Paper Three Final Draft

Sydney Halady

English 101

Professor Bergert

Not all educational experiences are taught in school, life itself is an educational experience and people never stop learning no matter how old they get. That is what makes life a wonderful journey. By playing a sport as a kid whether it is a school sport or not; that sport teaches them to be dedicated, driven, and responsible. Those qualities are so important in a person, they help students finish school and they are what help people get a job and keep a job later on in life. Dedication, drive, and responsibility may not sound like the three qualities one would learn just by playing a sport. When people think of playing a sport words as; distraction, jock, waste of time, and etc. Although not everyone thinks playing a sport is a waste of time, this argument is for the people who do believe that nothing good comes from it.

This however is not an argument on the fact that only kids who play sports will be successful in their lives; it is to show people that by playing a sport it can lead kids on the right path in life that aren’t necessarily headed in the right direction. Playing a sport can be so much more to someone than just a fun extracurricular activity; in some cases those “fun extracurricular” activities are all any teenager has. Just like in the movie Freedom Writers no adult in those kids lives ever even thought about giving them a chance until Ms. Gruwell came along and wasn’t willing to give up on them. In the movie Freedom Writers every faculty member in that school said “those kids shouldn’t be here”. Ms. Gruwell might have been a teacher that was the only positive influence on those kids, but just like playing a sport it’s an opportunity for a positive influence because in some cases not everyone has one at home.

Sports in some cases can be even more educational than just a regular classroom setting, because most the time kids don’t enjoy nor want to be in school they want to do something they   have fun doing and that they feel good about doing. Kids do not look at sports as being educational; which in fact maybe that is why they learn such good qualities from it and take those qualities with them throughout adulthood- more so than maybe something they learned in class. One of the greatest things that comes from sports is the discipline it teachers kids, because everyone knows you have to be follow directions from your coach in order to learn and in order to play. And with every sport there is a coach someone kids have to obey so just like Ms. Gruwell that coach is now an adult influence and possibly the only one in their life. No one in life will ever succeed without having discipline, and life will be a lot easier if that is taught to someone at a young age.

Drive and passion are two qualities that people wouldn’t think that could ever be developed by playing a competitive sport. But as hard as it might be to believe it is true those qualities come to people who care. Someone only develops passion and drive by doing something they love every single day or as much as they can. And from between the ages of 10-18 kids are at their most vulnerable point in their lives; and every child needs to have something that they love and feel passionate about. Mr. Keating in the movie Dead Poets Society did a perfect job at showing his students how to be passionate. Mr. Keating told his students “Boys, you must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all. Thoreau said, ‘Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.’ Don't be resigned to that. Break out!” Mr. Keating taught his students that it was important to be passionate and to live their own life the way they wanted to live it. And although the students in the movie Dead Poets Society weren’t relying on a sport to teach them good qualities but that passion was taught to them through something besides just a regular classroom setting.

Responsibility in life is not something someone is born with or something someone can just discover over night- it is something that takes time and typically comes with age. Sports can also teach a kid responsibility over the time they infest into it. Typically schools require a certain GPA for students to be able to be eligible to play. That alone teaches kids to be responsible with grades-and being able to get good grades is the first true responsibility a kid has. Playing sport is similar to having a job when kids are young, they are required to show up, behave in an orderly conduct, and act like a team player. If that doesn’t sound like being responsible than what is? It is sad that the world we live in today and the success people are restricted to is the amount of time they have invested in school. Ken Robinson stated in How Schools kill creativity “success is based on academic ability”, Ken was getting the point across of that a regular school curriculum is not what shapes us into the people we all become and who people form into. Therefore sports let alone any good extracurricular activity can have just as big as an impact on someone’s life than going to school.

Education doesn’t just come from going to school, it comes from living, making mistakes and learning from them. No one ever got anywhere or became somebody by not living and learning. There is so much more to sports than meets the eye, just because someone has fun doing something doesn’t make it easy. A great thing a sport is that 99 percent of the time they aren’t easy, they are hard work and in the early vulnerable years of a kid hard work is supposed to be paid off. And that is why kids take so much from playing a sport they can work there ass off doing something and it’s important to them. Good things in life aren’t giving to people; they are supposed to work for them. Playing a sport is a choice in life, more often than not school is not a choice and kids are supposed to go until they reach a certain age- maybe in life the things that aren’t forced on people are the things that they learn from the most. Life is a journey and people can learn something new every single day if that’s what they want. Anyone can learn a basis school curriculum; it’s the life lessons people learn on their own time that they take with them through life.

 

Work Sited

Dead Poets Society. Dir. Peter Weir. By Tom Schulman. Perf. Robin Williams and Robert Sean Leonard. Touchstone Pictures, 1989. DVD.

How Schools Kill Creativity. Perf. Sir Ken Robinson. Sir Ken Robinson. TED, n.d. Web. 26 May 2014.

Freedom Writers, Dir. Richard LaGravenese. By Erin Gruwell. Perf, Hilary Swank, Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton and Patrick Dempsey.  Paramount Pictures, 2007, DVD.

 

 

 

 

 

Rough Draft paper #3

Sydney Halady

English 101

Professor Bergert

Not all educational experiences are taught in school, life itself is an educational experience and people never stop learning no matter how old they get. That is what makes life a wonderful journey. By playing a sport as a kid whether it is a school sport or not; that sport teaches them to be dedicated, driven, and responsible. Those qualities are so important in a person, they help students finish school and they are what help people get a job and keep a job later on in life. Dedication, drive, and responsibility may not sound like the three qualities one would learn just by playing a sport. When people think of playing a sport words as; distraction, jock, waste of time, and etc. Although not everyone thinks playing a sport is a waste of time, this argument is for the people who do believe that nothing good comes from it.

