If you didn't know, I am one opinionated chica. I wrestle with whether or not to include my opinions in this blog. I've thought about starting another blog and have had this idea for quite some time. While I work out the kinks and figure out what I'd like to do, I've decided to add some of my opinions here in a series called My Opinion. Peace! Since this blog is about things relevant to raising my daughter. I've decided to include this particular opinion hear. Hopefully, you'll see the relevance, if only indirectly.
At first, I tried to be low key, but after seeing the video, I am even more upset with Stephen A. Smith's words. Actually, not his words, but his one word - provoke. Thinking that maybe he had more insight into what happened, I felt like maybe in this case the woman was inciting her fiance.
We all understood where Stephen A. Smith was going. We all understood his message, but sometimes he's not the most eloquent cat. I've always felt that for the most part intent is more important than what's said- that there is meaning beyond words. So for that, I've always said he may have had a good point, but just included a word that should have been left for exclusion.
PROVOKE (MERRIAM/ WEBSTER): verb \prə-ˈvōk\
: to cause the occurrence of (a feeling or action) : to make (something) happen
: to cause (a person or animal) to become angry, violent, etc.
So what are some of the things that women do that can cause a man to become angry or violent (definiton of provoke)? The answer is it varies with every man who becomes violent toward women. For some men it may be charging and hitting them. For some it might be failing to clean up the house to their satisfaction. "What? I saw you talking to some man at work.? Well this is gonna get you a nice little beating." The actual issues that spark these altercations can vary.
I wished that Stephen A. Smith could have pointed to the specific behaviors that he felt women should avoid, like violence against men. That would have worked in everyone's favor. This is why, to me, Whoopi's statements differ greatly from SAS's.
The one problem that I am now having with the video and Stephen A. Smith is I don't see support for this woman being the aggressor. I do NOT. She doesn't seem scared, but she seems like she's trying to stay away from him. She's walking behind him. He waits for her and then spits on her. She walks ahead of him. He follows her. She turns every attention to those buttons on the elevator ( they can't be that interesting). He's in her face. To me, this man was the one provoking.
In my book Stephen A Smith has apologized. I'm not angry at him, per se, but those words can never be taken back. What is a bit shocking to me, is with the release of the video that so many men are now verbally high fiving Mr. Smith for his words, as if he were right all along.
So, thanks Stephen A. Smith. Thanks for reminding us, that it is always the woman's fault. Thanks for making this woman responsible for her own beating. Thanks for helping us to ask the age old question- "What did she do to deserve it?"
So, thanks Stephen A. Smith. Thanks for reminding us, that it is always the woman's fault. Thanks for making this woman responsible for her own beating. Thanks for helping us to ask the age old question- "What did she do to deserve it?"
Developing your educational philosophy can be a fight that you shouldn't avoid. My advice for developing a curriculum is to run to the fight and by that I mean run to the controversies. Find all the controversies and disagreements you can find about how something should be taught. My go to example of course is sight words vs. phonics, or better yet, common core vs. the no-name curriculum from before. Based on your own research, pick a side and start fighting. Get dirty. Go hard for what you believe. Those controversies can point you to what activities to avoid and can guard you when you're developing what it is that you will do. Research, pick, a side. Test your research. Get feedback from your child. How does your child respond to your educational approach/ philosophy? Does it match how he learns. If not, it's cool. Change your mind and jump ship. Go hard for something else.
Before you decide on what to teach in reading (maybe math,too), it may be necessary to check to see where your child is. There are plenty of commercial (some are expensive) products to help you gather information about your child's reading level. You probably can find Fountas and Pinnell testing information in your local library, or try readinga-z.com. There you can find instructions for checking your child's reading level. This access to their online program is about $79/ year, but they offer a 7 day free trial, where you can download daily from their site. They also offer free 7-day memberships during teacher appreciation week and again just before school starts in the fall. For early readers, I really did love readinga-z. I never bought the program. Those free times have been enough for us, but for more than one child or for classrooms and coops, the price would be well worth it.
For the very young? Provide visuals for everything, or almost everything. Try to incorporate something visual at every lesson. For example, your whole lesson might be a National Geographic or YouTube video, or if you're singing a counting song, make a visual representation of what you're singing. When my child was young, our visual representation was mostly magnet board stories. I used them a lot in my music class in public schools, too. It just really adds depth to what you're doing and helps to keep the attention of the little ones.
My reading plan of attack is two fold. First we'll concentrate on vocabulary. I'll present more words, reward her for using them, remind her to use them, and use them myself. We already have a notebook to write down new words, but just haven't used it that much. We'll try to do a word daily and then add these words to her spelling lists. When the word is first introduced, it'll be her job to figure out the pronunciation. Then she'll have to write sentences using the word.
For all of those who aren't familiar with the purpose of my blog, or with me, for that matter, I am a mother of one. I view the role of mother as my most important job in life. Also important is my role as wife to my husband (I have to remind myself of this lots of times), but even the most essential aspect of that role's importance is providing the environment to nurture our offspring.
If your three or four year old, or even two year old, is ready to learn to read, why wait until age 6 to teach them. Right now, my first grader can add two digit numbers in her head and extremely large numbers on paper. We're beginning to learn times tables, but have I seen any of this work come home? Will any of these skills be nurtured in any way at her school? The answer is a swift "no." On the Star reading assessment, my child tested on the 5th grade reading comprehension level. Her teacher was proud, I guess, because I heard about it from other parents before I was informed by the school. But have I seen any 5th grade books come home? The idea is supposed to be that at the end of the year, or at least at the beginning of next year, she's advanced a complete year, comprehending at 6.3. Will she this year? If so, it won't be because of work she's done at school, or even work that's sent home from school.
How is it that I am able to teach my child with no teaching degree or certification? I do have an advantage in that I've actually taught in schools. I know how to make an effective lesson plan. Based off of the standards, I can develop my own curriculum and curriculum maps. I can read and understand the maps of school districts and compare and contrast them. I can read testing data. I can develop adequate pre and post assessments. I can ask higher order, open ended questions, basing my lesson on the essential question. I've been instructed on positive behavior and teacher efficacy. I have an advantage, but still I have to research, research, research. I research what it is that my child should know and/ or wants to know and/or what I want her to know. Then I research the best way to teach it. That's all, boo. You are totally qualified to teach your own child. Even if you don't know yourself, you can follow this model- research, learn, teach. If for some reason that doesn't work, then you contract the teaching out. Maybe you can leave that aspect to the schools, loved one, or to a tutor.