I want to say thank you very much to everyone that has posted on my blog. I also want to say thank you to Sisie for helping through the class because I don't think I would have be able to with you! I feel that this class has helped me to accomplish many things such as, being about to find time for myself (for once). I have always put everyone else in front on myself but I have learned that sometimes you have to take a breather. This class has also taught me to take advise from others even if it wasn't what I wanted to hear. Everyone has given me something to think about and take away from the class. I am very grateful that I am able to attend college and get my degree. I feel this class is by far one of the hardest that I have ever take. It has helped my confidence and helped me understand that you can accomplish anything as long as you put your mind to it!
Thanks Again Everyone!!!
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Interacting with families
Over these last couple weeks I have learned so much about the families and the children that I am working with. The parents have responded very well with me being in their child's class and interacting with them. I feel like when this class is over I will have gained the knowledge to become a better advocate for bullying. I am talked with many people through out this journey about this issue and they all say the same thing, "I can't believe how bad it has gotten!" I couldn't agree with them more. Yesterday I was talking with my husband about writing my paper and how nervous I am to turn it in. He got a phone call just as we were talking about bullying from his sister saying his niece's best friend was found in her room today and that she had taken her life because of bulling. I couldn't believe how close to home this was hitting now. My sister in law has to talk to her 9 year old daughter about suicide and bullying. I think that this is something that does need to be talked about at a very young age because children are not able to handle being bullied sometimes. This is the reality of the outcome of my topic and it is very saddening.
Some of the parents that I did get a chance to talk to for a bit were shocked to hear some of the facts that I was telling them about bullying. They didn't think that it was such a huge concern for children that are in their child's grade. I told them that it doesn't matter how old you are because it can happen to anyone. I also told them to go home and talk to their children about the subject because it is very important that they understand what to do when they are being bullied.
I did witness a couple children picking on one child in the class I was observing this past week and the teacher sent them immediately to the office to talk to the principal. (She talked to them all first) Then after she talked with the children that were involved she pulled the class together and talked about bullying and feelings. It was a wonderful thing for me to experience. I feel the teacher handled the situation exactly how every teacher should handle it.
Some of the parents that I did get a chance to talk to for a bit were shocked to hear some of the facts that I was telling them about bullying. They didn't think that it was such a huge concern for children that are in their child's grade. I told them that it doesn't matter how old you are because it can happen to anyone. I also told them to go home and talk to their children about the subject because it is very important that they understand what to do when they are being bullied.
I did witness a couple children picking on one child in the class I was observing this past week and the teacher sent them immediately to the office to talk to the principal. (She talked to them all first) Then after she talked with the children that were involved she pulled the class together and talked about bullying and feelings. It was a wonderful thing for me to experience. I feel the teacher handled the situation exactly how every teacher should handle it.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Blog 3
Throughout this course I have talked to many people about bullying in the school that my host teacher works in. I think that everyone is on the same page as far as it being a huge problem in the schools.
One person that I talked with was the social worker and she told me that bullying is a huge issue throughout the district. She goes throughout the elementary schools to talk to students about any issues that they have. She said that more and more children are coming to her depressed. Not all of them are depressed because of bullying but a lot of them have been in to talk with her because at some point they have been bullied or been the bully.
I have also spoke with the principal about bullying and he said that they have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to bullying. The children are sent immediatly to the principal when they are caught bullying. Then they have to tell what they did and what the reason for it was. They have meeting with the students and then they give out the consequences. Sometimes children are suspended in or outside of school (depending on how severe it was). The parents of both people are called to tell what happened.
I have breifly talked to the nurse about the amout of children that are on medication because of depression. She said that their are students on medication for depression but she couldn't really give me details because it is private. I understand that.
I feel that I am getting great information for this topic that I have chose. I thiink that this is going to be a good thing for me to continue researching. I also feel that the information that I am getting will help me in my job currently because I can use some of their plans for bullying. I can also try different stratiges when I have my own class room.
