I'm a Barbie Girl, In a Barbie World

I feel that every post about my EDUC 121 class relates, in some way, to race and diversity. Well here is another one! Last Monday, I met with a couple other girls from my class to have a small race discussion group. I was not particularly looking forward to discussing the subject AGAIN, but as usual, I was pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere was much more relaxed, and I felt that I could express my opinions better than in a class full of 50 students. During our time, we talked about our own views on how to teach in a diverse classroom and also about our own experiences with race in education. We even added our two cents to the current "racist Barbie" debate.

I have observed that the AVID class in which I tutor is composed of all minority students, and this really upsets me. As I have stated previously, AVID is not necessarily for students who are doing poorly in school, but for any student who would like additional help with their schoolwork. However, based on my time during tutoring, I have noticed that the majority of the students are struggling. So why is it that a classroom of struggling students happen to all be of a minority race? Is it a coincidence, or what I believe, a discrimination against these particular students by their teachers that have caused such poor results?

Recently, I also witnessed a situation in which one of the students in class made a wrong assumption based on race. While another student was delivering her birthday invitations to her friends in class, one of the AVID students asked her why she was having her party at an apartment complex. The student, who happened to be Caucasian, seemed really confused when she answered him that that's where she lived. Because the student was Caucasian, he assumed that she was "rich," and therefore, would not live in an apartment. Call me naive or ignorant even, but I was so surprised that a student of that age could honestly make such an assumption.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day! Enjoy the break!!!

So Disgusting...

As I was waiting for the J Bus to take to tutoring, the most disgusting thing ever happened to me. Right out of a scene from a movie, a truck flew through a puddle of dirty rain water, drenching my required dress clothes, my backpack, and my face. Thankfully, throughout my years of terrible luck, I have learned to just laugh things off and be done with it.

Still wet from my bus stop extravaganza, I walked into the classroom expecting the loud, over-excited group of teenagers that I normally spend my Thursday afternoons with. However, something was very different about this particular day. Everyone was busy with individual work or talking with a tutor; not a single person was out of their seats or distracting the other students. I do not know what prompted such a drastic change, but I am grateful to whoever or whatever did. It is so much easier to work with my tutee when I do not have to worry about him watching another student "Jerkin" or listening to their iPod.

I have also began to consistently work with the same student during my time tutoring. I really enjoy helping the same student because I can get to know his academic strengths and weaknesses as well as who he is outside of school. My tutee is so easy to work with and very open to advice. Luckily, he does not even mind when I joke with him a little. You have to do something to help break up the monotony of homework, right?

Show Me the Money

As I have stated before, the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program provides 500 college students with a scholarship of $6,500 per year in school. To "repay" the scholarship, a fellow is given 7 years to teach at least 4 years in a public North Carolina school upon graduation. Sound like a great deal, right?

Because neither of my parents attended college and do not make large amounts of money every year, I am paying my own way through college. Getting the scholarship was a huge blessing and I am so lucky to have been chosen; however, I still have to take out loans to pay for things like meal plans and books.

UNC does not offer Secondary Education as an Undergraduate degree so I am required to complete an MAT (Masters in the Art of Teaching) to be able to teach high school; this would add another year to my studies. Because the scholarship only provides 4 years worth of funding, I would have to earn more scholarships or loans to cover my 5th year. I decided to take summer classes so that i will be able to finish my Undergrad in 3 years and use my 4th year of funding for my MAT. Unfortunately, I was not aware that the Teaching Fellows Program will not pay for a Grad degree no matter how quickly I complete it, and I will not be given my remaining scholarship money.

Even though it will not be covered by the state, I still want to graduate early. I love the Teaching Fellows Program and am so thankful for all they have given me; I just wish that I had known this sooner. Despite my set back, I recommend the program to any student wishing to become a teacher...just read the fine print!

Rain, Rain Go Away

First off, walking to class soaking wet is getting old really fast. Normally, I love the rain. However, trekking thirty minutes to a political science class with freezing water pelting your face is not my idea of a good time.
By the time I made it to tutoring today I was not in the best of moods. I was definitely not looking forward to babysitting 17 year olds today either, but sometimes your assumptions can be way wrong.

Without fail, the same student consistently disrupts the class and wastes time. However, with a stern warning from his teacher, he actually sat down today and went to work. There were moments when his attention would waver, but overall, he stayed on task.

I was really impressed with his work ethic today and his reaction to authority. Instead of arguing he just sucked up his pride and did what was asked of him. Towards the end of class, I sat with him for a while and talked to him about college. The experience made up the best part of my cold, wet day!

"Fear and Learning at Hoover Elementary"

Today in EDUC 121, we watched a documentary entitled "Fear and Learning at Hoover Elementary." The film chronicles the effects of California's Proposition 187. The legislation declined education and health care to the children of undocumented immigrants.

Hoover Elementary, the largest elementary school in Los Angeles at the time, was greatly affected by Prop 187 because the vast majority (possibly all the students) are Latino.

Throughout the video, many of the teachers were interviewed and I was surprised by many of their responses. Many of the teachers were either unaware of the situation caused by the new legislation or just too stuck in their ways to care about making a difference. Many of the staff thought that the Latino students should just assimilate into American society and drift away from their own culture.

Luckily, California's Proposition 187 has since been overturned by the courts. Hopefully the overturning of this legislation will be the stepping stone for acquired equality in our nation's schools. As a future teacher, I am certainly hoping that by the time I have my own classroom race and ethnicity in schools will not be as huge of an issue as it currently is today.

Well that was productive?

It is Thursday and that means tutoring!!! Unfortunately, today really was not that productive. I had registration today (and didn't get my classes!) so I was late getting to Carrboro. But when I did get there, there wasn't much I could do.

I tried to help some students study for a United States History test, but as we went over questions, they seemed to know the material quite well. I pretty much just gave them the same study tips that we have all heard: cross out the answers you know are not correct, yada yada yada.

One thing that does surprise me about the school, however, is the fact that the students have open access to technology. The school provides mobile labs complete with laptops for the students to use at their leisure, or the students may bring laptops from home to use. I also see the occasional student bounce to the beat of the music pounding from their ear phones as they walk the halls. The school seems much more supportive of student-used technology compared to others that I have seen. It's nice to observe how some school's are embracing the new age.

"Being Reasonable"

Instead of having the basic, run-of-the-mill class today, we were able to attend a production by the Carolina Interactive Theater. The show, entitled "Being Reasonable," brought light upon the issue of social economic statuses.

For those who are not familiar with the group, the Carolina Interactive Theater consists of 20 UNC student actors. During these productions, a scene is acted out, and afterwards, the audience is able to voice their input and opinions by asking the characters questions relevant to the scene.

The show was very entertaining and informing as well. The issue discussed was current and definitely relates to the education system. As a teacher, it is important to understand the social and economic differences of children and how to handle such differences.

I encourage anyone and everyone to attend a Carolina Interactive Theater performance whenever you get a chance. It's a production that you can actually participate in.

We're Going on a Whale Watch

Here is a funny video that we watched in class last week about government spending on education. Enjoy!