I love snow. I love how pristine it looks when it covers the earth untouched. I love how it turns my world into Narnia (because who doesn't want to go to Narnia?). I love how it makes me pause and think, mostly because it generally stops everything else going on in my life when it happens. 40-50 inches of snow? It's pretty awesome, let me tell you.
I do not like missing more than a week of work.
We have been studying both Sabbath and work at Kairos since the fall. We learned first about how God rests, and commands rest, so that we can renew ourselves and take the time to grow in Him and listen to what He is telling us. We learned second about how we were created to do work, both for ourselves and for God. Ultimately, all of our work is for God's glory and a part of His purposes in us and for us. Adam and Eve were given work in Genesis 1-2, before the fall. Work is not a consequence of sin, rather, it is a gift to give us purpose and life. Sin just makes work harder.
It is funny to me that as soon as I finished learning all of this about rest and about work, I was forced by nature (and God, really, as He controls nature) to take more than a week of vacation. Yes, it has been great to catch up on things that I had been neglecting, it has been great to get some really good rest, and I've had some awesome conversations and revelations these past few weeks, but I will be very glad to go back to work tomorrow.
I understand now why we were created to do something and why work is a gift. We were not meant to sit around aimlessly. Roundabout Wednesday and Thursday my housemates and I started to get very antsy. God gives us work to do that mirrors His work and ultimately uses that work to draw us to Himself and help us grow. Of course, He also uses rest to draw us to Himself, and it is equally as important. I think that I needed this time to really recharge and listen to Him, and I'm looking forward to what He's going to do with that.
Right now, though, I'm just looking forward to talking about the 1920s with my 7th graders and the judicial branch with my 8th graders!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Coming back to life
I'm not big on new year resolutions. Yes, it is good to have goals, and yes, another trip around the sun could be a good time to start them, but I think that the best time to start something is generally as soon as possible, unless there is a really good reason to wait. I do like to make a general outline of things I'd like to do in the next year. For example, last year I decided that I wanted to start learning how to cook different kinds of food and I wanted to start exercising regularly, two goals that I certainly met this year.
Blogging, however, was not high on my priority list. Obviously. This will change in the next year, I hope. I'm not going to call it a resolution because I want to give myself wiggle room, but I am going to try to blog about something at least once a week. There will be some similar postings as I have done in the past, but also some very different ones as I am no longer a student and I have my own house and some new hobbies now.
2009 changes:
Blogging, however, was not high on my priority list. Obviously. This will change in the next year, I hope. I'm not going to call it a resolution because I want to give myself wiggle room, but I am going to try to blog about something at least once a week. There will be some similar postings as I have done in the past, but also some very different ones as I am no longer a student and I have my own house and some new hobbies now.
2009 changes:
- Graduated from graduate school in May!
- Started work as a middle school teacher in September
- I teach American history to 7th graders and Civics/Economics to 8th graders ... very different from the whole teaching world history life plan
- Moved back to Northern Virginia
- Attending "adult" church, and some "young adult" church
- Living in a new HOUSE with four other girls
- Picked up running as a hobby
- Writing/fan fiction (still have to finish "Heart of Gold" anyway!)
- Worship drabbles
- Public schooling thoughts
- General state of the world drabbles
- General Christianity drabbles
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Let it snow ...
Hey blog readers! I actually have some time to update because I am stuck in my flat due to snow. It really did not snow all that much -- maybe three inches? But this is southeastern Virginia. People here do not take kindly to driving in the snow. Therefore, yesterday we had a snow day and today we're basically having an ice day.
One of my grandmothers had the unique role of being the one who would call off school at her school district in New Jersey. I've been thinking about what I would do if I were the one in that position. After all, my current plans are definitely to stay in the classroom, but there may be a day when I am called to administration as well. The best administrators are those who used to be in the classroom.
Obviously, the best reason to call off school is student safety. This is why we did not have school today -- some of the roads in the county are too icy for a school bus to get through. The one downside to this is that different parts of the county often see different amounts of snow. The students in my neighborhood probably could have gone to school without any problems. This is especially a problem in the county where I am from in Northern Virginia. There are more than twenty high schools in the county, so it totals to more than 100 schools total. Some parts of the county are your typical suburban concrete jungle, but other parts are still more off the beaten path. This can lead to administrators feeling that it might be okay to continue with school, but then finding that it was not such a good idea.
Example: my senior year of high school we had two potential snow days within two weeks. I say "potential" because one of them turned out to be a rain day. This day came first and the county was apprehensive about student safety so they called school off, like I would have, and it ended up only raining. The administrators were kicking themselves and the students were delighted. They decided that they weren't going to make the same mistake the following week and the snow and ice were terrible on the way to school. It actually took me an hour and a half to get there, and I was still one of the first students to arrive.
Which leads into a second issue: administrators only have a set number of snow days. Schools have to make them up after a certain point, so in an effort to keep breaks and avoid tacking days onto the end of the school year, administrators may decide not to give a snow day when it appears that it may not snow. This creates a situation like I just described. When I was a junior in high school we had so many snow days that they actually had to tack a half hour on to each school day after spring break in order to make up the time.
The bottom line: snow is awesome, but students have to stay safe and schools have to meet standards. Like many other issues in public school, snow days mean that schools have to seek a balance. Personally, I'm glad that I've had a little time to catch up on everything, but it will be great to see my students tomorrow.
One of my grandmothers had the unique role of being the one who would call off school at her school district in New Jersey. I've been thinking about what I would do if I were the one in that position. After all, my current plans are definitely to stay in the classroom, but there may be a day when I am called to administration as well. The best administrators are those who used to be in the classroom.
Obviously, the best reason to call off school is student safety. This is why we did not have school today -- some of the roads in the county are too icy for a school bus to get through. The one downside to this is that different parts of the county often see different amounts of snow. The students in my neighborhood probably could have gone to school without any problems. This is especially a problem in the county where I am from in Northern Virginia. There are more than twenty high schools in the county, so it totals to more than 100 schools total. Some parts of the county are your typical suburban concrete jungle, but other parts are still more off the beaten path. This can lead to administrators feeling that it might be okay to continue with school, but then finding that it was not such a good idea.
Example: my senior year of high school we had two potential snow days within two weeks. I say "potential" because one of them turned out to be a rain day. This day came first and the county was apprehensive about student safety so they called school off, like I would have, and it ended up only raining. The administrators were kicking themselves and the students were delighted. They decided that they weren't going to make the same mistake the following week and the snow and ice were terrible on the way to school. It actually took me an hour and a half to get there, and I was still one of the first students to arrive.
Which leads into a second issue: administrators only have a set number of snow days. Schools have to make them up after a certain point, so in an effort to keep breaks and avoid tacking days onto the end of the school year, administrators may decide not to give a snow day when it appears that it may not snow. This creates a situation like I just described. When I was a junior in high school we had so many snow days that they actually had to tack a half hour on to each school day after spring break in order to make up the time.
