yayayaya!
to see nevada kick unlv's butt...
yayayaya!
gonna be with some of my closest friends...
yayayaya!
and clint <3...
yayayaya!
can't you tell i'm excited? t-minus 26 hours until my flight leaves!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
scatterbrain
why can i remember everything that my kids need in class, but i cannot remember to take the trash out? i could recite who is missing what (and if they were absent that day an assignment was given) and when they need to turn it in, but for the life of me i cannot remember something so simple at home.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Alfred the Turkey
Meet Alfred!
Jackie and I decided it would be fun to do something for Thanksgiving, so we decided upon making a turkey out of cupcakes. Yes, we named him Alfred. He was a ton of fun to make and will be quite delicious. :-)
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Discrimination
While I was in my 'Teaching Special Education Students in the General Education Classroom' class last night, my professor brought up a really good point. We are all taught to discriminate - and whether we know it or not, we all discriminate - and the more we discriminate, the more we are praised. Here is an example.
According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, discriminate means "to distinguish by discerning or exposing differences." So this does not just apply to race or sex. I want this to be kept in mind.
So mom has a baby, and she thinks that she has the smartest baby in the whole entire world. (As most parents do). So, baby turns 9 months and hasn't started talking yet and the mom is sad since she has the 'smartest baby in the world.' Well one day, baby is sitting in the living room and a small, black thing walks in front of baby. Baby yells, "Kitty! Kitty!" The mom, being so proud of her "smart little baby" smiles and says, "Yes! What is it? Kitty? Keep going and saying its name!" The mom then goes into a basket and grabs a small ball. She holds it up in front of the baby and says, "Ball. Ball." After about 20 minutes of constent repetition, Mom's "smart litte baby" says ball. The mom is thrilled with how talented her child is.
Mom takes the baby to grandparents house. While at grandparent's house the baby is sitting in the living room and sees something small and black walk in front of him. The baby exclaims, "Kitty! Kitty!" Mom looks down at her child and shows a look of mortification on her face. Mom mis mortified. She runs over to baby and says, "Now smart baby, that's not a kitty. That's a doggy. Doggy." The baby looks at his mom and has a look of uncertainty on his face. He ponders how something that is small and black can have two different names. "Okay then, baby thinks. At mom's house it's called a kitty and at Grandma's house it's called a doggy."
Mom then takes her "smart little baby" for a ride in the car with the grandparents. When looking out the window, baby sees something that is small and black and yells, "Doggy! Doggy!" Again, mom is mortified that her "smart baby" said the wrong name for the animal. "No, baby! That's not a doggy. It's a cow." "Sheesh, thinks the baby. So small black animals have three different names for different places. At mom's it's a 'kitty,' at grandma's it's a 'doggy,' and in the car it's a 'cow.'
Point of this story - when we are growing up, we are taught the differences about objects, not the sameness of objects. When we read, p and d are essentially the same, we just have to switch it around, but as we teach our children to read we teach them the difference between the letters. Growing up, to learn, we must learn the differences between things. And that is the way human beings learn.
Now, I am not saying that we cannot help this because in fact, to learn, we must know the difference between objects. It would be hard to teach a child a pen and pencil by saying, "They both write." We need to know those differentiations to help us learn. However, because of this need to know differences in order to learn, we focus too much on the differences of people and things than sharing what we all have in common. As a society, we should also focus on what makes things the same.
A study done on college age students showed that on compare/contrast questions, students were likely to do significantly better on contrasting two or more objects than comparing them. To me, this is slightly frightening.
I guess this is important to me because of my dream to be a teacher. In the classroom, children benefit from learning about the sameness of people - seeing what students have in common with other students and their entire class. Sameness brings a class together, not differences. Yes, we all are different and we all recognize this; yet, finding out and celebrating what people have in common is what is truly amazing.
