Evaluate your class experience in Diverse Population. Evaluate your professor

As a future educator, I found that Diverse Population course has prepared me well with what I will face in the classroom. This course has left no room to think about how to adapt to classroom cultural, but to take action on how to deal with the diversity in the classroom. I have learned about diversity in ways I have never thought about. For example, I have learned the understanding root of transsexuality; I had always categorized them to be homosexuals, I also learned how to deal with insensitivity to physical, racial, or ethnic differences. I found myself transforming to this new knowledge, becoming more multicultural aware.

The subject materials was very informational, I can see that whatever information was taught would be very useful in my field of study. Professor Mcnair is very knowledgeable on the topics covered in the class. He has opened my eyes to many of the topics covered. The reflection was a great tool to understand the subject matters more clearly. Class participation was beneficial; having us to read aloud the reading assignment was only preparing us on how to speak in front of a classroom of students. Professor Mcnair uses of examples of personal experience in Nigeria help to get the points across, especially on the topic of intercultural competence.

I did find that we had a lot of work to cover in only just six week. But everything was adequately covered. The use of technology (Live text) enhanced learning in the classroom, which only prepares me for what to come later on as an instructor. I did also find the course assignment interesting and stimulating. Professor Mcnair treats me with respect and made me feel comfortable about asking question on subject matter.

Before taking this class I had asks numerous students about this class as well as about Professor Mcnair and pretty much they would discourage me not to take him. But what I realize was these were students who were not up for challenging work. I have no regret taking this class with Professor Mcnair and I found that I will be well prepared on what to expect to be a great educator.

What do you understand intersexuality and transexuality to be.

Intersexuality is how a person is from birth, meaning that they can be born with a male and female sex organ at the same time given them the term of a true hermaphrodites. Unlike transsexuals an individual is born with the gender identity disorder, believing that they are disconnect with the biological sex organ and therefore is in the wrong body. This means that their brain function as one gender and their body trapped in the opposite sex. I was unaware that the term for gender and sex was not interchangeable. The term for gender is more an identity and sex is a physical form.

Transsexual is sometimes confused with homosexuality. Transsexual cross-dress, which develops the term transvestite. A homosexual person does not need to cross-dress and is very much comfortable with their appearance and the love and affection for the same sex. Sometimes, both groups do alter their features by taken hormonal drugs to fully transform their physical characteristics. But a transsexual has a brain that operates opposite to their physical sex. It is believe that a transsexual is born with hormones that got affected when the mother is stress and researches are still trying to prove this. How true this is I don’t know.

Intersexuality is described as a person who was born with genitalia that is neither male nor female. Activist groups and task force groups are trying to not let the government do genital surgery without the approval consent of the adults. I can understand that when a mother has her child at the hospital, right there and then she would like to identify the sex of the child. This cause parents who have encounter a child with intersex to be confused and uncomfortable. Parents have to be very careful in the decision they make to “quick fix” their child, which may lead to scaring the child mentally. Medical intervention should be prevented at this time, and more focus on the parents’ emotions on how to get through the early stages of their child lives.

Overall parents need to know that their child does not have some genitalia disease, they just need to calm down and get to know their new born. Explore options to conquer feelings of shame, confusion, fear, and grief. Look to support groups with similar problems and express these emotions.

What do you think to be the cause of homosexuality?

My understanding is that homosexuals are consenting adults that have a right to do whatever they want in the privacy of their own home. All homosexuals wish is to be integrated into society and treated simply as “person” as equals- not as odd, but as different , not in a “sympathetic” manner, but in a fair and civil manner.

I guess the cause of homosexuality is whatever that individual tag themselves as and also who they are sexually attracted to. My only thing is with being heterosexual; a person is able to reproduce unlike a homosexual. All I am saying is; we need to stop judging someone base their sexual orientation. We need to not just ignore the biological importance of a heterosexual, but that homosexuals play a very important part in our society. Think about all the children who need to be adopted, and be a home where someone can give them love. So what, if they have a same sex mom or dad, is it not the welfare of the child the most important thing.