The bottom line: snow is awesome, but students have to stay safe and schools have to meet standards. Like many other issues in public school, snow days mean that schools have to seek a balance. Personally, I'm glad that I've had a little time to catch up on everything, but it will be great to see my students tomorrow.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Irrational Exuberance
Apparently I have been out of the loop in terms of keeping up with other Web-savvy people. I had never heard of the Vlogbrothers until two weeks ago. The Vlogbrothers are John and Hank Green, two guys who set out in 2007 to communicate without text for an entire year ... that means: no IM, no email, and definitely no blogging. What was left? Well, the phone, and YouTube! John and Hank decided to post a YouTube video to one another on their own YouTube channel for an entire year. Somewhere around June or July 2007 they became insanely popular and have continued to post these videos, even though the challenge is over.
I happened upon them due to a podcast that I listen to. This was the first video that I watched of theirs, about the new economic stimulus bill. Regardless of how you feel about the bill, the video is definitely worth watching. My favorite quote, as suggested in the title of this blog, is "...irrational exuberance, which is my favorite kind of exuberance!"
*Note* apparently the video goes into periods of not working for a time. I have observed this happening, too, and have noticed that it usually resets itself within an hour or so. :)
I happened upon them due to a podcast that I listen to. This was the first video that I watched of theirs, about the new economic stimulus bill. Regardless of how you feel about the bill, the video is definitely worth watching. My favorite quote, as suggested in the title of this blog, is "...irrational exuberance, which is my favorite kind of exuberance!"
*Note* apparently the video goes into periods of not working for a time. I have observed this happening, too, and have noticed that it usually resets itself within an hour or so. :)
Monday, January 19, 2009
Happiness is just a Coke away
First blog post of the new year, and first post after reemerging from finals and then break. It's been a good two months consisting of, among other things, quite a few papers, pleasure reading, movies, cuddling with my dog, and two trips: Lexington and Atlanta.
I had the pleasure of visiting the World of Coke with my friends Rachel, Taylor, and Joseph while in Atlanta. Druggist John Pemberton invented the formula for Coca-Cola in Atlanta in the 1880s, during the era of soda fountains. Pemberton wanted to create something unique that was unlike anything else in the soda market. Like soda fountains today, soda was served by combining a syrup with carbonated water ... pretty cheap ingredients. The key, of course, is marketing. Pemberton got a good publicist, and made some quality publicity decisions himself, ensuring that Coke retained a good reputation into the 20th century.
More than a museum devoted to a mix of syrup and water, the World of Coke is a museum devoted to advertising. All visitors see a silly movie (with no real point other than silliness) at the beginning of the visit and are then free to explore different aspects of the museum (a two-level lobby with about eight small rooms leading off of it) at their own pace. You can take a picture with the Coca Cola polar bear, watch another film (this time in 3D ... er, 4D, because it appeals to your other senses as well), listen to Coca Cola "success" stories about how Coke changed people's lives, learn about the bottling process, and watch Coca Cola ads, among other things. The whole tour culminates in the tasting room where you can taste more than 80 Coke products from around the world ... did you know that Coca Cola produces Smart Water and Odwalla? Neither did I. Coca Cola is also an official sponsor of the Olympic Games and has more than 50 Olympic pins. There is also a ridiculous amount of art devoted to Coke.
The point is, this advertising works, and Coke is completely honest about it. They say more than once on the tour that the success of their product has a lot to do with their marketing and much less to do with the product itself (though they do cite that it's success comes from universal design, universal quality, and universal availability). They are good at it. I'm really not much of a Coke fan myself, I prefer lighter sodas like Sprite (also a Coke product) but by the end of the tour I was ready to drink a whole class of the syrupy goodness. Luckily, there was plenty of Coke for me in the tasting room and they gave me a free Coke in a bottle on my way out.
My friends and I were joking for the rest of my visit that happiness was just a Coke away, but isn't that exactly what the consumer culture wants us to think? That's why we have advertising in the first place. Coke, and other companies, succeed because they can convince us that their product will bring us just a little more happiness than we had a minute before. It may not be lasting joy, but it's good for the moment.
The best part of the museum for me was being able to examine Coke's marketing strategies and figure out what it is about them that draws me to drink something that I don't even really like. The answer? I like the little animated penguins in the polar bear commercials. I also like that Coke commercials emphasize general happiness.
And never fear ... unless you live in Cuba or Myanmar, you'll always have Coke within reach.
I had the pleasure of visiting the World of Coke with my friends Rachel, Taylor, and Joseph while in Atlanta. Druggist John Pemberton invented the formula for Coca-Cola in Atlanta in the 1880s, during the era of soda fountains. Pemberton wanted to create something unique that was unlike anything else in the soda market. Like soda fountains today, soda was served by combining a syrup with carbonated water ... pretty cheap ingredients. The key, of course, is marketing. Pemberton got a good publicist, and made some quality publicity decisions himself, ensuring that Coke retained a good reputation into the 20th century.
More than a museum devoted to a mix of syrup and water, the World of Coke is a museum devoted to advertising. All visitors see a silly movie (with no real point other than silliness) at the beginning of the visit and are then free to explore different aspects of the museum (a two-level lobby with about eight small rooms leading off of it) at their own pace. You can take a picture with the Coca Cola polar bear, watch another film (this time in 3D ... er, 4D, because it appeals to your other senses as well), listen to Coca Cola "success" stories about how Coke changed people's lives, learn about the bottling process, and watch Coca Cola ads, among other things. The whole tour culminates in the tasting room where you can taste more than 80 Coke products from around the world ... did you know that Coca Cola produces Smart Water and Odwalla? Neither did I. Coca Cola is also an official sponsor of the Olympic Games and has more than 50 Olympic pins. There is also a ridiculous amount of art devoted to Coke.
The point is, this advertising works, and Coke is completely honest about it. They say more than once on the tour that the success of their product has a lot to do with their marketing and much less to do with the product itself (though they do cite that it's success comes from universal design, universal quality, and universal availability). They are good at it. I'm really not much of a Coke fan myself, I prefer lighter sodas like Sprite (also a Coke product) but by the end of the tour I was ready to drink a whole class of the syrupy goodness. Luckily, there was plenty of Coke for me in the tasting room and they gave me a free Coke in a bottle on my way out.
My friends and I were joking for the rest of my visit that happiness was just a Coke away, but isn't that exactly what the consumer culture wants us to think? That's why we have advertising in the first place. Coke, and other companies, succeed because they can convince us that their product will bring us just a little more happiness than we had a minute before. It may not be lasting joy, but it's good for the moment.
The best part of the museum for me was being able to examine Coke's marketing strategies and figure out what it is about them that draws me to drink something that I don't even really like. The answer? I like the little animated penguins in the polar bear commercials. I also like that Coke commercials emphasize general happiness.
