The boys of Sudan did not have much during the civil war. Their parents died, their sisters were sold to slavery. The boys cherished what they held onto very much in the refugee camp. The boys prayed very hard, hoping they would find their name on the board. Joseph and Abraham were very lucky to find their name and be able to take a plane to America. Joseph had no idea where Kansas City was but was just happy to get out of Sudan. There are a lot of new experiences they are going to encounter coming to the US. What we take for granted everyday such as a sink, can opener, toilet, etc is all new to Abraham and the others. Going to church however was something that he was able to relate to. Abraham cares greatly about his religion and carried his bible everywhere. The boys thought they were escaping from war, yet to find out 9-11 happened and such events happen all over the world. Joseph was lucky to drive a car for the first time. America is so different than everything they are used to. Abraham did the right thing, and became a US citizen. He felt so proud of himself and was very happy to live in America. A lot of traumatic events have happened to Abraham He did not feel successful in the US but did have a good attitude about it and said "things happen". Abraham did not let the worst get the best of him. Abraham worked very hard and was able to finish college . Some lost boys have been successful, some have not. Some have got caught up in drugs and alcohol, have been arrested, or have joined the Army. Others, became doctors and lawyers. Abraham should feel successful from being able to make it in the US. Life is very different and him and the other boys have been through so much together. They should make it their goal to keep telling their story to everyone, because everyone should be proud of them. It must have taken a lot of courage to come to the US and leave everything, even though it was not much. They still left their home land that meant something to them. I am glad that Abraham became a bishop because religion was always very important to him, I'm happy to know he never gave up. Now he can preach within his community and express how he deeply feels. It was a very touching and emotional to watch when seeing Abraham talk to his mother after twenty-five years. I can't imagine the pain he must have felt when he had to leave her. Technology is such an amazing gift.
I personally have never heard about the historic events they have took place in Sudan. I knew that the Civil War was a rough time but I had no idea to what extent. They had to watch their homes burn and walked for three months. I can not imagine, i don't know how they survived. It is such a traumatic event that took place in their lives, I do not blame them for never being able to forget it. Joseph and Abraham always lived such a rough life that even though negative events took place in the US as well, the boys were able to be understanding to the fact that life is full of "ups and downs".
After watching the Lost Boys videos, I learned how much these boys have gone through in their lives and what they have saw. The envisions are so critical that I can't imagine how these boys must have felt. These boys looked malnourished, they had no food or water. However, they did make it to Kenya, so it must have been very rewarding for them to feel safe at that time. The most surprising thing I learned about them was how strong they are. Here in the US people complain all the time, that their life is so hard. Comparing life in US to Sedan or even Kenya is like a magical place. I find them to be an inspiration because they have tried so hard to survive and then come to the US where they know nothing. In the US our culture and way of living is very different. Yet Joseph made it through college. His standards in himself are even higher than some Americans living in the US. The most negative event these boys went through to me was watching their homes burn down and them having to leave their families. Their home is all they had, everything the relied on and then all of the sudden they were left of their own.
If these boys were in my class I would make sure they were all being treated Psychologically. I think that is most important because if they are harmed by a traumatic event then that is all their minds are going to be focused on. These boys would not be expected to learn the curriculum everyone else in the class was learning. Coming from a place that is so different compared to the US these boys need to learn how to behave in the real world. I would teach these boys life skills for at least the first year. As a teacher I think that is most important because they also need to know how to function in society. Learning how to socialize and communicate is also very important. Academics are just as important in school but these boys would need to master their life skills first. It would definitely be a learning process and would take time and patients from the teacher and the boys.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Multicultural Manners in School : Education
Education differes upon economic situations which I never realized I thought that education was always based on culture and how your household is ran. There are different priorities in each culture that one can not understand if they are not from that culture. Such as missing school and the whole family having to go to Mexico because of it. Here in America in most households on Long Island a child may miss a day or two to go to a funural or what not but the parents are always well aware their child is missing school and do not encourage missing school.
Body language does differ very much so in different cultures. This can be one of the most missleading signs of respect. There are different signals and universal body languages. If one is not exposed to different cultures it is impossible to know about their gestures. What is my "normal" is not everyones and this is interesting to learn about. If we are not exposed to something, then we can not become firmilar with it and this can lead to a misunderstand easily between teacher and students or teacher and parents. Even in American cultures there are gestures of ours that some would not approve of. Learning about different gestures makes me now more aware and concious of my actions. Not even realising you can be very offending to people. As an American we tend to use our hands a lot when talking, it is a leanred habbit that can be very offending to other cultures. Differnt gestures can be complete opposite and convay completly different messages. I never knew there were so many different meanings to a smile. In America it is so important to make eye contact that it is important to know that in some cultures they are not doing it to be offensive but as a form of respect. I am glad to know they make barbies that fit different cultures and it is not all directed towards one culture.
Manners and Verbal Expressions across Cultures-
Throughout different cultures it seems to be that it is important to call someone by their last name out of a form of respect.
