Before I came to America I didn't have too much knowledge about disabilities. I knew more or less what it means but I didn't had a profound knowledge. I can say that I knew a few things about disability, because I have a classmate that is blind, and as a friend I talk with her about that so that way I can try to help her with what she needs. Now, I can say that almost everything that I know from disability I learn during this summer. It was really interesting to learn about all the different kinds of disabilities and the ways that I as a teacher can help the students to evolve.
The past week started with a visit to Domino Preschool, that is a school located in the campus of EWU. In this school they have autistic children included in a environment with children without disabilities.We had the opportunity to observe the normal development of the class and at the same time we could ask questions about what we are seeing. It was really interesting to see what they do in this school and one of the things that I like the most was to see the passion that the teacher and volunteers who work there have. It is always touching to see how much some people care and since I am here I have seen this a lot and I'm still astonished.
During the three days when we had Assistive Technology Workshops I was amazed about all the different materials that help students learning. I have never seen in my life so many tools to help kids with disabilities. The variety was impressive, they showed us high technology and low technology, making me realize that we don't need to spend a lot of money to help the students with disabilities. Some of the low technology that I saw consisted in the simple use of home-made vests, or simple tools to help the kids to sit correctly or to help them with the writing. Some of the high technology was the use of computers and special programs and iPads.
It was really interesting to see what are the many ways to help students with disability and to know that having a disability doesn't automatically equal to have disadvantaged comparative to the other kids.
As a teacher I would try to find all the information that I can about the disability that the students have and I would talk with the special teacher and with the parents so that way I can try to have the more information possible to help my students.
quarta-feira, 10 de agosto de 2011
sexta-feira, 5 de agosto de 2011
Socio-Economic Status and Education
Education is a right and every child should have access to it. Nowadays the problem of accesses to education is not such a big issue, but that doesn’t mean that there are no problems. The big problem now is that although almost every child is getting an education that doesn't complete assure that the access to education is being done the right way. That happens because every child is different and everyone has different issues that need to be taken into account when we are talking about education. Are the teachers able to understand and do they have the necessary means to help children that came from different backgrounds and with problem about poverty? Considering the things that I have been doing and the knowledge that have been provided to me, I can say that the big issues that America education faces are the fact that sometimes the school have difficulty to create equals opportunities to all of the students considering their special needs and different social status, but in opposite there are good things that some persons do to try to help and create a better environment and opportunity to the learning process.
The first big issue that I want to talk about is the problem that sometimes some students face when it comes to try to make connection with their life in school in their house. This problem is very common when they come to America because they have the need to come (refugees) or because they want to come. When they arrived here sometimes, they don’t have any knowledge about the language and the culture of America. Because of this lack of knowledge from the students and from the parents it becomes a lot more difficult for the students to be successful in school. An example that I had the opportunity to experience was Global Neighborhood. Global Neighborhood is an organization that provides help to the refugees that after a few months in America lose the help they are receiving from the state. When they lose this help from the state the Global Neighborhood takes place and helps them to educate them and after that try to help them to find a job. Personally, this was one of the best experiences that I have in America, because I was really touch for the difficulties and the problems that some of these immigrants need to pass through. Also, I really enjoyed to talking with one of the refugees that came to America from Burma. Was really overwhelming seeing that, despite that this person came from a place with war and big problems that he was able to continue to try to have a better live.
Considering the same topic is important to also talk about the Refugee Parents Panel that we went and have the opportunity to hear to different persons talk about their experiences from when they came to America. The first one was Brigitte she came from Togo with their two sons and she talked about the way that they integrate in the America school system. The second person was Olga Lucia that came from Colombia to study, and then she decided to stay here. Was really interesting to hear what they have to say because despite the fact that they are here from to different backgrounds they have some ideas and some equal opinions about America education.
The second big issue that I consider important to talk about is, how much I being learning about “help the other”. In Portugal I’m not issued to see people care about their neighborhood or the others, and now I’m in America for almost three weeks and all I see are people caring about the others. Is really overwhelming (in a good way) to see how much they care about the others and how much of themselves they put into this kind of jobs. This happens in a neighborhood with persons that are from a low socio – economic status and is the way that they found to try to help to combat poverty and to help the kids have a good live and being successful in life. One of the examples that I have the opportunity to have contact was the Riverfront Farm, that is a place where they give jobs to the children from that neighborhood trying that way to combat and prevent that this children go to bad paths. Is really interesting to see how this community tries to help these kids to have a better life and I really excited to have more contact with these kids.