I think if more of the world used less discrimination in their lives and tried to find the commonality of people, places, and things - the world would probably be a better and safer place. Think of the things that people fight over: difference of religion, difference of government, difference of parenting styles, political parties, etc. People who usually share some sort of commonalities are less likely to fight. What is interesting is that most people do not spend the time to do this. People automatically look for the differences in other people and base decisions off of that.
Now, I am not saying that we should all be the same drones and everyone should have the same beliefs and values. I am saying that people should all accept and celebrate their differences, but celebrate the commonalities between people also. Look for something that you have in common with someone else. Chances are, if you try, you will find something in common. We all have something in common with everyone. It's just easier to see and accept the differences.
So, although the next time you meet someone you may be a different religion and different family life - remember that you both may love mint chocolate chip ice cream and going out dancing.
According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, discriminate means "to distinguish by discerning or exposing differences." So this does not just apply to race or sex. I want this to be kept in mind.
So mom has a baby, and she thinks that she has the smartest baby in the whole entire world. (As most parents do). So, baby turns 9 months and hasn't started talking yet and the mom is sad since she has the 'smartest baby in the world.' Well one day, baby is sitting in the living room and a small, black thing walks in front of baby. Baby yells, "Kitty! Kitty!" The mom, being so proud of her "smart little baby" smiles and says, "Yes! What is it? Kitty? Keep going and saying its name!" The mom then goes into a basket and grabs a small ball. She holds it up in front of the baby and says, "Ball. Ball." After about 20 minutes of constent repetition, Mom's "smart litte baby" says ball. The mom is thrilled with how talented her child is.
Mom takes the baby to grandparents house. While at grandparent's house the baby is sitting in the living room and sees something small and black walk in front of him. The baby exclaims, "Kitty! Kitty!" Mom looks down at her child and shows a look of mortification on her face. Mom mis mortified. She runs over to baby and says, "Now smart baby, that's not a kitty. That's a doggy. Doggy." The baby looks at his mom and has a look of uncertainty on his face. He ponders how something that is small and black can have two different names. "Okay then, baby thinks. At mom's house it's called a kitty and at Grandma's house it's called a doggy."
Mom then takes her "smart little baby" for a ride in the car with the grandparents. When looking out the window, baby sees something that is small and black and yells, "Doggy! Doggy!" Again, mom is mortified that her "smart baby" said the wrong name for the animal. "No, baby! That's not a doggy. It's a cow." "Sheesh, thinks the baby. So small black animals have three different names for different places. At mom's it's a 'kitty,' at grandma's it's a 'doggy,' and in the car it's a 'cow.'
Point of this story - when we are growing up, we are taught the differences about objects, not the sameness of objects. When we read, p and d are essentially the same, we just have to switch it around, but as we teach our children to read we teach them the difference between the letters. Growing up, to learn, we must learn the differences between things. And that is the way human beings learn.
Now, I am not saying that we cannot help this because in fact, to learn, we must know the difference between objects. It would be hard to teach a child a pen and pencil by saying, "They both write." We need to know those differentiations to help us learn. However, because of this need to know differences in order to learn, we focus too much on the differences of people and things than sharing what we all have in common. As a society, we should also focus on what makes things the same.
A study done on college age students showed that on compare/contrast questions, students were likely to do significantly better on contrasting two or more objects than comparing them. To me, this is slightly frightening.
I guess this is important to me because of my dream to be a teacher. In the classroom, children benefit from learning about the sameness of people - seeing what students have in common with other students and their entire class. Sameness brings a class together, not differences. Yes, we all are different and we all recognize this; yet, finding out and celebrating what people have in common is what is truly amazing.
I think if more of the world used less discrimination in their lives and tried to find the commonality of people, places, and things - the world would probably be a better and safer place. Think of the things that people fight over: difference of religion, difference of government, difference of parenting styles, political parties, etc. People who usually share some sort of commonalities are less likely to fight. What is interesting is that most people do not spend the time to do this. People automatically look for the differences in other people and base decisions off of that.