Religion is should not be sexually specific. I strongly believe, let God be the judge for our decision. I was raise to believe that a man and a woman suppose to be together. How did homosexuality came about? Maybe it is for reducing the overpopulation, or everyone is possessed with the devil. There is one thing we all are born with, and that is “free will”. Christianity is supposed to be about love and acceptance, but yet some Christians are the biggest hypocrite. What about the homosexuals who believe in God? Are they also sinful and is going to hell? Once again, let God be the judge. There are some churches that believe that homosexuality is not inherently sinful practice, while others are debating this issue.

In conclusion, my view on homosexuality has not change, I still believe that a man and a woman should be together, but then again that is my preference. I have nothing against homosexuality; they are here on Earth for a purpose. Regardless of what self definition a person structure their beliefs, it is for us human to treat everyone fairly, with respect and understanding. We need not to fear, because sometimes those fears we have can lead to hatred and discrimination. A homosexual person just wants to be treated equally and fairly, and not be judge for their sexual preference.

"Tale of Two Islands"

The Tale of Two Islands, what a double standard? Here we have two countries that are trying to flee their country for political and economic reason, and the United States is trying to justify a reason as to who have the right to enter this country. If you ask me I think both countries should get the right to stay here.

There were a time Cuba and Haiti both had the same policy to enter the United States under President Carter’s Administration during the Boat lift, but so much revision has been made since then. OK, so they say that the only way the Cubans has entry into the United States is if it is political. Well, it is said that when the Soviet Union, who subsidized Cuba fell apart, Cuba’s economy worsened and poverty quickly spread. The point I am trying to make is, in Haiti they too have poverty and is trying to flee to the U.S for a better life. Why then is it that the Haitians do not get the same treatment. Cuban immigrant makes it to the U.S and they receive asylum, unlike the Haitians who does not.

I think for many the main motivation for leaving Cuba is economic and not political. I don’t dispute that it is a despotic regime that does not have the interests of the people at heart but I think more people are motivated by economics rather than politics. The United States only takes political refugees from enemy states, but it will not take economic refugee. But economic reason is why many people leave their country. The people who flee Cuba do so, because they too want a better life, better housing. Political refugees are people who are usually well educated.

The wet foot/dry foot policy was created to allow Cubans who touch American soil, dry foot to have right to an Asylum, but found at sea you are wet foot and are sent back to Cuba. Bottom line I really think that any Haitians that fleeing their country should have the right to Asylum also. I know that there are many other countries in the Caribbean that goes through poverty, but they have rich soil to cultivate a farm for survival, unlike Haiti they are losing homes to recent floods, and have to cut down trees and other resources to build back their homes which are not sturdy, but just hoping that another hurricane does not cross their path.

Race and Racism

What I have learned about race and racism is that prejudice is mare ignorance and fear to another race, but when the government gets involved to mediate between two cultures of different race then it becomes racism. One thing I believe is that there is only one race, and that race is the human race. So I can’t understand what is all this about different races. So what if we are all different shades, different hair types, different eyes color, short, tall, and husky. The cool thing is that under one race, which of course is the human race comes diversity. I guess these indifferences make us unique and interesting.

Race was more or less created to separate the uniqueness among us. How else would we be able to understand the history and culture on each of the continents? The way we were divided in the Land before Time is a form of identity. Just imagine if we didn’t categorize what we are, are where we are from. For example, The United States is on one of the continent that is very much diverse. For every other person we come across, they are not from North America and this is where this individual can educate us from where they are from and teach us about there culture and customs.

