EDRG 3344 Star Trek TNG Darmok Episode

Well I guess I finally have seen my first episode of Star Trek EVER!!!! I wanted to fall asleep however the lesson on communication was good. Showing the film showed how important communication is and how difficult it can be as well. Communication is something I need to work on everyday. I need to watch how I say things. What I say is not necessarily wrong but the WAY I say it comes across NASTY and puts people on the defensive. Another form of communication is facial expressions. You can say a thousand words with your face without saying a word. Isn't that amazing? I think that a lack of communication or even miscommunication can cause a lot of damage. It can cause divorce and families to be broken, it can cause war and people to die........all just because you didn't know how to "TALK" the correct way....that's a powerful thing to think about. Words are powerful. I'd rather be punched in the face than for someone to tell me something degrading or hurtful with their words.

EDRG 3321 Author Profile

The author is Jamie Lee Curtis. I didn't know Jamie Lee Curtis was an author until I ran across this book. The book I read is called, Is There Really a Human Race? I love this book and I think it would particularly be great to read to middle school students. The book is basically about life. It's about the decisions we make and how we are all such in a hurry to make them. It's about how we live ours lives and what things we should think about while going through "the race". Humans are in a race rushing to get to the "end" and for what reason? As humans we tend to be concerned with who "won" and who "lost". Why can't it be that we are all doing are best? It's more important how you treat people along the way rather than who you stomped on just to be first. This is a great book, go out and get it. You can read more about Jamie Lee Curtis and her books at www.jamieleecurtis.com

EDRG 3321 Author Profile

The author is Hans Christian Andersen and the book I was introduced to is The Steadfast Tin Soldier. It was an awesome book. The book was about a box of tin soliders given to a boy to play with but there was one solider in patricular that was special. He only had one leg. In the beginning of the book he meets up with a toy ballarina and she's in a famous ballerina pose with one leg up and one down. So the solider automatically thinks it's love at first sight because she only has "one leg" just like him. They get seperated and the rest of the book is all about his obstacles and trials he goes through just to get back to her. Finally at the end he meets her again and they both get thrown into the fire and die together. I recommend everyone read it. You can read more about the author at www.online-literature.com/hans_christian_andersen

EDRG 3321 Author Profile

I found an author named Katharine Lee Bates. The book I read is named America the Beautiful It's a poem with incrediable illustrations. The book is "the song" America the Beautiful. She wrote the poem in 1893 and through the book she wanted to inspire people to see the wonders of America. You can read more information about her life at www.katharineleebates.com and you can find out more about the actual places the illustrations came from at www.pikespeakcolorado.com/AmericaTheBeautiful.

EDRG 3321 Author Profile

I found four books this week. My first author I want to share with you is Ian Beck. The book I read is Home before Dark. It is a book about a little girl named Lily and her teddy bear. She takes the bear out for a walk and the bear gets lost. He has to go through all kinds of obstacles to get back home. He was all alone and scared. He had to travel through stormy, windy, rainy weather. He had to cross the street and a car splashed him he got kicked and roughed up by people rushing to get out of the rain. It was dark and he had to travel up a hill and then he fell down. Teddy finally made it to the front door soaking wet and no one heard him knocking. To the rescue comes the night paperboy who picks Teddy up and puts him through the mail slot. Teddy was home safe, sound, and warm laying in the bed right next to Lily. You can look up more information about Ian Beck at www.tellingtrails.co.uk/pages/individuals/beckpage.

EDRG 3321 Ch 5 TTR

POETRY
It was interesting to me to find out that poetry is one of the most hated things to read. Poetry is unique in the way that you can be creative. You can put words together and make it your own. You can make interesting sounds using poetry such as rhyme and rhythm. Poetry can be fun or it can be boring. I think it's all about how you present the material. I like the idea of using poetry as a form of discovery and helping students to develop their language. Sound is a big one especially with the little ones just learning how to read. I also love the idea of teaching children the discovery of words through poetry as well. Very interesting idea's in chapter 5.

EDRG 3321 Maya Angelou

I love to hear this women speak. She is so inspiring and up lifting. She helps me see that there is more to life than "my problems".....ya know what I mean? Ms. Angelou helps me to see that there's more to life than just the everyday routine that I go through and if I'm determined I can accomplish my goals. " I am a human being nothing can be alien to me" this quote is so powerful. In other words nothing is impossible for me, I should fear nothing and I shouldn't let anything or anyone discourage me from what I want to do with my life. NOTHING IS TOO HARD!
Now for the classroom and my future students....I need to be an inspiration to them. I need to be able to take each child and appreciate their differences. I need to see their weaknesses and their strength and help them succeed. I need not make a pre-conceived opinion about a child. I love how Mrs. Pickett showed us how to talk to a child. When she pulled up a chair and sat down and talked to the child face to face.
I need to understand as an educator I'm only as good as my weakest student. It's going to be my job to pull in each student and make them feel like they can do anything they put their mind to.