Eric Gansworth

Eric Gansworth came to SUNY Cortland to speak and read his book “If I Ever Get Out of Here”. He read a chapter from the book and after he finished reading he answered questions that people had. It was really interesting to hear straight from the author about the book. I knew that it was some what based on his life so I couldn’t wait to here what he had to say about it.

The best part was that he was so honest. He told about his struggles and didn’t just dwell on his accomplishments. He was willing to share with us how he failed multiple times before reaching his goals. It was inspiring to hear that he has failed because it shows that if you keep working at your goals you can accomplish them!

Scorched

Last week I went to the Syracuse Stage for the first time to see the play Scorched. I have only ever been to a real play once before and I wasn’t that impressed. I was a little timid to go see the play! I was excited to be spending time outside of class with my fellow classmates. The five of us had a blast before the play! We went to the mall to eat, did a little shopping, managed to get lost, but eventually we found our way to the play. My other classmates that saw the play told me that it was really good so I was more excited to go see it. I ended up LOVING the play. I thought it was very well acted and the story line was amazing. There was only about 10 actors that were in the play so they each had to play more than one part. I thought that was amazing because they all played the roles so well and were convincing in each role they played. After watching this play I want to go see more plays! Hopefully they will be equally as good, if not better!

Sherman Alexie Readings

Tonight as SUNY Cortland, two people read readings by Sherman Alexie from his book “Blasphemy”. They read them aloud and I didn’t have the text to follow along with. I must say, at first I was skeptical about this because I thought it was going to be hard for me to keep my attention focused. I also thought it was going to be harder for me to feel anything or make connections with the text if I couldn’t at least follow along as they read. To my surprise, I was wrong!

The man read “War Dances” and read an excerpt from a section called “Blanket”. It was about an Indian boy who’s father had his feet amputated due to being a diabetic and alcoholic. He was in the hospital with his father and his dad kept saying that he was cold so the boy tried to find a blanket for him. The nurse was mean to him and only gave him a thin blanket that he described as “the world’s largest coffee filter”. He gave it to his dad, but his dad kept saying that he was cold. The boy knew that he had no chance of getting a better blanket unless he found an Indian. He walked around the hospital until he found an Indian who gave him a blanket and he then gave it to his dad. Despite this, the dad ended up dying. As the speaker was reading this aloud, I easily put myself in the Indian boy’s shoes. What if it was me who was in the hospital with my father and I was trying my best to help him, but he was still suffering? What if it was me who couldn’t get any help from the nurses who were supposed to be there to help the patients? I became furious! I can tell you one thing, if it was me I would have been causing a scene!! There would be no way I could just sit there while my father was depending on me for help. One way or another, I would have gotten that blanket! I was amazed at how even though the text wasn’t sitting in front of me, I still made a connection with it. I still got a personal feeling and was able to make the words come alive inside me. I loved the story, and I loved what the reading showed me about myself!

 

The woman chose to read “Scenes From a Life”. Although still written by Sherman Alexie, it was told from a complete different view-point. Immediately I was intrigued by this reading for that reason. Every reading I had ever done of Alexie was told from the narration of a young, Indian boy. This story was narrated by a white, middle class female. She had sex with an Indian boy and was haunted by it. Not haunted because it was bad or because she felt guilty though. Throughout the story, she tells about her sex life, the men she has slept with, and her marriages. The one thing she makes specific to say is that she will not sleep with any Indians because of the boy she had slept with many years before. The reader got to see Indians from a white first person’s point-of-view. The whole time I was are wondering, why doesn’t she sleep with any more Indians? Why is this Indian so haunting to her? Alexie used this as a form of suspense and almost as a cliff hanger that is hanging through out the whole story. It isn’t until the ending that it is revealed that she was pregnant. She had a baby by that Indian and gave the baby up for adoption. When I heard this it was a “light bulb” moment. I finally realized that she was so haunted because every time she saw an Indian, she was reminded of her child. It amazed me the interest that I had in this story. Usually my attention span is something of a gnat. I really did not think that I was going to be able to focus or follow along without my attention drifting elsewhere, but this story proved me way wrong!!

 

At the end of the readings, I was so happy that I chose to go. Not only did I get to hear two great stories and learn more about Sherman Alexie’s identity as a writer, but I learned more about my identity as a reader. I learned that I don’t have to have the text sitting in front of me to be a good, attentive reader!

Observations

It is amazing to be observing a real English classroom. I also got lucky enough to observe a Journalism class as well! While I was taking my own classes, I started to become a little depressed and discouraged about becoming an English teacher. My fellow classmates and I were learning about how the English classroom is changing and schools are implementing modules into the classroom. The modules are strict lesson plans that the teachers have to follow with almost no room for the teachers to actually do something different and fun with the students. When I learned this I was very upset! One of the things that I look forward to the most is being able to do fun and educational activities with students.