Racism is when we are uninformed about the different culture that surrounds us. Hate and ignorance is built around the fact that this individual does not share the same values and customs. Maybe their practice of religion is not like ours, but so what? It is amazing that we are all alike to some extent. We all might not share the same values and practice the same religion, but isn’t the similarity that we all believe in something. Who are any of us to judge another person and tell them that their belief is not correct or right? There are so many people in history who have paved the way for us to stop racism. They have given up their lives; stand for what they believe is right, just so we all can come together peacefully.

In conclusion, race overall has nothing to do with culture, because you can be black and is considered a Hispanic such as the Dominicans or Cubans. To my understanding race is just a biological trait, which if one does not understand someone beings, it can create racism.

Holocaust, what do you think about people who say it didn't happen.

The Holocaust, how can some people say that this did not happen over the time of history? If is one thing anyone would need is, proof. Well, there is more than enough proof to this horrific era. Some of the biggest proof of this gruesome era of time are history books that are written , survivor who have lived to tell the story, or the survivor who have been brandied with numbers in their wrist are some of the few proofs.

What really bother me is that how can someone do such crime on another human. How can so many people be so brain washed and not do anything about it? This went on for twelve years, one minute too long, to continue with this crime. These are human being who were burned, suffocated, beheaded, mutilated and put into gas chambers as if they were not put here on earth for a purpose, which is to live a LIFE. The people who don’t want to believe it happen are either Nazi sympathizers, which are nothing but pea brained or the Germans who just won’t believe that their own cultures are capable of such horrific terror on a human. The Germans at that time wanted to wipe the race of all Jews, and anyone who wasn’t full blooded Germans clean off the face of this planet, which is impossible. Did they really think that they could have created a race just all by themselves to rule or take over the Earth, or so they think, what IDIOTS?

I am so mad and sadden at the same time; I know it wasn’t just the Germans in history who were against all Semitic people. The French and English were against them, and also there was the First Crusade of 1096, which inspired the outbreak of ant- Semitism. The other countries that were against the Jews weren’t as harsh and inhumane towards them. What boggles my mind was how can someone deliberately carried out such act of mass killing to oust out a group of people because of there religion, ethnic, and cultural background.

In conclusion, I can’t see how anyone cannot believe that this had ever happen. This was a horrible thing to have happen and I believe that everyone should be educated on the Holocaust, so history doesn’t repeat itself. Even though this happen almost sixty years ago to the Jews, we have to ensure that genocide would never occur again to the Jews or any other ethnic, religious, and cultural group.

Describe the differences between Cultural Chauvinism, Cultural Pride and Cultural degradation?

Before I discuss the differences between cultural chauvinism, cultural pride, and cultural degradation, let’s look at their similarity. They are similar, because all three are a fundamental element of a society which falls under ethnocentrism. These three examples, feel that in their culture they are superior in their own way or making false assumptions about other’s ways based on their own limited experience. The difference with cultural degradation is that an individual feel that their race, sex, religion, and gender makes them inferior due to their unique practice and customs. They attempt to minimize contact with the out-group. They also sometimes become very hostile towards the “in-group” who discriminate against them for their indifferences like defending themselves against cultural chauvinism. Cultural chauvinism one of the extreme of the two; here an individual do not treat other ethnic group who ever they may be as equals. They oppressed them by acts of omission and by their policy and practice. For example, the Europeans brag about superiority of their culture against the mixing culture of the United States, the United States multicultural only makes it more globally and cooperative with other countries around the world. Cultural chauvinism also shows insensitivity towards other cultures by using racist jokes, hate and violence. Cultural pride, individuals from certain group/ culture has solidarity, they are proud of their race, religion, gender, and customs. Self-esteem and group identity are important and bring about positive attitudes on culture that are oppressed. Culture relativity which has cultural pride, believes that all cultures are worthy in their own right and are of equal value. Also in cultural relativity they see nothing wrong with any cultural expression and holds that “good” means what is socially approved by the majority in a given culture. I think some of us possessed a little of the three cultural definition given. Some of us do believe that what ever group we are a part of is superior to any other group. Sometimes we become very hostile towards other group if that group offends our beliefs and values. Finally some of us view that all beliefs, customs, and ethics are relative to our own social context, which means that no one has the right to judge anyone.

