A Memory Remains...

Tutoring Reflection #4

2010-12-14T06:39:00.001-08:00

I was also able to relate my experiences tutoring at the Easley Center to our reading of Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. While tutoring at the Easley Center, I was able to see the pure excitement that would overcome many of the children as they saw their tutors. It was an incredibly humbling experience in the sense that I was able to see the immediate effects of the work I was contributing. By just making the children excited to complete their homework with me, I hope to have sparked their interest to keep going with their homework. I know that it can be rather difficult sometimes to work so hard on an assignment or in a class that you just do not care about. However, I tried to help the children understand that every class they take is just as important as the others. I am happy and grateful that I was able to make even the smallest difference in these children’s lives. Even it that means simply giving these children a familiar and smiling face to see every week.

Some of the similarities I saw between my tutoring experiences and Greg Mortenson’s experiences in the Middle East dealt with the children’s excitement. Every time Mortenson entered a small village in Pakistan or Afghanistan, the children and older villagers alike that knew him would run up and greet him. He could see how excited the children were because they understood that Mortenson was there to help build a school. The excitement and determination that these children showed for learning was astounding for me to read. It seems that many children today take their education for granted because they do not realize how lucky they are. Mortenson has showed that there are children around the world who are more than willing to brave the extreme elements faced in the mountains of the Middle East just to have the chance to receive an education.

Another similarity that I saw between Mortenson’s and my experiences was the ability to see the benefits of our work. While my work tutoring was on a much smaller scale, I was still able to see how I positively affected the children I worked with every week. Because Mortenson took on such a large and important project, his progress was sometimes slow but incredibly necessary. I believe that Mortenson’s experiences building schools were very humbling and exciting for him and the children of the villages. Mortenson was able to see the both the physical and emotional changes that stemmed from his work.

Tutoring Reflection #3

2010-12-06T08:15:00.001-08:00

One of the experiences I had while tutoring at the Easley Center reminded me of reading Amazing Grace, by Jonathan Kozol. A common theme I saw in several of the children I helped at the Easley Center was their apparent lack of self-belief. Some of these children did not seem to have any confidence in themselves or in the work they were completing. I noticed that some children were prone to second-guessing themselves, even when they had the right answer all along. One child in particular would write down a word and go back and erase it time after time because he did not seem to think it was acceptable. These children seemed to genuinely value having someone sitting next to them to tell them they are doing their work correctly. I found that a great deal of my time helping certain children was spent simply encouraging them. I made it my goal to help them to understand that they could trust their judgment seeing as they were completing their work correctly.

However, I did learn that most of these children had a strong desire to learn as much as they possibly could, both from their teachers and their peers. They would constantly go out of their way to ask us questions about things they did not understand. It was refreshing to see a group of children so excited about learning.

My experiences with the children at the Easley Center reminded me of Kozol’s experiences with the children in the South Bronx. Many of the children in these impoverished areas of New York did not have an ounce of self-confidence, due to the fact that they had been put down all of their lives. These children had constantly been told by their peers that they would never have the chance to leave nor become what they defined as “successful.” Similar to my own experiences with tutoring, Kozol was able to find those children who had a strong desire to learn and improve not only their own lives, but also the lives of their families. Kozol fed off of their excitement and used that to motivate himself to write about the true importance of educating every child.

Tutoring Reflection #2

2010-12-06T08:08:00.002-08:00

A second experience that stuck in my mind after a session of tutoring at the Easley Center dealt with the resources that were available to the children. I was working with Jessica again as we attempted to finish her English homework. This particular homework consisted of a section that required finding the word that did not belong out of a group of four words. Whenever Whitney did not know what a specific word meant she would make a trip across the room to the bookshelf. The Easley Center provided a good amount of resources that the children could use to be proactive in their search for information.

After we had finished working on Whitney’s homework, we began looking up random words and made it into little a game. Whitney would turn to a random page in the dictionary and quiz me on the meaning of a word. Honestly, quite a few times even I did not know exactly what the word meant. She would giggle when I did not know the answer and read the definition aloud to us both. Then we would talk about how that word was used in the real world. After she had asked me a question, I would take my turn asking her what each word meant. It turns out that both Whitney and myself learned a lot just from playing that silly dictionary game.

I found it interesting that a younger girl, like Whitney, could enjoy learning the meanings of different words by simply making a game with only a dictionary. Her excitement for learning was refreshing because it seems as though many children today dread going to school and doing their homework. Most children will simply to the bare minimum that is required to get by. I could tell that Whitney was already much more mature than many of her classmates because she was constantly striving to do her best.

Tutoring Reflection #1

2010-12-06T08:08:00.000-08:00

While tutoring at the Easley Center, I was introduced to and given the opportunity to work with many wonderful children. One of the girls I regularly helped at the beginning we will call Jessica.