Body language does differ very much so in different cultures. This can be one of the most missleading signs of respect. There are different signals and universal body languages. If one is not exposed to different cultures it is impossible to know about their gestures. What is my "normal" is not everyones and this is interesting to learn about. If we are not exposed to something, then we can not become firmilar with it and this can lead to a misunderstand easily between teacher and students or teacher and parents. Even in American cultures there are gestures of ours that some would not approve of. Learning about different gestures makes me now more aware and concious of my actions. Not even realising you can be very offending to people. As an American we tend to use our hands a lot when talking, it is a leanred habbit that can be very offending to other cultures. Differnt gestures can be complete opposite and convay completly different messages. I never knew there were so many different meanings to a smile. In America it is so important to make eye contact that it is important to know that in some cultures they are not doing it to be offensive but as a form of respect. I am glad to know they make barbies that fit different cultures and it is not all directed towards one culture.
Manners and Verbal Expressions across Cultures-
Throughout different cultures it seems to be that it is important to call someone by their last name out of a form of respect.
Becoming American
Faces of America
Watching the stories of famous children of immigrants was touching to hear everything they have lived through. It must have been so hard coming to America from another country. I can't imagine not knowing where I was going to live or work. Some left their the rest of their family in their country to come make a better life for their family here. These immigrants are so brave. They suffered to be here, but did it for better opportunities. Some of the stories here that I have listened to remind me of my grandparents. They came over from Scotland and England when my father was Thirteen years old. My grandpa came to America to create a better life for his children and my grandmother left all of her family. Till this day my grandma talks about how hard it was to come here and leave everything. She would bring her children back to visit several times a year because she was so sad. I don't know much about my great grandparents, I think these stars are lucky because they are able to find out more about their ancestors. Some of the things they have found out are life changing. It is also wonderful to know these immigrants came here and became American Citizens. They did not have to, but they wanted to truly belong to America and create their new life here.
Watching the stories of famous children of immigrants was touching to hear everything they have lived through. It must have been so hard coming to America from another country. I can't imagine not knowing where I was going to live or work. Some left their the rest of their family in their country to come make a better life for their family here. These immigrants are so brave. They suffered to be here, but did it for better opportunities. Some of the stories here that I have listened to remind me of my grandparents. They came over from Scotland and England when my father was Thirteen years old. My grandpa came to America to create a better life for his children and my grandmother left all of her family. Till this day my grandma talks about how hard it was to come here and leave everything. She would bring her children back to visit several times a year because she was so sad. I don't know much about my great grandparents, I think these stars are lucky because they are able to find out more about their ancestors. Some of the things they have found out are life changing. It is also wonderful to know these immigrants came here and became American Citizens. They did not have to, but they wanted to truly belong to America and create their new life here.
The Family Stories That Bind Us
After reading the story " The Family Stories That Bind Us" it opened up my eyes to what I want to do with my family one day. This study done shows that children who spend time with their parents and siblings have a closer family and have a greater chance of remaining close. It is important to eat dinner together every night and talk about lives ups and downs. It should be okay to talk about your day and know that no one is going to belittle you and put you down. A child needs to feel comfortable with their family and not think their a failure or the only one who is going through a bad time. A family should point out both the positives and negatives in their lives by telling their children their success stories but also telling them things were not always perfect. Children will take less blame on themselves if they feel it is okay to mess up sometimes. They should not have to feel like they need to be perfect. As a parent it is important to show as well as tell your children that you can not give up and need to just keep going and trying no matter how hard life gets. Life throws random curves at you and you can't just give up. Children need to know they can talk and express their emotions out loud with their families and not just friends. An open line of communication is very important. The study also proves that knowing the background history of your family or any important interest, helps make an in depth connection to that interest. Children should absolutely know about their parents life history as well as their grandparents. This shows they are bonding and sharing different life experiences they have lived through. Parents and children should not be living different lives, parents should know exactly what their child is going through so that they can be there to help support them in any way possible.
An activity that I would create in my sixth grade classroom would be, to have my students go home and interview their parents and grandparents. The students will have to ask them when did they come to America? What was it like for them growing up in America? How were they treated where they grew up and went to school? Did they feel as if they struggled? What was the biggest thing they ever had to overcome? and as an adult now how do they feel when they look back. I would also have my students ask their parents and grandparents, When you felt like giving up, why didn't you? What made you believe in yourself and allow you to become who you are today? After my students came back with these answers I would have them write in their journals what they have learned and if things make more "sense" now. I would ask my students to include in their journal what inspired them about their parents or grandparents and what they got out of this interview. I feel like this will help my students understand their families better and about the hardships they have went through. Even though the hard times their parents or grandparents went through may be different than what they consider a hard time, hopefully they will still be able to connect and relate. A lot of times young children think adults have everything so easy because they have no idea about life in itself. This activity will help broaden my students knowledge and understanding about their own families. Hopefully this activity will also bring my students closer to their families and have more respect for them.
