Glog Blog

This is a glog I made through edu.glogster.com. This glog explains the steps to creating a controlling idea in a thesis paper, and provides videos, visuals and step by step instructions. This glog is targeted to my 7th grade Comp. class.

Thank you! Enjoy! 


http://s6jko72.edu.glogster.com/taren-holder-7th-grade-english-and-comp-controlling-idea

My Plans for the Future

As the last first semester of my high school career closes, and the beginning of my second semester unravels, I cannot help but think of the road that lies before me. But more importantly, where that road is going to take me. The place where I'm going to end up. I also have to consider how my actions now, dictate whether that road is a road of success or a road of unnoticed potential. Then I think of the things I want to change in myself...

1. I want to change my attitude. Compared to how I once was, I developed the traits of a Negative Nancy. I've created quite a sadistic outlook on life, and tend to often see the glass half empty... or just empty. Because that's how it's gonna end up anyway. I hope that by changing this outlook, I can become happier, and by expecting things to be better, things will become better.

2. I need to start getting on top of this whole college thing. Like seriously, it's about six months away. Six months. And I'm just now applying for FASFA? Yikes. I've kind of set myself up for failure. And I hope by changing this pattern I can set myself up for success instead.

3. I want to make better grades this semester. I need to start turning in my paperwork on time, and staying on task so I'm not hurrying to turn in papers last minute.Hopefully, by making better grades, I can have a more enjoyable second semester.

20 minutes

When I become a teacher, I can make sure that my kids develop a love of reading by reading in class often. I would also choose books that I know they can connect with, and will catch their interest. I'll praise them when they finish books, or when I see that they're becoming passionate about what they're reading.


As an intern teacher, I can MAJORLY see the difference in the student who read versus the students who don't. The students who read have a larger vocabulary, don't stumble during popcorn reading, their writing is more fluid, and they understand classroom material more than the kids who don't.


If I was a parent, to ensure that my child reads, I'd instill a love of learning as soon as possible. Children act by example, so I'd make sure to read in front of them often, and always praise them when they do read. I'd start a library for them, and add higher level reading books as they grow older. We'd read together, and I would make sure that they understand what they're reading, and how it affects our world.


I love reading. It provides an escape from reality, and hooks you into a world different from your own. 


I believe that if we read more in classes, I'd have a higher understanding of those subjects.


When I read, I mostly read mystery books. Just fun, easy, and interesting books. But lately, I've been wanting to challenge myself even in my recreation reading. I recently bought "Emma" by Jane Austen from Barnes and Nobles, and plan to start that book very soon.


I probably have twenty minutes that I could read more, rather than twitter or facebook.


If I could do it all over again, I wouldn't blow off my junior year. I'd buckle down, and do all my work when it was assigned. I would read more as well.

Solutions

     In light of the tragic massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary last Friday, the same question echoes through every American's mind: "Why?" Why did this happen? Why did this happen to those kids and educators, who were doing an everyday, normal task... Simply going to school.      

And why is it, that a school is no longer a safe environment for our kids? As an educator, and as a person who adores children, this not only angers me to an extreme extent, but causes me immense heartbreak.      

These children's parents should be planning Christmas mornings, not funerals. Those kids had every right to graduate, get a job, enjoy birthdays, play in the water every summer, find love, and have kids of their own.      

They had every right to see the new year. But they are forever frozen in 2012.      

And for that, there is no justice. There is no peace of mind. There is only the anger, sadness, tears and rage that drives the fire, ensuring this kind of tragedy never happens to another educator, or another child ever again.    

And to do that, we must not forget. 

We cannot forget the slaughter of those twenty innocent  children, and those brave six teachers and educators. We cannot forget the feeling of sheer terror we all felt, when the live coverage of the event flooded every TV station. We cannot forget the images we saw of the neighbors, coworkers, friends, sisters, brothers, mothers and fathers. We cannot forget the sensation when the breathe was knocked out of us, as we heard all twenty-six names of the dead in President Obama's speech. We cannot forget the names of those children. We cannot forget the faces of those children.

