Group Differences Forum

The group differences forum was interesting. We discussed a lot of issues we will be dealing with when we are teaching. I personally found the race discussion interesting. I personally want to participate in Teach for America, where I would teach in an inner city school. I did not know that schools in wealthier communities get more money because of property taxes. All though it makes sense, to me schools that are in poorer neighborhoods should receive more. There is more need for resources and not as many sources to get it from. I'm not sure if I grew up in a "tolerant" (for lack of a better word) are or because I am multiracial, but I never thought of one culture group being oppressed because they were not the majority.

I feel we need to teach children about race, not for the fact that they have to ignore race, but so they can embrace diversity. Children will learn a lot form their parents, but also from their own experiences. When I was 3 or 4 I decided I liked my mom's family more than my dad's; As a 3 year old I associated that as I like white people more than black people. Of course this is not a thought I would have today, but I'm still somehow mad at my 3 year old self for thinking that then.
I don't think we can ignore race issues in front of children. If they are not educated on the topic how will they ever be able to change it.

Chapter 2 Questions

Analyze

What are types of intelligence and what are the behaviors that match them? (Ormrod pg.140)

Adapting

What ways can you adapt instruction for students with disabilities?(Ormrod pg.167)

Chapter 3 Questions

Analyze

What are a few examples to make up Piaget's Four Stages of Cognitive Development? (Ormrod pg.30)

Applying

What are ways to use Vygotsky's theories in the the classroom? (Ormrod pg.44)  

Chapter 3 Questions

Apply

In what ways could you promote moral and pro-social development? What activities should students take apart in? (Ormrod pg. 95)

Evaluate

What peer relationships should children be involved in? What are the differences in the types if relationship? (Ormrod pg. 77)

Field Trip

I was a member of CEC in high school and a teacher's aide for an Autism classroom. The classroom I was an aide for had student's with low function autism. These students could communicate with assistance from a technology board. but some could only communicate through facial expression and movement. I have never worked with or met someone with high-functioning autism.

I learned from the video Barb's mission to stop discrimination to people with an ASD. When I was in high school there were many time where I would sit with student's who had autism as part of a lunch buddy program. A lot of students who were sitting at the lunch table would move when we sat down. I learned from Barb that she can communicate as well as any person can, she is just mute. Although she has autism she see no reason for that to hold her back. She may have abnormal tendencies, being attached to objects or being shy around peers, but she can achieve anything a "normal" student could.

Chapter 8 Questions

How can we use positive transfers in band or orchestra? (Application)

What is metacognition? How does it help teachers evaluate their students and how they teach them?

Construcivism

"Service learning is an activity that promotes both learning and development while working for the betterment of others and the community" (Ormrod 232). As a musician for I know how important it is to be seen in the community. Through my sorority we have had projects where we have music workshops with girl scouts where we help them earn a badge by teaching them music rhythms and how to make rain sticks. We also have a method book drives where we have collected method books from UT students to donate to schools with music students who cannot afford them. 

In the saxophone studio we have had several concerts at retirement homes. It is a fun and easy way to give back to the community and I plan to have my future students to do the same thing.I plan to have chamber ensembles perform at retirement and nursing homes. In my experience these performances bring so much joy to the people living at these homes. This also allows more time for chamber ensembles to work together so that they will be able to improve on their musicality; providing more learning experiences for students.