"Understanding Prejudices." Do you understand how prejudice happens?

What I have come to understand is that we are all prejudice. That prejudice is a belief; we all are a function of group membership. All my life I was taught that being prejudice came along with dislike to people who are identified different and have different views from me. I use to associate prejudice with race and would quickly look at anyone in disgust who treated some one unfairly, because they were of a different race. But, I have gained some knowledge that prejudice is not just hate of a different race, ignorance. We learned prejudice as a child; learned them as if they are the truth, that when we are adults, and faced with these early learning, we are tested and challenge, and it then how we react to change when we evaluate the learning. I also believe that anger can trigger prejudice, for example, to justify behavior one can stereotype, which can cause negative beliefs. These negative beliefs can be stereotype on gender, religion and race. As I had stated before that, we are all prejudice to some extent. We have some people who categorize themselves into groups, which are known as “in-group”. In these groups they share a feeling of common identity, which unintentional form the “out-group”, who is more similar to one another. With being stereotypical, one sometimes is very resistant to new information, and with this, it also places us as being prejudice. Can we change our personal patterns of prejudice? Yes we can. If what we learned as individual about other people or culture and acknowledge the differences, that is when we can change. We need to “self talk” and changed the early stereotypical beliefs that was instill in us. One needs to try to replace anything that is negative with the positive and allowing nonjudgmental behavior. Taking the time to find out what is untrue about other culture is a step to being open and nonjudgmental also. We need to not limit ourselves to what we learned as children about other group or culture, but open our mind and learn about their indifferences. It is this indifference that makes us unique. From reading the various articles, I understand how prejudice happens. I understand that I have to seek self-understanding and be aware of people, to accept oneself and others. Finally, I have to behave in a manner where I value diversity in everyone and go an extra mile to understand their differences

Beliefs, Values and Attitudes.

How we behave culturally reflects one’s belief. The thing I have learned the most is that having values, you have the right to make decisions which makes us who we are. I have to be aware on how not to let my own beliefs make me bias on how I will interact with students, who have different views or beliefs from me. The other thing with beliefs, values, and attitudes sometimes limit one from personal freedom. They are characters that are learned in the home from our parents, or culture, and can be easily altered. What some of us have learned in the home about beliefs and values are instill in us from birth and those beliefs are considered as our core beliefs, which we accept, and make those beliefs our reality. Can we change our core beliefs? Well, yes I believe so. For example, if our parents or cultures lead us to believe that some events will occur if we do them or not. We won’t know if they are true or not, until we have lived and experience it for ourselves. An example of this is “a great job is only with a college education”. Is this true or not? Well there are great deals of people who have great jobs and never step foot on a college campus. The question is what is really considered a “great” job. A great job could merely also be anything that subject to our happiness. We have to be careful of erroneous core beliefs; Beliefs that can limit us from doing well for ourselves. Take a step back and ask yourself, if these core beliefs are working for you. In some cultures attitudes can define how a person perceive and think about others and also behavior towards one can be through social learning. We are condition to behave in manner that might not be intentional, meaning that these actions are acquired by our parents, or peers. Like beliefs; values are learned and determined by culture. With values, we compared feelings and ideas and hold them to what our reality is and make decisions about what is good or unacceptable behavior. We judge others if behaviors are not the norm from how we were raised. As a teacher, I know that there will be some changes in my beliefs, values, and attitudes. This is based on the fact that I will be around a diverse group of students, which will make me multicultural aware on their beliefs, values, and attitudes. The great thing is I have freedom that allows me to be open-minded and accepts anything that will come my way.

"Transformation: The Miracle of Sensation" and "Transformation: Making Sense out of Sensation."

