Final Blog

As a teacher, I look for the most beneficial ways to get my information across and always wondered how the grading process would be. It is a usual reaction for me, to make grammatical corrections when reading anyone’s work. I read the writing from start to finish assuring that I understand what it is that the student is writing. I have never graded high school students’ work, so the idea of being closer to doing so is challenging. I am straight forward when communicating to any one in general but I know that my students would be different. Emig’s article stood out to me because of my ideas on reading and writing. I am aware that everyone writes and learns at their own pace, so when I read Emig’s article, his statement stood out to me. The article says that writing is self-rythmed. Having read much work from a variety of people, I know that it is wise to expect all possibilities in a student’s writing. I have read work that reads on a grade level of ten but the person is in college, for example. The point of writing is to enjoy the process and to have fun with it, as you are learning the process and learning about yourself. Emig states in his article that successful learning involves engagement and personal knowledge. As a lover of the writing process and reading, I would hope that as a teacher, my pedagogy will exhibit these characteristics of the learning process for the students. I know that too many students think English class is the worst but I aim to attract their attention by allowing them to put their personal knowledge into their writing. They too often misinterpret the writing process and write to please the reader which is the teacher because they don’t anticipate showing their work to anyone else. I like the fact that Emig talks about writing at your own pace. The writing process is slower than other forms of communication but it gives the writer a sense of dependence and that crucial in my pedagogy. Murray talks about writing as a process, which is my thought exactly. He breaks the process down into three steps which is easier to follow. I would follow the same concept with my students. Giving them a guide is essential but it is also important to give them one that will not discourage them from the assignment and the process. Setting up the guidelines, into three steps, shows the students that the writing process is not a difficult one. Too may steps can discourage them from doing the assignment all together so less is more. This concept applies to the responding of the work as well. Elbow stood out to me for this part of my pedagogy plan. The article calls it high or low stakes, as far as the writing itself. I want my students to write for the purpose of getting their message across, not just for the grade. Elbow gave me insight on how to respond and when to respond. It’s not all about the grade; reading someone else say the same things I believe, left me at ease in my plan for writing assignments and possible activities. I want the curriculum in my class to be both formal and informal because I want my students to see more in writing than just assignments to be handed in. I want them to realize that it is a form of communication and expression. It’s a good feeling to know that other educators or academics have the same views that I do. I don’t feel too radical in my pedagogy because there are others who think the way I do and practice what they believe in.

Blog #6

Dear James:

I definitely understand the time issue. My time was mostly spent in bed though for this past week. I haven't been able to get around much due to back problems. So, don't worry about the sending the letter later than expected. I still have issues with the web page thing. I don't have computer access at home and since I haven't been able to come to the campus I'm behind. I hope to get something done in class. Thank you for the help. I will be sure to call you if I need to. The reading from tonight were frustrating. The article with all the philosophy drove me cray. So much that I couldn't finish. I found myself trying to focus on the philosophy more than the main point and I couldn't read anymore. The second article wasn't that bad. I was good to see from a students stand point, what they have difficulty with. Also good to see that the practices we are taught in class do take place. Well I'll see you in class.
Christina



Reflection
The letter writing is a different approach and very enjoyable. It's easier to do an assignment when you know that the finished product is for a fellow students as oppose to the teacher. A lot of students have difficulty communicating with their teachers so I can see myself doing a lot of activities such as this one. You can use it for any subject or text. The activity has variation with it so I can be a beneficial tool for any classroom.

Blog #5

Hello James:

I thought the presentation was okay. It took allot longer than I thought but it was good. I was with you on Rose. I couldn't even finish to be honest. When I didn't see a point early on I just stopped. Young was a good read though. I see myself using some of his techniques, if I don't already. Allot of the reading, as far as ideas and techniques seems to be outdated because these things go on in the classroom and I believe should have been for a long time. I wasn't sure though, if I was clear in what I was saying because the confused faces don't help too much. Paul looked puzzled and that didn't sit to well with me but I don't know maybe its just me. You let me know what you think.


I'm kinda getting confused with the assignments. I don't know what first much less when he wants them. Has he changed the dates for assignment two being that he pushed the first one back. The wed designing part of all this is very frustrating to add to the already stressed situation. I don't have access at home so that doesn't leave me with so much time. Anyway, I'm out of things to say. Talk to you soon.

