Lang,+Crystal

Course Assignments:

Module #1 American History X: Reflection

I had seen American History X years ago and although I didn’t remember much, many of the brutally violent scenes were ingrained in my head as if I had just seen the movie yesterday. I began to reflect, thinking that if just seeing the movie caused such vivid memories, imagine actually experiencing these events in your life. How hard it must be for students to “unlearn” experiences that would so greatly impact their abilities to behave in a socially acceptable way, whatever that may be.

Upon re-watching the film, with consideration of the age-old nature versus nurture argument I started to wonder about how much impact we actually have as teachers to invoke actual change in our students ideology. The quote from the movie that hit home for me was what Sweeney said in one of the first few scenes, “He learned this nonsense, he can unlearn it to.” While I agree with that, I wonder how much Sweeney had to do with Danny’s change of view. Yes, he encouraged him to look at his brother with a different lens, but really, Derrick was the one to invoke the change in Danny.

I do feel that regardless of the person who helped Danny “unlearn” the movie strongly promoted an argument for nurture over nature. I struggle to believe that, aside from biological issues, anything in us is unchangeable or something that is fated because we were born with it. I think the movie shows us that children absorb everything that is going on around them, in the home and in school. Yes, we are individuals with regards to how we interpret the experiences we are faced with, in that not everyone is going to react the same way to the same situation. I believe that is a result of additional external experiences that allow us to look at similar situations in different ways.

You can see an example of this in the movie when you look at Davina, Danny and Derrick’s sister. Although, she was exposed to similar things as Danny her responses were very different. This could be because she was older, and had more experience before the murders. This could be because she had admiration in someone else, not Derrick, which caused her to question his choices. Whereas, Danny’s fundamental role model was his brother, so following in his footsteps, caused him to look at the world in a different way than his sister did.

In watching this film, I am conflicted about the role the school, teacher and mentor had on this situation. While I admit that Sweeney guided the change in Derrick and the assignment he gave to Danny guided him to understand the positive changes in his brother, I don’t know how much influence Sweeney actually had on the family. I wonder if Derrick would have come to the realization on his own through the experiences he formed in prison. I also wonder if Danny would have changed his outlook on the cult if his brother had not changed his. I think that teacher’s can support and encourage their students and believe in them when no one else will. However, that does not necessarily imply that the student will respond in a positive way.

Obviously, the final scene in the movie was very difficult to watch. However, I did not form any strong connections with nature, nurture or the role of the school.

The overlying message that I got while watching this movie is that as a teacher, I need to believe that I can help and support my students, even if their actions and words imply that they do not want my support. The small external influence that I can impart on students lives is not something to be taken lightly. So, what little difference I can make, I better be certain that the difference I am making is for the good.

As Henry Adams said, “A teacher affects eternity. No one can tell where his influence stops.”

Module #2 V iolence - 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 was shocked at how off I was with regards to violence in America. I suppose I didn’t realize how much of an impact the media has had on my perception on reality. I think it’s very interesting that the that the media is portraying America as being this big, bad, scary place when safety in the United States is actually improving dramatically. I was also interested in the historical data that was displayed and the role that the Church played in recording data. I would be curious to see how that data would compare with different continents. The main point that I am bringing back with me is that education plays a huge role in our ability to resolve conflict, if we continue to instill conflict resolution skills in our students safety will continue to improve... education is the key!

Module #3 Hearts and Minds Describe three things you plan to do in your teaching practice to reduce stress and win the Hearts and Minds of your students and co workers 1. I will establish a community of learners in my classroom from the beginning of the year, by getting to know them as individuals and allow them to get to so me so that we all feel like we are in a safe environment. I will do this through games, role playing and artwork.

2. I will discover my students interests and use those interests to drive my instruction, so that they will build connections with what they are learning because it is focused on what excites them.

3. I will greet my students everyday and be sure to say goodbye at the end of each day with a compliment or comment that relates to a positive moment. I will also make a point to talk to each student each day about something in their lives that is not connected with school. .

