7430 Thais Trail
Wilmington, NC 28411
24 February 2009
Dear Mr/Mrs._______________________,
My name is Crystal Striffler, I am a junior at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and in the middle grades mathematics education program. I was contacting you concerning the NCLB act. I feel that in my opinion a few things need to change to make it a more effective program. The children are under a lot of pressure by taking these End-of-Grade tests at the end of the school year. It all starts at such a young age as well. For example, is it necessary for the state to test them on their writing? They are taking the writing test starting in the forth grade. I believe it is the educators who need to make sure that the students are up to par on their writing skills. If not, I believe that after school programs would be a great way to help a child like this succeed. I also feel that there is more than enough pressure on the schools themselves. Is it necessary for the school to fall into the category of “needs improvement” if it is not the schools fault? The school is supposed to have highly qualified teachers and experts to help students who need extra help. The teachers should know their field of study better than anyone. Why is it a problem? I feel that it is a problem that the children are spilt into groups and that is how the testing coordinators find out if a particular group is failing and the school is penalized for it. It just shows that the staff may be lacking in helping other students than those who really need the help. The school should not make those who are exceeding have the opportunity to go to a successful school if they are already excelling. I feel that those students are keeping the school alive and having faith that they are doing a good job.
The last problem I see with the NCLB act is that I think that it is not properly funded. If about $1.9 to $5.3 billion dollars are being spent towards making new tests, then why are we having students still fail? Obviously the problem is not coming from the school; it is coming from the local and state governments looking for an “easy way out.” It is easier to put paper and pencil in front of every student than to test the students in their profound learning style. Not everyone tests well because not everyone is a visual learner. I feel that if the governments would look further into testing students in their learning style that every student would be successful. It would not hurt to try this out and fund this particular method, just to see if it makes a difference. We already know that when a new version of a test comes out for the EOGs the students do not do well the first year. The scores rise until they come out with a new version. It would not hurt to see how things change for a few years. It would take a lot of dedication, hard work and qualified professionals, but I believe that this may be the key to making every child not actually left behind.
Sincerely,
Crystal Striffler
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Module 5
I am a seventh grade math teacher who teaches in a school in a rural area. As I was writing some problems on the board for them to write down for homework, I over hear one of my students a "stupid-head." I all of a sudden stopped what I was doing and turned around and said, "who ever just said that needs to apologize and stay after class. The victim needs to stay as well." As I get back to what I was doing before the bell rang for the next period, I quickly wrote up the last problem.
I told the class the first day of school that the word "stupid" was not allowed in my classroom because that word is degrading and can have some background affiliation to it. You never know if that person has a sibling who is actually mentally retarded and that word can do some damage. I feel that no one is stupid. Everyone has potential and is capable of anything. The word "stupid" can also make someone depressed and they give up on themselves because they think, "well since they think I am stupid, maybe I am. Maybe that is why I cannot get good grades. Maybe that is why I never get any math problems right." You never know what is going through someones thoughts. I feel that there is not one particular group of people this word can offend. I feel that it can offend anyone.
The bell rang to the class change. The two students hung around long enough for me to know what happened. (The offender) "I called him a "stupid-head" because he is one. When he goes to the board and works out a problem, he never seems to get it right." (The victim) "I try so hard to learn the lesson and how to work out the problems, but no matter how hard I try it just seems to not click with me. I will get a few problems right and then second guess myself and then change it and it will be wrong. I think that after he called me this it made me feel even lower because the whole class heard him call me a 'stupid-head.' My brother has down syndrome and I started thinking to myself, 'maybe I do have what he has?' 'maybe I am stupid.' It is hard going home and taking care of him and helping my parents around the house. I never have time to study because I have to help around the house."
My reply: "I think that (so and so) owes you an apology and I think that before anyone calls anyone anymore names you need to think truly what you are saying. You do not know the background of each other and that name can really hurt someone. "Stupid-head" may not seem like a big deal of a name, but if it is said to the right person, it can really make them go off the end. And (so and so, the offender), you owe me an after school detention for using that language in my classroom. You know the rules in here and you know that was very inappropriate. You guys have a great afternoon and please, no more name calling!"
Question 2
As a teacher, you will work with children from many different backgrounds. Describe a situation in which you would be uncomfortable with a child's family situation, culture, religious views or other beliefs. What will you do? What are your responsibilities as the child's teacher?
I think the most uncomfortable situation I could be put in is if the student came to me and told me about a family situation. I am not really bothered by culture, religious views or beliefs. I can tolerate pretty much anything. But if one of my students told me that her mother or father was sexually abusing her that would make me go off. I would first off really question him/her to make sure they are not striving for attention and make sure I got all of the facts straight. Then I would seek the counselor or whoever handles those situations. Maybe the school social worker. I then would make sure that the child was well taken care of because that is the worst thing that could happen in my eyes. But what amazes me is that it happens all the time. We hear it on the news, TV, and online. It is everywhere. I then do not see how I could look at the parent and with a straight face every again. I would not want to hold back what I want to say to them. I would want to look at them with disgust. But as a professional, I would make sure I handled what I had to in a professional manner.
