Entry One:
"5 found dead in Maryland Park," "Halloway case suspects to face judge," Work off those holiday calories fast," Typhoon Mitag bears down on Philippines," "Deadly blasts rock Indian city," "Bombing at Baghdad pet market kills 13," "Boycott creates political deadlock in Lebanon," and "Australian commando killed in Afghan fight."
These are only a few of many stories that have hit CNN in the past 24 hours. Multiple times every day I have read many stories that can be found on CNN.com. I find it extremely important to get involved in what is going on and staying up to date with the news. Although the news does not directly relate to education it can have a profound impact on one student and as a teacher it is important to be prepared for that situation.
To continue to keep up with the news locally I have subscribed to the South Bend Newspaper as well as reading the Elkhart paper as often as possible. To keep up with the news back home I have subscribed to the Reading Eagle Reading Times paper to know what is happening in my home town. I have also made CNN and BBC news my Internet homepages.
I find it important to stay up to date locally, nationally, and in my home town. As a teacher I feel it is necessary to know what is going on. Part of a teacher's responsibility is communicating to students about the events in their community and on a world scale. I will continue to stay up to date on what is happening in the world.
Entry Two:
Beyond staying up to date of the news I have a subscription to Amnesty International. I received email updates keeping me informed about the unjust laws that are being passed and how I can help. I have signed many petitions through this membership.
To stay current on educational policy I am a member of National Education Association and through NEA I am also a member of Indiana State Teaching Association (ISTA). I receive email updates of educational actions and ways that I can help. I also get information on conferences that I can attend.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Practice Being Democratic
Entry One:
As a teacher it is important to speak up for equality and diversity. I have begun to find my voice and have begun practicing working to what is right. It hasn't been an easy road and it won't get easier but it is what I need to do as a future teacher.
I have experienced many racist comments in the past few months and it has been extremely difficult to speak up against them but I know it was needed. I know that I needed to do what I did in each of these examples.
The other day at dinner I was standing in line waiting for pizza. While standing there I overheard the conversation between two guys in front of me. The one was being extremely racist talking about African American men that live next door to him. He was talking about "their music" and "their living habits" and then called them "a bunch of stupid n*****" I refused to stand there and let him get away with that type of language so I asked him "When did you hear that as Americans we were allowed to every use that word?" I confront him in a democratic way about how I did not appreciate his language and I felt that if he had those opinions could he be so kind as to keep them to himself.
This was only one of many ways that I confronted racist remarks. Some were even said within my group of friends. It was difficult to confront someone I knew but I did it anyway. I am a strong believer in equality and I hate when people stereotype and say things about people in a degrading way.
When I become a teacher I know that it is extremely important for me to confront my students when and if they make unacceptable remarks about anyone. The one thing I do know is that approaching a child is a lot different than approaching an adult. I plan on taking a different path when talking with a student if they make a comment that is not democratic. Instead of confronting a child like I would an adult I would calmly take them aside to discuss why their comment was not a good choice and try to find a way to work with what they were thinking. As a teacher I need to remember that my students are not adults and cannot be dealt with the same way.
Entry Two:
Throughout my time at Goshen College I have learned that I can be very overpowering in a conversation. Many of my good friends tell me that they can barely get a word in edgewise or they are cut off while speaking. I realize that my upbringing and social status play a large role in why I feel so comfortable controlling a conversation and putting in my two cents. After hearing about my occasionally ability to overpower I began to think about what I was saying and doing in class and I realized how important what others had to say was. Throughout my last few semesters I have stepped back and I have made it my goal to listen more than I speak and to only speak when I know I am not stepping over anyone else to get heard. I know that in some contexts it is important to be a bit pushy and demanding but it is also important to give everyone a chance and to listen if I want to be heard. With this new goal I will continue to challenge myself in every situation I encounter.
