Munoz,+Angela+(Picio)

Module #1 Write a brief - 2- page (500 word+ or -) report describing the influences you observed and discussed. Put you first reflection on your individual wiki page.

__ AMERICAN HISTORY X __

Conflict Resolution By: Angela P. Muñoz (Picio)

I need to start this essay telling you how impressed I am after watching the movie. I loved it even though it is exactly the type of movie I usually hate. I think that not only Derek´s roll in the movie, but the way his little brother admired and followed him irrationally, were captivating. At the beginning of the movie, Derek represents a strong man who is lost in hate and is an important leader of a Nazi and racist group, which practices violence and ideological fanaticism. Derek´s relationships were conditioned by his beliefs and he was so passionate about the discrimination ideas he wouldn’t let others even talk of say anything against his judgments. I was very impressed by the conversation that took place in the dining room table when Derek was eating with his family and talked about an incident of a policeman and some black men. He made his sister feel really bad, as well as his mother and her boyfriend. For me, this part of the movie showed intensely his totalitarian and intolerant attitude towards everything that was different. I also was very impressed by the conversation he had with his father who represents the main influence to Derek´s racist attitude. I believe that short dialogue changed Derek´s life and destiny. Since Derek was “blind” and he wasn’t able to handle conflicts effectively, he ended up killing two black men and the result was that he spent three years in jail. During his stay in prison, I liked his relationship with the black guy who entertained and gave Derek a reason to leave, saved his life (this was not confirmed in the movie) and change his mind about racism. The experiences he had during those three years were so deep and so hard that not only Derek changed dramatically but he had the big challenge to change all the people he loved who were lost in hate as he was before. I want to talk a little bit about the teacher. I believe the reason why he asked Danny to write an essay was to make him look back in time, reflect about his brother´s life (mistakes) and invite him to be capable of talking about it. I like the fact that he was not only brave but smart to find the right way to make Danny rethink his life through writing. I imagine how hard it is to teach in a school like that one where endless conflicts are present every single day. The fact that conflict exists, however, is not necessarily a bad thing; the problem is the way students at that public school resolved the problems leading to violence with no moral principles. All this makes me think of the importance of the effort in schools to avoid bullying and teach communication and problem-solving skills because our students are the future and easily can get involved in problems if they are not ready to affront them when they grow up and become active part of the society. We sometimes, unfortunately, don’t spend enough time teaching this because of the intense curriculum and the time limitations. Our school has a very nice program against bullying but we need to support it in our classrooms every day. To finish this writing I want to talk a little bit about when the two brothers sit together after Derek gets out of jail and he explains to Danny why he needs to escape and change his life. For me, that was the most important part of the movie because that is the moment when we can analyze the two points of view: before and after prison, violence and peace. Hank, I really enjoyed the movie; it made me think deeply. I will definitely watch it again. Thank you!

=== Module #2 Violence - Prediction, Prevention and Intervention - Myth vs Reality - Write 5 Sentences about your reaction to the statistical data showing the trend below. (Remember your initial estimate on violence in the last 30 Years.) ===

- I wonder how the graphic will look in 10 years...does violence tend to disappear?
===- I believe education around the world should include helping people understand the importance of informing the police when involved in a violent situation. This would help to have a real awareness of the situation and to prevent violence in our society.===

- I will try to relax a little and enjoy the time with my students. I worry so much about the curriculum that sometimes I forget the importance of sharing experiences with the kids.
===- I like the idea of the picture book. I would like to do something like that where the kids include pictures of their favorite things, favorite people, hobbies, etc. They can create their books, I can create mine and we can share them to get to know each other better.=== ===- In our case, as special teachers, we do not get to share as much time with the students as homeroom teachers. That is why I consider very important and valuable to do effective activities which help us get closer and know the hearts of our students.===

=== Module #4 Do the Personality Prototype test with another person. Discuss what the results mean. When you Teach you learn. Tell us on this site what you learned by sharing PP Results with another person. ===

I did the test to my husband and these were the results:
===Learning Expert: I do believe this type of personality is the one that best define him. My husband loves to get involved in endless conversations with other experts. He spends a lot of time reading in his computer because "he needs to be updated about what is happening in the world". He looks for new courses in every single university there is; he loves to study.===
 * ===24=== || ===32=== || ===16=== || ===28=== ||
 * ===PP=== || ===LE=== || ===CP=== || ===PM=== ||

