Group Project

Work Samples

Week

Assignment

Text

Rational

Current Events

Title: A push for phys ed, article published by the Los Angeles Times on September 13, 2004. The US Department of Education conducted a study in which they found that increasing P.E. time by an hour per week can help kindergartener girls combat obesity. The study revealed that if elementary students were to receive five hours of P.E. as is suggested "there would be a 43% reduction in the prevalence of girls who are overweight". School officials argue that some schools do not place much importance on P.E. because they are worried about raising their test scores therefore they use this time to enforce reading comprehension. This study helped school officials realize how important it is for schools to help their children with their weight problems. Although this study did not establish a direct link between weight and academic performance some say that obesity could possibly have a negative effect on academic performance.

Obesity is a problem that many Americans suffer from. After reading this article I realized that young children are not as active as they used to. Although different factors contribute to child obesity, technological advances in my opinion are the influential. Elementary children prefer to spend their time in from of the computer or game consoles instead of running around like they used to. In school P.E. is not enforced mainly because as mentioned above public schools are more worried about raising their test scores and getting their students up to speed. Exercise is extremely important, if children are required to spend a certain amount of time doing exercise they will have more energy. They in turn can use this energy in their academic work; children would be less tired allowing them to learn more. Obesity is a problem that can be combated, especially when it comes to children. Schools should pay more attention to the health of their students because an unhealthy student will not be very productive.

http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-he-girls13sep13,1,254228.story?coll=la-news-learning

This article helps to display my interest in the health and and learning experience of children. Obesity is a weight condition that has been making itself present in younger generations today. The decision to make PE mandatory in elementary schools is important to help combat this problem in the younger generations. The healthier the students are the more energy they have to learn academics.

e-Journal

The California Content Standards were adopted by the state of California in order to provide students and teachers with a road map of where each school year (K-12) should lead them. These standards state what very child should know, they are broken down according to grade level and subject. This road map allows teachers to be able to build their lesson plans this way making sure that they are doing their part in properly preparing their students for the upcoming year. Within the Language Arts framework I choose standard 2.6 under reading comprehension. This standard state that students should be able to, “extract appropriate and significant information from the text, including problems and solutions.”

The standards highlighted for every grade level in the state of California provide guidance for teachers who want to make of each school year a year filled with knowledge for their students. I believe that most elementary children have the most trouble with reading comprehension this is why I choose standard 2.6. Not all students learn at the same pace, this is why I believe that the California Content Standards do not always have the effect that they should. As much as a teacher wants to follow the standards he/she must take into consideration that a lot of students especially those who are English learners have a difficult time understanding the material. This may put at least half of the students behind forcing the teacher to slow down and try to find different way in which to help her students get up to date.

Many English learners have an extremely difficult time leaning how to read and then keeping up with the complexity of the reading as they get older because often times their parents do not speak English. These students must only rely on their teacher who can not give them the proper one on one attention they need because they have to divide their time sometimes with 15 other students. Teaching kids how to read up to grade level detrimental, this is why public schools should consider implementing after school programs in which they provide troubled students with the extra help they need in order to meet the standards.

My desire to be a teacher revolves around the fact that I understand the importance of teaching students how to read and comprehend the material they is being taught. For students being able to understand what they read is important because by the time they reach the third grade teachers expect them to be able to find solutions to questions and problems put forth in the readings. As an aspiring teacher I hope to be able to help my students maintain themselves motivated in their learning even if it means offering after school tutoring to help them with reading. I truly believe that students are a reflection of the time and dedication their teachers spend on their learning.

I really enjoyed writing this e-Journal because it allowed me to voice my opinions about the California content standards. In my opinion the group most affected by the standards are ELLs for they struggle to understand the material they are being taught. ELL are often left behind in their leaning process because their teachers do not have enough time to get them up to speed and continue teaching the class as scheduled, this is why I believe that special programs should be implemented in public schools to help ELL get up to speed.

Current Event

French School Expels 2 Girls Over Scarves, an article published in the Los Angeles Times on October 20, 2004 explain why two teenage girls in France where expelled from the public school they attended. A month ago France banned the demonstration religious symbols in state schools but the two girls refused to take off their Muslin head scarves even after having been told repeatedly to do so by school officials. School officials also contacted the parents of the girls to express their concern but even then the girls refused to remove their scarves. Lazhar Fortas, one of the girl’s father explains that he can not understand why his daughter was expelled if she was the top student in her class the previous year. School officials claim that they have implemented this law in state schools because there was a “rising Islamic radicalism that included denial of the Holocaust and attacks on Jewish schoolmates.” The two girls are able to attend private schools but this would require the parents to pay tuition or finish school through mail.