While working with Jessica, I could not help but be reminded of similar events that took place when I was in elementary school. Jessica was telling me about the book fair that had happened that day at school and showing me all the interesting trinkets she bought, including an invisible ink pen. The last thing that she was the most excited about was a novel that had caught her eye. She proceeded to sit me down after we finished her homework and read some of it to me. I could see how excited Jessica was to know that this was her book and that she could sit down to read it whenever she wanted.

I had an experience similar to Jessica’s when I was in the third grade. In elementary school, our teachers would set aside around 30 minutes to an hour every few days in order for us to read. We could sit anywhere in the room, whether it be on the floor or in a bean bag chair, and spend the allotted time reading a book of our choice. This was one of my favorite parts of the school day when I was younger and I wish it were still a part of my school days today. I believe that encouraging children to find books that they are genuinely interested in reading is key when it comes to improving literacy. If children are not interested and engaged in what they are reading or learning, they are not going to put forth their best effort to remember what they have been taught. Of course the time will come where they have to take a class they do not always enjoy, but by keeping them engaged I believe they will at least walk away with a better understanding and appreciation for that subject.

Research Methods

2010-11-12T09:39:00.000-08:00

Through this research paper I am attempting to answer "What are the differences between major in independent A&R departments in the music industry?" The first method I am using is conducting basic research by reading books about record labels and publishing companies. I believe that this is the best way to start because it helps me to gain a better understanding of my topic. The second method I plan to use will be conducting interviews with various A&R executives. By talking to members of the A&R departments from major and independent record labels and publishing companies will help me to understand the differences between the two. I will also interview my Music Publishing teacher in order to get an outside perspective of the importance and differences that exist in A&R departments. Researching in the library, my first method, has also helped me to figure out questions that I can ask when I go out and interview these music industry professionals.

Digital Habits

2010-11-08T09:24:00.000-08:00

My various daily digital habits include activities such as surfing the internet and playing some video games. I have noticed that the internet is a big source of distraction for me. When I am trying to finish my homework or write a paper on my computer, I often find myself opening Safari and surfing the web, counting that as a "mental break." I also enjoy playing some video games in my free time because they are fun and do not always require a great deal of deep thinking. I most often use my digital devices to procrastinate the work I know I should be finishing, and to have a little fun.
My daily digital habits are similar to my father's habits, but polar opposites to my mother's habits. I would say that my father is fairly tech savvy and is able to navigate the internet easily. He has become much more skilled at texting in the past few years after I moved away to college. We still talk on the phone but he will text me when he has a quick question. My father also enjoys looking at various websites on the internet in his free time. However, my mother has no idea to work any kind of technology. My father and I gave her a cell phone for Christmas when I was in the 7th grade and she immediately gave it back, saying she would never use it. Today, my mother does own a cell phone but I do not believe she has ever turned it on. I have successfully taught her how to at least turn on the computer, but I do have to remind her from time to time. Basically, she only uses the computer when forced. My grandparents do own cell phones that they only use in emergency situations. My grandmother also has a laptop that she uses to play games on the internet.

Revised Sentence

2010-11-03T09:38:00.000-07:00

As a country, we want to preserve the image of our “American heroes” and by admitting that these national victors are not perfect, we are knocking them off of their beloved pedestals, we are focusing only on the negatives, we are essentially being unpatriotic.

Lies My Teacher Told Me

2010-11-01T05:35:00.000-07:00

After reading the first section of "Lies My Teacher Told Me," I was surprised by a great deal of the information that was presented. My eyes were especially opened to the truth behind the presidency of Woodrow Wilson. I never knew the full extent of Wilson's racism. I am honestly shocked to learn that he segregated the navy by forcing African Americans to leave their posts and work in the kitchen or boiler room. I do find some personal value in knowing the true story of one of my country's presidents. Loewen has taught me a valuable lesson when it comes to believing the first thing I am told. Doing my own research and finding different opinions on a subject can never hurt.

According to Loewen, one of the reasons we allow fiction to pervade our American history has to deal with pride. As a country, we want to preserve the image of our "American heroes." By admitting that some of the people we have placed high up on a pedestal are not perfect, we are being the opposite of patriotic. These "American heroes" tend to give us a sense of hope that we too can achieve the American dream and be the victorious underdog. Loewen also describes that we feel the need to speak respectively about the past of our country. Speaking respectively can be somewhat limiting because some people feel that they are not able to bring up the mistakes that were made in the past. We seem to just push aside the various negative occurrences of history in order to focus on the positive.

Research Project "Text"

2010-10-01T09:30:00.000-07:00

The first text that comes to mind when I think about the music industry, more specifically music publishing, is a song. Songs use lyrics and music to portray their message to a wider audience. Songs are an integral part of the music publishing industry because protecting and promoting artists and their songs are the main parts of music publishing. The role of a publisher is to work with various artists and develop their ability to write songs, play music, and perform. In publishing, songs can be a gateway to becoming more literate in song structure and the rights that are used to protect the songs and their artists. The music industry would cease to exist without songs and the artists that perform those songs.