And never fear ... unless you live in Cuba or Myanmar, you'll always have Coke within reach.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Chapter 14
Heart of Gold, Chapter 14 is now posted! The chapter brings this story up to 100,000 words ... I can't believe it. I can't believe that I've written something that is 100,000 words, and not even finished yet. Just the fact that I've done it and that people are so fascinated and invested in the story gives me hope for my secondary career as an author.
Anyway, for those who follow the story, look for:
Anyway, for those who follow the story, look for:
- A change of heart
- A lot of answers ...
- ...and a whole bunch of new questions
- Realizations
- Decisions
- Regulus' arrival in Ireland
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Should the media disclose political bias?
I am working on my third lesson plan for my Social Studies Methods class. This particular lesson plan is based on the SAC (structured academic controversy) model and, as the government class will begin discussion on the media next week, I have decided to create a debate-lesson about whether or not reporters should disclose political bias, either by revealing their bias in their writing or by participating in the political process.
The model breaks students into groups of 4, with 2 students arguing a particular side at any given time, and has both sets of students take either the FOR or AGAINST side for the argument at some point during the debate. The point is to force students to consider the multiplicity of ideas that come from debates so that they can make an informed decision for themselves about the question. Students read a selection during the class and have a few minutes to prepare an argument with the reading, which they present to the other two students in their group, who ask clarifying questions and then take a few minutes to present the other side of the debate. Then, students switch sides, and do the whole thing over again. After all students have had the opportunity to argue both sides, students participate in some kind of culminating activity. I'm going to ask my kids to express their own opinion and choose a side to give them the opportunity to freely debate the topic for the rest of the class period (they've done this sort of thing before).
The readings I chose:
FOR #1: http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/080208vote/
FOR #2: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1128354/posts
AGAINST #1: http://articles.latimes.com/2008/feb/05/local/me-parsons5
AGAINST #2: http://www.npr.org/ombudsman/2008/02/should_journalists_vote.html?sc=emaf
My take? I subscribe to a little bit on both sides. I don't think journalists should disenfranchise themselves. The honest truth is that everyone has some sort of bias and it's ridiculous to think that we are able to report on anything without being affected by our unique perception of the world around us and by our own history. However, at the same time, I still do not believe that journalists should be involved in political campaigning, or that a journalist involved with Greenpeace (an example from AGAINST #1) should be able to report on their organization.
Journalists should do everything that they can to limit their bias, but they should acknowledge that that bias exists and at times it may be appropriate to acknowledge what that bias is. I know that most American journalists would very much disagree with me on that point, including my journalism professors, and this is a large reason of why I decided not to be a journalist. Talking to people outside the profession has convinced me that a primary reason people do not trust the media is because the media does not reveal its bias. Friends and family have hinted, though not outright stated, that they might trust the media more if the media would reveal how it is biased.
Now, I don't think that every journalist should be out spouting all of their personal beliefs. That's just bad journalism. Part of journalism is learning how to build a boundary for yourself and limiting yourself from taking on a story that you know you are unable to report on objectively. Conversely, journalists shouldn't lie to themselves. No matter how much you try to limit bias, it will still show through.
Personal case in point: grading. I've been going through my first batch of student papers. I thought it would be easy, based on my perceptions from class. WOW! Not the case. After reviewing the papers once, I found that I needed to throw all preconceived notions out the window. They are all great papers, don't get me wrong, every student did very well. But I had completely pegged some kids wrong, and I think that that had a lot to do with what I've experienced in my own past and with my interactions with them over the past two months. I've become much more cautious in class since then, rethinking my perceptions of each student and why I perceive them that way. It has been very eye-opening, and I've been trying to grade their papers very carefully.
However, knowing my students the way that I do assures me that they will be able to handle this assignment, and that they will excel at it. I do not have the answer for them because I can see good points on either side, but I feel that that is how the classroom is supposed to be. It's not about me handing down an answer, but about me structuring the lesson so that they can construct their own learning and perspective on what they think about the question.
Hmm, subject-centered classroom, anyone? :) Go Parker Palmer.
The model breaks students into groups of 4, with 2 students arguing a particular side at any given time, and has both sets of students take either the FOR or AGAINST side for the argument at some point during the debate. The point is to force students to consider the multiplicity of ideas that come from debates so that they can make an informed decision for themselves about the question. Students read a selection during the class and have a few minutes to prepare an argument with the reading, which they present to the other two students in their group, who ask clarifying questions and then take a few minutes to present the other side of the debate. Then, students switch sides, and do the whole thing over again. After all students have had the opportunity to argue both sides, students participate in some kind of culminating activity. I'm going to ask my kids to express their own opinion and choose a side to give them the opportunity to freely debate the topic for the rest of the class period (they've done this sort of thing before).
The readings I chose:
FOR #1: http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/080208vote/
FOR #2: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1128354/posts
AGAINST #1: http://articles.latimes.com/2008/feb/05/local/me-parsons5
AGAINST #2: http://www.npr.org/ombudsman/2008/02/should_journalists_vote.html?sc=emaf
My take? I subscribe to a little bit on both sides. I don't think journalists should disenfranchise themselves. The honest truth is that everyone has some sort of bias and it's ridiculous to think that we are able to report on anything without being affected by our unique perception of the world around us and by our own history. However, at the same time, I still do not believe that journalists should be involved in political campaigning, or that a journalist involved with Greenpeace (an example from AGAINST #1) should be able to report on their organization.
Journalists should do everything that they can to limit their bias, but they should acknowledge that that bias exists and at times it may be appropriate to acknowledge what that bias is. I know that most American journalists would very much disagree with me on that point, including my journalism professors, and this is a large reason of why I decided not to be a journalist. Talking to people outside the profession has convinced me that a primary reason people do not trust the media is because the media does not reveal its bias. Friends and family have hinted, though not outright stated, that they might trust the media more if the media would reveal how it is biased.
Now, I don't think that every journalist should be out spouting all of their personal beliefs. That's just bad journalism. Part of journalism is learning how to build a boundary for yourself and limiting yourself from taking on a story that you know you are unable to report on objectively. Conversely, journalists shouldn't lie to themselves. No matter how much you try to limit bias, it will still show through.
Personal case in point: grading. I've been going through my first batch of student papers. I thought it would be easy, based on my perceptions from class. WOW! Not the case. After reviewing the papers once, I found that I needed to throw all preconceived notions out the window. They are all great papers, don't get me wrong, every student did very well. But I had completely pegged some kids wrong, and I think that that had a lot to do with what I've experienced in my own past and with my interactions with them over the past two months. I've become much more cautious in class since then, rethinking my perceptions of each student and why I perceive them that way. It has been very eye-opening, and I've been trying to grade their papers very carefully.
However, knowing my students the way that I do assures me that they will be able to handle this assignment, and that they will excel at it. I do not have the answer for them because I can see good points on either side, but I feel that that is how the classroom is supposed to be. It's not about me handing down an answer, but about me structuring the lesson so that they can construct their own learning and perspective on what they think about the question.