An activity that I would create in my sixth grade classroom would be, to have my students go home and interview their parents and grandparents. The students will have to ask them when did they come to America? What was it like for them growing up in America? How were they treated where they grew up and went to school? Did they feel as if they struggled? What was the biggest thing they ever had to overcome? and as an adult now how do they feel when they look back. I would also have my students ask their parents and grandparents, When you felt like giving up, why didn't you? What made you believe in yourself and allow you to become who you are today? After my students came back with these answers I would have them write in their journals what they have learned and if things make more "sense" now. I would ask my students to include in their journal what inspired them about their parents or grandparents and what they got out of this interview. I feel like this will help my students understand their families better and about the hardships they have went through. Even though the hard times their parents or grandparents went through may be different than what they consider a hard time, hopefully they will still be able to connect and relate. A lot of times young children think adults have everything so easy because they have no idea about life in itself. This activity will help broaden my students knowledge and understanding about their own families. Hopefully this activity will also bring my students closer to their families and have more respect for them.
Bedtime Stories
Storytelling should always be made exciting and fun so that children want to read themselves. Bright and big pictures keep children enthused and into the story being told. The tone of voice used to tell a story is very important. The person reading the story needs to be dramatic and use different voices if needed. This will help children to pay attention better and also create a picture in their minds of what is happening. Each story usually has a purpose and a moral at the end of the story. As a teacher it is important to make sure students are getting the message of the story being told. The pictures in the story help children to create their own pictures in their mind and build their imagination. When having to recap about the story the pictures help children remember what happened in the story. If a child doesn't remember than the teacher can give the child a hint and point out a specific point in the story, that may have stood out to the child. The climax in the story helps children wonder whats going to happen and the possibilities of something bad happening. Which is very good for their cause and effect mechanisms. Stories are a lot like real life in the aspect that things don't always go as planned but do eventually work out in one way or another. Reading should be a lot like a movie playing in ones mind. Closure to reading a story is almost as important as making sure the proper message was received from the story. It is crucial for a teacher to go over important events that took place and the five "W's". This helps the children who didn't understand fully, now have a chance to clear up their misunderstandings.
While watching the videos of Bedtime stories, in Russian as well as English the tone of voice is very important. Even though I am not able to understand Russian, I am able to tell by the rhythm of voice when something dramatic is happening. This tone of voice helps get children involved and intrigued to the story being told. It is important as a teacher to not just speak in a monotone voice.
The Russian bedtime story is about a bunch of animals living in a forest. The animals all get along and nurture each other. The "larger" animals seem to be more inferior, they show off a motherly figure, taking care of the other animals and protecting them. When a man comes and captures the turtle, the animals all come together to think of a plan. They want to get their turtle back and help protect them. They come up with sneaky ways to attack the man. The animals scare off the man and get their turtle friend back. The animals all worked together to form a plan and stick together. The animals made sure nothing would happen to their turtle friend.
Bedtime stories are very common in the middle class household because reading prepairs children for school. Reading prepairs children for school because in school children need to be able to comprehend information correctly and understand what they are reading. When reading to children at a young age this allows for children to be interested in books and works on their attention span. When children listen to someone read they are also listening to how proper reading is supposed to sound. Children are taught from reading that there are negative and positive events that always take place in life. Being able to ask questions about books and what is happening in the story gets children ready for school. They learn how to take meaning from books and how to talk about it aloud. Reading also helps build vocabulary making children aware of different terms used. Children should know different homophones, antonyms and hyperbole's. Children will be able to take what they have read and apply it to "real life". When a situation occurs a child who reads a lot may know how to respond to it better than a child whom does not read a lot. Based on the fact that their outside knowledge is a little broader.
While watching the videos of Bedtime stories, in Russian as well as English the tone of voice is very important. Even though I am not able to understand Russian, I am able to tell by the rhythm of voice when something dramatic is happening. This tone of voice helps get children involved and intrigued to the story being told. It is important as a teacher to not just speak in a monotone voice.
The Russian bedtime story is about a bunch of animals living in a forest. The animals all get along and nurture each other. The "larger" animals seem to be more inferior, they show off a motherly figure, taking care of the other animals and protecting them. When a man comes and captures the turtle, the animals all come together to think of a plan. They want to get their turtle back and help protect them. They come up with sneaky ways to attack the man. The animals scare off the man and get their turtle friend back. The animals all worked together to form a plan and stick together. The animals made sure nothing would happen to their turtle friend.
Bedtime stories are very common in the middle class household because reading prepairs children for school. Reading prepairs children for school because in school children need to be able to comprehend information correctly and understand what they are reading. When reading to children at a young age this allows for children to be interested in books and works on their attention span. When children listen to someone read they are also listening to how proper reading is supposed to sound. Children are taught from reading that there are negative and positive events that always take place in life. Being able to ask questions about books and what is happening in the story gets children ready for school. They learn how to take meaning from books and how to talk about it aloud. Reading also helps build vocabulary making children aware of different terms used. Children should know different homophones, antonyms and hyperbole's. Children will be able to take what they have read and apply it to "real life". When a situation occurs a child who reads a lot may know how to respond to it better than a child whom does not read a lot. Based on the fact that their outside knowledge is a little broader.
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