We cannot forget
Noah
Emelie
Jack
Jessie
Victoria
Grace
Catherine
Dawn
Mary                                          
Lauren
Olivia
Rachel
Jessica
Ana
Charlotte
Daniel
Josephine
Chase
James
Dylan
Anne
Avielle
Benjamin

Field Trips

     My favorite field trip I went on was when in the third went to the planetarium. We were studying stars, their different patterns, the shapes, and how they line up in the sky. When we went to planetarium we had a presentation that showed us the stars above our head, and the people who worked at the planetarium told us about the different stars that were less known.

     I remember being totally entranced in the show, and loving every second of it. The screen above us made it feel like we were sitting under the stars. And when they'd focus on one star, or constellation, the screen would zoom into it, and it felt like you were in a spaceship flying through space.

     What made this trip so memorable to me was that it a lesson I had never done before. When we had talked about the stars in class, we'd look at pictures in books, or on the internet. But it always felt like we were in the classroom. This gave us a kind of out-of-body experience and made us forget that we were learning, and all we had to enjoy the field trip.

Ethical Dilemma

                    Decision Making

An ethical dilemma is when you are faced with a problem or decision, in which you question your ethics and beliefs. You are stuck between doing what is popular, or doing what you believe is right. An ethical dilemma can be prevented by being very strong in your morals and ethics, and learning that in some situations, there is no grey area. By learning that most things are black and white.

In the ethical dilemma that Mark faced, many different conflicts arose, that would sway what he would do. He wanted to be popular, but not a snitch. He wanted to maintain his social standing, but felt as if Christa was being subject to cruel bullying. He was put in a very awkward and unfair position, and was then faced with a decision he shouldn't have had to made. 

The Facebook page on was private, and in a ideal world the postings shouldnt have had to be monitored. Yes, they have to freedom to post whatever they want. But that does not mean they have the right to degrade a poor girl's reputation for laughs. That's where the morals of the members of the page would have to come into play.

     Often times we all feel the small feeling in our gut to alert us that something isn't quite right. Call it our conscience, call it intuition, call it God; call it whatever you want. But it's that warning, that feeling that something is about to go terribly wrong, and you're caught in the eye of the storm. I have been in this situation many times. Personally, I deal with it in many ways. I ask for guidance, by God or by trusted adults, then I try to slow down the whirlwind of events and problems by slowing down myself; taking a breath, and letting it be.

     If the rest of the community had gained access to the Facebook page with Christa's distorted picture, I think the school should discipline the students who posted and encouraged the photo. Though the students who did nothing, are as wrong as the others, they were not encouraging it. I believe it's a school issue because parents entrust their child's safety with the school. Mental safety, as well as physical safety. The kids who put that in jeopardy should be punished to discontinue copy cat situations in the future.

     When using the internet, we all have responsibility. Think of the amount of young, impressionable children who spend a lot of time on the internet. We need to exercise the correct morals and ethics that we wish the future generations to maintain.

     Mark has many options. He could either...

                      1. Tell the administration of his school.

                      2. Confront the students who posted the picture, and tell them to take it off.

                      3. Make a post himself, about the picture and ask for it to be taken off.

                      4. Ask his parents for guidance.

                      5. Do nothing.

If I was in Mark's shoes, I would confront the students who posted it, and ask them to take it off. I would tell them that it was highly inappropriate and completely unneeded. I would then, give them an ultimatum. If thy did not take it off the Facebook page, I'd go to administration and turn them in.

Lesson Planing 101 Blog

Useful websites for Lesson Planning!

http://havefunteaching.com/tools/lesson-plans/
The link above is a great link to use for many different types of lesson planning, discipline charts, word walls and organization! 

http://www.personal.psu.edu/scs15/idweb/lessonplanning.htm
The link above is a great link for first year teachers because it lays out lesson planning step-by-step, and clears up any confusion the reader may have.

http://www.lessonplans4teachers.com/templates.php
The link above is a awesome link for teachers looking for templates! 


In my experience when I shadowed another intern student, Skype is an awesome tool to use in the classroom. In the theatre class that Apryl DeLarosa was interning in, they were discussing the many type of technical roles you can participate in for a production. She used Skype with a family friend of mine, Brian Stuart, who has his own lighting company, and has worked on many productions. It also came in handy when she Skyped with the theatre director at Richland High, asking him about technical sound, lighting and other things. It's an awesome tool to use, because you don't have to deal with the stress of booking a guest to come in your room, you don't have to schedule a field trip, and your students love the use of technology in the classroom!