Once I entered the classroom, my fears vanished. The classes that I am observing do not have the modules and the teacher is amazing. He is energetic and is always joking around with the students. He gets them interested in what they are learning and it is obvious that the students are very fond of him. In the English class, all of the students are asking the teachers questions and a majority of the time they are dominating the conversation. The teacher just lets them discuss the readings and moderates the conversation.

I was so happy when I got into the classroom to observe. It made me feel the original love and passion for teaching that I was beginning to question. It gave me hope for my future classroom!!

Tumblr

New to my Personal Learning Network is Tumblr. All of my fellow classmates, friends, family, etc. are constantly buzzing about how great Tumblr is. It’s almost physically impossible to get my boyfriend to stop staring at his phone for five seconds because his is constantly on Tumblr. A couple of months ago, I made an account, but couldn’t figure out what it was or how to use it. I decided to take another stab at it, this time with some help!

I pulled my boyfriend away from his phone long enough for him to explain to me what is Tumblr is used for. He explained to me that you use Tumblr to follow blogs. You can follow blogs that interest you and then you can reblog what other people have posted. So, after I got a briefing on what Tumblr is, I went back on and finally figured out what to do!

After making my account, I followed six new people. I searched YA Literature and found three great blogs to follow about Young Adult Literature. I also searched English Education and found three more fantastic blogs to follow all about English Education. I am very pleased with my decision to try again with Tumblr. I strongly encourage others to go out there and see the great things that it has to offer!!

The Tech

With the 21st century comes the use of new technology. This technology has been brought into the classroom to expand the knowledge of students. Devices such as the iPad can be very helpful in the classroom. Students and teachers are both finding the technology to be useful. Some schools can’t afford to supply all students with devices such as the iPads, which is why the Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) has been incorporated into schools. Students are encouraged to bring the same technology to class that a year or more ago would have been frowned upon. For teachers, there are questions that should be considered when selecting a device for classrooms.

The first question that teachers need to consider is if the tool web-based. Web-based tools make it easier because all students can access it no matter what type of system the device runs on. As a student, I know that this would be very helpful because it gets frustrating when teachers only use certain apps or tools that are supported by Mac and I have a PC.

 

 

The second question that must be asked is if the tool is free. Free tool will save teachers from headaches and students from complaining. Over all, it is a better situation for all involved if teachers are not forcing students to pay for tools. Personally, I do not think it is fair to make students spend money on tools for classes. It is really not fair when they spend money on a tool and then the teachers only make them use it once. Teachers should not be allowed to force students to pay for tools.

 

 

Jeff Herb goes into more detail about questions that need to be considered for teachers in his article, Consider the Future When Adopting New Technology. The questions and explanations that he brings into consideration are important for teachers to listen too. As a current student, I know that his ideas are important to help the students. As a future teacher, I am aware that his advice will help me be better prepared in the classroom. It is important to always be looking forward into the future. Jeff Herb does an excellent job in his article to help teachers look into the future!

How Tech Will Transform the Traditional Classroom

Benjamin Jackson focuses on how we can use tablets such as the iPad to help students learn. The iPad is one device that has the capability of performing tasks that would require multiple classroom tools. Jackson lists the tasks that the iPad performs which is beneficial in the classroom. For starters, it can replace everything with wires so the classroom becomes wireless. The class can be shared on a digital whiteboard and lead by the iPad, it can act as a remote control to control presentations, and it encourages students to use educational apps like Reeder. It can also help students become more creative. The iPad can be used as a digital sketchbook and to create digital collages. The iPad creates a better learning environment because the students are more willing to learn. I believe with the integration of iPads in the classroom creative doors will be opened and students will feel freer to show more personalized work. They won’t feel restricted and students will feel as though what they are learning and working on in class is more beneficial to their everyday lives.

Jackson takes into consideration that not all schools can afford iPads and the education apps. I like that he makes a point to demonstrate alternatives to the iPad because a big fear that I hear often is what are schools that can’t afford high-tech equipment going to do. Jackson suggests using iPods because they have a great program. He also suggests free tools off the internet that can help make class more interesting. Online scrapbooking, self-publishing, and blogging, which are all off different websites, are some of Jackson’s suggestions. There are plenty of different ways to integrate technology into the classroom, teachers just need to be willing to try different things.

This is just an insight into what Jackson has to say about iPads and technology in the classroom. Click on the link and read the rest of the article! You won’t regret it! http://mashable.com/2012/03/22/tech-traditional-education/