As a teacher it is important to speak up for equality and diversity. I have begun to find my voice and have begun practicing working to what is right. It hasn't been an easy road and it won't get easier but it is what I need to do as a future teacher.
I have experienced many racist comments in the past few months and it has been extremely difficult to speak up against them but I know it was needed. I know that I needed to do what I did in each of these examples.
The other day at dinner I was standing in line waiting for pizza. While standing there I overheard the conversation between two guys in front of me. The one was being extremely racist talking about African American men that live next door to him. He was talking about "their music" and "their living habits" and then called them "a bunch of stupid n*****" I refused to stand there and let him get away with that type of language so I asked him "When did you hear that as Americans we were allowed to every use that word?" I confront him in a democratic way about how I did not appreciate his language and I felt that if he had those opinions could he be so kind as to keep them to himself.
This was only one of many ways that I confronted racist remarks. Some were even said within my group of friends. It was difficult to confront someone I knew but I did it anyway. I am a strong believer in equality and I hate when people stereotype and say things about people in a degrading way.
When I become a teacher I know that it is extremely important for me to confront my students when and if they make unacceptable remarks about anyone. The one thing I do know is that approaching a child is a lot different than approaching an adult. I plan on taking a different path when talking with a student if they make a comment that is not democratic. Instead of confronting a child like I would an adult I would calmly take them aside to discuss why their comment was not a good choice and try to find a way to work with what they were thinking. As a teacher I need to remember that my students are not adults and cannot be dealt with the same way.
Entry Two:
Throughout my time at Goshen College I have learned that I can be very overpowering in a conversation. Many of my good friends tell me that they can barely get a word in edgewise or they are cut off while speaking. I realize that my upbringing and social status play a large role in why I feel so comfortable controlling a conversation and putting in my two cents. After hearing about my occasionally ability to overpower I began to think about what I was saying and doing in class and I realized how important what others had to say was. Throughout my last few semesters I have stepped back and I have made it my goal to listen more than I speak and to only speak when I know I am not stepping over anyone else to get heard. I know that in some contexts it is important to be a bit pushy and demanding but it is also important to give everyone a chance and to listen if I want to be heard. With this new goal I will continue to challenge myself in every situation I encounter.
What Makes An Effective Teacher?
Entry One:
How do you know if a teacher is qualified to teacher? What do we consider an effective teacher? I asked some people what they considered an effective teacher to get an idea of the answer to these questions.
I interviewed about 20 students from elementary to college age. Of all the answers I received their was one that was above all, a teacher that cares. Students seemed to believe that to be an effective teacher you have to care about your students and their progress in school. The answer that came in second was a teacher that knows something about what they are teaching.
While interviewing students I asked them 5 questions. I asked what do you think makes an effective teacher? Who was your favorite teacher? Why were they your favorite teacher? Who was your least favorite teacher? Why were they your least favorite teacher?
After asking these questions it became obvious that most students liked teachers that were interesting and fun and that they didn't like teachers that had some distinct dislike to them. Students didn't seem to say anything about mediocre teachers. For example they said things like I liked so and so because she was interesting and made class more exciting. And they didn't like so and so because they were boring and just lectured. I never had an answer about liking a teacher that taught to the book and didn't do any interesting projects.
I believe an effective teacher is caring, smart, interesting, supportive, able to listen, able to make fun of themselves, a story teller, and someone who is funny. I got my answer from students opinions as well as my own.
Entry Two:
I also asked my father what he believed made an effective teacher. My father is a high school teacher. He teaches business, German, math, computer technology, English, business law, and German literature. My father has been teaching for 35 years. I have had the privilege to watch him work as well as talk to students that had him. My father believes that an effective teacher is one that can get through to their students and teach them something that leaves a lasting impression in their lives. He believes that an effective teacher has to be smarted, interested, and willing to put a lot of time and effort into what they teach.
