, most of the problems are still rooted there?

And, Globalization - Economy - decisions made in one country or region directly affect the economics of others. Businessess and organizations are increasingly competing on a global scale.

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Team Discussions:
1. What strategies should we use to decrease the effect of (slow down) global warming?
2. What strategies should we use to decrease poverty on the global level?

The class lecture went into overtime and there was not enough team discussion time to answer these questions unless it is going to be brought up in next week's class.

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Blog: How can we effectively address globalization issues in our classroom?
Like everything else - more awareness. I think if everyone took a concerted effort to pitch into reducing carbon footprints by playing a more active role, instead of complaining about, I think things would improve for the better. We as a nation have been too laxed on waste and not taking into consideration the long term effects that globalization can bring. If not us, then, let's clean up for our future generation so that way they will have a sustainable planet to live on instead of worrying too much on space exploration and finding other planets to live on. Earth is it!














 

Re: Blog # 9 Chap. 6

Video: Violence in Video Games~ Should we allow our children to watch video games and what is the game ratings for violence that children are allowed to watch? Always limit exposure and content to children of an impressionable age.
Video: Language ~ Comedian  Gallagher Talks about Play on Words and Emphasis on Pronounciation

Chap. 6 - Language
Language is a system of vocal sounds and/or nonverbal systems by which individuals communicate.
It is a critical tool in the development of identity, self-awareness, and intellectual and psychological growth.

• Children learn almost instinctively the right word, the right responses, and the right gestures for situations.
•  Language Diversity in the United States - There were 329 languages spoken in the United States in 2000.
• In many world nations, children are expected to learn at least (2) languages.
• There is no good or bad language from a linguistic view; languages are simply different. All languages are equal in that they meet the social & pyschological needs of their speakers.
• Society places different social values on different language and dialect groups.
• For effective communication to take place, enough cultural similarities must exist for the receiver to understand the message.
• Language use is culturally determined.
• Bilingual education is more effective than a strictly monolingual approach. In the U.S. there are many different dialects. Some dialects are social and some are regional. Some dialects enjoy greater social acceptance than others.
• We speak to children differently than we do with adults. Women, has been proven, speak better then men.
• African American English - Ebonics is a dialect used by an estimated 80% of African Americans and has a rule system of its own.  Ebonics is also known as Black English and Vernacular Black English.

Body Language Video Clip: First Impressions (Mark Bowdene) Body Language speaks louder in first impressions than verbal language.
Video Clip (Para-Language) Non-Verbal Communication & other forms to communicate - children communicate by what they do for an example. What messages are we sending across to others?

Pedagogy that is responsive and respectful of knowledge and skills of students is critical to their ability to acquire and interpret new knowledge.

• A person may have strong accent, yet speak in standard English. Accent generally refers to how an individual pronounces words.
• It is the obligation of each educator to ensure the right of each child to learn in their first language until they are able to function well in English.
• Teachers have a responsibility to understand and value cultural and linguistic differences.
• Bilingual Education Programs - Transitional programs emphasize the move from home language and culture to English as soon as possible (typically by 3rd grade).
• California Proposition 227 requires all (ELL) English Language Learners to be educated in sheltered English immersion programs, normally not to exceed one year.

Blog: For or against California Proposition 227?
I am not for California's Prop. 227 as full immersion of non-English language learners to learn English
will initiate lawsuits such as the well known case of Lau vs. Nichols (1974). I believe that bilingual education needs to be continued as eventually students that are in ESOL will learn the English language much faster.