This however is not an argument on the fact that only kids who play sports will be successful in their lives; it is to show people that by playing a sport it can lead kids on the right path in life that aren’t necessarily headed in the right direction. Playing a sport can be so much more to someone than just a fun extracurricular activity; in some cases those “fun extracurricular” activities are all any teenager has. Just like in the movie Freedom Writers no adult in those kids lives ever even thought about giving them a chance until Ms. Gruwell came along and wasn’t willing to give up on them. In the movie Freedom Writers every faculty member in that school said “those kids shouldn’t be here”. Ms. Gruwell might have been a teacher that was the only positive influence on those kids, but just like playing a sport it’s an opportunity for a positive influence because in some cases not everyone has one at home.

Sports in some cases can be even more educational than just a regular classroom setting, because most the time kids don’t enjoy nor want to be in school they want to do something they   have fun doing and that they feel good about doing. Kids do not look at sports as being educational; which in fact maybe that is why they learn such good qualities from it and take those qualities with them throughout adulthood- more so than maybe something they learned in class. One of the greatest things that comes from sports is the discipline it teachers kids, because everyone knows you have to be follow directions from your coach in order to learn and in order to play. And with every sport there is a coach someone kids have to obey so just like Ms. Gruwell that coach is now an adult influence and possibly the only one in their life. No one in life will ever succeed without having discipline, and life will be a lot easier if that is taught to someone at a young age.

Drive and passion are two qualities that people wouldn’t think that could ever be developed by playing a competitive sport. But as hard as it might be to believe it is true those qualities come to people who care. Someone only develops passion and drive by doing something they love every single day or as much as they can. And from between the ages of 10-18 kids are at their most vulnerable point in their lives; and every child needs to have something that they love and feel passionate about. Mr. Keating in the movie Dead Poets Society did a perfect job at showing his students how to be passionate. Mr. Keating told his students “Boys, you must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all. Thoreau said, ‘Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.’ Don't be resigned to that. Break out!” Mr. Keating taught his students that it was important to be passionate and to live their own life the way they wanted to live it. And although the students in the movie Dead Poets Society weren’t relying on a sport to teach them good qualities but that passion was taught to them through something besides just a regular classroom setting.

Responsibility in life is not something someone is born with or something someone can just discover over night- it is something that takes time and typically comes with age. Sports can also teach a kid responsibility over the time they infest into it. Typically schools require a certain GPA for students to be able to be eligible to play. That alone teaches kids to be responsible with grades-and being able to get good grades is the first true responsibility a kid has. Playing sport is similar to having a job when kids are young, they are required to show up, behave in an orderly conduct, and act like a team player. If that doesn’t sound like being responsible than what is? It is sad that the world we live in today and the success people are restricted to is the amount of time they have invested in school. Ken Robinson stated in How Schools kill creativity “success is based on academic ability”, Ken was getting the point across of that a regular school curriculum is not what shapes us into the people we all become and who people form into. Therefore sports let alone any good extracurricular activity can have just as big as an impact on someone’s life than going to school.

Education doesn’t just come from going to school, it comes from living, making mistakes and learning from them. No one ever got anywhere or became somebody by not living and learning. There is so much more to sports than meets the eye, just because someone has fun doing something doesn’t make it easy. A great thing a sport is that 99 percent of the time they aren’t easy, they are hard work and in the early vulnerable years of a kid hard work is supposed to be paid off. And that is why kids take so much from playing a sport they can work there ass off doing something and it’s important to them. Good things in life aren’t giving to people; they are supposed to work for them. Playing a sport is a choice in life, more often than not school is not a choice and kids are supposed to go until they reach a certain age- maybe in life the things that aren’t forced on people are the things that they learn from the most. Life is a journey and people can learn something new every single day if that’s what they want. Anyone can learn a basis school curriculum; it’s the life lessons people learn on their own time that they take with them through life.

 

Work Sited

Dead Poets Society. Dir. Peter Weir. By Tom Schulman. Perf. Robin Williams and Robert Sean Leonard. Touchstone Pictures, 1989. DVD.

How Schools Kill Creativity. Perf. Sir Ken Robinson. Sir Ken Robinson. TED, n.d. Web. 26 May 2014.

Freedom Writers, Dir. Richard LaGravenese. By Erin Gruwell. Perf, Hilary Swank, Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton and Patrick Dempsey.  Paramount Pictures, 2007, DVD.

 

 

 

 

 

Work Cited Activity

Aboukhadiejeh, Feross. “How I learned to Program Computers.”  How I learned to Program Computers.

13 Sep. 2013.  Web. 28 May 2014.

Romero, Joshua J.  “How I Learned to Live Google- Free.”  How I Learned to Live Google- Free.  6
            June 2011.  Web.  28 May 2014

Dead Poet’s Society.  Dir. Peter Weir.  Perf.  John Keating, Robin Williams .  Touchstone, 1989.                     DVD.

Freedom Writers.  Dir. Richard LaGravenese.  Perf. Erin Gruwell, Hilary Swank.  Paramount, 2007.                 DVD.

Hutson, Cate.  “How I Learned to Love Traveling Solo.”  How I Learned to Love Traveling Solo.  12

Paper #2 Final Draft

What makes a good Teacher?

There are two different types of teachers- ones that we don’t get much out of  besides the curriculum they are teaching which more often than not is boring, therefore students don’t pay attention half the time and hardly learn anything. Then there are the teachers who truly have an impact on our lives and will never be forgotten. Teaching is not an easy job- but just like any other job it is what you put into it. As a teacher you are an adult influence on your students’ lives, and in some cases you’re the only adult influence in their lives. Mr. Keating and Ms. Gruwell are two perfect examples of teachers who put everything they possibly can into teaching.  . They are both very passionate teachers who truly care about their students and getting the most out of their education as possible. Teaching to them- is also building a relationship with their students and not just going by the curriculum hoping it works. They go the extra mile with their students- which make them amazing teachers.

