Nothing. As Usual.

So once again, i have nothing to say.  Worked about 60 hours this week and still continue to be in a pretty rough part of a my life with who was my fiance now not sure.  Haven't really been doing much of the readings if any or going to many classes.  I am reading Eating Animals now by Jonathan Safran Foer which as far as I've gotten is a pretty interesting book.  Can't really think of much else to say so guess this will have to suffice.

Well... Shit

So i'm not sure where i stand in the blogs for class at this point but i figured what the hell, from now on i'm posting what i want when i want (along with the reading postings :(  ).  So i wanted to not comment but ask an opinion of something i read on CNN.com today because i have yet to make an opinion myself.  Some school somewhere i forget made a public apology concerning an assignment given to an English class by some teacher.  The students got a writing assignment in which they were instructed to prove their loyalty to Nazi Germany by arguing Jews are "evil" and the source of that government's problems.The assignment was designed to flex students' persuasive writing skills.  Now part of me sees this as an interesting, creative and honest (regarding history) activity for a grade level such as high school to not only practice persuasive writing (especially writing at the level where you don't agree with the argument that most individuals believe and see right because when that's the case the argument ends up best well written) but also to understand history (not just from the "good" or victors' side).  The other half of me wants to know, "when should morals be accountable as far as learning?" And, "when, considering the complexity and vastness of ideas and morals should they come into play?"  For me it always feels like pick and choose.  Depending on the area, the school district and the diversity, these always seem to decide.  Which i think is fucked up.  I just want to get some thoughts because i am just throwing ideas out there and i don't personally feel that i have enough information or knowledge to really ever know, but i'm trying to take make an opinion here.


P.S.
               I have been incredibly exhausted with work and other stuff so i do apologize for my rudeness and/or my brashness/rashness.

PB Works and Darfur

I checked out three of the sites from last weeks reading.  The first was Rebecca Blood's blog and i didn't take to much from that.  The second was the Darfur plan created by high school kids.  There hasn't been any activity with the site since 2009 so i'm not sure if it has been effective but as far as how the site is set up it actually is quite impressive and smooth.  I then checked out PBworks which appears very helpful educationally as far as setting up a safe site for a classroom to get together.

Making a Video for English

I don't have much to stay on this.  I knew making a video for an English class was possible and I knew that the process of how exactly that video will be made is numerous.  In high school we did similar projects multiple years.  The idea of using video to demonstrate learned knowledge about a certain literary author, genre, time period, story etc. has always been a method I planned to use when teaching.

Let's Make a Story!!

Just saying, while i was doing the readings, i think it would be a really fun idea for our class if we collaboratively used digital story telling and created a story made up by the whole class!  Either each group, or each individual contributed a piece to the story and we put it all together.  Kind of life how Daniel Tosh asked his viewer audience to come together to tweet his death, or was it just a story?  Anyways it was hilarious how parts jumped around because people just added whatever they wanted so i think it would be a ton of fun.  I'll leave it up to you to decide how we can make it educational in the classroom.

Using Nature as a Tool to Learn?

As I've probably stated before, i am in Literature of the Environment with Dr. Dimarco.  Today we just finished reading the novel Into the Wild which I will admit is now one of my favorite books.  I'm not going to get real specific here, I just wanted to know some of your thoughts about this idea.  I took a lot from the main character's (Chris McCandless) actions and motives and words.  I was wondering if taking a class actually outside, maybe on a field trip to a national park or reservation or something like that and have them write about the experience in any form they desire would be a good education tool.  I mean of course this field trip would take place around the same time the class might be reading about transcendentalism or reading literature concerning the environment.  I just feel like though to truly get a glimpse of the idea behind these stories they have to be physically experienced.

I really enjoy this site for some laughs and thoughts so i'm putting it up their if anyone wants to check it out.
9gag.com

Uhhhhh

I don't really know what to post educational wise, i didn't do anything all week except work and go to and from the hospital. i don't even think i made it to half my classes.  My cats are doing well i guess.

Podcasts, Count Me In

I have no idea what a podcast is.  Stating that i have to admit they sound pretty awesome.  I found it interesting that during our readings i keep coming up on two so far reoccurring methods of modality.  The first was the fact that teachers, whether it was in the podcast or another form of program, use the insertion of sounds into stories that their students are suppose to write.  The first was with that Halloween story assignment and now its with GarageBand.  I find this a really interesting tactic and an easily incorporated method in the different usages of modals in teaching.  The second was i'm not sure if actually occurred in a prior reading but i know both readings stressed the importance and effectiveness of students writing for each other instead of for the teacher.  I always hated writing for the teacher because i always felt the audience should be at the same level.  Sure you might have to write across fields or your audience might to be who you intended to be reading your work but i just never felt comfortable writing for the teacher.  So i really enjoyed from a teacher's perspective that these activities won't put the student in that situation.    

Educational Thoughts 2

I'm currently taking Literature of the Environment and we recently read a literary theory by John Fowles titled The Tree.  I'm not going to go into much detail about the theory itself but i wanted to ask of an idea he posses.  He calls it "the green man" and its this idea that as human beings we are born with this innate sense or perspective that enables us to "truly" "see" nature for what it is.  But because of the society we are grown into, with everything being labeled thanks to Carl Linnaues we find ourselves alienated from nature.  But he claims every once in a while this green man comes out.  Every individual has that moment or sense whether it be at the beach or laying in a bed of flowers where we become aware of this innate sense that has been lost.  It happens briefly but every person has this moment.  I felt like mine was standing in the snow at night were its snowing so heavy its all you can see because i just love that.  I was wondering if anyone felt like they knew what this would be or mean to them.  I will welcome and be grateful to any thoughts about this.  Sorry if i didn't explain it to well.

Readings 2

I have to say that i actually got pretty excited doing this weeks readings.  I really loved all the examples from chapter four about Carol's new literary stance.  I thought that the Halloween stories was a really interesting and creative way to tell a story, with all the hyperlinks and stuff.  As a upcoming teacher it is honestly exciting to think about all the different ways to teach children.  I agreed with the idea on page 51 where Carol states how the students were actually teaching themselves in a sense.  I always enjoyed that in my English classes in high school when class discussions would take place where the teacher could literally leave the room and the class would still be engaged in talking about the assigned readings.  I just find some it a bit overwhelming you know?  Like i'm scared of the responsibility i guess you could say of being a teacher, "always learning."  I think it has to do with parents and having to convince them i am actually teaching your child and yes i know what i'm doing.  Like i always picture my mom and i'd hate to be on the opposite end of her argument or hate in regards to me.  Know what i'm saying?

Intro

Hi! My name is Cody Schoenthal.  I'm an English major who hopes to be graduating this semester.  This is my first blog and I find it quite strange and somewhat difficult.  I have many interests like anime, video games,     animals ( for some reason i own 4 cats), food, drinking, just stuff like that.  I am a manager at B & J Coney Island which is usually where i am always at if you ever want to stop in and say hello, maybe grab some beer or something to eat.  I am looking forward to learning from this whole situation and i hope i can incorporate into my teaching career in the future.  If you find yourself reading my blogs, thanks! I'm always open to talk, hang out and do whatever so feel free to contact me at any time.  Unless i'm at work.  Can't hang out if i'm working.