KaDeWo - The Joy Advocate

I just finished reading CoRregidora by GayL JoNES and I feel inspired to listen to Sheryl Crows " We Do What We Can " as I write. An unexpected, but good read to conclude this wonderful year. The book is a quick read of less than 200 pages. It exposes the thoughts and silence a girl develops as her painful life experiences push her into young womanhood, and finally into becoming a wise woman. A relatable tale for many of us to cry about or perhaps a reflection that offers permission to share (verbally or in written form) your sorrow with others - free from judgment and full of empathy. I believe many men and women of color would benefit from hearing the historically tragic stories family members silently carry with them amongst generation to generation. Anywho (<---- one of my favorite fictional words), the novel certainly provoked the sorrow that wants to lie dormant within me, but actually exists on my surface. Therefore the song I am playing is fitting for the mood

Today's topic for current and future educators is...you guessed it (from the title) something DIGITAL!! The notion was recently posed to use cameras in the classroom for personal and academic learning. Personally, I think using a digital photography in the classroom is a great idea for many reasons. The images can serve multiple purposes. For instance: images can be used in the class newsletter for parents, projects, student of the week, and virtual field trips. One of my favorite assignments posted online is the self-esteem project . Summary of instructions : Each student will make a bookmark for one classmate. Students will use the camera to take pictures, in the classroom, of the student who will receive the bookmark. Teacher will assign every student a classmate to make a bookmark for. (This will work with an odd or even number of students. I do not plan on pairing the students. Example: Amber will make a bookmark for Katie, Katie will make a bookmark for Douglas, and

I ♥ e-learning! Check out this link http://www.e-learningforkids.org/  for numerous interactive lessons for various subjects: language arts, math, technology, life skills, health, environmental skills, science, and English language. The site has easy to maneuver and understand activities for ages 5 through 12. Here's a review on the Language Arts - Introduction Microsoft Word 2003 activity. This is a well organized presentation with written and audio instructions accompanied by highlighting and blinking symbols to guide all learners. The narrator provides clear step by step instructions on how to use the MS program.  Instructors can use this guide in and outside of class. The lesson includes many useful tools for students to learn independently. For instance, there is an instructional key that incorporates several command selections (ex. arrows point to the location of the ruler, scroll bar, and empty text space, once students select an arrow they can learn how to use it). Student

Today, I taught a lesson on Conflict Resolution to 24 Philadelphia high school students. It felt great being in front of (and walking around) the classroom. Of course I was nervous before stepping foot into the school, but I was well prepared and focused on the ultimate goal - which was to teach students how to handle on the job conflict constructively. The education course I am enrolled includes teaching a lesson to high school students, with a classmate (or coteacher). We had three major points we wanted to drive home: 1. Prevent conflict We briefly discussed how clear communication as well as considering cultural differences to prevent conflict. 2. Avoid conflict When a coworker is pressing an issue and appears to want to engage in a confrontation, try listening to their perspective and problem. Sometimes just listening can make a world of difference, for the person who is upset and the other parties involved. 3. Manage conflict In the midst of conflict, suggest taking a mom

It's one of those days and I have just read something that sums up how I sometimes feel... Is it sad that I am glad not to be the only one that has ever felt this way??? Wish I could walk away from it all... Perhaps this is a poem I will share with my future students.  Black girls learn to love hard By Ras Baraka Black girls learn to love hard Concrete love An in spite of love Even though love An In between crying love They learn love hard. They rush to grade school dodging whistles And lewd stares from passing cars of men on their way to work They learn vulgarities as compliments They pretend to get used to being touched when they don’t want to be And get attention because they are pretty… Everyone wants to feel them Press up on them Rub against them Throw them down Cuss them Smack them Penetrate them Out of love A be strong love A hard love to swallow Young girls sit on stoops and porches In beauty parlor conversations Watching their older siste

Hola! Today's topic for educators are WebQuests (WQs).  What are WQs, you say? Before today, I had never heard of WQs.   A WQ is an inquiry-oriented lesson format that incorporates all parts of Bloom's Taxonomy.  Much of or all gathered information that learners work with is from the Internet.  The model was introduced to the world by a professor at the San Diego State University, who was assisted by a member of the Educational Technology staff at the San Diego Unified School District, and members of the Teach the Teachers Consortium.  [The names of these individuals are purposely absent, because there may be a WQ created for you to find their names on your own dear reader.] The announcement was released in February of 1995.  Where have I been?! There are many benefits to using WQs.  Here's a list of supportive reasons: - to encourage high-level thinking (analysis, synthesis, and evaluation) from students - to motivate and engage learners - to provide an avenue fo

 Read with India.Arie's Good Mourning playing in the background...Love that song! (Just woke up with this on my mind) I recall where we were a year ago this day and my advice to others is... Refrain from engaging in things that will cloud your judgment and delay your progress with its tantalizing elements. Love possesses so much power that it seduces the innocent into believing that its purpose is to enhance the lover's life, when in fact it will temporarily do this and later cause insanity. A thoughtful human once summarized insanity as, committing the same act again and again, expecting a different outcome . Is this not what people gambling on love do? I CAN tell you exactly how many times I have entered into a fresh relationship with hope and desire. This seems absurd due to the fact that all beginnings must have their end. [...Mislead by society to believe that each relationship will lead to marriage.] How many times have you willingly decided to take a chance on matt

