Final Draft of Digital Story

Double Entry Journal #6

One experience I have had with a culturally responsive activity at Fairmont State was in my RA training. We have a speaker come in to talk to the RA staff about diversity. She gave us a small piece of paper and a few different colored markers. She then told us to write down things that describe who we are. Every one's paper looked different, there were some things that people had in common but no one's papers look identical. I realized this was an exercise to have us express ourselves by writing words that described us and decorated the papers in our own unique way. I thought this was a great activity and it helped me to realize the diversity within our staff.

Resources:
I found a great document about a culturally responsive teaching project done in Kanawha County WV.
Culturally Responsive

Photo Story

Double Entry Journal #5

1. After reading the article one thing I learned that as a writer grows they need to talk about what they are writing to their colleagues. I also learned it is not necessary to wipe out the a student's family's use of words. Another thing learned was to teach writing excellence means adding language not subtracting it.

2. One fact I found interesting was to move students to more flexibility when they not not totally change the way they write. Another fact I found very interesting was when the article said the goal is to make more relationships available. I find this to be a great point and not telling students to do away with their dialect but learn more about language to make more relationships.

3. How can I help students to understand they need to expand on their language to improve their writing and never lose their local dialect?

Resource:
Here is a link to the NCTE Beliefs about Teaching of Writing article.

Related Resource:
This website has many different approaches to teaching writing.

Poem: Where I'm From

I am from the foothill of third hill mountain and lick run, from Nadine’s hot French bread and homemade butter from Belle our Guernsey cow.

I am from a family built log home with a metal roof that lulled me to sleep with a gentle patter of the falling rain.

I am from the thick of the forest where wild berries abound and my homemade bridge over a creek where I spent much of my youth.

I am from Feuillet’s and Lees, the French and the Indians, from hearty and independent, loving and free, encouraging and mindful.              

I am from parents who broke the mold and held on to the trail less traveled, who stood by their word and read aloud at the schools and paid it forward.

From moonlight trail rides and hayloft gatherings strewn with Christmas lights.

Raised to give thanks to ALL living things and that God is everywhere. Worshiping in the glorious outdoors with the sky as my chapel and the golden rule at my core.

A ridge runner as my uncle would say with a strong pull to the Bordeaux regions of central France and an edge of the river of the Iroquois nation and a touch of the bagpipes from over the pond.

With a likeness to my Pop from his high school picture but a deep vein of passion for horses that rides back to my ancestors.

Now with the pot stirred what bubbles to the top… the flight of my arrow… the site of my shot…with strong ties to loved ones of blood and of choice.. and no fear of ever using my voice.

Double Entry #4

Quote:
Various families with rural backgrounds knew a great deal about the cultivation of plants, animals, ranch management, mechanics, carpentry, masonry, electrical wiring, and medical folk remedies. (Moll 11)

Reaction:

 While reading the article I came across this sentence and it really hit home. I find it very interesting that Moll looked at the positive sides the these peoples lives. I was raised on a small farm and my father is capable and has experience with all of the task in the quote above. It always amazed me how talented my father was at fixing things. I now realize that he had to master these trades keep the farm going and save money. Families with rural backgrounds might not have the education that urban families do but that does not represent their ability to learn. Moll proves this in his home investigations of many different families. 

Related Resource:

This website is a great example of how people are trying to conserve the trades that cannot be done by machines. Here is the link A Place for Trades

Resource:

Moll, L. "Funds of Knowledge." Look at Luis Moll's Research Into Hidden Family Resources 11. Web. 2 Sep 2011.

   

Double Entry #3