With the miracle of sensation, there are the processes of feeling, smelling, tasting, hearing, and seeing, all which are basically use with perception of our surroundings. The senses are process through channel of energy which transform to waves of light and sourness. Unlike making sense out of sensation, the perception is the process in which we store what is already taken in by us through our senses. Perceptions of our senses are perceived differently according to our cultures. There are cultures that use their senses through rite of passage, for example, in some African countries, body piercing with sticks or bamboo in the nose might alter their olfactory. Just the piercing alone, the sense of smelling and feeling are affected. So some of us olfactory attention to certain foods might be unpleasant. Also the sense of touch is another sense that is perceive differently, one might be sensitive to just the feel of a feather which can set off a sensory motor to being ticklish or not even any feelings to react at all. As a teacher I have to learn how to apply the different senses towards the students in an environment conducive to learning. For example, the perception of seeing or visual should be keenly monitored by the teacher. A student might be ask to draw pictures related to certain topics, and the drawings sometimes might be disturbing , which I am no doctor, but it will be in the best interest of the student to be evaluated by parents and a school psychologist to see if help is needed. What I have learned is that learning is set off by the stimulation of all our senses. Hearing and listening for some students can transmit signals of communication that are perceives to learning disabilities. Kinesthetic perceives for others that involves touching and seeing seems to be more prominent to learning. With diversity in the classroom, students will have to implement their learning styles by using all their senses. Even though some students will be from different background, the surrounding environment will stimulate to the senses. Interpretation of mental images also imposes language to the brain. Learning combines all the senses that are stimulating to the mind and body. It is up to me as a teacher to make sense out of sensation in the classroom to function in an environment that will become a part of the mechanical or chemical stimuli.

Transformation: Awareness and Consciousness.

It is up to us how we handle our awareness and consciousness of our surroundings. I myself find that to be aware of anything you have to be conscious. It is almost like saying if I am knocked over the head and black out completely, I am only aware of being hit when I awake from unconsciousness. Awareness for me means if I am wide awake, I am focus on what to suspect of delay or instant emotions, such as being surprise, frightened, shock, nervous, happy, and angry. These examples I have given might be delayed awareness. I had to be aware in order to react to these emotions. The fact is that consciousness came in after I am face to respond to these emotions. Repetitive behaviors such as walking, driving, etc. are also some behavior of awareness. Even though these behaviors are done daily we are not conscious of them. They are just done. Sleep on the other hand is unconscious, but becomes consciousness to distinctive sounds, such as a mother responding to a crying baby in the middle of the night. When teaching, I have to be aware and conscious of my students’ cultures; meaning I have to be aware of the different cultures and conscious on how to respond to their beliefs, values, and attitudes. In the classroom, multicultural awareness and consciousness is transforming to combine diversity. We each have to be aware of our differences and deal with them on a conscious level. Being conscious of other cultures values, beliefs, and attitudes makes it easier for interactions. Understanding certain behavior of these different cultures sometimes set us up for challenges that we must figure out, without offending or coming off too aggressive. We as teachers have to look to our beliefs with our training and skills to cope with a multicultural classroom and community. Sometimes as a teacher we are also forced to conform to diversity in the classroom, by setting aside our own beliefs and values. So being aware of what to face in the classroom, only adds to expectations on how to deal with everyone equally on their physical and emotions state. Unlike consciousness, I will be using my mental state, combine with the physical to adapt to my students, parents, and my peers awareness and distinguish between how to control my beliefs in the classroom.

"Mental Representations " and "Schemas."