Having a passionate attitude is not something that can be faked- You cannot make someone want to learn something or interested in something, if you the teacher yourself care less about the topic. Mr. Keating and Ms. Gruwell both showed passion in their classrooms in their own unique way. Mr. Keating went out of his way to explain poetry to his students not just by reading the book from front to back, but doing many different learning activities which could help his students relate more to understand. Mr. Keating not only taught his students an understanding of poetry- he taught them that they should walk their own walk, and never just adjust to what everyone believes is normal or right. He taught them to look at everything in life not just from one perspective. When he had them stand on the desk of the classroom and said “the room looks a lot different from that perspective”. He showed them that life can look a lot different to when you change your perspective on it. Mr. Keating was a man who looked at the glass half full in life- which is one of the reasons he had such a huge impact on those boys’ lives; no one had ever given them so much hope. Ms. Gruwell did not have it as easy as Mr. Keating did in the beginning with her students. Her students did not trust her or accept her-they shut her out because they had never been given a chance by any adult in their lives before. She was disrespected by both her students and then later on her faculty as well. But she never gave up on her kids she adapted to her situation and made the absolute most of it. Ms. Gruwell went out of her way to teach her own style as well, because she truly believed she could help her students; when no other teacher in that school would give them a chance. She gave them journals to right their story in, and told them that she would read them if they wanted her to. And after the first night with the journals every single student had left them for her to read. This was the beginning of her break through with them. Mr. Keating and Ms. Gruwell let their passion do the teaching not a textbook; it is teachers like that who kids are lucky to have.

To be good at anything in life we have to strive and be dedicated- dedication means you can try and fail but you continue to try until you succeed. Mr. Keating and Ms. Gruwell were both dedicated to their teaching job-to the point where is cost those things they loved, and practically everything. In Ms. Gruwell’s case she lost her husband, because he couldn’t handle how much she put into her kids and how little she began to put into him. Ms. Gruwell did not stop paying attention to her husband intentionally-she just did everything she could for her students which slowly began to be more important than her husband was to her. She got two other jobs to help pay for her teaching job because the school would not help her with her class, because even they had no hope for them. Ms. Gruwell went to the library to rent them the book Ann Frank- she was told no because her kids didn’t deserve the chance to read that book nor could be trusted to keep it in good condition. Instead of taking no for an answer she got those two jobs to get the kids books, because it was important for them to learn about Ann Frank. She went out of her way to pay for a field trip for them and take them to dinner. No one had ever done anything like that for those kids. Mr. Keating lost his job in the end- because his teaching style was not accepted and he was blamed for a death of a student. And even though he lost his job he had the biggest impact on those boys and taught them things no one could have ever taught them. Mr. Keating could relate to his students which is another reason he was such a good teacher for them. He had been in their shoes not too long ago-therefore he knew how those boys felt, and knew they needed a positive influence. Mr. Keating was so different from his other staff; because he believed that everyone is meant to choose their own path in life- and that is it not our parents’ choice. And that is what he taught those boys, which is what cost him his job sadly. Both teachers were dedicated to their students’ education, and teaching them there is a chance at a life where they could be their own person without fear.

Teenagers are not the easiest people to win over- in fact they have to be the hardest people to get through to. What gets their attention though is being outgoing. Mr. Keating and Ms. Gruwell were both very outgoing teachers. They went above and beyond because they wanted to, not because they felt bad or they needed to. In the beginning of Mr. Keating’s school year he had the boys open up to the introduction of their text book, it was explaining poetry on a scale from 1 to 10 and what made poetry good and bad. He then had everyone rip the whole introduction out because poetry was not math; it was not meant to scale nor was there such thing as bad poetry. Poetry was made to be beautiful. But that was not the only reason he had them rip out the pages, he did not want them to think it was okay to put life on a scale and believe that one thing was better than another just because some doctor said it was. Mr. Keating also introduced the boys to ‘The Dead Poets Society’. He did not give it to the boys to be rebellious, he gave it to them because they were interested and they needed something that was theirs. It was exciting for them and it was another way for him to teach them that they were meant to choose their own path and careers. Ms. Gruwell was outgoing by giving her students things they could never dream of. After teaching her kids about the Holocaust and after reading Ann Frank; she let them write letters to the women who helped hide Ann Frank during the Holocaust. She than helped her students hold a fundraiser to fly that woman to their school- just so she could speak her stories. Ms. Gruwell never gave up on her students no matter what trouble she had to go through.

Mr. Keating and Ms. Gruwell were both very similar but different at the same time. They were the type of people who is born to be a teacher. They sacrificed everything to make a difference in their students’ lives. And they did it because it was important to them, and important to their students. They put themselves last so they could put them first. It is not every day we come across people that are like that. Everyone can go to school to be a teacher, but not everyone can be a good teacher. Being a good teacher is a gift- you either have it in you or you don’t.

           

WS pp 19-22

 After reading the work book section it helped me get a good understanding of what a comparison and contrasting paper should flow like. It explains how after each point you make you need to follow it up with information and not leave your readers hanging. It shows good use of making an outline for your paper and how it will help you. Making an outline especially when you are comparing two things is helpful because you can follow the outline and wont be forgetting important details. Because you are talking about two different things or two different people it is easy to leave your reader hanging or confused by jumping around so much. It is important to stay organized throughout your essay. Also it goes over guidelines which I found helpful, taking into consideration of who your audience is- which is important because that will set the tone of the essay. It also shows how to properly transition sentences and what a paragraph hook is and how it will help you.