Blog # 3

Gee:
"thinking and reasoning are inherently social. . . also inherently distributed" (Pg 196).

Diaz:
Through my experiences in life, I have seen many people struggle with the ability to make decisions or judgements for themselves. Gee is right on point when he says this. People too often look to others or various tools to think for them. I suppose it can be out of habit for some. If your family is set in their ways, they will pass their views on the world to you and eventually those views will be believed because there is nothing to compare them to. Ones community can do the same. When you are surrounded by a group of people or domain for a long period of time, you are set in the way of that group. That community, as Pratt says becomes an "imagined community". The group comers together through their self defined entities, that put them in the same domain so that they feel comfort within their group. I don't necessarily agree with this way of thinking because I am a firm believer that making your own choices, judgements and decisions between right and wrong will make life much easier and fulfilling. The opportunity to set ones own values and experiences will lead to a stress free and happy life but unfortunately there are some people who need guidance and acceptance from others so they fall into these domains and imagined communities.

Gee:
"She (Jean Lave) further argues that learning is not just a change in practice, but in identity, as well" (pg 203).

Diaz:
A writer is successful if they can bring their identity to life with their writing. Practicing the process of writing is a part of realizing when you have achieved your goal for yourself as a writer but it is not all there is to it. Establishing an identity as a writer is a difficult and satisfying task. A writer must know who they are and what they wish to have their audience perceive them as in order to be successful at what they do. Russell says, "The skills model of writing offered no intellectually interesting reason to connect the process of learning to write with one's own intellectual or professional development with the activity of discipline. . . " (Pg 6) The model will not be effective because to do well in writing you must realize that it is a process and that you have to make it your own. It is a difficult task in itself, to get students to want to write much less get them to realize that it is a developing process but without putting their identities in their writing than they can not say that they are successful in writing.


Reflection
This type of assignment is enjoyable and informative to oneself because you can make your self notes for future references. Students will probably not see this as useful, but if given to them as an assignment then they will eventually realize its purpose. However, as a college student, I enjoyed doing the assignment. It was not a burden nor was it difficult. The task was different than the usually assignment; it was more interesting. I would definitely use it in the future with my students. The assignment gave me the opportunity to connect all the text and the theories to come to a common ground and understanding of the many theories discussed in the text. It would be useful to get others to add to the assignment by commenting on their ideas of the quotes, as well. This would begin a conversation through text between students so that they can learn to communicate through the language that they have just learned from reading the text. The assignment poses many benefits for students as well as different techniques for teachers. As a new teacher, I am always looking for new ways to help my students. I look for ways that will not bore them but at the same time show them the significance in the assignment. I know from experience as a student, if something sounds boring or to complicated then it will not be a good task to perform but if they enjoy the task before they know the purpose then it may possibly work out and become a tool for the classroom. Getting things about reading and writing across to students is difficult because they either don't like doing it, they don't believe they can or they think its not worth wasting time. Too often students see no enjoyment in writing because they have been taught that it is all about correct grammar and structure. Giving them an assignment like the 2x journal, they can see how a fellow writer would word a thought, then they can create it in their own words. Therefore, they are using what they read from the text to respond and they are also looking at an example of how to write their thoughts. My main focus as an English teacher is to get my students to be themselves when they write, so identity in writing and new models of teaching it will always be a priority for me.

Blog # 2

Gee:
"Humans have experiences, store these experiences, and make connections or associations among them." (pg 71)

Diaz:
I agree with Gee completely. It is true for any situation or person, in and out of the classroom. I know my experiences follow me everywhere. I use mine to release my thoughts through writing and to make judgements on the rest of my life's situations as well. Therefore everything I do is geared around these experiences but my values and goals shape the new experiences I face. I think this is a big part of writing and I believe it should be brought into the classroom and discussed as coursework because it is a crucial part of the writing process.

Gee:
"Are cultural models 'good' or 'bad'?" (pg 154)

Diaz:
I find this to be a huge controversial topic because the views vary immensely. A model should be good and influential but the view of cultural groups tend to be stereotypical. As Gee says when not having to constantly think of what one does because their cultural models and their values are set, is a good thing but on the opposite side of that, their values might just benefit them. If a person values their race but discriminates against the rest because they are not the same, this will cause and does cause unnecessary conflict. Therefore the right models can be good but then you have to pose the question of, who is to say what cultural model is right or wrong and what do these words mean in the reality of others?