TPACK Voicethread

Essential Instructional Strategies for Writing

I think writing is a skill that needs to be nurtured throughout a child's education. For all students to learn the skills to be successful writers, I believe that it is necessary to include these three essential strategies:

- Story Mapping
- Journaling
- Writing Conferences

UbD Base Ten Number Sense

Culture of Youth and food choices-Price ESR505

Social Situation Observation-Price

The social situation I chose to observe was a visit home to Libertyville in a old family haunt called "Bill's Pub". Now, Bill's pub is more than a pub it is actually a local favorite for pizza. Having grown up in Libertyville, I have been coming to this place since I was 8 years old. It is dark but it is not completely challenging to see. Which is good because the whole place is "decorated" with stuffed animals, like as in taxidermy. Gross, I know, but it has been this way since 1957 when it opened. The animals range from large game such as moose and bears to squirrels, mink and raccoons. It is furnished in all wood with large family seating and an arcade to spend your quarters. One of the things Bill's Pub is well known for is peanuts. They serve peanuts to all the guests and after you crack them out of the shell you throw the shells on the floor. The noise level is medium with classic rock on in the background and the lively chatter of people.

The actors in this social situation are the patrons both at the bar and in the restaurant and the people who worked there. The patrons made the most of the crowd with over 80% being families and almost all of the families being white. This was something I had never particularly paid attention to growing up in the area but now observing from an outside perspective I find mind-boggling. After living in very diverse communities it is strange for me to return and see such a euro-centric dominated culture. The families did not really interact with other families. A couple came in later in the evening and it was obvious that they were regulars. They chatted up the waitress and new what they were going to order as soon as they sat down.The employees varied in ages. One lady, I assume probably was there when I was visiting the place with my family 25 yrs ago. The hostess was a girl about the age of 20 who was working her butt off busing tables, wrapping food and seating people who were waiting. I interacted with her, letting her know that I noticed how hard she was working and she seemed genuinely appreciative of my noticing. Overall, the rest of the staff was somewhat cold, just doing the same thing that they had done many nights previous. Because I saw this as a place of my youth, I had certain memories of the decor. The sign on the exterior as well as some of the stained glass seemed different. I approached the bartender about the way the place looked awhile ago. After stating he had only worked there four years, he did confirm the missing stained glass piece that hung behind the bar that depicted a bar-wench, well endowed and holding two steins of beer. This was how I remembered the place and according to the bartender, people had complained of it being inappropriate for a family establishment so they removed it. Even the sign on the outside had been replaced, all to cater to the needs of those who frequented the place and society.

Even though most of the people didn't interact with others around I did observe something interesting. Babies and kids allow for a common ground to open communication. I was with my nephew and we were all together for his 1st birthday. We sang to him and the table next to us were all smiling along with us and at Sebastian when he clapped at the end of the song. Interaction in the arcade also included a child but more on my doing then theirs. Other than those two instances people stayed pretty close to those they new.

Teacher Identity, Student Identity- Mr. Holland's Opus

This video clip is from the movie "Mr. Holland's Opus".
Back story: Glenn Holland is a musician and composer who takes a teaching job to pay the rent while, in his 'spare time', he can strive to achieve his true goal - compose one memorable piece of music to leave his mark on the world. As Holland discovers 'Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans' and as the years unfold the joy of sharing his contagious passion for music with his students becomes his new definition of success.

In this scene,Gertrude is struggling to the point of abandonment. She has compared her success to others and it has affected her goal. Her role in this is a typical role of students. Although this is specific to music it can represent many children from many different walks of life. She could represent the child who comes from a home that berates and verbally abuses or that of one who feels defined by their community and income. She is a child like so many that needs that support and passion from a mentor, a person who shows her there is another way.
The role of Mr. Holland in this scene, beyond being the music teacher is that role, the supportive role and guidance counselor. He, himself, has struggled to accomplish his goal. This fact gives him some insight on the concept of giving up and struggling by comparing yourself to others. He guides Gertrude to see music as fun and a personal journey where she need not bring in the accomplishments of others. He has her think of her best quality, visualize it has a sunset and then play that sunset.
The lesson in this scene is to look inside yourself in order to find the truth of your potential. To me this lesson of Mr. Holland's is that the pressures or expectations of others is no match for what we can find within. This is a cheesy scene in an otherwise wonderful movie. The lessons in the movie are both for the students and teacher. Mr. Holland learns from his son, his wife and his students. This to me is a reminder that we as teachers are not the only ones teaching. That we are also learning not only from our actions and mistakes but from our peers and students.