Paper #2 Rough Draft

What makes a good Teacher?

There are two different types of teachers- ones that we don’t get much out of  besides the curriculum they are teaching which more often than not is boring, therefore students don’t pay attention half the time and hardly learn anything. Then there are the teachers who truly have an impact on our lives and will never be forgotten. Teaching is not an easy job- but just like any other job it is what you put into it. As a teacher you are an adult influence on your students’ lives, and in some cases you’re the only adult influence in their lives. Mr. Keating and Ms. Gruwell are two perfect examples of teachers who put everything they possibly can into teaching.  . They are both very passionate teachers who truly care about their students and getting the most out of their education as possible. Teaching to them- is also building a relationship with their students and not just going by the curriculum hoping it works. They go the extra mile with their students- which make them amazing teachers.

Having a passionate attitude is not something that can be faked- You cannot make someone want to learn something or interested in something, if you the teacher yourself care less about the topic. Mr. Keating and Ms. Gruwell both showed passion in their classrooms in their own unique way. Mr. Keating went out of his way to explain poetry to his students not just by reading the book from front to back, but doing many different learning activities which could help his students relate more to understand. Mr. Keating not only taught his students an understanding of poetry- he taught them that they should walk their own walk, and never just adjust to what everyone believes is normal or right. He taught them to look at everything in life not just from one perspective. When he had them stand on the desk of the classroom and said “the room looks a lot different from that perspective”. He showed them that life can look a lot different to when you change your perspective on it. Mr. Keating was a man who looked at the glass half full in life- which is one of the reasons he had such a huge impact on those boys’ lives; no one had ever given them so much hope. Ms. Gruwell did not have it as easy as Mr. Keating did in the beginning with her students. Her students did not trust her or accept her-they shut her out because they had never been given a chance by any adult in their lives before. She was disrespected by both her students and then later on her faculty as well. But she never gave up on her kids she adapted to her situation and made the absolute most of it. Ms. Gruwell went out of her way to teach her own style as well, because she truly believed she could help her students; when no other teacher in that school would give them a chance. She gave them journals to right their story in, and told them that she would read them if they wanted her to. And after the first night with the journals every single student had left them for her to read. This was the beginning of her break through with them. Mr. Keating and Ms. Gruwell let their passion do the teaching not a textbook; it is teachers like that who kids are lucky to have.

To be good at anything in life we have to strive and be dedicated- dedication means you can try and fail but you continue to try until you succeed. Mr. Keating and Ms. Gruwell were both dedicated to their teaching job-to the point where is cost those things they loved, and practically everything. In Ms. Gruwell’s case she lost her husband, because he couldn’t handle how much she put into her kids and how little she began to put into him. Ms. Gruwell did not stop paying attention to her husband intentionally-she just did everything she could for her students which slowly began to be more important than her husband was to her. She got two other jobs to help pay for her teaching job because the school would not help her with her class, because even they had no hope for them. Ms. Gruwell went to the library to rent them the book Ann Frank- she was told no because her kids didn’t deserve the chance to read that book nor could be trusted to keep it in good condition. Instead of taking no for an answer she got those two jobs to get the kids books, because it was important for them to learn about Ann Frank. She went out of her way to pay for a field trip for them and take them to dinner. No one had ever done anything like that for those kids. Mr. Keating lost his job in the end- because his teaching style was not accepted and he was blamed for a death of a student. And even though he lost his job he had the biggest impact on those boys and taught them things no one could have ever taught them. Mr. Keating could relate to his students which is another reason he was such a good teacher for them. He had been in their shoes not too long ago-therefore he knew how those boys felt, and knew they needed a positive influence. Mr. Keating was so different from his other staff; because he believed that everyone is meant to choose their own path in life- and that is it not our parents’ choice. And that is what he taught those boys, which is what cost him his job sadly. Both teachers were dedicated to their students’ education, and teaching them there is a chance at a life where they could be their own person without fear.

Teenagers are not the easiest people to win over- in fact they have to be the hardest people to get through to. What gets their attention though is being outgoing. Mr. Keating and Ms. Gruwell were both very outgoing teachers. They went above and beyond because they wanted to, not because they felt bad or they needed to. In the beginning of Mr. Keating’s school year he had the boys open up to the introduction of their text book, it was explaining poetry on a scale from 1 to 10 and what made poetry good and bad. He then had everyone rip the whole introduction out because poetry was not math; it was not meant to scale nor was there such thing as bad poetry. Poetry was made to be beautiful. But that was not the only reason he had them rip out the pages, he did not want them to think it was okay to put life on a scale and believe that one thing was better than another just because some doctor said it was. Mr. Keating also introduced the boys to ‘The Dead Poets Society’. He did not give it to the boys to be rebellious, he gave it to them because they were interested and they needed something that was theirs. It was exciting for them and it was another way for him to teach them that they were meant to choose their own path and careers. Ms. Gruwell was outgoing by giving her students things they could never dream of. After teaching her kids about the Holocaust and after reading Ann Frank; she let them write letters to the women who helped hide Ann Frank during the Holocaust. She than helped her students hold a fundraiser to fly that woman to their school- just so she could speak her stories. Ms. Gruwell never gave up on her students no matter what trouble she had to go through.

Mr. Keating and Ms. Gruwell were both very similar but different at the same time. They were the type of people who is born to be a teacher. They sacrificed everything to make a difference in their students’ lives. And they did it because it was important to them, and important to their students. They put themselves last so they could put them first. It is not every day we come across people that are like that. Everyone can go to school to be a teacher, but not everyone can be a good teacher. Being a good teacher is a gift- you either have it in you or you don’t.