Now, I am not saying that we should all be the same drones and everyone should have the same beliefs and values. I am saying that people should all accept and celebrate their differences, but celebrate the commonalities between people also. Look for something that you have in common with someone else. Chances are, if you try, you will find something in common. We all have something in common with everyone. It's just easier to see and accept the differences.
So, although the next time you meet someone you may be a different religion and different family life - remember that you both may love mint chocolate chip ice cream and going out dancing.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sometimes...
Sometimes I wish I was LDS or joined the LDS church. I know it's crazy, but I feel that I would find a nice, decent man who cares about me and family. Who has values of family first and caring about the one he loves.
Sometimes I think this thought too much, and it scares me.
I'm going through a hard time at the moment - sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's hard without Birk. I know I'm going to be all right, and I'll find the man that sweeps me off my feet. But, it's hard when you lose the person you were ready to spend the rest of your life with. You feel empty; the world seems different and unknown. It'll be okay.
Just ranting.
It's interesting to see who true friends are. I definitely have found out who they are the past couple of weeks. You know who you are - and I'm eternally grateful and love you.
Sometimes I think this thought too much, and it scares me.
I'm going through a hard time at the moment - sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's hard without Birk. I know I'm going to be all right, and I'll find the man that sweeps me off my feet. But, it's hard when you lose the person you were ready to spend the rest of your life with. You feel empty; the world seems different and unknown. It'll be okay.
Just ranting.
It's interesting to see who true friends are. I definitely have found out who they are the past couple of weeks. You know who you are - and I'm eternally grateful and love you.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Grocery List
Jackie, Nate, Lau, and I went to slam poetry last night. It was one of the most inspiring, beautiful, funny, and amazing shows I have ever been to in my entire life. The way that the men performing, the poets, poured out their hearts and souls into the form of poetry was breathtaking. One of the poets, Derrick Brown, I related to the most. His words are beautiful - words never seemed so real.
I think I am going to write more. It really is a beautiful way to express oneself.
I decided to buy a few of the books of prose and poetry by Derrick and Buddy. I was going through the books last night with Nate and Jackie and this poem by Derrick I thought was particularly enlightening. I hope you think so too.
Grocery List by Derrick Brown
Be more forgiving.
Substitute "goodbye" for "I like your face."
Spend two nights a week not drinking to forget.
Listen to your body.
Listen to someone else's body.
Get limber.
Don't dog yourself to feel humble. It never works.
Lift others up onto your back until you are sore.
Write for yourself a movie that doesn't end.
Eat a churro slowly.
Kiss your mother on the cheek and don't miss.
Remember that now is barely now. It will soon be back then. Stop.
Finish everything.
Get milk.
I emphasized the third to last one because it's so true. Life is precious - every moment should be cherished for what it is.
I think I am going to write more. It really is a beautiful way to express oneself.
I decided to buy a few of the books of prose and poetry by Derrick and Buddy. I was going through the books last night with Nate and Jackie and this poem by Derrick I thought was particularly enlightening. I hope you think so too.
Grocery List by Derrick Brown
Be more forgiving.
Substitute "goodbye" for "I like your face."
Spend two nights a week not drinking to forget.
Listen to your body.
Listen to someone else's body.
Get limber.
Don't dog yourself to feel humble. It never works.
Lift others up onto your back until you are sore.
Write for yourself a movie that doesn't end.
Eat a churro slowly.
Kiss your mother on the cheek and don't miss.
Remember that now is barely now. It will soon be back then. Stop.
Finish everything.
Get milk.
I emphasized the third to last one because it's so true. Life is precious - every moment should be cherished for what it is.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
New Beginnings
Birk and I broke up. Although I am hurt and saddened by this I know that this means the sky's the limit. I can do anything now - I think I'll try defying gravity; no one can hold me down.
All I can say is I have the greatest, most supportive friends anyone could ask for.
And I'm excited for the new beginnings that are in front of me.
All I can say is I have the greatest, most supportive friends anyone could ask for.
And I'm excited for the new beginnings that are in front of me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