I think that this is not the best way to deal with this problem. I think that both parties are holding on to something they believe to be right but they should also look at the resources around them in order to reach a different solution and expelling students from school is not the best one. Every one has the right to a proper education but schools are to a certain degree responsible for the safety of their students. If school officials believed their students to be in danger if they evidently display their religions then they should have had some kind of orientation in which they informed parents and students about their fears. This way parents and students would not feel that their actions are to discriminating against their religion. Officials should also try to understand that for some individuals this may be hard for they might feels that in some way they are betraying their religion by not publicly displaying aspects of the same, this is why I believe that educating the community about the violence problems they may encounter would be the best solutions. The two girls who were expelled from school should be allowed to return to school because not only are they being deprived of a proper education but to a certain degree are being put in danger. Everyone regardless of their religion should be able to receive an education.

http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-fg-scarves20oct20,1,1697237.story?coll=la-news-learning

This current event called my attention because I believe that discriminating against anyone specially a student because of their religion is wrong. Everyone has the right to a proper education therefore if the school feared for the safety of their students for actively displaying their religion then they should make this concern more visible. I believe that learning how to value a students cultural background and experience can be essential in helping them through their education.

e-Journal

The urbanization process is occurring at great speed. Today different races, religion, languages, cultures, together compose urban education. We are a heterogeneous society in which the relationship between teacher and student is positively affected by our differences. Teachers should be able to recognize and accommodate the differences of their students in order to make the best of their experiences in elementary school. Teaching children in urban societies, although challenging, provides teacher with the opportunity to instill in their children the value of respect. Teaching children that no culture is better than another will help them as they get older, this way they will know how to value education as well as cultural differences.

Teaching children of different cultural backgrounds can be challenging but that much more rewarding when students are able to work and interact well with each other. Urban education is important in the development of character by each individual. Learning how to accommodate the needs of his/her students may be challenging for a teacher but if group work and respect have been taught students may be able to help each other. Because diversity is urban education’s primary description it is important not only to educate the students but also the parent and to a certain degree the community as a whole. Regardless of how much time teachers spend teaching their kids about respecting other customs if these teachings are not enforced at home they may not be very effective. If parents and teachers join forces they will be able to raise healthy children who know that race, gender, culture, language, are not barriers or causes for inferiority but marks of distinctions and great abilities.

I am aware of the challenges I will face when I set foot into a classroom but I strongly believe that all my hard work and dedication will pay off when I see my students interacting with one another, forgetting what color they are but focusing on where they want to be. Urban education faces many hardships, limited funds, inadequate learning environments, limited resources but if a teacher is dedicated and passionate about her job she will find ways to overcome these obstacles and fill his/her children with knowledge and patience for one another differences.

Urban education is very important to me because this is the environment is which I plan to teach in. Being aware of the different components of this environment will help me in my teaching experience. The community that surrounds a school has a huge impact on the student population. Although teaching in a school where there are different cultural backgrounds can be a challenge it can also provide me with an opportunity to become more culturally competent.

e-Journal

Becoming a teacher involves lots of responsibility as well as dedication. I know that becoming an Elementary Teacher is going to be a big challenge for me. Elementary kids are easily influenced therefore my actions and words will have a lasting impact in their lives. Patience is a virtue that I believe Elementary Teachers should be equipped with because young kids are full of energy. Becoming a teacher also means entering a world in which you have little control. The California public school system has a lot of flaws that make a teacher’s job harder. New teachers have to deal with budget problems and insufficient school supplies. Becoming a teacher is an opportunity to make a difference; there is nothing more fulfilling than knowing that you have made a difference in someone’s life.

My desire to become a teacher is based on my need to feel that what I have to offer to the future of tomorrow is important. I am a product of the Los Angeles public school system so I know that I can make a difference. Caring and dedicated teachers lend out their hands to me and this is what I hope to do for my students. I want to be able to make my students understand that the color of their skin and the languages they may speak are mere externalities that should not interfere with their dreams of becoming educated individuals.

Now that I have seen some of the obstacles that teachers face during their first year I realize that no matter how much I prepare myself for my first year I will never be completely prepared. Each year is different every students is different so my experience will be different from all other teachers. I know that my first year of teaching will be difficult but with patience, perseverance, and the appreciation of my students my year will be a smooth one.

I believe that this piece of work is representative of the kind of person I am. Here I acknowledge my strengths going into to the teaching profession but I also recognize my weaknesses. This I believe is the first step in my efforts to strengthen my weaknesses.