My EDN 303 Blog

Teaching

2006-10-15T12:37:00.000-07:00

Last month I taught AP (5 years old) how to ride her bike. It was the most scary experience, but the look of pure joy in her face when she did it and the fun she gets from riding her bike everyday made it worth the momments of terror that I endured.
This is a child that I have taken care of since infancy. Those five years have been full of very scary momments but I always knew when she was ready; ready to walk, ready to jump off of the diving board, ready to walk her dog by herself and ready to tie her shoes. I knew it was time to take the training wheels off, but this one step, out of all of the other risky moves towards independence, made me incredibly nervous. If she fell, I thought to myself, she could skin her knee or face, she could break a bone, she could get something caught in the wheel or she could flip over if she hits a hole or bump. Nonethless, we started out. At first I held her shirt, so that she could balance and then I gave her a push and told her to peddle as fast as she could. I ran barely holding on and then I let go. She just kept going and I kept running behind her, ready to catch her if she fell. Then I decided she is going to have to learn how to fall. I saw her teeter and I yelled " stop, put you foot out and let the bike fall", she listened and gracefully kept herself standing as the bike fell over. She just laughed and we went through the routine over and over again. She still needs a push to get started but she can ride her bike and protect herself when she falls. When we came back from the first circle around the block she and I were so happy and she even had more of a bounce in her step than she ever had before.

Shopping Ethics

2006-10-02T06:48:00.000-07:00

I did some shopping this weekend and found many of the stores and their parking lots in disarray. As I pulled into a space by linens+things on Saturday, I noticed that someone had left a cart in the space in front of me. I thought, “how lazy and inconsiderate”, so I pushed it to the store, even though I was not going in, and to my surprise, there were three more carts abandoned. One by a bush, the other in the middle of the sidewalk, and the final one was shoved in a corner. Why? So, I corralled the rest of them and put them in the line of other carts. Some people may think that it is an employee’s responsibility to do this, but really it mucks up the walkways and the parking lot for everyone else; and just because some stores have places in the parking lot for carts does not mean that it is the stores responsibility to clean up after their customers. I also noticed, in Belks, that someone had carelessly knocked bags over and did not pick them up! So, as I went around shopping I picked up what lay in my path and many times I watched people walk past the same mess that I walked by and not do anything. I was with my sister, her boyfriend and my fiancée and it seemed to be the theme of the day. We were all astounded. Later we all went to the grocery store and as we pulled into a space: there was a cart, so I jumped out and we took it for a cruise around the store before we unloaded our groceries and then I put it back where it belongs.

To me, the carelessness that I observed around town is a symptom of laziness and of disregard for fellow citizens, and it makes everyone’s life a little more unpleasant. What if everyone picked up after himself or herself? What a nice world it would be. I hope that by cleaning up as I go, whether I made the mess or not, made public spaces better for everyone, employees and customers alike.

Letter To Mrs. Rose From Future Student

2006-09-06T16:34:00.000-07:00

Dear Mrs. Rose,

When I came to you in the sixth grade I was insecure and defensive. I was only this way because I did not know how to read very well. Teachers did not like me or understand me. The students thought I was stupid and I believed them. You made me feel comfortable and you thought that I was smart. Over the next year, you helped me learn how to read and write well. You made lessons fun and interesting and I never felt like I wanted to give up.I couldn't believe how easy it was, and I started reading for fun for the first time in my life.
I really appreciated your help throughout middle-school with writing and research. You always listened and cared about me as a person and kept me interested in learning.
I want to thank you because without your help, I don't know where I would be today. I would probably working at a fast food joint. Instead, I am in my first year of college and I love it!

Thank you,
Josh Roberts

Letter to Mrs. Edmunds

2006-09-06T16:18:00.000-07:00

Dear Mrs. Edmunds,

You were the first teacher who challenged me, at a time when I needed it the most. By the time I had reached your English class, I was apathetic and bored. I only did what was asked of me and it was never an enjoyable venture. From day one , I was interested; because you were so passionate about vocabulary, reading and writing. You also made vocabulary fun, not a chore. I remember my first vocabulary journal. It was wacky, but I took a chance because I felt that you would understand; and you did. Seeing laughing faces on my work made me smile and I looked foward to writing one each week. Not only were you engaging but I had never had a teacher take interest in me as a person.When you took note of my personal strengths, you told me; and, I still have a note you wrote me about having a great research paper. These reassurances and attention got me back into school in general. I realized that not many teachers were like you but that I still loved learning. Discovering that helped me through my senior year and through the drudgery of the first 2 years of college.
I also appreciated your support when I went through a very tough time in my life. Without your understanding I would have felt even worse. I still think about the relief I felt when I could miss a class and instead of you penalizing me, you would ask me what was wrong; and you always gave me a chance to get my work done. Just believeing in me was enough to make you the best teacher that I have ever had. Thank You.
Rose Glaser

My First Blog Post

2006-08-30T10:35:00.000-07:00

This is my EDN 303 Blog.