Response to Workshop 3

Data Production exercise:
I came to the conclusion that most of those whom I interviewed (including myself) shared a similar view of literacy (including my layperson)- the primary goal of literacy being, to possess effective communication skills that would lay down the foundation for future employment. I saw the underlying notion of this perspective (as Finn mentioned) of education being used/seen as a ticket to higher education which in turn would lead to higher paying jobs. I also noted that there was a lot of talk about parents abdicating their responsibility with respect to their child's education.

Inspiration Map:
Although I am pretty proficient with using standard computer applications, I found that the Inspiration software was very challenging to use at first. In particular, when you are switching the function of a button, it seemed to be very touchy- and not user-friendly. I would have prefered to have used a Microsoft Product, since that is what I have been accustomed to- both at home and at school. That being said, I eventually figured it out, and feel more comfortable now that I have played with it a bit. Within my primary class, we often make maps or graphic organizers, but we usually just do these on the blackboard and/or on chart paper. My goal next year is to try and display these graphic organizers on a Smartboard.
As for the actual maps, we discussed them at great length at our table. We came to the conclusion that when we thought about it, as educators we generally take a little bit from each of these perspectives. Each perspective brings with it some benefits- one needs to be able to decode, however one also needs to be able to comprehend what one is reading. Technology is an important component in my classroom- when we have computer lab, I try and sit with a few students individually to serve as a guide to introducing them to new programs on the computer in all disciplines (math, language, word processing, etc...). After reading the article, I found it very interesting and disturbing to note how the hegemonic discourse was infused into almost all of the mindsets (not something I thought about previously)...how its influence is somewhat naked to the eye since it is so woven into what we consider the norm. I concur with the assertion that was discussed in class that this notion of what is "right" is something that evolves with time, and it is truly interesting to note how this will change in the future. Observing that book from thirty years ago, "I'm a Boy, I'm a Girl", made that painfully obvious when reading the now blatantly sexist comments on how each gender is to "operate".
The most challenging mindset to implement in my opinion, is the "New Literacy", as it requires more support and time than the traditional methods or mindsets. I think that being aware of these mindsets, assists me in being more reflexive of my teaching practices. It makes me think.....am I comfortable with they way I am teaching this? Can I do this in another way that may promote higher level thinking?....etc....
Food for thought.

The Jesus Freezer:
I enjoyed reading the "Jesus Freezer". The language was very rich- I think it would have been more fun if we were able to read it out loud though, to truly hear and feel the warmth of the sounds and tones of the language.
I am used to being surrounded with like-minded others when it comes to matters of faith--I am used to it being a very implicit thing, however this was the first time that I was in a position that I had to defend it.....As a result, I found it very difficult to convey my precise thoughts to others in the group that did not share my "faith" perspective. This reminded me of Finn's book (not sure of chapter off-hand) where he attended the political rally that his wife endorsed- where everyone was in a room and not everyone agreed (all speaking their explicit opinions where not everyone agreed)--yet he was used to being at rallies where it was understood that everyone had the same perspective and point of view (there was an implicit understanding).

I'm From...

I’m From....
· Early morning cartoon sessions with Tony the Tiger, and Snap, Crackle, and Pop...
· Nutella on fette biscottate, oversized mugs filled with hot milk and a shot of espresso, and some Biscotti Milano “S” cookies to dip into it...
· At school I loved to read from my basal readers....Mr. Muggs, Listening Letters, Laughing Letters, read and respond to the entire contents of the SRA box, etc...
· After school I was always excited to watch awesome cartoons like G.I. Joe, He Man, and She Ra, where you could always count on finding a moral at the end of each episode...
· Hurray for read-along stories (books on records/tape)....always loved to hear the sound of Tinkerbell’s chimes, reminding you to turn the page....
· Cinderella/Cenerentola, Snow White/Bianca Neve, Topolino, Paperino, Archie, Jughead, Betty, Reggie and Veronica, Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Ramona, Little Women, and Zoro....
· Sunday night at 6:00p.m. (Disney Hour), and Channel 2, TV Ontario: Read-along, Read All About it, Paddington Bear, Simon in the Land of Chalk drawings, Polka Dot Door, Telefrancais, and Parlez-Moi with Sol the Clown.....
· Story time just before going to bed—(just after bath and hot milk)...a combination of stories that were made up, anthologies of poems, and short stories, and a collection of miscellaneous chapter books—(I can almost hear Heidi yodelling with Peter)....most stories in English, rest were a mixture of Italian or French
· Reading the Secret Garden under a shady tree at the cottage in the summer while hummingbirds buzzed playfully above my head....
· Playing games like Scrabble, Pictionary, hangman, Crossword puzzles, Word Searches, Wheel of Fortune, and Jeopardy....
· Reading cereal boxes, ads on buses, subways, magazines, making up words/and sentences with the first letters on license plates.....reading billboards backwards and having to guess how to say them forwards...while on my way to a friend’s house, my grandparent’s house, the Museum, the park, the Art Gallery, Ballet class, or Ontario Place....
· “Early to bed, early to rise.....makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise....”
· Singing songs, nursery rhymes, and dancing to Frere Jacques/San Martino/ Brother John, Mi scappa la pipi, patty cake, the itsy bitsy spider, Mary Mary Quite Contrary, and Wee Willy Winkie.....and playing I spy.......
· Christian Bible camp in the summer (who welcomed Catholic kids), where I received a Bible and a faux diamond ring with a crucifix for memorizing the most Bible passages/scriptures at the camp.....where we heard countless stories of how much Jesus loved the little children, made sculptures of Jesus out of pasta, cotton balls, and lentils, and made fish that spread God’s word from coat hangers and pantyhose.......

I'm from many different places and experiences, that's what makes me unique :)

Final Research and Position Power Point

Final Research and Position Power Point

First attempt at posting it.....

see above for up to date version...