I told the class the first day of school that the word "stupid" was not allowed in my classroom because that word is degrading and can have some background affiliation to it. You never know if that person has a sibling who is actually mentally retarded and that word can do some damage. I feel that no one is stupid. Everyone has potential and is capable of anything. The word "stupid" can also make someone depressed and they give up on themselves because they think, "well since they think I am stupid, maybe I am. Maybe that is why I cannot get good grades. Maybe that is why I never get any math problems right." You never know what is going through someones thoughts. I feel that there is not one particular group of people this word can offend. I feel that it can offend anyone.
The bell rang to the class change. The two students hung around long enough for me to know what happened. (The offender) "I called him a "stupid-head" because he is one. When he goes to the board and works out a problem, he never seems to get it right." (The victim) "I try so hard to learn the lesson and how to work out the problems, but no matter how hard I try it just seems to not click with me. I will get a few problems right and then second guess myself and then change it and it will be wrong. I think that after he called me this it made me feel even lower because the whole class heard him call me a 'stupid-head.' My brother has down syndrome and I started thinking to myself, 'maybe I do have what he has?' 'maybe I am stupid.' It is hard going home and taking care of him and helping my parents around the house. I never have time to study because I have to help around the house."
My reply: "I think that (so and so) owes you an apology and I think that before anyone calls anyone anymore names you need to think truly what you are saying. You do not know the background of each other and that name can really hurt someone. "Stupid-head" may not seem like a big deal of a name, but if it is said to the right person, it can really make them go off the end. And (so and so, the offender), you owe me an after school detention for using that language in my classroom. You know the rules in here and you know that was very inappropriate. You guys have a great afternoon and please, no more name calling!"
Question 2
As a teacher, you will work with children from many different backgrounds. Describe a situation in which you would be uncomfortable with a child's family situation, culture, religious views or other beliefs. What will you do? What are your responsibilities as the child's teacher?
I think the most uncomfortable situation I could be put in is if the student came to me and told me about a family situation. I am not really bothered by culture, religious views or beliefs. I can tolerate pretty much anything. But if one of my students told me that her mother or father was sexually abusing her that would make me go off. I would first off really question him/her to make sure they are not striving for attention and make sure I got all of the facts straight. Then I would seek the counselor or whoever handles those situations. Maybe the school social worker. I then would make sure that the child was well taken care of because that is the worst thing that could happen in my eyes. But what amazes me is that it happens all the time. We hear it on the news, TV, and online. It is everywhere. I then do not see how I could look at the parent and with a straight face every again. I would not want to hold back what I want to say to them. I would want to look at them with disgust. But as a professional, I would make sure I handled what I had to in a professional manner.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Module 4
How does your reaction to the Goals for Schools survey compare to what you experienced in elementary and middle school? Do you think the schools you attended were examples of what schools should be, or were they trying to accomplish something else? How has that affected you?
Honestly I can not remember back to elementary school to compare it to the survey. I feel that in middle school the survey was compared because all of the things on the survey were important and my school recognized it. I really can not say it affected me because it has not in any way.
Do you have any personal knowledge about the various types of schools discussed in your text, such as charter schools, magnet schools, virtual schools, home schools or for-profit schools? What do you think about these various types of schools?
The only type of school I have any knowledge about is home schooling. I think that growing up with friends in my church who were home schooled, I feel that I know a little about it. They loved being home schooled for many reasons. They loved being home and not worrying about getting dressed. They liked that their mom was the teacher. They liked interacting with children who did the same thing as they did. They also loved learning about their beliefs. I feel that this is a great way to educate children. I know it is hard work, but if you are up to the challenge as the parent that it can work. I think that as the parent and knowing exactly what they learn and knowing the exact curriculum, (since you get to pick it out) you know what is going on at all times.
When you are a teacher, what will you do to make your school effective for your students?
I think that when I start teaching I will make myself open for after school and my phone line open so that when my children have questions about the lesson that they can call me or come in my classroom for help. I feel that being available will give the children the opportunity to ask me questions that they may have felt embarrassed to ask during class. Some children are shy and feel they can not ask questions because they feel someone is going to pick on them or consider it a "stupid" question.
Honestly I can not remember back to elementary school to compare it to the survey. I feel that in middle school the survey was compared because all of the things on the survey were important and my school recognized it. I really can not say it affected me because it has not in any way.
Do you have any personal knowledge about the various types of schools discussed in your text, such as charter schools, magnet schools, virtual schools, home schools or for-profit schools? What do you think about these various types of schools?
The only type of school I have any knowledge about is home schooling. I think that growing up with friends in my church who were home schooled, I feel that I know a little about it. They loved being home schooled for many reasons. They loved being home and not worrying about getting dressed. They liked that their mom was the teacher. They liked interacting with children who did the same thing as they did. They also loved learning about their beliefs. I feel that this is a great way to educate children. I know it is hard work, but if you are up to the challenge as the parent that it can work. I think that as the parent and knowing exactly what they learn and knowing the exact curriculum, (since you get to pick it out) you know what is going on at all times.
When you are a teacher, what will you do to make your school effective for your students?
I think that when I start teaching I will make myself open for after school and my phone line open so that when my children have questions about the lesson that they can call me or come in my classroom for help. I feel that being available will give the children the opportunity to ask me questions that they may have felt embarrassed to ask during class. Some children are shy and feel they can not ask questions because they feel someone is going to pick on them or consider it a "stupid" question.
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