I have learned a lot from this experience. I have learned that teaching is something that has a lot of influence on everyone. I believe that being a teacher is more than just knowledge but is about being a caring person who believes in their students and is willing to go the extra mile for anyone.
I am a Role Model and I Need to Remember that.
Entry One:
Through my many interactions with young children as well as student I have come to realize how important being a role model is. I believe that it is a ridiculous idea to ask students to do something that you yourself are not willing to do. This year I have taken on and continued certain tasks that I believe help me to become a better role model.
I have always believed it is important to recycle and not to litter. If we want to live on this Earth we have a responsibility to the Earth to not pollute. I have taken care of the Earth by taking advantage of the recycling bins in our dorms, as well as recycling off campus or keeping the trash until I can recycle it. I believe that if people have taken the time to figure out a way to reuse materials it is the least I can do to provide the materials needed if I have them.
I have also continued attending church every Sunday. Something to believe and trust in is extremely important for myself and also for kids. It is important to have faith and to show children that you have faith. I am from Pennsylvania, but I came to Indiana and took the time to experience a few
different churches and found one I really like. I have been attending Maple City Chapel every Sunday and also some nights during the week for different activities they offer as well as bible study. (Left: founder and pastor Mel Shetler)
Something that I find extremely important when being a role model is your outward appearance. Children have a tendency to want to look like someone they look up to. If I don't pay attention to what my clothes look like and the type of character I am portraying I can give the wrong impression to young people. My dad always taught me dress to impress; and dress to your inner self. I make sure that my clothes are not too low cut, don't have bad slogans on them, they aren't too tight, and then I make sure they make me look professional or casual depending on the activities of the day.
The one thing that I have been working on most this year is my language. I have a tendency to
use horrific language. I have decided to stop swearing. My friend Melissa is also giving it up with me as a way to help the other and lean on them for support. I find it easier to accomplish when I have someone catching me and watching me. I have seen how children like to mimic adults and even other children. If I am at Walmart and I swear and a little kid is standing near by I have just introduced a bad word to their vocabulary that their parents will now have to correct. As someone who wants to go into the teaching profession I need to start now with how I behave. This has not been an easy task so far but I am pushing through. I have messed up a few times. I have a system of punishment for myself if I mess up. If I mess up I have to give up desert at meal time.
Through this experience I have learned how important it is for me as a prospective teacher to be a role model for all kids. I have not only recycled, and worked on my language but I have also refrained from underage drinking with friends and drugs. I do not want to have to tell my children one day that I messed up and did something that I don't want them to do. I have learned to practice what I want to preach. If I want to be a teacher I have to start being a role model now.
Entry Two:
On Wednesday September 19, 2007 I attended the school wide Celebrate Service Day.
On this day I went with a group of girls to Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center. At the Learning Center we split up into two groups. One group went off to paint and trim outside around the windows. The other group (which I was in) received the tougher job; we were asked to help by washing windows. If anyone has visited Merry Lea and stayed in the cabins you can only image how many windows the cabins have. We washed over a hundred windows inside and out, upstairs and downstairs. We work from 11-2. After the event I began talking to the cook. She was from Kenya and was visiting until April. I asked if she knew why the windows were being washed besides the obvious dirtiness of them. She then explained that a group was coming in for a seminar and they didn't have enough time to prepare the cabins accordingly. After realizing that I helped make a part of Goshen College look decent for visitors I felt a sense of satisfaction. It may have been a minor task but it really made a difference to the staff at Merry Lea and those that were visiting; 
through this experience I learned that even lending a hand in what seems like a small "we really appreciate this"way, really means a lot to the people who are being helped. It felt good making some one's load a little lighter.
I feel like this experience will really help me when I become a
teacher because I believe it is really relevant for people to volunteer. So, I feel that it would be beneficial to use volunteer work to expand children's minds. I believe that I could have my students volunteer to learn more about certain subject matter. Such as cleaning up a lake to learn about water pollution and what we can do to help the environment.