Talking a little bit about students that came from a low socio – economic status is important to give as a good example the Holmes school. Was magnificent see the effort and the passion that the principal from that school have and who committed and involved he is in trying to resolve the problems that the students live and deal in their day to day.
After have contact is this kind of situations I am know sure that poverty affect students to be successful but, that doesn’t mean that the kids with the right help and attention cannot be successful. The teacher is the big “weapon” that enables the students with poverty background to be successful and be interested in school. As a future teacher and educator I’m going to support my students in every single ways that I can, trying to know more about their life in order to help them to be successful in school. In my opinion a good teacher always believe in the capacities and in the success of their students.
The first big issue that I want to talk about is the problem that sometimes some students face when it comes to try to make connection with their life in school in their house. This problem is very common when they come to America because they have the need to come (refugees) or because they want to come. When they arrived here sometimes, they don’t have any knowledge about the language and the culture of America. Because of this lack of knowledge from the students and from the parents it becomes a lot more difficult for the students to be successful in school. An example that I had the opportunity to experience was Global Neighborhood. Global Neighborhood is an organization that provides help to the refugees that after a few months in America lose the help they are receiving from the state. When they lose this help from the state the Global Neighborhood takes place and helps them to educate them and after that try to help them to find a job. Personally, this was one of the best experiences that I have in America, because I was really touch for the difficulties and the problems that some of these immigrants need to pass through. Also, I really enjoyed to talking with one of the refugees that came to America from Burma. Was really overwhelming seeing that, despite that this person came from a place with war and big problems that he was able to continue to try to have a better live.
Considering the same topic is important to also talk about the Refugee Parents Panel that we went and have the opportunity to hear to different persons talk about their experiences from when they came to America. The first one was Brigitte she came from Togo with their two sons and she talked about the way that they integrate in the America school system. The second person was Olga Lucia that came from Colombia to study, and then she decided to stay here. Was really interesting to hear what they have to say because despite the fact that they are here from to different backgrounds they have some ideas and some equal opinions about America education.
The second big issue that I consider important to talk about is, how much I being learning about “help the other”. In Portugal I’m not issued to see people care about their neighborhood or the others, and now I’m in America for almost three weeks and all I see are people caring about the others. Is really overwhelming (in a good way) to see how much they care about the others and how much of themselves they put into this kind of jobs. This happens in a neighborhood with persons that are from a low socio – economic status and is the way that they found to try to help to combat poverty and to help the kids have a good live and being successful in life. One of the examples that I have the opportunity to have contact was the Riverfront Farm, that is a place where they give jobs to the children from that neighborhood trying that way to combat and prevent that this children go to bad paths. Is really interesting to see how this community tries to help these kids to have a better life and I really excited to have more contact with these kids.
Talking a little bit about students that came from a low socio – economic status is important to give as a good example the Holmes school. Was magnificent see the effort and the passion that the principal from that school have and who committed and involved he is in trying to resolve the problems that the students live and deal in their day to day.
After have contact is this kind of situations I am know sure that poverty affect students to be successful but, that doesn’t mean that the kids with the right help and attention cannot be successful. The teacher is the big “weapon” that enables the students with poverty background to be successful and be interested in school. As a future teacher and educator I’m going to support my students in every single ways that I can, trying to know more about their life in order to help them to be successful in school. In my opinion a good teacher always believe in the capacities and in the success of their students.
Act-Space
Discrimination is a problem that affect many students from different classes, ethnicity and ages.
There are many ways to deal with discrimination on the school, but one thing that I think that is a good way to avoid it or try to resolve the problem of discrimination is try to be in contact with the parents and try to understand how the kid is and what are is problems. Also is important that the teacher take time to first know the students and try to understand how they live, for that way he can be able to help prevent the kid to feel discriminated and can also be a good way of prevent that this kid to discriminate the others.
Beside, I also think that it is important to talk with kids about this issue in the way to make then understand that discrimination never is a good thing. An example of this is, if in my classroom I hear a student discriminate another I would stop the class and I would have a discuss with all my students about discrimination and the ways that affect the live of the person that is being discriminated.