As a teacher, I have to learn to adapt to a classroom culture. The classroom is a culture in itself. I myself am a teaching tool to my students. Repetitious learning is a practice that each student faced daily in the classroom from the time they begin a school environment. Behaviors such as basic reflexes, students are aware that these behaviors have to be developed and worked on in order to accept new knowledge, of what is being taught to them. The other two stages I am about to discuss about are mainly used at an elementary level and they are the Preoperational Period and the Concrete Operational Period. In the stage of Preoperational Period, students are much more aware of their surroundings to symbolize objects with mental images. For example, if a child/student is given two objects, both look identical with the same size and shape and one of those object shape changes to another, the child/student will say that the object whose shape changes is no longer the same size. This just shows that the child/student haven’t relate to reasoning to what is real. Unlike the Preoperational Period, the Concrete Operational Period, a child/student is able to deal with what is real. Such as the example given earlier about the object with same size and shape, in this stage they are able to apply reasoning. As a teacher in training, I will be face with students who might interpret mental images, according to their cultures. Like I said before, I myself is a teaching tool, I will have to model certain behaviors to my students, who in turn will have to predict from my actions, by implementing their beliefs, values, and attitudes and allow transformation from my model behavior. Facing diversity in the classroom, I will have to allow my students to adapt to schemes which mold their beliefs to accepting knowledge and process it. Some cultures raise a child differently from the time they are out of the womb to an adolescent on their values and beliefs. In the classroom their mental images, which was taught to them can be conflicting, because they have to take what was taught to them and model to their own beliefs and values. I hope as a teacher, with my experiences, I will be able to represent models that will not block my students from transforming to learning new ideas and concepts of a classroom culture.

Why are rites of passages important?

Rites of passages are culturally entwined into society. I find it to be very important, when so many of us from different social status have to cope with separate identities from our own. The rite of passage discuss in the three article, show views of some people from third world countries are remotely different from the western hemisphere. For them, accepting adulthood, life experiences, and sexuality are transform through liminal states. Some of these liminal entities are done through sacrificial ceremonies. These ceremonies are sacred and secretive, where trials are done painfully. The purpose of these rituals is done to emerged or reborn again as a new person to a changed society. In formal education some students are always trying to fit into social groups. They feel that they need to be redefined. That is why some schools have clubs, sports, bands, and dance teams, etc. Students go through a rite of passage to be accepted socially when they participate to belong to one of these clubs. For example, one minute they are an independent thinker, but to get accepted into one of these clubs, they have to go through trials, sometimes even through initiation. After being accepted, they are now part of a new social status. Rites of passage are customs from many cultures, which have migrated into American culture with values, beliefs, and religions. As American we are so susceptible to change. Religion practices in today’s society are conflicted, and are scrutinized in the public schools. Religion is carefully spoken among individuals, because of fear to offending someone’s belief. Teachers’ rites of passage are to accept social status in the classroom, teaching to students who are from different social status and customs can be very nontraditional. For example, back in the days when a class party is given, it wouldn’t matter how or what food is consume by the students. Now a parent has to make sure that at the beginning of the school year a note is given to inform the teacher of any allergies, and also food have to be bought from a store and not brought form home. All this is done due to social change in the school system. This just shows that, I myself have to be ready and solid to take on these rites of passage, due to constant change on the evolution of social status amongst our students, parents, and even my staff members.

What is meant by high and low context cultures? What are proxemics? How is this important requisite knowlege for the pre-teacher or beginning teacher?

As a beginning teacher it is important to understand the high and low context cultures in the classroom. Understanding these cultures would make it clear on how to handle a diverse classroom. For example if a student is from a home that has high context culture they could share their strong family ties with classmates and have a lasting friendship with some of them. As with the low context culture, classmates are more up front with communicating their views. The only thing with a high context student is that he/she might implement strong bonds on being distinctive in groups, which might lead to others feeling like an outcast. Even though low context cultures are flexible being in and out of groups, they are weak when it comes to commitment. Non-verbal communications is found amongst high context culture such as proxemics, where an individual have different perspective on how to maintain personal space, and this type of communication can sometimes lead to misunderstanding. A teacher will have to know how to handle this, so not to over step boundaries when dealing with parents or students of different cultures. Learning personal proxemics is very important; teachers can educate their students on personal, social, and public space of different cultures, so they are not judgmental on their peer’s behavior. The arrangements in the classroom can determined the teacher’s social space from the students.For example if a classroom is arranged where the desks are in rows, facing the teacher, this type of arrangement command all work and no play, and less participation with isolation. But, if the desks were place in a circular setting, this will show interaction likely to occur with more participation from the students and cooperative work. Proxemic can have negative and positive effects on students in the classroom, especially if it is a student who is antisocial. Some student’s social perceptions are viewed differently based on their culture. Sometimes a student, teacher personal space is infringed upon, which is lead to believe that they are not a nice person or could be antisocial. Proxemics can be mastered if taught skillfully, such as communicating with eye contact, facial expression, and body language. Overall communication is more at ease, when among the same context of culture.