Hmm, subject-centered classroom, anyone? :) Go Parker Palmer.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Harry, A History
I meant to give this plug a few days ago, but I got a little carried away with the election. :) Not surprising. Anyway, I wanted to take an entry to plug a new book that I think anyone interested in the Harry Potter phenomenon should read. It's called Harry, a History: the true story of a boy wizard, his fans, and life inside the Harry Potter phenomenon, by Melissa Anelli, the woman in charge over at The Leaky Cauldron.
I have not yet had a chance to thumb through the book myself, but I listen to a podcast that Melissa is a part of regularly, and they interviewed her on the show about the book, so I feel like I have some good insider info about it. Melissa is uniquely positioned to write about the whole affair because of her prominent place as webmistress of one of the biggest Harry Potter sites on the Web. Further, Leaky is more than just a fan site, it's a news site, and Melissa is a freelance journalist. She has treated her job as a journalist and not as a fan, so Leaky has a sense of professionalism that is very rare among obsessed fan bases. That's why I appreciate Leaky the way that I do. Finally, Melissa has had the opportunity to enjoy the books in multiple contexts, and to really be fully involved in the online community. She's probably the most qualified person to write this book.
From the interview, it sounds like Melissa spends time outlining key aspects of the fan community, but she also tells her own story of how she came to be a part of the community. I think the fact that Melissa weaves her own story throughout the book shows what Harry Potter has really been for so many people. Harry Potter has created community. I would venture to say that this is because the books deal with so many core issues of what it means to be human: life, death, family, friends, good, evil, sacrifice, forgiveness, love ... just to mention a few. Trust me, there's more, and when you're dealing with such heavy material, it's natural to seek out other people to discuss it with you.
That's why Harry Potter is so popular. Readers are faced with information, story, and philosophy that requires a response. If one really engages with the books, one cannot help feeling a kind of inner transformation as you read them, the kind of transformation that you want to share. Obviously, it pales in comparison to the kind of transformation that occurs when reading the Bible and interacting with God, but it's a kind of spiritual transformation. We are spiritual people and when something touches us in our souls, we have to share it.
I'm looking forward to reading Melissa's take on everything, especially the online communities and fan fiction. In terms of me, I got into the whole Harry Potter thing while looking for a community. I started reading the books in 8th grade (when the 3rd book had just come out) because a club I was part of at school had decided to read them. I got involved in the online communities and in fan fiction in high school because friends of mine were involved in them and thought that I would enjoy them. In doing so, I had a whole new world opened to me, all at the click of the mouse.
Take a look at Melissa's book and take a look at some of the fan sites. They're rather imaginative and cool. The beginning was a community for me, and my whole HP experience has been shaped by community since. I think it's very cool, and I'm glad that someone has chosen to write about it!
I have not yet had a chance to thumb through the book myself, but I listen to a podcast that Melissa is a part of regularly, and they interviewed her on the show about the book, so I feel like I have some good insider info about it. Melissa is uniquely positioned to write about the whole affair because of her prominent place as webmistress of one of the biggest Harry Potter sites on the Web. Further, Leaky is more than just a fan site, it's a news site, and Melissa is a freelance journalist. She has treated her job as a journalist and not as a fan, so Leaky has a sense of professionalism that is very rare among obsessed fan bases. That's why I appreciate Leaky the way that I do. Finally, Melissa has had the opportunity to enjoy the books in multiple contexts, and to really be fully involved in the online community. She's probably the most qualified person to write this book.
From the interview, it sounds like Melissa spends time outlining key aspects of the fan community, but she also tells her own story of how she came to be a part of the community. I think the fact that Melissa weaves her own story throughout the book shows what Harry Potter has really been for so many people. Harry Potter has created community. I would venture to say that this is because the books deal with so many core issues of what it means to be human: life, death, family, friends, good, evil, sacrifice, forgiveness, love ... just to mention a few. Trust me, there's more, and when you're dealing with such heavy material, it's natural to seek out other people to discuss it with you.
That's why Harry Potter is so popular. Readers are faced with information, story, and philosophy that requires a response. If one really engages with the books, one cannot help feeling a kind of inner transformation as you read them, the kind of transformation that you want to share. Obviously, it pales in comparison to the kind of transformation that occurs when reading the Bible and interacting with God, but it's a kind of spiritual transformation. We are spiritual people and when something touches us in our souls, we have to share it.
I'm looking forward to reading Melissa's take on everything, especially the online communities and fan fiction. In terms of me, I got into the whole Harry Potter thing while looking for a community. I started reading the books in 8th grade (when the 3rd book had just come out) because a club I was part of at school had decided to read them. I got involved in the online communities and in fan fiction in high school because friends of mine were involved in them and thought that I would enjoy them. In doing so, I had a whole new world opened to me, all at the click of the mouse.
Take a look at Melissa's book and take a look at some of the fan sites. They're rather imaginative and cool. The beginning was a community for me, and my whole HP experience has been shaped by community since. I think it's very cool, and I'm glad that someone has chosen to write about it!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Land of the free
Despite all the bad press, really, I'm proud to be an American. As much as I try to remember that I'm also a world citizen, and that my identity as a Christian supersedes any other affiliation that I have, there are some times when being American makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Here are some reasons why I feel that way today.
1. The world goes on. Seasons come and seasons go. Change is inevitable and you cannot continue going in one direction forever. It's natural. Hearing other perspectives is a very good thing. I'm glad that Americans are open to hearing other points of view.
2. We have gracious winners and gracious losers. Barack Obama isn't gloating over John McCain, and John McCain is offering his full support and aid to Barack Obama. The presidency isn't something to treat lightly, folks. This is a job that can literally take years off of your life in stress. Thank God that despite it all, these two men are willing and able to work with each other.
3. I am so proud of our voters for setting records for political participation. That's what it's all about. I helped shuttle 300+ students to the polls yesterday morning in about 3 hours. That's awesome! And over 5 million Facebook users voted! Also awesome!
4. Media coverage last night wasn't bad. The networks didn't call states too quickly and they were showing positive highlights for both candidates. I had to go to bed by 10 and I still really had the feeling that the election could go either way. Props. However, I'm a bit disappointed by the language the AP is using. Landslide? Sweep? Yeah, maybe in terms of the number of electoral votes, but not in terms of the popular vote in key swing states. Virginia came really close, y'all. It's important to remember that honestly, a few thousand changed votes could have produced a different result.
5. Though there is a Democratic majority in both the House and the Senate, the margin is close enough that there will still be room for substantive conversation and other perspectives. We have checks and balances for a reason, and they work. Obama will still have to deal with the Republicans in Congress. Honestly, this is a government teacher's dream, as my CT said this morning to our class. The government and the parties are going to have to work together to get anything done. My hope is that they will.