This question was posed to my Harlem Renaissance class: Which of the character/s in Langston Hughes' novella The Ways of White Folks' story titled Father and Son was the most disturbing to you? This is not an easy question for me to answer. Set on the Big House Plantation in Georgia during Reconstruction, all the characters provoke the mind into considering why the familial "structure" was a social norm in the nation's past and how it affects the present day? Colonel Thomas Norwood with his Negro mistress Coralee Lewis, and his mulatto children, Willie; Bert; and Bertha Lewis (Norwood), that he would deny as his own before white people, as if many of them did not have similar situations in their own household, are all familiar characters to those that have studied Black Bondage in American history. However, I was not prepared for the actual discomfort I felt in reading the short, offensive interaction Cora has with Talbot and Jim, two well-known white men of

Thoughts after my Shakespeare course on yesterday: CUT, CUT!! Alright, who decided that Shylock the Jew of The Merchant of Venice is a (black/dark) comedy? I do not agree that Shylock is a comedic villain, nor was he a buffoon. He was a victim of differences like so many people have been for centuries (and continue to be in many parts of the world). He was persecuted by the Christians for years and when the opportunity for revenge presented itself, he attempted to gain his comfort by abiding the law of those that sought to oppress him - solely because of his religion - the system failed him! Doesn't this sound familiar??? Granted, this play was written for entertainment purposes in the late 1500s in England. Many of the spectators would probably have identified more with the (hypocritical) Christian characters. In present day, I have to see the issues I believe Shakespeare was revealing in his thought-provoking play: h ypocrisy in religion and law/court, the fault of pride and

When it comes to the 5 National Education Technology Standards and Performance Indicators for Teachers (NETS-T) I believe the most challenging area for me will be designing and developing digital-age learning experience and assessments. As a teacher than wants to work in inner-city schools, with young scholars that are considered social burdens by many members of society it seems that I may have difficulty in creating technology-based activities when many public schools cannot afford to or choose not to purchase desirable and necessary resources for students. Students residing in low-income areas often have to use public transportation/walk to libraries or community centers to wait for limited computer time, because there are no laptops/computers or other digital devices in the home. Designing lessons and activities for diverse learners is made easier with technology. However, if I wanted students to independently create graphic organizers using  bubbl.us  as a class activity or for ho

An example on how to use literacy to have your voice heard. ************************** We've all expressed our opinions, vented, aired it out, and in my heart of hearts, no matter how we got to this point, I believe most of us share a common goal - to re-elect President Obama. That can only happen if we take all the time and energy we've been using to debate, defend - and yes, digress (Tavis didn't patent that word, did he?) and move forward. Like the mamas on my staff tell their little boys when they're distracted by whatever is on the PSP, DS or Wii screen, "Let's focus." If we can learn anything from Republicans, it is that they have the ability to not just rally together, but to grab onto a single candidate, issue, piece of propaganda, whatever, and clamp down like a pit bull. Once they make a decision, they will not be swayed. How many times have you listened to one of them recite the party line, and you t hink to yourself, I KNOW the

Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kra_z9vMnHo is an interesting video. There are two things in particular that I would like to address from the media clip. Students, of the digital generation, want more opportunities to create projects and assignments in a capacity they are both comfortable with and knowledgeable in. Young scholars of this nation use the Internet and other forms of technology to build, transform, and improve their personal activities outside of school, on a daily basis. Even some of the poorest students are exposed to these resources through non-profit educational organizations and public libraries. These students are urging, educators and those that have the power to change the curriculum and structure of public education, for relevant topics and information to be included in the classroom experience. One reason these students are strongly suggesting an adjustment is due to a lack of interest in traditional forms of instruction, which leads to, what they referred to as,

Greetings & Salutations Readers, While reading Jonathan Kozol's Savage Inequalities I find it hard to read more than a few pages at a time, because of the disturbing truths that exist within its contents. This book was written 10 YEARS AGO and STILL children of color and children from families whose financial status is severely disadvantaged continue to get ignored in regards to quality education.  I wait for the day when organized groups of parents arrange (nonviolent) movements and demand increased funding, enlightened and responsible staff, and advanced (or at least relevant) resources for every public school classroom and library. Everyday is a good day for the masses to demonstrate their power! I keep hearing, "the revolution will not be televised..."

Nov 2016 UPDATE: Happy Annivesary KaDeWo.rld!! Thank you for visiting my blog. I have been self-publishing for 5 years now. I am proud of the people I have been able to attract and engage in this online space. May the numbers continue to grow. This blog WAS solely directed to present and future educators. It is NOW open to all, as there are a variety of topics addressed. As I have evolved so has my reading audience. Enjoy! Take care, make self care your top priority. Be well in mind, body and spirit. ♥ KaDeWo       (2011 Welcome) Greetings & Salutations readers! As I ambitiously continue on my nontraditional journey to complete my baccalaureate degrees in Secondary Education and English, I am interested in learning new ways to bring creativity into the classroom for my future scholars. There are many ways to grab and keep students' attention. Technology is one avenue I will take to introduce material and concepts to my students. With universal design and differentiate