One person that I talked with was the social worker and she told me that bullying is a huge issue throughout the district. She goes throughout the elementary schools to talk to students about any issues that they have. She said that more and more children are coming to her depressed. Not all of them are depressed because of bullying but a lot of them have been in to talk with her because at some point they have been bullied or been the bully.
I have also spoke with the principal about bullying and he said that they have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to bullying. The children are sent immediatly to the principal when they are caught bullying. Then they have to tell what they did and what the reason for it was. They have meeting with the students and then they give out the consequences. Sometimes children are suspended in or outside of school (depending on how severe it was). The parents of both people are called to tell what happened.
I have breifly talked to the nurse about the amout of children that are on medication because of depression. She said that their are students on medication for depression but she couldn't really give me details because it is private. I understand that.
I feel that I am getting great information for this topic that I have chose. I thiink that this is going to be a good thing for me to continue researching. I also feel that the information that I am getting will help me in my job currently because I can use some of their plans for bullying. I can also try different stratiges when I have my own class room.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Assignment 2
Throughout my observes I have talked to many. I was talking to a social worker that floats around the elementary schools on our district. I asked her how she felt about the bullying that seems to be spreading like wide fires. She told me that was a great expression to use when it comes to bullying. She told me that children are experiencing all different types of bullying and they are not able to handle it at the ages in elementary. She said at any age it is hard to handle but in the early years they tend to become more venerable to the bully's.
She told me one story about a child that she worked with when she lived in Florida who was bullied everyday. He was tormented by so many children and finally he came to her to talk. He was a sweet child that was very timid and quiet. He kept to himself and never bothered anyone. He would ask her why they would pick on him and she would tell him because deep down inside they are not happy with themselves. Then he told her when he went home he would get yelled at by his parents and his siblings. In a nutshell the boy was never given a break and he was ready to give him until she told him that she was important and he was going to be someone someday. She started building his confidence daily and she slowly but surely began to see changes in him. He began to stick up for himself and the children were not use to that. Finally the bullying stopped and he become a little bit more confident day but day.
I was glad to hear this story but it doesn't always end up like that, many children are taking their lives because of this issue. I wonder where the teachers were when this was happening and why it wasn't handled sooner. She told me that you don't see it sometimes and you never really know until they come to you or someone else. I want to make sure that EVERYONE is looking out for this because like this story not all children will get the courage to say something or when they do it might be to late.
I also spoke to the nurse to see what she thought about bullying and she didn't really have much to say about it. She said that she doesn't think that the children should get away with bullying and that they need to make the consequences more severe so the children are afraid to bully. She did say that a lot of children are on anti-depressants now compared to when she started 14 years. ago but she isn't sure why.
I think some of the challenges about bullying is you are not always going to be their when it happens. Another challenging thing would be the consequences of bullying. You are not in control of that and I too feel that the consequences should be so severe that the children are afraid to bully!
She told me one story about a child that she worked with when she lived in Florida who was bullied everyday. He was tormented by so many children and finally he came to her to talk. He was a sweet child that was very timid and quiet. He kept to himself and never bothered anyone. He would ask her why they would pick on him and she would tell him because deep down inside they are not happy with themselves. Then he told her when he went home he would get yelled at by his parents and his siblings. In a nutshell the boy was never given a break and he was ready to give him until she told him that she was important and he was going to be someone someday. She started building his confidence daily and she slowly but surely began to see changes in him. He began to stick up for himself and the children were not use to that. Finally the bullying stopped and he become a little bit more confident day but day.
I was glad to hear this story but it doesn't always end up like that, many children are taking their lives because of this issue. I wonder where the teachers were when this was happening and why it wasn't handled sooner. She told me that you don't see it sometimes and you never really know until they come to you or someone else. I want to make sure that EVERYONE is looking out for this because like this story not all children will get the courage to say something or when they do it might be to late.