To me, the country does feel a bit different than it did yesterday, and perhaps it is, but I know that this life and this country is more than the person sitting in the Oval Office. A good teacher, a good citizen, a good American will be able to look at the trends, take it in stride, and pull out things that we can learn. I'm excited to see what will happen next.
1. The world goes on. Seasons come and seasons go. Change is inevitable and you cannot continue going in one direction forever. It's natural. Hearing other perspectives is a very good thing. I'm glad that Americans are open to hearing other points of view.
2. We have gracious winners and gracious losers. Barack Obama isn't gloating over John McCain, and John McCain is offering his full support and aid to Barack Obama. The presidency isn't something to treat lightly, folks. This is a job that can literally take years off of your life in stress. Thank God that despite it all, these two men are willing and able to work with each other.
3. I am so proud of our voters for setting records for political participation. That's what it's all about. I helped shuttle 300+ students to the polls yesterday morning in about 3 hours. That's awesome! And over 5 million Facebook users voted! Also awesome!
4. Media coverage last night wasn't bad. The networks didn't call states too quickly and they were showing positive highlights for both candidates. I had to go to bed by 10 and I still really had the feeling that the election could go either way. Props. However, I'm a bit disappointed by the language the AP is using. Landslide? Sweep? Yeah, maybe in terms of the number of electoral votes, but not in terms of the popular vote in key swing states. Virginia came really close, y'all. It's important to remember that honestly, a few thousand changed votes could have produced a different result.
5. Though there is a Democratic majority in both the House and the Senate, the margin is close enough that there will still be room for substantive conversation and other perspectives. We have checks and balances for a reason, and they work. Obama will still have to deal with the Republicans in Congress. Honestly, this is a government teacher's dream, as my CT said this morning to our class. The government and the parties are going to have to work together to get anything done. My hope is that they will.
To me, the country does feel a bit different than it did yesterday, and perhaps it is, but I know that this life and this country is more than the person sitting in the Oval Office. A good teacher, a good citizen, a good American will be able to look at the trends, take it in stride, and pull out things that we can learn. I'm excited to see what will happen next.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
The day is finally here
Yes, I am going to echo the sentiments of many others: I'll be glad when this day is over. So much has happened during this election that makes me a bit ashamed to be an American. Honestly. Regardless of your political beliefs, there are things going on here that should never happen.
1. The blatant undermining of female candidates ... specifically, Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin, and really, you can take it back to Geraldine Ferraro, too. Why is it that whenever a strong woman comes forward for office, she is attacked several times more than the male candidates? I do not understand. Despite what I think about any of these women, I'm just glad that they're taking the initiative. How does being a woman make someone unfit for office? I doubt that any of these people would directly state that sentiment, however, their actions speak louder than their words. What they've done to these women shows what's really in their hearts.
2. A campaign that lasts two years ... the first time I heard about Barack Obama was about a year and a half ago. Again, that should just not happen. The presidential system was never designed for two year campaigns. When did the presidency become about who can spend the most money and beguile enough people? I'm not pointing fingers at either campaign, either. John McCain is just as guilty of these as Barack Obama. Historically, campaigns like this are a very recent blip on the radar. Fifty years ago, the campaign started after the nomination. Can you imagine what a two month campaign would be like? I think it would be heaven.
3. Total underpining of the issues ... despite what anyone would say about Obama and McCain, they're only talking about half of the issues they are covering because of minor candidates who add accountability to the system. If this were just the Obama and McCain show, I can guarantee that we'd have a much shorter list of issues on our plates. The problem that I have run into with this campaign is that I have such little trust in the president to do what he says he's going to do anymore. Actually, it's not just the president, it's really any political figure. Because of the nature of the campaign beast, candidates will say anything to get elected. Will they actually follow through? Who knows. I'd like to believe that they will, but I'm trying not to be that naive.
Regardless of all that negativity, there is one thing about this election that has been incredibly heartening: the response of the American people. Never before has there been such an incredible movement to get Americans to vote. The Student Assembly at W&M conducted such a vibrant campaign effort to get students to register in Williamsburg that we actually have to help out at the polls so that they don't become overwhelmed by extra people. Facebook is asking everyone who signs in whether or not they have voted today, and tracking it here. Organizations like The Leaky Cauldron and HP Alliance have taken advantage of the fact that they have a wide fan base and planned events like Wrock the Vote to encourage their fans to register, if they have not already.
That is just fantastic. As a government teacher (and former student) I know all of the excuses for why people choose not to vote:
1. The blatant undermining of female candidates ... specifically, Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin, and really, you can take it back to Geraldine Ferraro, too. Why is it that whenever a strong woman comes forward for office, she is attacked several times more than the male candidates? I do not understand. Despite what I think about any of these women, I'm just glad that they're taking the initiative. How does being a woman make someone unfit for office? I doubt that any of these people would directly state that sentiment, however, their actions speak louder than their words. What they've done to these women shows what's really in their hearts.
2. A campaign that lasts two years ... the first time I heard about Barack Obama was about a year and a half ago. Again, that should just not happen. The presidential system was never designed for two year campaigns. When did the presidency become about who can spend the most money and beguile enough people? I'm not pointing fingers at either campaign, either. John McCain is just as guilty of these as Barack Obama. Historically, campaigns like this are a very recent blip on the radar. Fifty years ago, the campaign started after the nomination. Can you imagine what a two month campaign would be like? I think it would be heaven.
3. Total underpining of the issues ... despite what anyone would say about Obama and McCain, they're only talking about half of the issues they are covering because of minor candidates who add accountability to the system. If this were just the Obama and McCain show, I can guarantee that we'd have a much shorter list of issues on our plates. The problem that I have run into with this campaign is that I have such little trust in the president to do what he says he's going to do anymore. Actually, it's not just the president, it's really any political figure. Because of the nature of the campaign beast, candidates will say anything to get elected. Will they actually follow through? Who knows. I'd like to believe that they will, but I'm trying not to be that naive.
Regardless of all that negativity, there is one thing about this election that has been incredibly heartening: the response of the American people. Never before has there been such an incredible movement to get Americans to vote. The Student Assembly at W&M conducted such a vibrant campaign effort to get students to register in Williamsburg that we actually have to help out at the polls so that they don't become overwhelmed by extra people. Facebook is asking everyone who signs in whether or not they have voted today, and tracking it here. Organizations like The Leaky Cauldron and HP Alliance have taken advantage of the fact that they have a wide fan base and planned events like Wrock the Vote to encourage their fans to register, if they have not already.
That is just fantastic. As a government teacher (and former student) I know all of the excuses for why people choose not to vote:
- the weather is bad
- they feel that their vote will not make a difference
- apathy with the system
- do not align with either candidate
- too busy
- they forget about election day
- they cannot get to the polls in time
- among others
- so what? Yes, it's raining outside ... a little rain never hurt anyone
- clearly, your vote DOES make a difference
- I'm apathetic with the system too ... and I voted
- I also don't align with either candidate ... this is about your duty as a citizen
- I have a job, a teaching internship, I'm taking 13 credits, I attend church multiple times a week, I have mentoring appointments, I serve on the Student Assembly ... still think you're busy?