===When I told him about the results, he was happy. I read the description for him and he agreed with almost everything. His test also showed a high score in the Practical Manager personality. It´s funny because he used to be very strict and rigid with schedules, planning, etc., but he has changed that a lot (thanks god).===

=== Module #5 Moral Dilemma - Develop a MD for use in your teaching practice. Outline it here. Use any lesson plan style or outline that you might have for your class / subject / or grade level. Describe your audience, age, demographic and what you will do. ===

__DEMOGRAPHIC__: Colombian
===__MORAL DILEMMA:__ Albert has two best friends who are in a different classroom than his. They are all in 5th grade. They have to do a project individually or in pairs, for a competition that the school does every year. Whoever wins the competition will get an award and will be sent to a special trip the school organizes with all the talented students. Albert decides to do the project himself and John and James work in pairs. They finish the project and turn in it to each teacher. Some days later John and James decide to confess to Albert they paid someone else to do the project for them. At that moment, Albert laughs and doesn’t say anything. The next day, the school announces that John and James are the winners. Albert´s teacher congratulates him and tells him he was the second best project, he almost wins the contest.===

===__WHAT I WILL DO:__ on Tuesday, march 20, I am giving the students instructions to start an investigation project about Bolivar and Santander (two leaders of the Colombian history). This work is basically a biography of these two characters which should include a lot of details and they also need to explain why they think Bolivar and Santander are considered two of the most important leaders in our country. This will be the most significant project of the unit and it is very important than the kids are aware of the fact that they have to be honest and do all the work themselves (not their parents or their friends).===

** 1. Post 2 "I" messages - (positive) comment on the reactions of the people that you used for the "I" message. Remember it MUST have Behavior, Consequence of the Behavior, and a feeling. **

 * - When you put the dirty clothes in the basket and our room looks nice and clean I feel like I want to hug you.**

This message was for my husband. I was happy to see that he didn’t complain about my message (as he usually does). He instead, asked: “really? I will try to be more organized”.

- **When you treat your sister with love and you play with her I feel very proud of our family.**

This message was to my older daugther who can´t sometimes stand my little one. I now use possitive messages all the time because I can see they make them feel proud and happy. (she looked at me with a smile and went to play with her sister)

** 2. Post 1 "I" Message (negative or corrective) This does not need to be delivered but you must share the circumstances that lead up to the "I" message. **
- **Every time you watch a soccer game when I want to watch TV and I miss my favorite tv shows, I feel frustrated and mad.**

I have used this in the past because my husband wants to watch soccer all day long. Obviously, this makes him angry and we end up arguing. I am trying (but is not easy) to use positive messages instead. Positive messages really work to make people change while they are happy.

===** Module #7 ** 1. Open a copy of the book IN STEPP. Read the Chapter on Time Management. Including Ben's Story. 2. Go to this Web Site. [|Values and Stuff] Explore the links that you find on the page. 3. In the upper left of the page, under the heading of tools look for the Mission Statement builder. Click on the link. 4. Then when the MSB page opens click on the link on the far right of the page (Your Values) and build a mission statement. 5. Post a copy of your mission Statement on your wiki page. ===

Mission Statement
===My mission in life is to make people I love, happy. Demonstrate in everything I do, that I accept others they way they are, that I respect them and I expect they respect me. Be tolerant with my children and my husband, appreciate they love me exactly how I am and do the same for them. Learn from those people I admire and try to imitate their virtues, practice them in my own life. Have my goals clear and work hard every day to reach them. Organize myself to use time wisely, being able to prioritize the activities in my day. Be able to balance between the love and time I give to the people I love, and the time and love I give to myself. Understand that if I don’t get the time to take care of myself I eventually will not be able to take care of others. Even though being passionate is important, avoid imposing my ideas to others; respect what others think and what they believe. If I feel frustrated, tired, without energy, be able to smile and continue my life. I should not blame others for my failures. I should prepare well enough every day to be competitive in every aspect of my life. Be responsible, enjoy the moment and live every day like it is the last one.===

==** Module #8 ** Select any one additional chapter to read. (Not Time Management) Describe the Chapter you read and your reaction to the chapter. Pick one activity from the book and describe how you will use this for Conflict Resolution ==

