Wiki+assignment+1

The Curriculum of Our Lives

On this page, share some of the sources of your most meaningful learning experiences. Use the categories below (or create others) to share some of the people/things that have impacted how you see and understand the world. Also, read what others have said before posting your own.

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 * Name:** Greg Michie
 * Something I've read:** We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families: Stories from Rwanda - Philip Gourevitch. Excellent journalism, a gripping read, and manages to find real hope amid a genocide.
 * A situation or event:** Summer trips to Mexico to learn Spanish (and a lot more) during my first few years in the classroom.
 * A work of art:** Songs in the Key of Life - Stevie Wonder (album); Do the Right Thing (film)
 * Someone I know personally:** My mom, for her compassion for others
 * Someone I don't know personally:** Lisa Delpit -- her books taught me to question a lot of my assumptions about teaching.

**Name:** Jill Uhlman **Someone I don’t know personally:** William Shakespeare- I think he was a genius!
 * Something I’ve Read:** //In the Middle// by Nancie Atwell- Although Nancie basically teaches in a Utopia, I still think there is a lot to be said by teaching writing, reading, and grammar in a workshop type setting. We always want our students to be involved in their learning and we want them to //want// to write; I feel like the best way for this to happen is to allow our students to have some say in their work.
 * A situation or event:** My father works for Caterpillar and we moved to Santiago, Chile, S.A. for two years when I was in sixth and seventh grade. It was a great learning experience focused on being out of my own comfort zone and learning about a different culture.
 * A work of art:** Music… any and all. I listen to music all the time and feel so moved by the talent of different people. I think a lot can be learned about human emotions through music.
 * Someone I know personally:** My father. I have learned how to be responsible for my own actions and not make excuses for myself. I have learned that we can only truly depend on ourselves because we are the only person who will //always// be there (although we have lots of other people to lean on for support). He has taught me that I have to accept myself before I can expect other to accept me.

**Name:** Jodi Ledeboer **Something I've read:** Traveling Light by Max Lucado; It has helped me to get myself grounded spirituall   y. **Situations or events:** My second year of teaching I taught a class of 30 students that included an autistic child all by myself without a classroom aide and I survived. Now it is seeing my academically at-risk students earn honor roll by the end of the year.
 * Someone I know personally:** My step-mom, who is my role model and has the strength and courage to get through any situation that is thrown her way. She stood by my Dad's side and took such wonderful care of him during his battle with cancer (which unfortunately he lost). She taught me, and continues to teach me, the meaning of unconditional love not only towards my Dad, but to his 5 children, their spouses, and his 10 grandchildren.
 * Family:** My wonderful husband and two kids who support me and are my personal cheerleaders. Seeing the world through my three year-old's eyes has reminded me of the innocence and purity a child starts with and how much my husband, the world, and I will help mold her into the person she will one day become. And my one year old son who exudes the pure joy and orneriness that only a mother can love.

**Name**: Michelle Goluba-Melrose
 * Something I have read**: Teaching with love & logic: taking control of the classroom. This book and philosophy has given me some practical tools to use in the classroom with my challenging students.
 * A situation or event**: Playing on an all boys sports team, visiting Mexico, going to college in Texas and Mexico and then returning to teach English in Mexico.
 * Someone I wish I knew personally**: My maternal grandmother who was a widow with 13 children.
 * My family**: My husband and two daughters who put up with me! My oldest daughter has had some bumps in the road in school, and it has changed my perspective as an educator. Everyone is someone’s daughter or son. My youngest daughter is four and I love her curiosity and honesty for the world.


 * Name:** Molly Uhren
 * Something I have Read**: __Savage Inequalities__ (as an undergrad-- after reading it, I requested an inner city/ low income student teaching experience becasue I had only being exposed to private education for 15 years).
 * A situation or event**: Teaching in a first grade classroom where 13 out of 21 students were ELL students lead me back to school to get my ESL certification.
 * Someone I know personally**: My mom who taught first grade for 25 years, inspired me to look for the best and positive in every single student, situation, and event in life.
 * My family:** My husband and two daughters (3 and 4) teach me EVERYDAY about patience, curioristy, optimism, gratitude, and compassion.