- Anyone who forgets that today is Election Day is clearly hiding under a rock
- The polls are open today from 6 am - 8 pm. You have time.
Monday, November 3, 2008
PGD-I4: The beauty of competition
I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but current gas prices are pretty sweet. I took this picture several weeks ago because gas had fallen below $3. I couldn't believe it! Surely, I thought, the trend could not last long, and it had to be documented.
Well, I was driving to school this morning and I saw that two gas stations near my flat have gas for $2.01.
Yes. $2.01.
How is that possible, you might be wondering. Certainly, gas prices aren't that low in Northern Virginia ... not to mention California. Just to add to the ridiculousness of the matter, only a half mile away, there is a gas station selling its cheapest gas at $2.19.
Again. I'm guessing that this is puzzling.
My guess, based on my knowledge of economic theory, draws on a couple factors about the locations of these gas stations. Gas Stations A and B are located on opposing sides of an intersection that is relatively well-traveled, but not a major route through Williamsburg. Gas Station C, however, is located on one of the five or so major roads. There are also no other gas stations on this road for a couple miles. Further, Gas Station A is privately owned, while Gas Station B is owned by a typical gas station that can be found through most of the U.S.
Therein lies the beauty of competition. Gas Station C has no direct competition, even though it is only located a half mile from the other two. Anyone driving down that major road without insider knowledge about A and B will get gas at C. Gas Station C is located next to the entrance to a major highway, as well as a lot of fast food. Tourists come across it regularly, and they're in a hurry. They want to buy gas and get some food quickly. They are also probably coming from larger metropolitan areas so they think that $2.19 for gas is a pretty sweet deal. In contrast, Stations A and B are in a mainly residential and local area. Plus, locals like me compare gas prices and know where to go.
Further, Station B has to match the price of Station A because it is right across the street. Because A is privately owned, it can set different prices. Of course, it has to make a profit, so it can't set a price below cost (whatever that really is). Actually, they probably aren't making much money. Gas prices at $2 are not sustainable for long. But the fact that both gas stations are selling at that price proves the point. Competition is beautiful. I've been watching these two gas stations set steadily lower prices for four weeks now, and my jaw still drops whenever I drive by and see such low prices. Competition is so good for the consumer, as long as that consumer is willing to do some research.
Granted, this is a very simplistic example of competition. I'm sure there are some economic aspects to the argument that have not been covered, and I know enough economists who could correct those points for me if they wanted to. However, it remains interesting. It is a post-graduate discovery because it is an example of something in real life that I learned about as an undergrad.
Here's hoping for a stable economy ... please?
Well, I was driving to school this morning and I saw that two gas stations near my flat have gas for $2.01.
Yes. $2.01.
How is that possible, you might be wondering. Certainly, gas prices aren't that low in Northern Virginia ... not to mention California. Just to add to the ridiculousness of the matter, only a half mile away, there is a gas station selling its cheapest gas at $2.19.
Again. I'm guessing that this is puzzling.
My guess, based on my knowledge of economic theory, draws on a couple factors about the locations of these gas stations. Gas Stations A and B are located on opposing sides of an intersection that is relatively well-traveled, but not a major route through Williamsburg. Gas Station C, however, is located on one of the five or so major roads. There are also no other gas stations on this road for a couple miles. Further, Gas Station A is privately owned, while Gas Station B is owned by a typical gas station that can be found through most of the U.S.
Therein lies the beauty of competition. Gas Station C has no direct competition, even though it is only located a half mile from the other two. Anyone driving down that major road without insider knowledge about A and B will get gas at C. Gas Station C is located next to the entrance to a major highway, as well as a lot of fast food. Tourists come across it regularly, and they're in a hurry. They want to buy gas and get some food quickly. They are also probably coming from larger metropolitan areas so they think that $2.19 for gas is a pretty sweet deal. In contrast, Stations A and B are in a mainly residential and local area. Plus, locals like me compare gas prices and know where to go.
Further, Station B has to match the price of Station A because it is right across the street. Because A is privately owned, it can set different prices. Of course, it has to make a profit, so it can't set a price below cost (whatever that really is). Actually, they probably aren't making much money. Gas prices at $2 are not sustainable for long. But the fact that both gas stations are selling at that price proves the point. Competition is beautiful. I've been watching these two gas stations set steadily lower prices for four weeks now, and my jaw still drops whenever I drive by and see such low prices. Competition is so good for the consumer, as long as that consumer is willing to do some research.
Granted, this is a very simplistic example of competition. I'm sure there are some economic aspects to the argument that have not been covered, and I know enough economists who could correct those points for me if they wanted to. However, it remains interesting. It is a post-graduate discovery because it is an example of something in real life that I learned about as an undergrad.
Here's hoping for a stable economy ... please?
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Technology Modules
One class that all W&M education students are required to complete is a course in technology integration in the classroom. Obviously, this is right up my alley. Even more exciting is the fact that my GA adviser is the teacher! Mark always has great ideas in and out of class for technological integration. His rule of thumb is that yes, technology can do a lot for you, but what should you be using technology for? What is the relative advantage of a specific type of technology in your classroom ... meaning, what does it add to the classroom that you would not be able to do otherwise?
This week we are each meeting with Mark to discuss individual technology lesson plans. I'm still trying to decide what I'm going to do for mine. We have done some class exploration to learn about different types of technology and how they work in the classroom. Here are some class project examples from that exploration (the elementary people did these technology modules as well). I could easily come up with a lesson plan for the technology module I created (podcasting) but I think that I want to explore something different. I am considering blogging, Inspiration, PhotoStory, and Web Inquiry. Ideas?
Also, here is a sample of a movie that one of my colleagues (Eric) created during one of our classes to answer the age-old debate: Pirates vs. Ninjas.
This week we are each meeting with Mark to discuss individual technology lesson plans. I'm still trying to decide what I'm going to do for mine. We have done some class exploration to learn about different types of technology and how they work in the classroom. Here are some class project examples from that exploration (the elementary people did these technology modules as well). I could easily come up with a lesson plan for the technology module I created (podcasting) but I think that I want to explore something different. I am considering blogging, Inspiration, PhotoStory, and Web Inquiry. Ideas?
Also, here is a sample of a movie that one of my colleagues (Eric) created during one of our classes to answer the age-old debate: Pirates vs. Ninjas.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Autumn
Things I love about fall:
- Fall colors ... they just started coming out in Williamsburg this week! The trees around William and Mary are beautiful. Growing up in California for such a prolonged period of time really made me appreciate having all the seasonal changes. I've been watching for good fall colors for a couple weeks now, and I'm so glad that they've come out in full force.
- Football ... I've watched almost every VT game this year and most of the UVA games, as well as some of the other games, too. I've enjoyed watching football for several years now, but this is the first year I've really invested time in watching it regularly. It's a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon (while lesson planning, of course!)