I think that as a teacher and also as a person I couldn't stay quiet if I saw something bad happening to a children or even to an adult. It happens in a few months ago in Portugal a case of a girl being hurt for more two girls in the school and the three boys that were there didn't do nothing and even worse they made film about the aggression and put it in youtube. And I don't know how people are capable of doing this and if I was there I couldn't stay their without doing anything.
To finish I just want to say that when I face a case of discrimination, I'm going to do everything in my power to end that, but I'm not going to be to much extreme because losing my job is not going to help in anything and is going to unable me to help other kids later.
There are many ways to deal with discrimination on the school, but one thing that I think that is a good way to avoid it or try to resolve the problem of discrimination is try to be in contact with the parents and try to understand how the kid is and what are is problems. Also is important that the teacher take time to first know the students and try to understand how they live, for that way he can be able to help prevent the kid to feel discriminated and can also be a good way of prevent that this kid to discriminate the others.
Beside, I also think that it is important to talk with kids about this issue in the way to make then understand that discrimination never is a good thing. An example of this is, if in my classroom I hear a student discriminate another I would stop the class and I would have a discuss with all my students about discrimination and the ways that affect the live of the person that is being discriminated.
I think that as a teacher and also as a person I couldn't stay quiet if I saw something bad happening to a children or even to an adult. It happens in a few months ago in Portugal a case of a girl being hurt for more two girls in the school and the three boys that were there didn't do nothing and even worse they made film about the aggression and put it in youtube. And I don't know how people are capable of doing this and if I was there I couldn't stay their without doing anything.
To finish I just want to say that when I face a case of discrimination, I'm going to do everything in my power to end that, but I'm not going to be to much extreme because losing my job is not going to help in anything and is going to unable me to help other kids later.
A Good Listener
From what I have been studying one of the key points that distinguishes a bad teacher from a good teacher is their ability to listen. The fact is that when a teacher is a good listener that is going to facilitate the relationship between the teacher and the student, turning that way the classroom a more comfortable place to stay and a place where learning has more advantages.
A teacher becomes a good listener when he actually listen to their students. This could sound weird, but the true is that almost all the teachers don’t really listen or care about the students answer. That creates a problem because the student his able to understand that situation and that may be a way for students to lose their interest for for the discipline.
This way, for teacher be considered a good listener he needs to care about what the students are saying and comment their answers. Also the teacher need to be patient with the students and he can not care about giving the same answer over and over again until the students understand.
To finish the teacher must be the first person to encourage the students to participate in class and explain them that they don’t need to be afraid of giving a bad answer because after a bad answer comes always new knowledge (when the student understand why he his wrong).
A teacher becomes a good listener when he actually listen to their students. This could sound weird, but the true is that almost all the teachers don’t really listen or care about the students answer. That creates a problem because the student his able to understand that situation and that may be a way for students to lose their interest for for the discipline.
This way, for teacher be considered a good listener he needs to care about what the students are saying and comment their answers. Also the teacher need to be patient with the students and he can not care about giving the same answer over and over again until the students understand.
To finish the teacher must be the first person to encourage the students to participate in class and explain them that they don’t need to be afraid of giving a bad answer because after a bad answer comes always new knowledge (when the student understand why he his wrong).
Melting Pot & Tossed Salad
Portugal is not a big country but we have a lot of immigrants coming for all over the world. A few years ago Portugal could be consisedered (taking into account the definitions) a melting pot. That used to be the reality because, Portugal was a country with a high rate on emigration and the people that used to live and stay in the country were almost only Portuguese people. Nowadays, that doesn't happen, we are clearly a salad bowl also because we have one of the highest rates of immigration. Because of that, now if you walk in the street even in the small towns you will find some different peoples, cultures and kinds of style.
In short, I think that this is a good thing because I agree with the salad Bowl theory and I thing that is a plus to a country because helps the country get richer in a lot of aspects.
In short, I think that this is a good thing because I agree with the salad Bowl theory and I thing that is a plus to a country because helps the country get richer in a lot of aspects.
sexta-feira, 15 de julho de 2011
Factores in Student Learning
1. What do you think are the major factors that assist students with learning? Feel free to mention any factors that are present in the classroom, the school community itself, or outside of school as you write your answer.
I think that are a lot of factors that influence student's learning process, because every student is unique and have different ways of understand what the teacher said.