           

Paper three "Third person"

After reading my narrative essay I would like readers to have a good idea of what a narrative essay is and an important educational experience of mine. My educational essay was about how skating formed me into who I am today and the memories I got to take from it which I will have with me for ever.

The main point of this narrative essay was to show readers what an educational experience is, and how not all educational experiences in life are taught in schools or from a book. This narrative essay shows how just a sport can form people into who they are, and although sports are meant to be played for fun- they teach people dedication and give people the drive to never give up on something. Dedication and drive then comes into the lives of people who go to college to get a degree, and get a career. Life is not meant to be easy, and without those qualities for people-being successful will be even more difficult than it already is.

 Life is not meant to be easy, and without those qualities for people-being successful will be even more difficult than it already is. not all educational experiences in life are taught in schools or from a book. even a sport can form people into who they are, and although sports are meant to be played for fun- they teach people dedication and give people the drive to never give up on something.

Grammer and Punctuation Sentence "Paper One"

Original sentence 
We all have role models in life. Athletes we hope to be as good as someday, models and actresses we want to look and act like.

Corrected sentence
We have role models in life-athletes we hope to be as good as someday, models and actresses we want to look at act like.

The main problem with these two sentences was that they needed to be connected with the dash because my second sentence was a fragment it did not make since standing alone. The dash makes it one sentence without being a run on.

Mr. Keating and Ms. Gruwell

Mr. Keating and Ms. Gruwell have similarities and differences. They are both very passionate teachers who truly care about their students and getting the most out of their education as possible. Teaching to them is also building a relationship with their students and not just going by the curriculum hoping it works. They know that each individual learns things better in different ways. They both adapt there teaching styles to their students. Ms. Gruwell did not have it all that easy in the beginning her students completely shut her out and made fun of her. Instead of Ms. Gruwell being highly offended by their disrespect could tell it was because every other adult in her students lives had given up on them therefore they didn't know any different. She never gave up on her kids she gained their trust and did everything she possibly could do for them. If it wasn't for her I can guarantee that those students would not have made it through school they would have dropped out of even worse. Mr. Keating taught his students that it was okay to be their own person and walk their own walk. He showed them a different way as to why poetry was meaningful, having them rip out the introduction of their textbooks because he said poetry wasn't supposed to be on a scale as to why its good or why its bad. He portrayed the idea to the boys that life wasn't supposed to be on a scale either, learning and teaching there is no right or wrong way to do it. The main difference I would say between the two teachers is that Mr. Keating could relate to his students because he had been in their shoes and gone to the same school not that long ago. He could understand how the boys felt about the curriculum, and he wanted to make school more exciting for them. Ms. Gruwell on the other hand could not relate to her students at all she had been raised differently and never had to experience anything close to what her students had been through. She was also white which made her students shut her out even more because they were convinced white people where all the same because they had never had a good experience with a white person before. Ms. Gruwell I would say had more of a difficult time getting through to her kids more so than Mr. Keating but, Ms. Gruwell did not have parents on her back telling her to back down from her teaching style like Mr. Keating did.

Comparing and Contrasting Freedom Writers and Dead Poets Society

The schools in both movies we watched were completely  different and had an entirely different affect on both the movies and audiences. In Freedom Writers the school was a public and modern school they had public school curriculum but there school consisted of kids who were expected to graduate and kids who were expected to fail. As for the school in Dead Poets Society it was an all boys private school with expectations and standards to met. Teachers in Dead Poets Society had no time for goofing around and horse play. They believed there was a certain specific way to teach every single child no matter the circumstance. I would say that some of the teaching staff wasn't to different in both movies by the teachers not truly caring entirely about the students i felt like some of their teaching styles were more for glory and to get attention from the outside rather than truly connect with the students.

Ms. Gruwell and Mr. Keating were both very similar in their teaching styles and personalities. They had passion when it came to teaching and connecting with their students. They wanted more than just teaching the regular curriculum. I feel like that is what makes them good teachers to its because they cared whether or not the students cared and if they were getting something out of it. The difference just truly lied with the students themselves Mr. Keating was appreciated from the beginning because he wasnt an old boring teacher and although the boys thought he was strange to start with they loved him. Ms. Gruwell did not have the luxury of being appreciated she was shut out by her students and was expected to give up on them just like every other adult had in their lives but she proved differently and never gave up on them.

I personally havent been in the situation where i had a teacher like Ms. Gruwell. But i have had a teacher like Mr. Keating who was okay with not reading the textbook from page 1 to the end and didnt look at life or learning on a scale from 1 to 10. Thats what made him so amazing he could teach every boy there in his own way and he truly cared about them and knew how each one learned.

Freedom Writers Ms. Erin Gruwell

After blogging about what makes a good teacher or our own idea of one and than beginning the movie Freedom Writers and watching Ms. Erin Gruwell and her teaching style she is the perfect example of what a teacher is supposed to be like. Life isn't easy and jobs are not supposed to be a piece of cake either. Life threw a curve ball and Erin in this movie, her very first teaching job and she gets stuck with what the school seems to believe the kids who wont graduate let alone finish the year out. And even though each day is hard for her and she comes home after work crying on some days she makes the most of the time she has with these kids and takes a different teaching style to help them anyways and that alone makes a fabulous teacher. There is never one style of teaching we are all different and learn things in different ways from one another. Erin hasn't given up on those kids even though her staff does nothing but talk badly about them and begin to make fun of her for thinking she can help them. As a teacher you're there to help kids and be an example and even help guide them because you never know what someone's home life is like and you might be the only adult figure in their life that is willing to give them a chance. Giving those students journals was one of the best things Erin did for them so far in the movie because you could tell those kids were dying for someone to talk to even if that meant writing their feelings in a journal or life stories in one because they know Erin is going to read them. You can also tell from the students leaving the journals behind they trust her. I highly doubt that they would have left them behind for any other teacher in that school to read. Kids are not stupid they know when people respect them and when people think they are nothing. Erin Gruwell couldn't be a better teacher.