"Culture: What It Is." and "Transformation: Creating Context, Part 2." What new insights have you gained about culture and intercultural competenc

Many students are set in a manner to learn a certain way .Parents model to their child certain behavior, that was instill since birth and not allowing them to make an error or mistake, or even take on responsibility for their own action. I think to emit change as a transformative teacher, one will have to approach a child to accept the knowledge of learning, Accepting new information that was not learned before, or even taught to them from their parents. This in itself is a paradigm shift. Each time information is given, it is up to the student as an individual to take what is given to him/her, process it and deliver this information to their own understanding. Paradigm shift is a continuous medium for students in school. Information approaches a student by either a closed teacher or an open teacher. I myself hope to facilitate to students as an open teacher, I am willing to hear them out and let them know it is alright, if they give an answer incorrect. We sometimes learn better from being wrong than to a know it all. On an elementary level, students can be very resilient. If I taught them as a closed teacher they might not want to share or participate if corrected on an answer. I want my students to be open on issues and share their own beliefs and also learn to welcome criticism. I don’t fear transformation and students should not either. It is alright if we have different opinions. And that is great. It is this difference that makes a paradigm shift possible. We have to think of the NOW. We need to prepare our students at any school level about change and differences. I agree there are cultures that look and accept changes differently, but the fact is we all have something in common. No matter what culture we are in change does happen, and we sometimes have to tolerate these changes. As a teacher it will be my duty to reinforce new knowledge taught to my students, and however they implement this information, it is alright to take risk. It is my job to correct and comfort them, taking them through transformation with diligence and sincerity. If many students learned to accept being different is alright, and not subject to their parents ignorance for change, then they can acknowledge accepting transformation. So as a transformative teacher, I hope to encourage my students to be independent and allow them to advance with confidence to accept change.

Frames, Paradigms and Paradigm Shifts.

A teacher is held on a pedestal, most teachers are expected to maintain a positive self for society which is a paradigm. A teaching profession is constantly changing due to the effect of coming in contact with different cultures and changing mandated laws. For example, as history has it in the 1920’s, a teacher was expected to be a female, who could not be married, have children, dress in certain attires where barley any skin is shown, and was restricted to hang out at certain places like an ice cream parlor, talk about a paradigm shift. In today’s society a teacher’s gender is not an issue, they can be married and have children unlike in the 1920’s, but is still monitor to be a role model to students, parents, and his/her faculty members. Paradigm shift/change has impacted the learning tools teacher’s used today. The tools used are more sophisticated and greatly demanded by students to use them, like the use of a computer. Teachers experience great paradigm shift when encountered with students who are disable, speak another language, or frame with some mental disorder. Because of such diversity in the classroom, it is important for a teacher to experience these changes. Politics has mainstream into education, providing help and assistance to children who are from a low income home to eat a healthy breakfast everyday and also provide free lunch to those who need it. Other services, like the Head Start Program are offered to early childhood education, and these are changes to better help students to succeed in the classroom. Have I had a paradigm shift? I think each and every one of us has experience a paradigm shift/change. Growing up some of us was taught about what success is, and should be. For some of us, success is perceived as having a lot of money and living a life of luxury. For others, success can be as simple as just being content and living a moderate lifestyle. A perfect example of a paradigm shift right now is our economy. I personally experience the wrath of being laid off from a job that I had been in for ten years, never thinking that something like that could have ever happen to me. The shift in our economy has reframed my mind. I looked at this as an opportunity, to explore my mind and self to a limitless future for success as a teacher. Transforming to this change will prepare me to accept diversity.