- Fall food ... pie, turkey, cornbread, chili, soup, mashed potatoes, stuffing, all of it. I can't wait for Thanksgiving.
- Cooler weather ... the days have started getting especially cooler this week, and I'm so excited to be able to wear sweaters again, and use my brand new red peacoat from my parents for my birthday.
- My birthday! and my sister's ... she just turned 21, heavens ... that makes me feel old!
School days
Going to the high school is the best part of my week. No joke. This is probably why I haven't written as much here as I should have -- I've been having so much fun lesson planning and preparing for my time at school. The best part of the experience so far has been getting to know my students. I am currently completing observations in an AP Government classroom and an AP Microeconomics classroom. Initially, I was only interacting with students in Econ because the class does a fair amount of small group work, but I've been able to interact with the AP Government students recently during our political parties unit.
Some of the highlights so far:
Things I am hoping to continue cultivating in myself
Some of the highlights so far:
- The kids look up to me a ridiculous amount for not having known me for very long. A couple of the girls have asked me for advice about things. I think this is partially because I'm a young, female teacher and they probably don't know many women in their mid-20s. Regardless of the reason, it's cool.
- Assisting the students with their political parties project ... they split into groups and created their own political parties and platforms. I helped them make short campaign videos! Go using journalism skills.
- Direct quote from said political parties project: "Hey, Ms. N---- said it would work, and she's a grad student! We should put it in our platform!"
- Chaperoning at the Homecoming Dance ... lots of "Hey, Ms. N-----!" and "Why didn't you bring a date?" haha ...
- Getting to know lots of teachers ... I've also observed in another AP Government class, a 9th grade regular English class, and a 10th grade World Geography class
- Finding my "teacher voice" and my "teacher demeanor" ... a year ago, there's no way I would have been able to lead a lesson for 90 minutes. Amazing.
- Lesson planning is actually fun ... which is good since that is all I do. 80% of teaching is planning, I have decided
- Seeing high school from the other end of the spectrum. I mean, I was never the kid who hated high school, but there were definitely parts of it that I didn't like. This puts an entirely new spin on the whole affair.
- Seeing how each high school is unique.
- Meeting dozens of innovative teachers who teach beyond the standards and find ways to make content engaging while getting across the main points.
Things I am hoping to continue cultivating in myself
- Ability to ask engaging, higher-level questions
- Relating to all of my students
- Finding ways to introduce technology in a seamless way
- Designing real-life lessons that relate to things my students are interested in
- Doing all of it without losing my sanity! :)
Friday, October 17, 2008
Wordle
I know I haven't written in a while! I will again soon. But first, I wanted to bring your attention to a cool Web site that my graduate assistantship (GA) adviser, Mark, showed me yesterday: www.wordle.net. The site allows you to paste text in a box and it randomizes it for you in a word cloud to show you the most used words. You can also put a link in to any Web site with an RSS feed (like a blog) and see the most used words there, too. Of course, I couldn't resist. Here are the word clouds for each of my three blogs:
Wonder of Now (this blog):
London Holiday (study abroad experience in London):
For His Renown (attempted blog when I went to the Urbana and Passion conferences in 2006):
Go check it out! And, if you want to see any of these clouds in detail, just click on the picture. You'll be able to read all of the words.
Mark and I were thinking that this could be a cool way to analyze primary source documents in the classroom. He ran the Obama and McCain convention speeches through Wordle and it was really neat to see visually what words they both focus on. Any thoughts on that?
Wonder of Now (this blog):
London Holiday (study abroad experience in London):
For His Renown (attempted blog when I went to the Urbana and Passion conferences in 2006):
Go check it out! And, if you want to see any of these clouds in detail, just click on the picture. You'll be able to read all of the words.
Mark and I were thinking that this could be a cool way to analyze primary source documents in the classroom. He ran the Obama and McCain convention speeches through Wordle and it was really neat to see visually what words they both focus on. Any thoughts on that?
Friday, September 12, 2008
Back to school
I've probably thought of about fifteen different things to blog about in the past two weeks, but as I've been busy with school work and life in general, that hasn't happened. I've been considering blogging about general technology use in classrooms, the inquiry method of social studies instruction, content reading and writing, and classroom management strategies. I've also been considering blogging about worship, Philippians, 1 Samuel, and relational evangelism. Still further, what I have been up to. It's been a busy two weeks. Here are some highlights.
1. Student teaching I got my student teaching placement! To protect anonymity, my students, W&M, and the high school I am in, I am not going to reveal which high school it is or my cooperating teacher. However, I will say that I will be teaching government, both regular and AP, come spring time. I am mostly doing observations this semester. Of course, the school is somewhere in the Tidewater area, within an hour's drive of Williamsburg. That's about 10 plus possible school districts. ;) Naturally, I am very happy with my placement, and I think that this will be a great year. I will meet the kids for the first time next week.
2. Christian life I have been attending services at New Town UMC since June, and I still really like it there. I also started going to their Wednesday night Bible study with some friends in the end of July. We are doing an expository study of the book of Philippians, and we're still in chapter 2, haha. Seeing as we only discussed one verse this week (2:25), this is not surprising. I really admire NTUMC's commitment to fellowship, doctrine, worship, prayer, and the needs of the congregation. The church really feels like a family to me, and I've only been there a short while. I'm seeing God's blessings everywhere I look, and it's just amazing. I've been attending the Bible study with a couple friends and we're hoping to get more people to join us as the year progresses. The great part is that we don't just see each other for Bible study, we try to get together outside of church, too, so that we're involved in each other's lives. This is so important in Christian community. I have also started singing at Bruton Parish on Sunday nights. A friend found out that I sing and invited me to sing in the student choir, and it's been really interesting and fun so far. Definitely a different experience, but one that has been beneficial for me, especially considering my experience with TFC. I'm glad to have this opportunity to be in open dialogue in that setting.
3. Working hard I'm working for a different professor during the school year, and I'm having a lot of fun so far. One project I worked on a few weeks ago was to create screen capture videos as an explanation for how to use Wikispaces. W&M education students use Wikispaces to create electronic portfolios of their progress throughout the year. I had a lot of fun creating these videos, so check them out.
4. Reading ... not for pleasure My month of pleasure reading has ended. While I have been finding some time to read through the last book in the Twilight series (Breaking Dawn), I have mostly been reading for my various classes. I'm hoping to write a blog about the Twilight series once I finish it. :) I will likely offer some thoughts on other reading materials for my various classes, but I do have a lot to do, so those may be more infrequent.
