Larkin,+Carin

EDU640

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” is a compelling and graphic interpretation of a once prevalent issue in American culture. The sub-culture of white supremacy once ran rampant through the streets of major cities and rural small towns. While supporters of the group still remain, the commonality of their presence has diminished greatly over the past few decades. Although this racial group, driven by hatred, has subsided, the characteristic in which they embody still live in other factions motivated with various ideas rooted in hatred. The idea of nature vs. nurture has undoubtedly weaved its way into the dialogue and action of this film. Nature is diminished by the direct and indirect actions each character chooses, leaving nurture to reign over the existing, sensitive impulse that enables these choices. Derek has a natural impetuous disposition. Combined with this trait, Derek is disappointed in society from the start. The death of his father influenced Derek’s ailing perception on society. Leaving him enraged, with no opportunity for proper grievance, Derek lashes out and is consumed by his hatred. His white supremacist gang feeds the fire to his rage and gives Derek a forum to react to his father’s ill demise. Nurture is highlighted in the events that take place over the course of Derek’s incarceration. A product of his chosen community, Derek chooses something new for himself after befriending a black man. “It wasn’t supposed to happen that way, alright. It’s not what I’d planned; it just all went to shit... It got totally out of control.” This new nurture allows Derek to grieve his father, come to terms with the events leading up to his prison time and he begins to see people for their actuality rather than their race. Danny, seeing the idyllic life and times of his glorified brother, falls victim to gang violence for different reasons. His brother is a hero and inspiration to so many within the gang that Danny develops a pride for his brother and is motivated to live in his footsteps. The gang is encouraging this vigor, the female roles in Danny’s life fall complacent, and his brother is in prison. Devoid of any substantial adult influence Danny is propelled into the life his brother mastered. Convoluted by so much negativity, the easy path is paved quite clearly for Danny. He chooses the gang because it is a source of adrenaline, legacy, and false dignity. Dr. Sweeney’s challenge coerces Danny into his brother’s story and leads to the eventual change of heart. Due to the prior idolization of his brother and his impressionable age, Danny is able to retrieve himself, subsequently unable to reverse past actions. Surrounded by positivity and a new outlook the future is promising. “Hate is baggage, life’s too short to be pissed off all the time.” His core values and perspectives are altered with his mentors and role models guiding him. While the situations surrounding these characters are extreme the root of these issues continue to be established. If we are surrounded by and fed negativity for an extended period of time, it will eventually take us over. The beauty of nurturing is that the same is true for the positive. If we are supplied positivity, education, and the understanding of choice, potential grows exponentially. As educators we are given the forum to equip students, in need of a positive outlook, to find the good in all things.

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.) In reflecting on the statistics presented regarding violence trends in the United States and across the globe, I was satisfied with the results. I did not expect the violence to have increased drastically over time. I find myself wondering if this misconception has to do with media projection of these crimes. All too often the media focuses on these tragedies; the viewer, in turn, is provided a bias view of a culture that is centered around the negative, rather than the positive. As the world continues to get smaller, education becomes a right rather than priviledge, and compassion for others is rewarded, there is an implication that the decrease in violence will continue. The subsequent challenge lies with the separation of violence as entertainment and violence as reality.

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. While I require students to create a vairety of projects and collages, with plenty of choices, I need to display their work more often. 2. I need to make better strides in talking with my students, consistently, on-to-one. I feel as though I have good connections with my students and I know them all well but I could do a better job at cultivating those relationships. they know I care, but sometimes I get so busy I don't check in with them regarding their personal lives. 3. A positive work environment, directly correlates to students in that if teachers are happy, they project a more genuine and positive perspective in the classroom. Learning about and interacting with co-workers more often will help promote this positive atmosphere.

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 had my boyfriend back home take this test (I had to convince him it wasn't a compatability test, though). I had already predicted what I thought his results would be. I was pleasantly surprised that I was right, however I was not correct in the variation of the scale. Like me he was a Creative Problem Solver, but only at 28pts. He was pretty equal on the others as well. When I explained the meaning of the graph to him, he was fascinated by the meanings. He had not thought of himself as much of a practical manager. He decided that it meant we were destined to be together. On a serious note, he was proud to have a little of everything and thought that it made him more dynamic in life.

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. __Subject:__ English/Language Arts __Grade__: 9 This is a lesson I actually attempted in my classroom on Thursday March 15, 2012. My students have just finished reading and analyzing Romeo and Juliet. I have challenged them with the moral dilemma of choosing between their families and the one person they love most. While there are only two sides to the argument, students....

__Dilemma__: Romeo and Juliet-- Loyalty to family vs. loyalty to love Focus Question: Pretend you are with either Romeo or Juliet. Who would you be loyal to in this situtaion? Your family, who loves and cares for you dearly or the person you are in love with?

__Generate Positions__: Side A= Romeo & Family Side B= Romeo & Love Side C= Juliet & Family Side D= Juliet & Love

__Group by Positions__: Have students stand or alternate sides of the classroom. (Divide into smaller groups if necessary) Most students chose their family over love.

__Present compelling Arguments__: Have students discuss their arguments, coming up with the three strongest.

__Comments "have you considered?"__: Challenging Family: Have you considered that... you will never find true love again? ...you will be lonely for the rest of your life? ...you will have to marry Paris? ...you may never be happy again? ...you will have to live with your parents forever? Challenging Love: Have you considered... that your parents will never forgive you? ...that because your parents, being from Verona, Italy, are strict Catholics and because you have betrayed them you are going to Hell? ...that Juliet is only 13 years old? ...Romeo was in love with another girl just a few days ago? ...