Transformation: A Beginning" and "Transformation: Creating Context

Transformation starts with oneself. In order to transform to anything, whether it is emotions for acceptance, it has to start with oneself. For me just being a mother, wife, and returning college student is a huge transformation. First, being a mother I was not prepared emotionally on all the hard work it took just to give birth, but I sure transform to accept the pain, then the hard work came with raising them. I never knew how much I became my parents when I had my children. I tried to instill all the moral values that they taught me to my children. Not realizing that I was transforming in to them using their techniques to raise them. Next being a wife, is transforming for me. Just imagine you came into this world alone and to think that destiny for some of us is to have a relationship and share love, trust values, pain and happiness with that someone. Talk about a roller coaster of emotions. If that alone is not transforming, think about the many emotions to adjust to in order to deal with one person. Going back to school was somewhat a forced decision when my family status changes. Having three children and being married made me realize how much time corporate America was taking way from the importance of spending time with my family. You see, I had to transform to corporate America’s schedule, but I didn’t have to accept it. As a mother, my decision to pursue a teaching degree was very easy. I love spending time with my family, and who doesn’t. Some careers or jobs sometimes force us to make decisions, which cause us to transform and adjust. If I have to deal with my family on conforming to their behavior, which took a process to accept, transformation in the classroom should be no different, sure I can’t discipline students as I do my own children, but transforming to their behavior should be no different when it comes to acceptance on their differences, for example, their language, race, physical and mental ability, culture, and religion. It will take a process just like it did for me when I decided to be a wife, mother and returning college student. I had to compromise and be transformative in how to deal with my family’s emotions and consciousness to accept my choice to become a teacher. This change is not so radical , but altered for the best.

Prehistoric Human use of fire, invention of the wheel, and the history of writing.

The important use of fire has such an impact to us in today’s society. What would we do without this natural invention to heat our homes and cook our food? Even though it is not clear if it was the cause of nature by accident or invented by the Homo erectus. I believe that it was first caused by nature, and the early humans saw it and tried to figure out how it came about. I am pretty sure there had to be some fatal accident by these early humans, when they came upon the discovery of fire. For example, getting burned trying to touch or feel what this spectacle of light was; or jumping into it. YIKES!! (Definitely fatal.) I would not underestimate these early humans on knowledge when it came to any invention. I also believe fire played a role in ancient artwork. For example, clay pots and pans were made with the use of fire. Yes, their brain might be underdeveloped, but, their animal instincts add to this great invention. The wheel which is great for our everyday vehicle has really came along way. Not only did it play a great roll in our transportation , which helped with farming vehicles to tend to our crops, but anything round is significantly important. The wheel or something (round) is found in so many useful things, for example, mechanical devices like clocks, watches, radios, phones etc. The early humans were able to get more tasks done with the wheel, such as farming with this awesome invention. Writing on the other hand compared to the invention of fire and the wheel is very diverse. It was first invented as a form of communication with symbols. Fire went hand in hand with writing to communicate. For example, the heat form the fire was used to heat sticks, which made coal to draw on caves and use for communicating time frames e.g. , a Calendar. The smoke from fire was use to call humans in distance on how to find each other and unlike writing, symbols were also used on caves to communicate. The early humans as set such a foundation for me as a Pre-teaching intern, to take these basic fundamental inventions and advance on them. We have come a long way from this stem of intelligence, which just shows me that learning as no end. Thousands of years ago, these early humans created such great ideas, and we still are benefitting from them today, That just shows how great of an impact Teachers can be on a student with knowledge for many more years to come.