5. Time for play Despite the work, I'm still a social person. The C&I bunch has become even closer than we were over the summer, and I think we're starting to scare some people because we know each other so well. It's fun. :) I also went to UVA this past weekend with a friend for my first Cavalier football game. I really like Charlottesville, and thankfully we managed to avoid Tropical Storm Hanna! The rain stopped an hour before the game started. Fantastic. I'm going to Virginia Tech this weekend with my friend Laurie and her family, and I'll also get to see Jesse and Caelah! So, I'm really just having an orange identity crisis between Tech and UVA. Who do I cheer for? ;) There have also been Wii game sessions, dinners, bowling, poker, movie nights, and endless conversations.
Needless to stay, I've already built a life here, and I love everything about it.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Chapter 13
For anyone who reads my blog for my fanfiction updates, this is for YOU! Chapter 13 is finally up. I know that it has been 8 months. I know that I could have spent all the time writing my blog this year writing "Heart of Gold" (actually, the story has approached novel length, so I might start referring to it as Heart of Gold instead). I greatly apologize for that. BUT I promise that you will like the chapter.
Some highlights to whet your appetite:
- Liam and Aislinn decide to do something new
- We finally find out what Christopher Devon is so afraid about
- Regulus and Lily decorate the office for Christmas (note: this shows you what month it was when I started writing the chapter, haha)
- Regulus feels mortal peril ... three times
- Regulus gets into a tiff
Go read. :) And review!
Is there something more?
One of my readers asked for more information about IVCF in my previous post, and I was really glad to get that perspective. IVCF is an organization centered on college students, so they have little direct presence in public schools, however, the organization is involved in promoting service among college students. A lot of that service work happens in the public school sector, so IVCF does affect public schools indirectly. In fact, IVCF has an entire conference called Urbana devoted to promoting service and missions work. The conference happens every three years, and really is an amazing way to spend five days -- I attended the one in 2006. According to the mission statement of IVCF, its purpose is to establish "witnessing communities" on college campuses and universities mostly in the US, but also around the world and to promote the message of Jesus Christ, growing in love for God and for God's Word, God's purposes for the world, and ethnic reconciliation.
I have seen IVCF have a positive impact at every university I have visited with a chapter, and I have experienced the power of this kind of community first hand. I went to Urbana with only two other people from my chapter (our staff worker and a law student) so I was "adopted" by several other chapters while I was there. I went to the conference knowing next to nobody, but left with dozens of new friends. That alone shows the power that the organization has in welcoming students and drawing them into community.
In terms of this kind of teaching and NCLB, there is obviously something missing in modern schools. We're test-driven and we've lost a lot of focus on developing our students as people and as future leaders. Beyond making sure our students get good grades and test scores and go on to make our schools look good, we've lost a concern for helping them discover a future hope and goals. This was always a part of both private and public education until now, and it's rather tragic that this is so downplayed in modern public schooling.
I do not think that any particular group would say that developing students and people and leaders is a terrible goal for schools, but I think that priorities have changed. This is one reason why I am looking forward to teaching social studies -- you can't get away with this kind of thinking in a social studies classroom. Social studies has a dual purpose of teaching the subject and promoting citizenship and the discovery of an enlightened life. You can't teach history without teaching what people thought, and that is a great opportunity to challenge your students with the thoughts of philosophers and great thinkers, from all over the globe.
The fact is that though students can put up a front about not caring about their education, most of them are searching for the answers to life's big questions. My high school experienced this in a powerful way. Two of our social studies teachers proposed starting a Comparative Religion/Philosophy elective for the junior and senior class. The students would spent half of the year studying religion and the other half studying philosophy. The school and the school board fought the proposition for months, stating that it would be a waste of resources because no modern student is interested in that kind of thinking. Our schools are full of atheists and deists now. Who would take such a class.
How wrong they were! Half of the senior class and a good chunk of the junior class signed up for the course. They actually had to open three new sections and ask other teachers in the school if they would be willing to teach religion and philosophy. The class was fantastic because all of the students were interested in the subject matter and in applying it to their own lives. We all wanted to consider and answer questions about the meaning of life and how we order the way that we think and the way that we make moral decisions. The county actually asked the teachers to consolidate their notes so that they could promote the class at other high schools.
Clearly, students do want something more, but they need to be presented with the opportunity to find it. There is certainly room for this within No Child Left Behind and public education, but it takes initiative, planning, and perseverance. It takes teachers willing to take a risk and not just stick to the properly approved courses, but to reach out and do something more than is required. If they really care about their students, they will do that.
Monday, August 25, 2008
What matters?
What matters to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship? Everything.
I've been having fun promoting InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at W&M over the past couple of days. I'm so excited to be involved with this chapter this year! Everyone is friendly and I can really see God working in their lives. For a summary of what IVCF is all about, check out this video.
Friday, August 22, 2008
A future hope
"I want to talk to you about the subject of plans, life plans and how we all make them, and how we hope that our kids make good, smart, safe plans of their own. But if we're really honest with ourselves, most of our plans don't work out as we'd hoped. So instead of asking our young people, "What are your plans? What do you plan to do with your life?" maybe we should tell them this: Plan to be surprised." ~ Dan In Real Life
Anyone who spends any length of time with my immediate family will quickly come to recognize my father's love for movies. So, the time I spent at home is generally colored by which movies I watch while I am there. Lexington was not really a prime location for seeing new movies as our theater only showed three movies at a time and the next closest theater was a 30-45 minute drive. I really haven't gone to the movies much in the past four years, except when I was at home. However, whenever I do go home, my family is always discussing some movie that they've all just watched and have a million inside jokes for, and then we usually watch it together. Dan In Real Life was one of those movies this time.
The movie documents the family vacation of recently-widowed Dan (Steve Carrel) and his three daughters, all in various stages of moving through life. Dan has tried to rigidly control their lives and his own, and this has become even more apparent since the death of their mother. Much to Dan's surprise, the reunion turns his life upside down, and he has a completely new perspective on the future by the end of it. This is when he writes the aforementioned quote on plans.
I used to plan out every detail of my life. I had this idea that by a certain age I would graduate from college, get my first job, be married, start having children, publish my first book, etc. I think part of that was wanting to give myself something to dream about when I was bored. Now, I think that it is a good idea to have goals. We should be encouraging our young people to have an idea of where they want to go and what they want to do, and I think that it can be good to say that we would like something to happen by a certain date. BUT only if we have the control to make that happen.
In the movie, Dan's problem is that he is trying to control things that he cannot possibly control. I think that is the major problem with the planning that we do in our lives. I have had a lot of people ask me in the past couple months where I think I will be teaching next year. My answer is that I would love to be back up in Northern Virginia with my family, and hopefully a good number of my cousins, but I know that my life is going to be completely different eight months from now. Everything about my life can change in a day, for better or for worse, and a single event can sometimes have the intensity to alter my views on where I want to be. There may be a compelling reason for me not to be in Northern Virginia, and I know that I need to stay open to that.
I like the idea of planning to be surprised, because this gets at the idea that the future is hopeful and something to be experienced and embraced, especially if we don't know what is going to happen. This is something that we need to instill in young people, especially our students, and in "old people" as well. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