Be sure to check out Merry Lea online http://www.goshen.edu/merrylea/
Through my many interactions with young children as well as student I have come to realize how important being a role model is. I believe that it is a ridiculous idea to ask students to do something that you yourself are not willing to do. This year I have taken on and continued certain tasks that I believe help me to become a better role model.
I have always believed it is important to recycle and not to litter. If we want to live on this Earth we have a responsibility to the Earth to not pollute. I have taken care of the Earth by taking advantage of the recycling bins in our dorms, as well as recycling off campus or keeping the trash until I can recycle it. I believe that if people have taken the time to figure out a way to reuse materials it is the least I can do to provide the materials needed if I have them.
I have also continued attending church every Sunday. Something to believe and trust in is extremely important for myself and also for kids. It is important to have faith and to show children that you have faith. I am from Pennsylvania, but I came to Indiana and took the time to experience a few different churches and found one I really like. I have been attending Maple City Chapel every Sunday and also some nights during the week for different activities they offer as well as bible study. (Left: founder and pastor Mel Shetler)Something that I find extremely important when being a role model is your outward appearance. Children have a tendency to want to look like someone they look up to. If I don't pay attention to what my clothes look like and the type of character I am portraying I can give the wrong impression to young people. My dad always taught me dress to impress; and dress to your inner self. I make sure that my clothes are not too low cut, don't have bad slogans on them, they aren't too tight, and then I make sure they make me look professional or casual depending on the activities of the day.
The one thing that I have been working on most this year is my language. I have a tendency to
use horrific language. I have decided to stop swearing. My friend Melissa is also giving it up with me as a way to help the other and lean on them for support. I find it easier to accomplish when I have someone catching me and watching me. I have seen how children like to mimic adults and even other children. If I am at Walmart and I swear and a little kid is standing near by I have just introduced a bad word to their vocabulary that their parents will now have to correct. As someone who wants to go into the teaching profession I need to start now with how I behave. This has not been an easy task so far but I am pushing through. I have messed up a few times. I have a system of punishment for myself if I mess up. If I mess up I have to give up desert at meal time.Through this experience I have learned how important it is for me as a prospective teacher to be a role model for all kids. I have not only recycled, and worked on my language but I have also refrained from underage drinking with friends and drugs. I do not want to have to tell my children one day that I messed up and did something that I don't want them to do. I have learned to practice what I want to preach. If I want to be a teacher I have to start being a role model now.
Entry Two:
On Wednesday September 19, 2007 I attended the school wide Celebrate Service Day.
On this day I went with a group of girls to Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center. At the Learning Center we split up into two groups. One group went off to paint and trim outside around the windows. The other group (which I was in) received the tougher job; we were asked to help by washing windows. If anyone has visited Merry Lea and stayed in the cabins you can only image how many windows the cabins have. We washed over a hundred windows inside and out, upstairs and downstairs. We work from 11-2. After the event I began talking to the cook. She was from Kenya and was visiting until April. I asked if she knew why the windows were being washed besides the obvious dirtiness of them. She then explained that a group was coming in for a seminar and they didn't have enough time to prepare the cabins accordingly. After realizing that I helped make a part of Goshen College look decent for visitors I felt a sense of satisfaction. It may have been a minor task but it really made a difference to the staff at Merry Lea and those that were visiting; 
through this experience I learned that even lending a hand in what seems like a small "we really appreciate this"way, really means a lot to the people who are being helped. It felt good making some one's load a little lighter.I feel like this experience will really help me when I become a
teacher because I believe it is really relevant for people to volunteer. So, I feel that it would be beneficial to use volunteer work to expand children's minds. I believe that I could have my students volunteer to learn more about certain subject matter. Such as cleaning up a lake to learn about water pollution and what we can do to help the environment.Be sure to check out Merry Lea online http://www.goshen.edu/merrylea/
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Getting Experienced With All Types of Learners
Entry One:
Since August I have been working at Walnut Hill Day Care for about 6 hours a week. At the Day Care I am the teacher's assistant. My job entails taking care of the children, setting up and cleaning up snack, putting the children down for nap and waking them up, taking the children outside, and cleaning up the classroom. I work with anywhere from 1-30 children. This experience lets me get to know a lot of different types of children as well as their parents. Throughout this experience I have encountered a lot of unique situations.