The first factor that I consider important is the age of the students and the and their motivation for learning. The age is important because the learning has to be appropriate to the age of the students. Considering my experience and my observations if a student don’t want to learn is going to be very hard to teach then anything. Because of this the teacher need to be supportive and understanding trying this way promote motivation and try to encouraging the students to ask for help.
Considering this the teacher is for me the second major influence in the learning process. The teacher need to let the students expresses their perceptions and what they understand and what are their difficulties.
2. What do you think are the major barriers that get in the way of student learning? Again, feel free to mention any factors that are present in the classroom, the school community itself, or outside of school as you write your answer.
For me the major barriers that get in the way of student learning is if they are subject to a teacher who determines all that they do, not letting them express their fears and difficulties.
But also very important is the role of the parents. If the parents don’t care about the studies and don’t motivate their children to studying is going to be very hard to them understand how important is the school and the experiences and learning’s that they take from the school.
3. What do you think an effective classroom looks like? What makes a classroom experience worthwhile and valuable?
For me an effective classroom is a place where you feel comfortable with yourself with the other students and the teacher, in a way that you feel safe to learn, to make mistakes, to connect with your class mates and with your teacher, to make new experiences, etc.
Also it’s better when the classroom is wide, bright, clean, with access to technology and when the classroom has an environment that provides good influence on students.
Sorry for any mistakes I still have a lot to learn and like I always heard "a teacher is a eternal student"!
See you soon :-)
Daniela Maia
I think that are a lot of factors that influence student's learning process, because every student is unique and have different ways of understand what the teacher said.
The first factor that I consider important is the age of the students and the and their motivation for learning. The age is important because the learning has to be appropriate to the age of the students. Considering my experience and my observations if a student don’t want to learn is going to be very hard to teach then anything. Because of this the teacher need to be supportive and understanding trying this way promote motivation and try to encouraging the students to ask for help.
Considering this the teacher is for me the second major influence in the learning process. The teacher need to let the students expresses their perceptions and what they understand and what are their difficulties.
2. What do you think are the major barriers that get in the way of student learning? Again, feel free to mention any factors that are present in the classroom, the school community itself, or outside of school as you write your answer.
For me the major barriers that get in the way of student learning is if they are subject to a teacher who determines all that they do, not letting them express their fears and difficulties.
But also very important is the role of the parents. If the parents don’t care about the studies and don’t motivate their children to studying is going to be very hard to them understand how important is the school and the experiences and learning’s that they take from the school.
3. What do you think an effective classroom looks like? What makes a classroom experience worthwhile and valuable?
For me an effective classroom is a place where you feel comfortable with yourself with the other students and the teacher, in a way that you feel safe to learn, to make mistakes, to connect with your class mates and with your teacher, to make new experiences, etc.
Also it’s better when the classroom is wide, bright, clean, with access to technology and when the classroom has an environment that provides good influence on students.
Sorry for any mistakes I still have a lot to learn and like I always heard "a teacher is a eternal student"!
See you soon :-)
Daniela Maia
quarta-feira, 6 de julho de 2011
Hi everybody :-)
Hello fulbrighters,
My name is Daniela Maia I'm 21 years old and I'm from Portugal. I live in a town called Sangalhos, and I really enjoy live here.
In my free time I like to play basketball (my favorite sport), read, go to the beach, dance, listening to music, be with my friends, and a lot more.
I'm studying to become a primary school teacher, but that doesn't mean that someday I didn't become a high school teacher or a english teacher.
I'm really excited about this summer experience because I want to have contact with new people and new knowledge so that can help me become a better teacher and give me more perspectives about wide area of education.
I'm sure that I'm going to learn a lot and this is going to be a summer that we will never forget.
See you soon,
Daniela Maia ;-)
My name is Daniela Maia I'm 21 years old and I'm from Portugal. I live in a town called Sangalhos, and I really enjoy live here.
In my free time I like to play basketball (my favorite sport), read, go to the beach, dance, listening to music, be with my friends, and a lot more.
I'm studying to become a primary school teacher, but that doesn't mean that someday I didn't become a high school teacher or a english teacher.
I'm really excited about this summer experience because I want to have contact with new people and new knowledge so that can help me become a better teacher and give me more perspectives about wide area of education.
I'm sure that I'm going to learn a lot and this is going to be a summer that we will never forget.
See you soon,
Daniela Maia ;-)
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