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. In one word, I learned about Balance. I gave my two closest friends the personality quiz, my mom and my best friend. Both of them are my optimal travel mates. What I found the most interesting is that they both scored the complete opposite as I did. I scored highest in People Person and Creative Problem Solver. My mom scored alarmingly high in Learned Expert and my best friend scored really high in Practical Manager. I think it is interesting that you need a balance of all personality types to get things accomplished. I also think it’s interesting that you will probably get along better with people who are different that you, because it is a better balance.

What I found most interesting, both in class when looked at my own results and when I explained what the different profiles meant to my testers, we were all like, “Oh my goodness, that’s so me!” It’s like we knew it all along but didn’t have an understanding of the significance it has regarding how we respond to different situations. Imagine how much better it would be if everyone had awareness about how they like to problem solve and used that information to react to situations of conflict. I feel it is very important to teach students to analyze how other people react to certain situations so they can be more empathetic towards others and to help them become more self aware.

Module #5 Replace with The Emperor’s 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?

The Emperor’s Club was a fascinating movie that posed a very interesting moral dilemma, one with which is a possible reality for myself as a teacher. Mr. H was presented with an opportunity to promote one students possible growth of character over another students merit. His decision was to change the score of a test to allow a student to participate in a competition while eliminating the student who was entitled to the spot. It then turned out that the student whom he favoured, cheated in the competition and then again in the same competition years later. Throughout the movie he spoke highly of staying true to ones morals and values, and I do not believe that the choice he made supported that.

If I were in his shoes, I would not have changed the grade. I believe that he worked hard and grew as a person throughout the competition and I do not believe that the loss of the spot in the Julius Caesar finals would have changed the person he became. I think as teachers, though, admittedly, we have favourites, we cannot allow those students to actually be favoured. Every student should be granted equal opportunity, and if we do not honour that we are not doing our job.

Now, I do understand that things are not as black and white as I am painting them to be. We all have our limits where we allow our moral code to falter. In the scenario of the I Beam, as demonstrated by Monolo, should an actual life be in jeopardy, I would walk across that beam. When it comes to my friends, family and even my students, I would not allow their personal safety to be compromised, even if that would mean reevaluating my moral code. However, I do not believe that this was what Mr. H was doing. I believe that to put one students needs above the needs of another is not a sound moral decision. Module #6

Post 2 "I" messages - (positive) comment on the reactions.

Post 1 "I" Message (negative or corrective)

// Since you are my team leader, you support and guide our team. I feel so privileged to have learned from you and I will be using your leadership as an example next year. Thank you! //

I sent this I message in an email, to someone in this class and she didn't realize that it was an I message, so I figure that it sounded sincere (which of course it was). After I spoke with her about it, she said that it made her feel assured of her leadership skills.

//Sandra, when you drive me to work, I don't have to sit on the crowded bus and it makes me feel more comfortable and starts my day on a positive note.//

This one didn't go as well because it felt phoney. Although, my sentiments were true, structuring it that way made it seem insincere. I think I will try not using the "white bread" formula but spin it in a different way.

//Felipe, when you talk while I am giving instructions, I get distracted and I feel that what I am saying is not important.//

When I spoke to him after my lesson about his behavior, he seemed to understand that I was serious but didn't feel as attacked as when I just tell him, "Don't talk while I am talking." I think I will try talking to him this way more often, and see if it affects the longevity of his reaction.

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. Post a copy of your mission Statement on your wiki page.

Be a person who brings light into the lives of others, puts others needs before their own and is mindful of their environmental footprint.

Remember where you came from. Remember that kindness can solve problems and that people who are fortunate enough to be in a position of privilege should use that privilege to improve the lives of others.

Be able to think outside the box. Be daring and bold. Be a good listener. Be willing to accept change. Be humble.

Don't let fear hold you back.

You are the creator of your own path.