One child I have been working with is a five year old boy. He spends a lot of his time bullying others on the playground but is extremely sensitive to being scolded. I have had to find other ways to get through to this boy other than disciplining him by making him have a time out and talk to me. Recently we have sat down with his mother and his father to discuss this on going behavior. We came up with a system for disciplining that we all can agree on.
Another experience I have had is working with children who primarily speak Spanish. This language barrier is difficult to handle because I have no knowledge of the Spanish language. I have had to begin learning Spanish in order to communicate with my children.
At the day care there are also students with ADD, those who don't listen to instructions, angry children, and those who are slower at learning. I interact with all of those children and have to have different ways to approach every situation and every child. I get to know them on a one to one basis as well as with their parents.
Entry Two:
When I am home on breaks from College I have volunteered my time at my church in their after school program. I grew up and live in a very urban environment with drugs, gangs, and a lot of violence. My church created a program called "Hope's Hangout" that provides a space for children to come after school to keep them off the streets, provide them with a place to get help with their homework, and then offers them a good meal. The program has been running for years and whenever I get the chance I take time to help work with the children. The center just requires that the child attends school. The program has really been influential in the community.
When I am working with the students I notice how their learning is not always reliant on whether they can complete the work. Many factors come in to play when dealing with young children and their learning: did they get enough sleep, are they hungry, do they have the supplies necessary to complete the homework, and do they know how to complete the homework. When I sit down to work with the student I take the time to talk with them about their day and then I ask them about their homework. I want the students to feel that they have an adult that they can depend on in their life. Beyond their well being I have learned that even if several students have the same assignment they all need different points addressed and have different needs when I am teaching them. The experience at "Hope's Hangout" has given me the ability to see the child behind the student and I believe that it is this ability that makes me a good teacher.
Every student has different needs in life and in learning. Being a good teacher means recognizing those different needs and meeting those needs to the best of your ability. I have always wanted to work with children and each opportunity I have proves this to me time and time again.
Since August I have been working at Walnut Hill Day Care for about 6 hours a week. At the Day Care I am the teacher's assistant. My job entails taking care of the children, setting up and cleaning up snack, putting the children down for nap and waking them up, taking the children outside, and cleaning up the classroom. I work with anywhere from 1-30 children. This experience lets me get to know a lot of different types of children as well as their parents. Throughout this experience I have encountered a lot of unique situations.
One child I have been working with is a five year old boy. He spends a lot of his time bullying others on the playground but is extremely sensitive to being scolded. I have had to find other ways to get through to this boy other than disciplining him by making him have a time out and talk to me. Recently we have sat down with his mother and his father to discuss this on going behavior. We came up with a system for disciplining that we all can agree on.
Another experience I have had is working with children who primarily speak Spanish. This language barrier is difficult to handle because I have no knowledge of the Spanish language. I have had to begin learning Spanish in order to communicate with my children.
At the day care there are also students with ADD, those who don't listen to instructions, angry children, and those who are slower at learning. I interact with all of those children and have to have different ways to approach every situation and every child. I get to know them on a one to one basis as well as with their parents.
Entry Two:
When I am home on breaks from College I have volunteered my time at my church in their after school program. I grew up and live in a very urban environment with drugs, gangs, and a lot of violence. My church created a program called "Hope's Hangout" that provides a space for children to come after school to keep them off the streets, provide them with a place to get help with their homework, and then offers them a good meal. The program has been running for years and whenever I get the chance I take time to help work with the children. The center just requires that the child attends school. The program has really been influential in the community.