__Allow positions to change__: When I allowed students to change positions after the activity, not a single student changed in either class. I think the pressure of their friends around may have influenced that some.

__Present defensible scenario on position__: Can Romeo and Juliet have both? Why? What could they have done differently to change the outcome for themselves? Reflect on these concepts over the weekend. Respond in one paragraph, 6-8 sentences, using complete sentences.

Module #6 Post 2 eye messages - (positive) comment on the reactions. When you send me a message I find the good in life and I feel happy!

When you make dinner I get rest and keep you company And I am thankful

Post 1 "I" Message (negative or corrective) When you examine every item I am buying My time is being wasted and I feel frustrated

Module #7

A little background to my mission statement as it may be obscure to an outsider looking in. It is titled 'Just be...' each statement following is what I would like to be or have in my life. The title is a that of a goal I aspire to achieve in the future. I would call it a business but my intention is not to sell a product. I have always wanted to raise bees. I would like the honey to be called 'Just Bee' because I believe it embodies the simplicity, organic, and natural attributes of honey. It stands in the moment as I too would like too do. So here is what I came up with:

Just be... with my family and friends finding the good in all things doing things my way unearthing my bliss enjoying simplicity showing unconditional love thoughtful with my intentions flexible to open my heart and mind honest in my actions laughing at myself to acquire wisdom loving life...

Module #8 I read Chapter 2. I focused on how stress can be managed by knowing your self. I like this idea for students. To integrate it into my classroom I would, and did with one of my classes, have them do an inventory of their own stress. I copied and pasted on section of the chapter for the kids to read. From that I designed a simple worksheet for each student to fill in about their own stress. I asked them to identify three things in their lives that cause them stress. I then asked them to describe their physical and emotional responses. Finally and asked them to identify ways in wchich they can change their approach to these situations. I had the students turn it in and I was surprised and enlightened about what causes of stress my students identified. I have attactched the worksheet I created for them as well.



Module # 9 I posted to videos on bullying on the wiki page. They support conflict management by working to prevent bullying.

Module # 10 Webpage-- I have started my first webpage ever! I used iWeb to create this webpage. As this is my first time and I am finding it to be extremely time consuming combined with a learning curve which requires time and dedication you will find some of the pages 'under construction'. My intention with this website is to use it in my classroom next year. That should give me sufficient time to work and toy with some ideas I have. However, on the page titled "Find your Story" you will see my approach to conflict resolution. I wanted to take a positive approach to this idea. I have included links and descriptions in which students can use to help them on their journey. By getting to know oneself we find how we can be better and how we can deal with various obstacles in life. This is my goal. I want students to feel empowered and see that they can be their own hero. These links can contribute to that even, in sometimes, silly ways. I have also included the link to the website to build your own personal statement.

(Unfortunately, I ran into a big problem with my webpage. As I was using the application iWeb, after I put close to 20 hours into learning the program and creating my classroom website, I went to publish. Because I am an iCloud subscriber I am unable to publish my website until June 30, 2012. Apple is in the middle of converting MobileMe to iCloud. This means they are not taking new webpages until June. I can take screen shots of my work and send them to you if you would like to see what I have so far, but for this assignment I will not longer be able to complete it as I had hoped.)

For Module #10 I have replaced it with Module #11. Please see below.

Module #11

Mr. Hundert, in the movie //The Emperor’s Club,// was notable not only for his upstanding character, as highlighted in the movie, but for his true intentions as a teacher of history and character. Mr. Hundert makes no mistake; rather he does what every good teacher must do. He says it himself, “However much we stumble, it is a teacher's burden always to hope, that with learning, a boy's character might be changed. And, so, the destiny of a man.” We all put faith in the children we teach because we have hope they will become enriched in knowledge and virtue.

Sedgewick Bell challenges Mr. Hundert on various levels. His choice to allow Sedgewick to participate in the Mr. Caesar contest is a choice I most likely would have made as well. To inspire a student like Sedgewick is an opportunity that Mr. Hundert trusted would pay off. Martin deserved the nomination, but was not in need of character molding in such ways as Sedgewick. He took the risk of hoping Sedgewick’s character might be changed and in turn his destiny.

The disappointment that he experiences with Sedgewick was paramount but in the same circumstances Mr. Hundert rights his wrong with Sedgewick through his reconciliation with Martin Blythe. This is the motivating factor of Mr. Hundert’s decision. Mr. Hundert is an upstanding man with great character and virtue.

Had I been in Mr. Hundert’s situation I feel I would have done the same. Taking the risk on a student is always worthwhile if you are genuine and thoughtful in your intentions for that student. I may have argued a 4th contestant and included Martin Blythe as well. Mr. Hundert took that risk because he believed and knew it was possible for Sedgewick to change. However, no teacher can choose for a student they have to be willing to take the risk themselves. Sedgewick was unable to do that and spoiled many relationships, especially that of his own son.

“I” beam challenge: I would be willing to walk the “I” beam for any of my family members or close friends. Their presence in my life is principle and I would do anything, as I know they would do the same for me. As for money or any of the material offerings, I know in my heart they are not worth the value of my family so I would not risk my life for such possessions.