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

This chapter poses some really interesting ideas on how to manage our relationships and not surprisingly that goes hand in hand with managing conflict. This chapter explains the different purposes for selecting our relationships and how we have different expectations for different roles in relationships. I think the tables are really helpful in outlining our expectations of these roles. I think that people should have open communication about what they expect from their different relationships to help avoid conflict.

However, conflict is inevitable. This chapter details how different communicators manage different types of conflicts. It also provides some rules regarding how to facilitate a conflict in an amicable way. I think this is a great idea. I feel that if we teach students rules and protocols for dealing with their frustrations, the will be more equipped to dealing with their frustrations and misunderstandings. With practice and training in these rules, hopefully they will become second nature, which will help them become lifelong problem solvers. One point that stood out to me was in the conflict clean up list. It suggests that you should not apologize for things that are not your responsibility. I know that is something that I do as a way to help the argument move forward. I often take the blame and then move forward with setting goals for future improvement of the conflict. I will keep these rules in mind, and I will use these rules to facilitate conversations in my classroom.

This chapter presented some very tangible methods to understanding different relationships and then provided some concrete tools regarding how to manage these relationships.

I am going to try Session 2: Needs and Wants lesson suggested in this chapter. I think this is an effective activity for many reasons. First of all, it reaches all types of learners because it allows students to be creative in the creation of the project. It is a lesson that can be easily differentiation. Also, I feel the topic is very important. Before a student can implement the rules of conflict resolution, they need to have self awareness. I feel that most students, or maybe most people do not have an understanding of what they want from their relationships and what they can give. I think this activity really challenges students to think introspectively. I think this activity will help my students become better at resolving conflicts because it will allow them to look at their classmates in a different way. Perhaps they will find that their is someone in the classroom that they haven’t formed a strong relationship with, who has something to offer that that person needs. Hopefully, when I try this activity with my class, it will help to form some new friendships and allow for my class to feel even more like a community.

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

Teaching Students to be Peacekeepers: http://www.nrepp.samhsa.gov/ViewIntervention.aspx?id=64

I believe that the best way to solve conflict in our schools is to teach students to be their own problem solvers. At a previous school I worked at, we implemented a Peacekeeping program, as outlined in the attached link. We experienced great results with our students. Not only were students able to become problem solvers by going through a training program if they were selected, but it was a good way to give responsibility and accountability to students who typically found themselves getting into conflicts. When they were named Peacekeepers for a particular quarter, they pushed themselves to avoid conflicts themselves.

http://www.ted.com/talks/kathryn_schulz_on_being_wrong.html

Kathryn Shultz: On Being Wrong In this video, Shultz discusses the idea that people cling to their own idea of rightness. We understand from a global perspective that humans are fallible. But, when we look at ourselves we stop considering the idea we could be wrong. This creates a huge social problem because you think your beliefs reflect reality and conflict is created when trying to convince everyone else to think the same way as you. This leads to us to cling to our opinions and understandings and does not allow for the idea to learning from our mistakes. If everybody thought the same way, the world would be a boring place. In addition, because we “know” we are right, we assume that others are ignorant, idiots or truth distorters, which causes us to treat each other horribly while trying to get our rightness hear. She suggests that by giving in to our wrongness we will actually become creative thinkers, problem solvers and be able to simple treat each other better.

Module #10 OR you may make a web site of your own choosing. Explain on your wiki page the relationship it has to conflict, and conflict resolution.

http://thrivingthird.weebly.com/

I recently got appointed team leader of the 3rd grade team. I believe that communication and organization is the key to avoiding conflict in our team. I plan on using this website as a way to share ideas, keep track of dates and deadlines and communicate any problems or concerns. I plan on opening up this page for my whole team to edit so they all feel as if they have ownership of the content. When working with teams in the past, most of my frustration has come from people being confused about expectations. I believe that this tool will help my team communicate more effectively and in return, my team will all feel like we are on the same page and working towards a common goal.