When I am working with the students I notice how their learning is not always reliant on whether they can complete the work. Many factors come in to play when dealing with young children and their learning: did they get enough sleep, are they hungry, do they have the supplies necessary to complete the homework, and do they know how to complete the homework. When I sit down to work with the student I take the time to talk with them about their day and then I ask them about their homework. I want the students to feel that they have an adult that they can depend on in their life. Beyond their well being I have learned that even if several students have the same assignment they all need different points addressed and have different needs when I am teaching them. The experience at "Hope's Hangout" has given me the ability to see the child behind the student and I believe that it is this ability that makes me a good teacher.
Every student has different needs in life and in learning. Being a good teacher means recognizing those different needs and meeting those needs to the best of your ability. I have always wanted to work with children and each opportunity I have proves this to me time and time again.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Do you have Allies? Learning to Identify Allies
Entry One:
This year I have established not only many lasting friendship but also many allies. I learned that it is best to find someone that you can go to or identify with in each of your classes. When you have people who can help you or work through things with you it makes the load a whole lot easier to carry.
Earlier, I explained that I have been participating in a Math Study group. My group has been a very big support system when it comes to Math. We work through our struggles together. We support each other, laugh through our frustration, and even celebrate together when we finally understand something we've been struggling with.
In my physics class I have allied myself with the assistant in the class.
Steven Cress is a student at Goshen who is majoring in Physics. He has helped me so much because I am definitely not a great science student. He has guided me through tough homework problems. It is really great to know that I have someone who knows what I am struggling with.
Some of my friends and I are in Bible 100. We decided that we would form a sort of study/homework group so that we can work together to better understand.
Through my many groups and allies I have learned how important it is to find individuals that you can go to for help. I learned that when I get into the teaching field I am going to need to people to support me. I am going to need people who know what they are doing to go and talk with them, to bounce ideas off of. By learning now that I need to find people to work with and help me it makes it easier to go out into the work field.
I have also identified an ally in my best friend Melissa. She just graduated with a degree in Elementary and Special Education. I look to her for support, advice, wisdom, and a listening ear. She takes the time to offer up solutions and allows me to talk through situations within my life or in my teaching. Identifying peers who are going through some similar situations can really help you in your profession. I count on Melissa to hear about her life and her teaching and to listen to mine.
Entry Two:
Along with my peers I have also identified allies in my profession. I have become very close with a high school teacher back home in Pennsylvania. Carolyn Woodford has been a friend of the family for many years and talks with me about some of her struggles with special education and inclusion and gives me a different view of how general education teachers are feeling. I also talk with her about my experiences and get advanced from her as a mom of a 7 year old. I have also met many academic contacts over the years my professors at Goshen: Christie Bonfiglio and Kathy Meyer-Riemer. Throughout my placements: Jen Drescher - Chamberlain Elementary, Mary Genovese - Eastwood Elementary, Kevin Beveridge - Eastwood Elementary, Emma Dugger - Eastwood Elementary, Kathy Heyse - Oxbow Elementary and Liz Kieling - Daly Elementary. These are just some of the academic contacts I have made in the past years and I know that there will be many more to come. I believe that it is very important to have peers that you can identify with as well as professional contacts.
This year I have established not only many lasting friendship but also many allies. I learned that it is best to find someone that you can go to or identify with in each of your classes. When you have people who can help you or work through things with you it makes the load a whole lot easier to carry.
Earlier, I explained that I have been participating in a Math Study group. My group has been a very big support system when it comes to Math. We work through our struggles together. We support each other, laugh through our frustration, and even celebrate together when we finally understand something we've been struggling with.
In my physics class I have allied myself with the assistant in the class.
Steven Cress is a student at Goshen who is majoring in Physics. He has helped me so much because I am definitely not a great science student. He has guided me through tough homework problems. It is really great to know that I have someone who knows what I am struggling with.