Chapter 6: __managing relationships__
===I choose this chapter because I am very aware that relationships are essential in life. In consider myself very lucky because I have very significant (not a lot) relationships in my life and I am very interested in learning how to manage them better and avoid conflict with the people I love.=== ===This chapter mentions people like me: “not experts in the art of relationships” and indicates the lack of communications as a very common problem. I recognize the importance of being clear with other people about what we want, need or expect from them. If we don’t share what we are thinking it is simply impossible for others to know how to make us happy.=== ===I also liked the part where it says that “joining of opposites can be the basis for a great relationship as our different strengths may help us balance each other” I sometimes don’t know whether this is true. When you think of a friend you see every month this can be right, but if you are talking about your relationship with your husband or your children, then that is different because you have to live with them and see them every day of your life and those differences that brought you together (as the chapters states) can later become a real problem.===

Communication is essential to solve conflict in our relationships. Speaking about what we think and feel as well as being active listeners will help us avoid and solve conflicts effectively.
===I, from now on, will try to follow the 5 rules for conflict clean up. I analyzed them and I want to practice them in my relationships. I think those go to the point, they are simple and make a lot of sense.===

ACTIVITY
===I liked all the activities but I would choose first the one in page 236 because, for my students I feel a big need to find good ways to teach them how to manage anger. I would like them to understand that it is possible to use creative thinking to convert anger into positive action. I liked the sample worksheet because it includes situations that you see at school daily. It would be interesting to show students good and new ways to express their feelings and solve their problems with productive behaviors instead of non-productive behaviors.===

Module # 9: Post two new resources for conflict resolution on our Wiki site under Video / other resources. Give your self credit.

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Module #10 offers an alternative of two assignments. You can do either A or B.

I did Module 11 instead.

Module #11 offers an alternative of any one of the 10 modules above. Watch the movie Emperors Club. Then write a reflection of 250 words (+-) describing the values choices that Mr. H made and discovered through the end of the movie. Describe your alternate choices or support his. For What would you walk the "I" beam?

=== What a WONDERFUL movie! I asked my husband to watch it with me and, at the beginning, he didn’t want to; but after 20 minutes we both didn’t want to miss a scene. The movie is full of moral dilemmas from the beginning to the end of it. The two main characters (Mr. Hundert and Sedgwick) are two persons with completely different moral and values principles. ===

===Mr. Hundert, knowing Sedgwick´s difficulties with his father, decides to protect him and help him during his time at school and through the movie. This shows his concern for others and how he really wants to help him, believes in him until the end.===

===Mr. Hundert faces several ethical choices during his teaching. The first one is when changing Sedgwick´s grade to let him enter the Julius Caesar contest. I understand what he did and I am going to be honest: I thought I would do the same thing when you show us little parts of the movie during class. But, after seeing the entire movie, I feel I have to believe he was wrong because of the results (Sedgwick continues being a terrible man forever).===

===I also think Mr. Hundert is very strong and intelligent. He manages the classroom with patient and love. However, he is also strict with discipline. I personally, like the part where he tells Sedgwick: “stupid last forever”. As a teacher, I believe he needed to say something striking like that right at that moment.=== ===Mr. Hundert´s visit to the senator´s office to inform him about the poor behavior of his son, shows he is responsible but also very tolerant. The way the senator treats him is very disrespectful and he doesn’t say anything. Instead, Mr. Hundert gives one more try, and challenges Sedgwick, gives him his old textbook and told Sedgwick that he believed in him. With these actions he disregards the senator’s warning and attempts to mold him and become a spiritual father to Sedgwick.===

===Other two moral dilemmas that are important in the movie are very similar but they happen 20 years apart. This is during the contests where Mr. Hundert discovers Sedgwick is cheating. I loved how Mr. Hundert found the way to get him out of the contest. However, I don’t agree he didn’t say anything in front of the other people.===

“In the flow of time an opportunity lost is lost forever”
===“All of us at some point are forced to look at ourselves in the mirror and see who we really are and when that day some for you Sedgwick, you will be confronted with a life lived without virtue, without principles and for that I pity you. End of lesson”===

===“As a student of history I could be shocked neither by his audacity nor his success. I had failed Sedgwick. But the worth of a life is not determined by a single failure, or a solitary success. My other students tough me that with learning a boy´s character can be changed so the destiny of a man.”===

**HANK THANK YOU FOR A GREAT CLASS.** **I LEARNED A LOT AND ENJOYED YOUR CLASS VERY MUCH.** **PICIO**