My idea of a good teacher

Being a teacher is a gift it is not a job made for everyone and its more difficult than people make it out to be. Although salary can be low that doesn't make the job pointless or easy which is what people tend to think. Being a good teacher is someone who had patience with everyone you can put other peoples needs first and you enjoy helping others. You have to have a good personality when I look back on my favorite teachers it's the classes I enjoyed the most because my teacher put in so much effort to make the class all it could be. Kids only want to get involved if the teacher makes the subject interesting. Meeting the criteria for a class expectation is important and every teacher needs to meet it and have goals for their classrooms because students are there to learn and as a teacher that is your job. And if you can reach that goal you have done your job. A good teacher isn't just someone that is smart but it is someone that has a good personality and can make students want to learn and truly make them learn. It is easy for someone to do something but it isn't always easy to teach someone how to do something let alone a whole classroom of kids and have them take it with them and enjoy it.

Audre Lorde

Lorde suffered from being nearly blind but despite her disability she knew she wanted to read the day she met the librian who had a big impact on her life. Rather than seeing a child throwing a tantrum and getting as far away from that child as possible which is what most people do the librian went over to Lorde and asked if she would like to hear a story. The libriain than reicived Lordre's undivded attention I truly beleive this shows children need teachers like the librian who have patience and are willing to give children the benifit of the doubt. Unlike the teachers Lorde came acorss when starting at the public school and her first grade teacher at the Catholic school. Her teacher at the public school didnt want to accept that Lordre was capable of more than there academic criteria for the class and chose to recognize her potential as disobedience. Thankfully having her mother on her side she than was moved to catholic school which sadly wasnt much of an improvment. Her new teacher having no patience for her and seperating the class into two groups "good and bad". Teachers are people who are meant to be caring and enjoy to watch their students grow. Lordre encountered another expierence of her going above and beyond but rather than being recognized for it her catholic teacher accused her of her parents helping her. Assuming there was no way she could do that newspaper homework assignment on her own in that way. Teaching is not supposed to be that way i couldnt imagine being in a class as a child that was ran that way.

School's killing creativity

The more Ken went on explaining his opinion on education and how schools rob kids of their creativity and that there has been a bar set for every individual to reach the more I couldn't help but agree with him. Education is so important for children and adults learning the basics and the core classes that are required help us in life and educate us to become successful in careers that we chose. But so is creativity when I look back on my education elementary school was the only time when music class wasn't an option. There was PE, music, and library on certain days of the week all of which were required to take. But as soon as junior high and high school came requirements changed and music became nothing but an elective. When Ken said that people don't take classes because that's not what they are going to be when they grow up it is so true. And those creative dancing, music, and art classes are forgotten about. Having a PhD in life is not going to make everyone happy that isn't what everyone's goal is in life and that should be okay. We aren't supposed to all be the same we are all different and no one should set the bar for you in life. Education is important but creativity is what truly defines us as individuals.

Main point of my narrtive essay

After reading my narrative essay I would like readers to have a good idea of what a narrative essay is and an important educational experience of mine. My educational essay was about how skating formed me into who I am today and the memories I got to take from it which I will have with me for ever.

Educational Narrative Final Draft

Learning the ways of the Ice

We all have role models in life. Athletes we hope to be as good as someday, models and actresses we want to look and act like. When I was 8 years old my role model was Michelle Kwan. The most graceful and elegant figure skater to ever skate in my eyes. How could someone have so much talent? How could someone balance all their weight on a blade so thin and jump and spin on it with no fear? I was amazed, I have always loved watching the winter Olympics from as far back as I can remember and the figure skating was always my favorite event to watch. I wanted to learn how to skate I wanted to posses the talent that all those Olympic skaters had.

I was 8 years old when my mom took my friend and me to the Bremerton Ice Arena for fun. We rented the ugly brown skates they had there that were dull as a worn out ax, but I was so excited to get on the ice. The very first day I was hooked. I knew it was something I loved and wanted to stick with. This would be my sport.  Granted the first day was rough not knowing what I was doing, and my friend and I were out there just having a good time but as the day went on I got the hang of my balance and I was a natural.  I started in group lessons with all the other little kids that had the same goal and dream as I did but it wasn't enough, I needed more. I craved more.  I was catching on so quickly and I didn't want to wait for the rest of the group to move on to the next lesson. So I talked to my mom and she asked the coach and I started private lessons. My first coach’s name was Brenda. She was such a good coach for me to start with she taught me so much, I started with about 2 lessons a week and I practiced about 3 or 4 times a week in the beginning. This then moved to me coming in 5 days a week before and after school. Waking up at 5 am to go to Bremerton from Indianola was not the easiest thing but I did it and I wanted to. Now that I look back I had never been so dedicated to something in my life. I couldn't imagine having to wake up that early now to go do anything unless it was a job per say.

I remember my first competition I was so nervous it was over in Shoreline at this god awful rink there. I couldn’t tell you the name of the music I skated to but I can still hear it playing in my head. I believe my first program lasted a whole minute and a half? Yes all that practice and money spent on lessons that led up to a minute and a half of my life that could end in a split second if I stumbled and fell. There were typically about 5 or 6 judges who each had a specific thing they were looking for and judging you on. For example one could favor jumps the other spins and the other chirography. And when everything was added up that’s how they determined who came first who came last and all the others in between. After the first competition was out of the woods there were more to come. Competition season came just like every other sport it was typically from March until June possibly July. And they were all over the place the furthest I traveled for one was southern Oregon. Travelling was one of my favorite parts it was so much fun to go stay in a hotel with my whole family or just my mom sometimes but it wasn't just us either,  every competitive skater from the rink was there with their families too. The other skaters and their families felt like my second family we all spent so much time together from the off season during summer camp at the rink all the way through competition season.

