Thursday, October 25, 2012
Use of technology to understand Shakespeare
I find it difficult at times to understand the language of Shakespeare. I know this is a shocking confession considering how much I love Shakespeare's work. So, I usually watch a production of the play I am reading. To be able to see the gestures and facial expression make the words come alive for me. For this reason, I decided to allow the student to watch a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. I found an app on the iPod that is pg rated. It does have the words "ass" and "hell," but does not give in to the sexual suggestions. Plus, it is in cartoon form. They seem mesmerized by the "B" rated program. I will do all I can to allow them to experience many things.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Paper Topics
Sometimes I have problems figuring out paper topics. A professor confronted me about a paper I still owe him and asked to have a meeting to go over possible paper topics. I do not currently have any possible paper topics.
What are some ways to spark ideas about paper topics and is it wrong for a teacher to assist a student to spark creativity on a certain subject?
What are some ways to spark ideas about paper topics and is it wrong for a teacher to assist a student to spark creativity on a certain subject?
Warning Signs Of Depression
So I will come right out and say that I have been battling with depression lately. This is very unlike me, and took me by surprise when I could not get out of bed for over two weeks. I got behind in classes, papers, tests, quizzes, etc. I contemplated withdrawing because the feelings of being overwhelmed crippled me, and getting behind only magnified the situation.
I went to class one day in the middle of this and had a break down moment in front of a fellow classmate who took the initiative to type a line on a blank word document and told me to WRITE! So I did. In 45 minutes I had written the issues paper that I was 4 days late turning in. Small accomplishment. Then I went to class to turn in the paper and my professor confronted me about my odd behavior lately. He insisted that I go see the school nurse to be screened for depression. I did just that and started a web of understanding and support. The nurse set me up an appointment with a doctor to get on an anti depressant and to begin the process of helping myself out of my anxiety.
This is not a story about depression as much as it is a story about kind and understanding friends, faculty and staff that helped me see what was wrong. I did not want to talk to anyone about anything and all it took was opening up to the right people to show me the path to help.
I am still battling the urge to go to bed but every day someone shows me some kind gesture that helps me get through it and keep persevering.
How would you handle a student who is suddenly showing warning signs of something being wrong without any self awareness on their part?
I went to class one day in the middle of this and had a break down moment in front of a fellow classmate who took the initiative to type a line on a blank word document and told me to WRITE! So I did. In 45 minutes I had written the issues paper that I was 4 days late turning in. Small accomplishment. Then I went to class to turn in the paper and my professor confronted me about my odd behavior lately. He insisted that I go see the school nurse to be screened for depression. I did just that and started a web of understanding and support. The nurse set me up an appointment with a doctor to get on an anti depressant and to begin the process of helping myself out of my anxiety.
This is not a story about depression as much as it is a story about kind and understanding friends, faculty and staff that helped me see what was wrong. I did not want to talk to anyone about anything and all it took was opening up to the right people to show me the path to help.
I am still battling the urge to go to bed but every day someone shows me some kind gesture that helps me get through it and keep persevering.
How would you handle a student who is suddenly showing warning signs of something being wrong without any self awareness on their part?
"You can handle them all!"
My teacher introduced me to a great app. It gives you a list of different students, the clown, the last word, the drama queen. It also gives you symptoms by which to diagnose them. It tells you what behavoirs to look for. It tells you how this behavior affects teachers, classmates, and parents. It will also give you primary needs being revealed, secondary needs being revealed, and primary causes of such behavior. Then it gives you several ways to work with the student. It will aslo give you a list of thing NOT to do with these types of behaviors. It will also give related behaviors. It is fantastic!!! I think the app may be $3.99.
The Internet version is www.disciplinehelp.com. You do have to register for it. This is a great weapon to have in any teacher's discipline arsenal.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Frustration Abounds
How To Handle A Discouraging Professor?
Today I went to my Japanese professor to ask her about my application for the JET program. When I walked in I said the standard greeting which is respectful way to say excuse the interruption when entering some one's office. Without looking up from her desk she had a smile on her face and replied for me to come in and sit down. Once she looked up at me her face turned into a frown and she said "Oh it's you. I was expecting someone else."
I continued anyway informing her that I was beginning my application to the JET program and I asked if she had any of the past participant's statements of purpose that I could review to get an idea of formatting and content. She told me she did not understand my question and I had to explain again that if these former student had been accepted then obviously they had an understanding of what was expected. She told me that she would not let me copy some one's work. That is not what I wanted to do. Obviously I would not cheat or copy anyone else's statement of purpose because it would not be MY statement of purpose. She began to berate me about how I was not equipped for the position, and that she thought that I would probably "offend MANY Japanese people" because I did not understand Japanese culture. I politely asked her if she would at least review my application and tell me what needed to be done. She told me she would, but that she would not recommend me. I then asked her if she was going to go out of her way to give me a bad recommendation. She said "I want nothing to do with your application." This interaction was very disheartening. Am I really equipped to go through with this dream, or is it just that a dream that I am not qualified to fulfill? How do I go about proving myself to someone who is so pivotal in the application process for this program?
Today I went to my Japanese professor to ask her about my application for the JET program. When I walked in I said the standard greeting which is respectful way to say excuse the interruption when entering some one's office. Without looking up from her desk she had a smile on her face and replied for me to come in and sit down. Once she looked up at me her face turned into a frown and she said "Oh it's you. I was expecting someone else."
I continued anyway informing her that I was beginning my application to the JET program and I asked if she had any of the past participant's statements of purpose that I could review to get an idea of formatting and content. She told me she did not understand my question and I had to explain again that if these former student had been accepted then obviously they had an understanding of what was expected. She told me that she would not let me copy some one's work. That is not what I wanted to do. Obviously I would not cheat or copy anyone else's statement of purpose because it would not be MY statement of purpose. She began to berate me about how I was not equipped for the position, and that she thought that I would probably "offend MANY Japanese people" because I did not understand Japanese culture. I politely asked her if she would at least review my application and tell me what needed to be done. She told me she would, but that she would not recommend me. I then asked her if she was going to go out of her way to give me a bad recommendation. She said "I want nothing to do with your application." This interaction was very disheartening. Am I really equipped to go through with this dream, or is it just that a dream that I am not qualified to fulfill? How do I go about proving myself to someone who is so pivotal in the application process for this program?
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