Some of my friends and I are in Bible 100. We decided that we would form a sort of study/homework group so that we can work together to better understand.Through my many groups and allies I have learned how important it is to find individuals that you can go to for help. I learned that when I get into the teaching field I am going to need to people to support me. I am going to need people who know what they are doing to go and talk with them, to bounce ideas off of. By learning now that I need to find people to work with and help me it makes it easier to go out into the work field.
I have also identified an ally in my best friend Melissa. She just graduated with a degree in Elementary and Special Education. I look to her for support, advice, wisdom, and a listening ear. She takes the time to offer up solutions and allows me to talk through situations within my life or in my teaching. Identifying peers who are going through some similar situations can really help you in your profession. I count on Melissa to hear about her life and her teaching and to listen to mine.
Entry Two:
Along with my peers I have also identified allies in my profession. I have become very close with a high school teacher back home in Pennsylvania. Carolyn Woodford has been a friend of the family for many years and talks with me about some of her struggles with special education and inclusion and gives me a different view of how general education teachers are feeling. I also talk with her about my experiences and get advanced from her as a mom of a 7 year old. I have also met many academic contacts over the years my professors at Goshen: Christie Bonfiglio and Kathy Meyer-Riemer. Throughout my placements: Jen Drescher - Chamberlain Elementary, Mary Genovese - Eastwood Elementary, Kevin Beveridge - Eastwood Elementary, Emma Dugger - Eastwood Elementary, Kathy Heyse - Oxbow Elementary and Liz Kieling - Daly Elementary. These are just some of the academic contacts I have made in the past years and I know that there will be many more to come. I believe that it is very important to have peers that you can identify with as well as professional contacts.
Everyone is Different. Take the time to see those differences!
For the last 4 weeks I have participated in the school sponsored Diversity Circle Meetings. I joined the meeting because I could benefit academically but also socially. When I first heard about Diversity Circles I thought it would be a very time consuming activity that would consist of a bunch of Caucasian students sitting around discussing racism and diversity. I was extremely skeptical of the meetings at first. At the very first meeting, before it even began, I realized that I was in for a very interesting time. The people that sat around me were from all over the world, with histories completely different from my own. Not only were some from Mexico but also Africa and all across America. We all came from different cultural and economic backgrounds.
What is said at meetings and who attends meetings is confidential but the topics we discuss are not. We discuss a wide range of topics from racial stereotypes to difficulties understand people who are different from us. It is amazing the things we discuss. Sometimes things get pretty tense but it helps to talk things through and has really helped our group.
With my experience of working with the people in the Diversity meetings I have been given the chance to see the differences that exist between people. I have learned it is not your skin color it is your background, where you come from, how you were raised, and then your cultural background.
I feel that my experience will definitely help me when I become a teacher. I know that people are different. When I have students I need to see them as a class and as individuals. Differences are the hardest thing for teachers to understand and see because they have their own agenda which blinds them from seeing how to conform to their students.
I love my experience with Diversity Circles. I hope that next year I will be able to continue my experience and see many others there learning from others like I have.
If you are interested in the types of things we discuss during our meetings; you can look at our resource website: www.studycircles.org
Entry Two:
Over the summer I began volunteering at my church's food pantry. Through this experience I learned not only the meaning of riches but got to know a lot of people who have lived a very different life than I have. While volunteering I worked with people who were children raising children, large families, older couples, and even people who did not speak English. It took me a few moments to gain my composure and talk with everyone. At first I was angry at myself for all that I have and I took for granted until this past summer. I realize how important some of the little things I take for granted are. Out of the whole experience I learned many valuable lessons but the one that will always stick with me is Love is all that you need to be happy. All of the people that I encountered could still share a smile, joke around, and live life and those are things that I take for granted but things that are so important to have. I have continued volunteering my time especially with children and families.
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