Ginwright, S. Healing Centered Engagement (Reflections)

 Trauma- the word itself gives me goose bumps. When hearing this word I automatically think people are messed up and I know its terrible but I think that the word it's self comes with a stigma which is not helpful. Since reading this article I can see trauma much more clearly now not only for others but myself as well. I think as humans we all suffer from traumatizing event at least ones in our lives and if not then your very lucky. sometimes I think people do not even realize they have trauma because it may be emotional. The article touches upon how the word trauma its self significance the need for help or an inflicting situation has caused you to need help/care. I do stand with this but I also think many people process and heal many forms. For myself I have struggled with different health issues and I would say that the experiences and recovery processes of them were traumatizing. Everyone has a different way to cope for myself I talk about my feelings and experiences Im so lucky to have a family that listens and supports. I'd also say as a child of a parent in the military I've been through a lot and some of these scenarios were traumatizing events. If you ask me about these situations Id never say that they were trauma before but after reading this I can see trauma differently. I see that these traumatic situations have shaped me into who I am today and I have over come so much cancer, spinal fusion surgery, and many deployments if anything I have learned to look and see life differently than others. 

Comments: I think this article is very powerful and gives people a different look on trauma because everyone has different experiences and ways of coping. 

Hyperlink: Trauma Types

Blog 9, three topics that stood out to me!

 One: Rodriguez 

Rodriguez was reading that stood out to me the most. I think we gained insight into how children that are bilinguals feel when going to school. We as a society and as teachers need to remember what the enviornment it's like when learning a new language. It's important I think to remind the child that their learning a new language and that it's okay to have learned two languages. In this case Rodriguez had began to forget all his Spanish to move on and become successful. 

Two: Finn 

A child's education shouldn't be based on the class of the child but Finn allows us to see this and that that's not the case. By allowing us insight on the working class, middle class, and upper class. We see the difference in eduction base on your social class standing wether it's through money, or the money you parents make, or even where you may live. This reading really resided with me and stood out that this is a problem in our society. 

Three: Precious Knowledge Video 

I think I learned and now appreciate how much I learned about others in the video precious knowledge I think it's important to learn about others. I believe that all schools should have the option to attend a class that is in the video I think it should at least be an option. 

Thoughts: I think that these three piece are what have stood out to me this semester and are also ones that I have been most able to relate to. 

Hyper Link: Teaching Bilinguals

RI Laws and Policies and Video (Extended Comments)

 We want all students to feel safe and comfortable in their own skin. I think the RI Department of Eds law really does uphold the needs at this time. For this post I'd like to write extended comments on Matts post. For myself in elementary school I also do not recall pronouns being a topic of discussion like they are now. Of course we learned the meaning of them but they weren't too popularized as they are now. Part of me thinks that this may be to the fact that I was also young I think to elementary students today and being at my placement we have not really spoken about pronouns and I think thats also because at this level of schooling they may still be unsure of what that exactly means and for themselves there still growing and figuring out who they are as a person I don't think its up until there in 5th grade where they fully grasp what these terms are being part of the LGBTQ community as well as using pronouns. I do believe elementary schools should have plans in place to make sure all students feel safe and comfortable in schools. 

For myself growing up I did not really experience pronouns as a chose of what I wanted others to call me. I have experience with gay/lesbians some my family members and theres no different from anyone else I believe if that make you happy then great I am happy for you. Again like Matt touches upon how as a elementary school student at a young age if someone tried to explain to me what being transgender and choosing pronouns meant I think I'd be a bit confused or not fully understand.  

Comments: All in all I think this is important to have plans for students who do expresses themselves in any way they want to make them feel safe in any grade level. I do think more so the upper grades of middle and high school but especially middle school it can already be too tough and having students feel unsafe is even worse. 

Transequality 

Hehir, Toward Ending Ableism in Schooling (Argument)

 While reading Toward Ending Ableism the central argument was special ed students should be treated and offered the same things no matter what their situation may be. The reading goes into depth about experiences of families with special needs particularly one mother who was told her child would not be treated equally in school and therefor she would need to advocate for find other accommodations for them. This is not how a society should run these children with needs haven't he same rights as any other ordinary student needing an education. The reading also touches upon the topic of how difficult it is to get your child labeled or declared needing support such as a 504 or an IEP. These are all things that can be noticed on a child based off of his or her learning and needs. As a student you should not have to wait around for the testing or to prove that you have preformed so low and are struggling to receive help and accommodations. This is a the problem that has been created and I think is now a pressure put upon children and parents when seeking help. Although a teacher maybe advocating for you as the student you still need to prove you need assistants.