Amazing Grace Scene

2010-09-22T09:40:00.000-07:00

One of the scene that stood out the most to me while I was reading Amazing Grace takes place on page 129. Jonathan Kozol, the author, is spending time speaking to some of the students at P.S. 65 after school has been let out. He walks home with a little girl named Anabelle and asks her about her idea of heaven. Anabelle responds that the good people go "upstairs" to heaven where everyone wears white nightgowns because they are angels. She also mentions that the children who die while they are still young go to heaven too. Even the dogs, cats, and other pets have their own place up in heaven and their owners can go and visit with them on the weekends. Finally, she says that no one uses money to pay for things in heaven because everything can be paid for with smiles.

This scene stood out the most to me because it seemed to be one of the fewer "happy" scenes in the book. While reading about Kozol's interaction with this little girl, I was reminded of the purity and innocence found in children. Even in the midst of all the terror, cruelty, and sickness around her, Anabelle is still able to have hope for a better world, whether in this life or the next. It saddens me, however, to know that Anabelle speaks from her own personal experiences in her neighborhood when she mentions all the young children who die young that go to heaven. I, like Anabelle, take comfort in the fact that these children and other good people will get to live a better life in heaven with God.

Research Paper Brainstorming

2010-09-19T07:09:00.000-07:00

After thinking for a while, I believe that I want to write my research paper on the many parts that make up the music industry. I am earning a degree in Music Business here and I will be graduating in a little under 2 years, but I do not yet know exactly where I want to work. In this paper I want to address the parts of the business that most interest me and learn through research the actual roles that these different parts play in the whole business.
Literacy would be connected to this paper through the knowledge I will gain after researching the specifics of the music industry. Another way in which literacy will be connected to this paper is through my readers' gain understanding of how the music business functions.
I believe that I could successfully conduct research on this topic through both primary and secondary research. For primary research, I could find resources on the internet as well as books in the library. I could also consult many of the Music Business books I have used in previous classes. For secondary research, I could meet with some of my Music Business professors and ask them questions about the many jobs in the industry and what really goes on in each today.

Literacy Narrative Topic

2010-09-08T09:48:00.000-07:00

I decided to write my personal literacy narrative on a specific event I experienced while volunteering at Habitat for Humanity. While volunteering one day, I met the mother of the family's house we were building and saw how grateful she was that we all concentrated our time and efforts to help. I am focusing my paper on Barber's idea of civic literacy and the importance of being able to understand how to work together with other people. On that day, I witnessed several examples of the positive effects that can stem from working together to help another. In turn, I felt a great sense of joy because I knew that I made a difference, no matter how small, in another person's life.

The Importance of Civic Literacy

2010-09-02T17:30:00.000-07:00

I believe that Barker's idea of "civic literacy" is incredibly important to understand in the world today. In his article, Barker defines "civic literacy" as "the competence to participate in democratic communities, the ability to think critically and act with deliberation in a pluralistic world, and the empathy to identify sufficiently with others to live with them despite conflicts of interests and differences in character." Every person could benefit from taking the time to understand what Barker is trying to tell us about living in harmony with others. We must learn that it is acceptable for us to have different beliefs and personalities, even if that does mean that we have to work a little harder to understand and tolerate each other. Being able to work together is a skill that is utilized every single day, unless you are a hermit and never leave home. We encounter other people regularly, in fact it is quite difficult to go an entire day without having to interact with another person. We live together, work together, go to school together. What kind of world would we live in if no one ever got along? Differences make the world a more interesting place and gives us the opportunity to never stop learning. Part of our role as citizens of this world is to not only teach the younger generations about true acceptance, but to implement that same idea in our everyday lives. We must make this a conscious effort each and every day to practice what we preach.

Literacy

2010-08-29T20:49:00.000-07:00

When I think of literacy, the first thing that comes to mind is the ideas of school and education. School systems, in my personal experiences, have focused greatly on literacy through extensive and consistent reading. At a young age we were given more freedom when it came to choosing which books we wanted to read. The teachers just encouraged us to read as much as possible. I remember being in the 2nd grade in my Catholic grade school and having a specific time set aside just for reading. We could sit anywhere in the room, whether it be on the floor or in a squishy bean bag chair, and spend an hour reading a book of our choice. However, as we grew older that same sense of freedom began to fade away as our teachers began to assign specific books we were required to read. This was especially apparent throughout all four years I spend at a Catholic all-girls high school. Both the teachers and the curriculum were incredibly strict and a majority of my time was devoted to reading books for several classes. Even though I was not able to choose the books I read in high school, I am entirely grateful that my teachers assigned the books they did in those classes. I was exposed to many great books I would have never even considered reading. I believe that I greatly benefited from the constant encouragement I received from my teachers when it came to reading. Teachers should continue to consider every way possible to encourage their students to read every day and improve their levels of literacy.