I also spoke to the nurse to see what she thought about bullying and she didn't really have much to say about it. She said that she doesn't think that the children should get away with bullying and that they need to make the consequences more severe so the children are afraid to bully. She did say that a lot of children are on anti-depressants now compared to when she started 14 years. ago but she isn't sure why.
I think some of the challenges about bullying is you are not always going to be their when it happens. Another challenging thing would be the consequences of bullying. You are not in control of that and I too feel that the consequences should be so severe that the children are afraid to bully!
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Interview
I interviewed to teachers that work in public schools. The first one that I interviewed was a first grade teacher. She has been working with children for 8 years. Currently in her class she has many ELL learners and special needs children. I asked her how she felt about the wide variety of students in her class. She said that it can be very challenging but rewarding at the same time. I asked her if the children bully in her class and she told me that she does have trouble with that from time to time. I asked her how she addresses the situation and she told me that they talk abotu how we are all different in many ways. It is something that she talks about everyday in her class. Her school is in a voluntary bully program right now. I don't remember what it is called. I will ask her and post that as well. It seems like a great program.
The second interview that I did was a teacher in a head start room. She told me that she loves what she does and she wouldn't go back to anything else she has done. I asked her what is one thing that has changed since she first started and she said teh number for child coming in that are not english speakers. I asked her how that affected what she does as far as teaching, she said that she contiues to teach the was she always has. She does more one on one with these student by doing flashcards and saying the name of what is on the flashcard. She said it can be a slow process but the other children are a huige help as well. I think that is great how involved everyone is in the class as far as helping each other. She also has a speech teacher come in to work with these children. She will pull them out of the room for 30 mins 3 times a week to help them with english. I asked her if she had to deal with bullying and she said she has but not for a long time now. It wasnt when she was working in head start!
Insights gained from your interviews regarding current advocacy efforts and
needs in your area of interest within the field of early childhood
I have gained a better understanding of the difference in oublic schools comepared to a head start program. In the public schools they are at a more fast pace when it comes to teaching because everything has to be done in a certain time frame. In head start they are more laid back because they are not pressed for time.
The first grade teacher has delt with bullying in her class and throughout the school but the head start teacher that I interviewed has not delt with it in her school. Thats makes me think that maybe it starts once they enter kindergarten. I am windering if that is where it starts.
How these interviews may have influenced your decision about which area of
interest and topics to choose for your research paper
I think it has influenced my topic by figuring out where the bullying starts. I know that it can start at any age but I would like to find out where it starts to affect the children that are being bullied. That way you can address the situation at an earlier age to try to stop it from happening.
Which area of interest you are thinking of focusing on for your paper as
well as the related three specific topics
I would like to focus on Bullying
Cyberbullying
Bullying in primary grades
Bullying in early learning centers
Questions you have for your colleagues related to your area of interest
and/or three topics
I would like to know if they have to deal with bullying in thier line of work. If they have delt with it what was the situation about and how was it handled.
The second interview that I did was a teacher in a head start room. She told me that she loves what she does and she wouldn't go back to anything else she has done. I asked her what is one thing that has changed since she first started and she said teh number for child coming in that are not english speakers. I asked her how that affected what she does as far as teaching, she said that she contiues to teach the was she always has. She does more one on one with these student by doing flashcards and saying the name of what is on the flashcard. She said it can be a slow process but the other children are a huige help as well. I think that is great how involved everyone is in the class as far as helping each other. She also has a speech teacher come in to work with these children. She will pull them out of the room for 30 mins 3 times a week to help them with english. I asked her if she had to deal with bullying and she said she has but not for a long time now. It wasnt when she was working in head start!
The first grade teacher has delt with bullying in her class and throughout the school but the head start teacher that I interviewed has not delt with it in her school. Thats makes me think that maybe it starts once they enter kindergarten. I am windering if that is where it starts.
Cyberbullying
Bullying in primary grades
Bullying in early learning centers
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
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