Comments: The fact that its so hard for some parents and teachers to get a child the help they need because they need to prove they have learning disabilities is something that truly bothers me and I think needs to be changed. 

Special Ed Shouldn't Be Separate 

Rodriguez "Aria" (Reflections)

I chose to write my blog post this week to reflect on this reading of Rodriguez. Ive been brought up Greek Orthodox there for the language has always been around me. From birth to the age of 5 I lived in two family house my parents and I on one floor and my Greek great grandmother on another who really only speaks Greek. Growing up at family gatherings we speak both languages at church, at home, and with family we spoke Greek and English. Unlike Ricardo I wish we spoke more Greek in my house hold of course we have phrases and sayings and things but sometimes I hope we kept a conversation longer than 3 mins. 

Personal Reflection and Connections 

So my first connection would be how Richard feels about having his school world and the world outside of the comfort of his language within his home for myself I have the ability to resinate with that. Weather Im home in my own house speaking with my brother and dad or I'm at my grandparents speaking greek or trying to decipher what my grandfather is saying in his strong Greek accent. These are all normalities for me and along with Ricardo. Unlike Richard being able to speak fluent Spanish with his family I was being pushed to go to Greek school after school each week I wish we spoke more conversation within my home. Ricardo grew up in an atmosphere that Spanish was always there at home and then suddenly it was taken away. I also can connect to the fact that Richards dad doesn't speak english he doesn't speak much in that matter. With my grandfather my (papou) he is similar he speaks english no problem but there are occasions where he is embarrassed of the pronunciation of things for instance my brother name is Irish because my moms Irish he got the Irish first name and Greek middle name but when it comes to the Greeks they cant pronouns. My papou has his moments where he speaks english but when he speaks Greek its like no hesitation. Therefor I think thats another reason why we spoke english more because when moving to America there now in America here to learn its a stigma I think Europeans have when immigrating to the USA. 

Final Comments: All in all I think I can resinate with Richards being brought up in an atmosphere where there are two languages. I think when there are two languages and a background and ethnicity therefor I think that I think have these backgrounds at home helps mod you into who you are when you grow up. 

Bilingual Learners  

Video Analysis

 Tach Us All

Classroom Tour

Precious Knowledge

Literacy with an Attitude (Extended Comments)

Connection:

As I read through Megan's blog I have grasped a better understanding to the reading therefor Id like to provide extended comments in this post. First, I'd like to express how this reading has given me an insight on the lifestyle of the working class. Finn express that the children are "harden bitten teachers" as I thought about these words used to describe students I couldn't help but think about how something may be occurring in these students lives for them to act or have these characteristics given to them. I think educators are very quick to judge the students and most times I think its the working class of students. Not to stigmatize one group but I think the social class has many different levels of things occurring in their lives. Maybe these students are struggling at home, maybe they're working to help support there families I could keep a list going on and on but I think the bigger picture here is are social class level can directly impact our lives.

Reflecting: 

As I read this article I really began to think about my own life and what social class I belong in I also thought about how our social class even determines our education, where we live. maybe what church we go to. All these things evolve around social class and determine the class your education could be this really great one or you can have the average education. Social class isn't something I exactly think about often it's not a topic I sit an dwell on and the topic isn't brought up by my family often but I can tell you people have asked me if I come from money and my response is always no I don't believe I do but to be honest I can see the reasons why they ask. As a family we travel, my parents buy things, we go out to eat, we all own cars, we own a home. These are all examples of social class for myself I've never thought of them part of a social class as a child. I have told my parents people have asked and my dad always says the same thing "We don't live out of our means".  We live in average size home I went to public school and we live in the middle of the city between the rich and the poor. My parents have worked very hard to be where they are today both very good jobs my dad especially has worked his way up from the bottom in the military and my mom as well working for JWU. Ive always considered myself  very lucky to be able to do these things. All in all reading Finn I have realized and reflected upon my own social class and where I live in the world this want a idea I have given much thought up until now. 

Comments: This reading of Finns has my brain now thinking more about social class because sometimes when we are looking at people we don't even know what their going through our what their class may be and it all may be true and it may take us by surprise. 

Class differences