After two years of skating, when I was 11, I decided it was time for me to switch coaches.  I needed to move forward. I wanted to tell my mom, but she was really stressed out dealing with my sister who was critically ill. I didn't think my mom needed any more stress, so I handled it myself. After practice one day I told her I had let my coach go. I still remember the look on her face. I told her not to worry; I had already hired another coach, Outi Francis, from Finland! Although I felt guilty telling Brenda alone that I was practically firing her and going for someone more experienced,  she took it well. My new coach was the best coach at the rink there was no one better than her, I never would have switched coaches after switching to her. I learned so much from her I felt like I really learned to skate after being with her. She expected a lot out of me and for me to work my ass off but that’s because she was working her ass off teaching me. I didn't only switch to Outi because she had more technical experience I switched because I could see her students and how well each of their programs were put together, the chirography was beautiful and the music she picked wasn't boring and wasn't going to lull the audience to sleep. I had never been so happy, I had so much fun with her being my coach. And I had never won first place so much until I started working with her. I got so used to winning I was always a very competitive person but now that I knew how I could do I set this bar for myself and if I didn't reach it I felt as if I was failing myself. I was only 12 years old thinking like this. Thinking if it’s not first place, its last. Which is what ruined it in a way for me that I could only be happy if I was winning but that’s not what sports are about you don’t always win and you can’t always win. I wish I would have realized that a long time ago.

My last competition was July 2008. And now six years later I can remember every last detail of that day like it was yesterday. I can still smell the Ice. It became a part of me. The sound of my blades as I skated, the exhilaration and adrenaline that pumped through my veins was like nothing I have ever felt.  The Washington State Games were being held over at OVA, the nicest rink in Mount Lake Terrace. I was skating to Pirates of the Caribbean the program couldn't have been put together any better my dress couldn't have fit the music more perfectly, it was custom made with a corset like tie in the back and the stone work on it was impeccable. After my performance I knew I wasn't getting first my landing on my axle was off I didn't skate to the best of my ability that day. When the results came I took my skates off and didn't put them on but once in these six years. I had only received second place and the sad part is I couldn't tell you how many people I was up against all I knew was I wasn't first. Now that I am almost 20 I regret quitting like that after all the years of hard work I put into it. And if on that day I wouldn't have been so selfish and remember that my role model Michelle Kwan only ever got the silver medal in the Olympics but continued to go for the gold as often as she could and always had her head up maybe things wouldn't have turned out the way they did with me quitting.

 Skating formed me into the person I am today no matter what though I am a hard working dedicated person and I wouldn't change it for the world. I am so lucky I got to experience all those memories in my life. Then again maybe I wouldn't have learned so much from it if it didn't end the way it did.

Rough Draft

Learning the ways of the Ice

We all have role models in life. Athletes we hope to be as good as someday, models and actresses we want to look and act like. When I was 8 years old my role model was Michelle Qwan.The most graceful elegant figure skater to ever skate in my eyes. How could someone have so much talent how could someone balance all their weight on a blade so thin and jump and spin on it with no fear? I was amazed, I have always loved watching the winter Olympics from as far back as I can remember and the figure skating was always my favorite event to watch. I wanted to learn how to skate I wanted to learn the talent that all those Olympic skaters could do.

I was 8 years old when my mom took my friend and me to the Bremerton ice arena for fun. We rented the brown skates they had there that were dull as they could be but I was so excited to get on the ice. After the very first day I knew it was something I loved and wanted to stick with. It was my sport.  Granted the first day was rough not knowing what I was doing and my friend and I were out there just having a good time but as the day went on I got the hang of my balance out there and I was a natural. I started in group lesson with all the other little kids that had the same goal and dream as I did but it wasn’t enough I needed one on one time with the coach I was catching on so quickly and I didn’t want to wait for the rest of the group to move on to the next lesson. So I talked to my mom and the coach and I started one on one lessons. My first coach’s name was Brenda. She was such a good coach for me to start with she taught me so much, I started with about 2 lessons a week and I practiced about 3 or 4 times a week in the beginning. This then moved to me coming in 5 days a week before and after school. Waking up at 5 am to go to Bremerton was not the easiest thing but I did it and I wanted to now that I look back I was never so dedicated to something in my life. I couldn’t imagine having to wake up that early now to go do something besides if it was a job pre say.

I remember my first competition I was so nervous it was over in shoreline at this god awful rink there. I couldn’t tell you the name of the music skated to but I can still here it playing in my head. I believe my first one lasted a while minute and a half? Yes all that practice and money spent on lessons for a minute and a half. There was typically about 5 or 6 judges who each had a specific thing they were looking for and judging you on. For example one could have jumps the other spins and the other chorography. And when everything was added up that’s how they determined who came first who came last and all the other in between. After the first competition was out of the woods there were more to come. Competition season came just like every other sport it was typically from March until June possibly July. And they were all over the place the furthest I travelled for one was southern Oregon. Travelling for one was one of my favorite parts it was so much fun to go stay in a hotel with my whole family or just my mom sometimes but it wasn’t just us either every competitive skater from the rink was there with their families to. The other skaters and their families felt like my second family we all spent so much time together from the off season during summer camp at the rink all the way through competition season.

After two years of skating I decided it was time for me to switch coaches I was ready and I did feel guilty and bad for having to tell Brenda alone that I was practically firing her and going for someone more experienced but she took it well. My new coach was Outi she was from Finland. She was the best coach at the rink there was no one better than her I never would have switched coaches after switching to her. I learned so much from her I felt like I really learned to skate after being with her. She expected a lot out of me and for me to work my ass off but that’s because she was working her ass off into teaching me. I didn’t only switch to Outi because she had more technical experience I switched because I could see her skaters and how well each of their programs were put together the chorography was beautiful and the music she picked wasn’t boring and wasn’t going to put the audience to sleep. I had never been so happy and had so much fun with her being my coach. And I had never won first so much until I started working with her. I got so used to winning I was always a very competitive person but now that I knew how I could do I set this bar for myself and if I didn’t reach it I felt as if I was failing myself. I was only 12 years old thinking like this. Thinking if it’s not first place its last. Which is what ruined it in a way for me that I could only be happy if I was winning but that’s not what sports are about you don’t always win and you can’t always win. I wish I would have realized that a long time ago.

My last competition was July 2008. And now six years later I can remember every last detail of that day like it was yesterday. I can still smell the Ice of the rink. The Washington State Games were being held over at the nicest rink in Edmonds. I was skating to Pirates of the Caribbean the program couldn’t have been put together any better my dress couldn’t have fit the music better it was custom made with a corset like tie in the back and the stone work done on it was impeccable. After my performance I knew I wasn’t getting first my landing on my axel was off I didn’t skate to the best of my ability that day. When the results came I took my skates off and didn’t put them on but once in these six years. I had only received second place and the sad part is I couldn’t tell you how many people I was up against all I knew was I wasn’t first. Now that I am almost 20 I regret quitting like that after all the hard work I put into it. And if on that day I wouldn’t have been so selfish and remember that my remodel Michelle Qwan only ever got the silver medal in the Olympics but continued to go for the gold as much as she could and always had her head up maybe things wouldn’t have turned out the way they did with me quitting. Skating formed me into the person I am today no matter what though I am a hard working dedicated person and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I am so lucky I got to experience all those memories in my life. Then again maybe I wouldn’t have learned so much from it if it didn’t end the way it did.

The Five W's and How?

I started ice skating when I was 8 years old. I always loved watching the Olympics when I was younger winter Olympics of course the ice skaters were so elegant and beautiful. I was so amazed of what they could do. So my mom took my friend and I down to the Bremerton ice arena one day just for fun and I fell in love with the ice. I was a natural I mean yes I fell and had no clue what I was doing but my balance was pretty good out there for the first time and I was dying to learn. Mind you I didn't play any other sports at the time yes I was also an out door kid but I hadn't gotten into a sport yet so I thought this would be perfect. I started with taking group lessons with all the other little kids that were hoping to do the same thing I wanted to do but it wasn't enough I wanted one on one lessons I was catching on faster than everyone in the group and I was tired of waiting around for the others I wanted more out of my lessons. Brenda was my very first coach. What an amazing lady she taught me so much I was having lessons probably twice a week and practicing 3 or 4 times a week. Which then moved to practicing six times a week waking up at 5 in the morning to skate before school and going after school. I was so tired and dedicated honestly I couldn't imagine doing that now. I skated from age 8 to 14. I learned so much from doing it not just how to skate but in that six years of my life it really helped form me into who I am today.

My favorite educational narrative

I would have to say after reading all the examples assigned for our educational narrative essay my favorite would have to be Cate Huston's "how I learned to love traveling solo". I did enjoy the others and I got a different message and learned something new from each one. I pick Huston's because it is the one I could connect to the most, the one that stood out to me the most. I honestly would have preferred if it was in the format of an autobiography just so I could have learned more about her adventures and all the places she has traveled because there is always so much more detail put into an autobiography but I still chose hers. Her narrative really taught me what an educational life lesson was and was such an inspiration to me. Knowing she is only three years older than me but has been able to do all of that made me realize all the traveling I hope to accomplish someday is possible I just have to make a plan to do it and I don't have to wait around for someone to travel with me I can do all the things I want to do in my life on my own. Yes I hope to experience them with others but if not it is not the end of the world. When Huston talks about being someone who likes to spend time with people but needs her own time that's the way I am to I always need my own space especially when I feel like accomplishing something or getting something important done. She gives and example of a feeling she had while she was alone in Hong Kong she states "I felt very peaceful, and just acknowledged it as the kind of moment that I get while traveling solo, but not when travelling with others. I felt relaxed and free to just do whatever the hell appealed to me at that moment." I hope someday when I travel I have a moment like that not the same one but just a special moment that I will never forget.

Books vs Blogs

I have always known there was a difference between a book and a blog but after having the opportunity to read multiple examples of educational narratives in the form of a blog compared to the format of a print book I have a clear understanding where the line is and what the true difference is. One is not better than the other or a better example I would say it is just a preference in what the readers get out of them. Their style is set up completely opposite. A blog is meant to be short and granted having enough detail in it to complete their story but it is supposed to be an easy read and catchy for example Cate Huston's blog was an amazing educational narrative but it was short and was set up as a step by step on how she learned to love traveling solo. There was enough detail to get her point across but that's all she was trying to do she didn't go in to full detail of all her adventures or a specific one which she might have done if she was writing a book per say. I can say though that if Cate Huston did write a book on her traveling experiences I would read it. Even though a blog post is short and to the point I wouldn't call it the easy way to write a narrative because you don't have a whole book to tell your story you have a single blog post and it has to be entertaining enough to get your audiences attention and be enjoyable to read at the same time. Writing a book on the other hand has to be in detail there has to be good imagery there has to be a full story in there it can take an author years and years to finish a book and get it published therefor it needs to be good and people should want to read their story and buy that book. Like I said one isn't better than the other they are both equally important and by reading multiple examples of each it they certainly helped me get a good idea on how to put my narrative essay together.