 * Name: ** Brandi Walsh
 * Something I've read: ** //Choice Words// by Peter H. Johnston helped me to realize the power that is in the language you speak to children.
 * A situation or event: ** My first two years of teaching in a private Christian school in which strengthened my spiritual walk as well as helped to prepare me for my life now in a public school.
 * A work of art: ** The miracle of life!
 * Someone I know personally: ** My mom for her abilities to stay strong through so many lifetime challenges and for her loving spirit and kindness towards others. My grandpa for his dedication to always working to make a difference in his life. My husband for walking every step of the way with me through life.
 * Someone I don't know personally: ** My grandma who passed away long before I was born. But I do truly feel that she would have impacted my life in such a positive life knowing the kind of person that my mom is and has helped me to become.

**Someone I know personally:** My Wife. She is my raison d'etre.

 * Someone I don't know personally:** Bill Watterson (creator of Calvin and Hobbes) - I think that this is some of the most under appreciated writing in history.
 * My favorite word:** Facetious - not only is fun to use and fun to say, but it contains all 5 vowels in alphabetical order.


 * Name:** Adam Bulfer
 * Something I've read:** .__The Great Gatsby__, __Catcher in the Rye__
 * A situation or event:** Teaching in a Regional Safe School Program. I have spent my first two years teaching in an alternative school program for students who have been removed from their home schools. This experience made me "grow up" quickly as a teacher. I am currently working to help our program grow and become more successful.
 * A work of art:** Seattle, WA and U.S. Cellular Field
 * Someone I know personally:** My maternal grandma, she might possibly be the best around.
 * Someone I don't know personally:** There are a few people I would like to have a conversation with: George Washington, God, and a player to be named later.


 * Name:** Jackie Henson
 * Something I've read:** Things Fall Apart (Chinua Achebe) is a tale of despair and struggle that I can ONLY imagine.
 * A situation or event:** Trips to Chicago with my sister and closest friends in high school (and for many years after) to visit museums and go to concerts helped me build a great appreciation for the arts.
 * Someone I know personally:** My mother had two babies at the age of 17, but still managed to graduate high school. She instilled in me the importance of education and always made me feel loved even when we didn't have much.
 * Someone I wish I had known better:** My biological father sadly lost his life-long battle with addiction in 2008.

And __Holler If You Hear Me: The Education of a Teacher and His Students__ (a personal favorite J )
 * Name: ** Anne Holdren
 * Something I've read: ** __The First Days of School: How to Be an Effective Teacher__ by Harry Wong
 * A situation or event: ** Moving from Chicago to Bloomington and becoming an ELL teacher
 * A work of art: ** The miracle of pregnancy and childbirth
 * Someone I know personally: ** My sister- a truly inspiring teacher and personal mentor!
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Favorites: ****<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;">Children’s smiles, dinners out, Sunday family dinners, good friends, puppies, babies, shopping, wine, and summer! **


 * Name:** Amy Winkelmann
 * Something I've read:** How Full Is Your Bucket: This book helped me to focus on the positive in life and at school.
 * A situation or event:** tutoring a Spanish speaking college student and having an autistic child in my classroom my 2nd year of teaching
 * Someone I know personally:** My mom, for her loyalty and honesty
 * Someone I’ve lost:** My grandmother kept everyone in the family together. She knew how to keep the peace without ignoring problems. As a mother to 8 and a grandmother to almost 30 she made time for everyone!

**Name:** Hannah Dutton
 * Something I’ve read:** Marley & Me – Being an obsessive pet owner myself, I learned (aside from the fact that it IS possible to cry yourself out of tears) to appreciate the little joys and life lessons animals bring to us every day and to appreciate how truly valuable they are in our lives.
 * A situation or event:** Buying my first home and fixing it up inside and out one month before my wedding which was also the last month of my first year of teaching.
 * A work of art:** Two movies: Seven Pounds and Crash. Also, photography by Dorothea Lange.
 * Someone I know personally:** My mom for her compassion, my step-dad for his practicality, and my husband for his ingenuity.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">Name ** : Alison Brooks
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Something I have read **: //A Framework for Understanding Poverty// by Ruby Payne. //Same Kind of Different as Me// by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">A situation or event **: My first year of teaching in inner city Chicago- where I fell in love with my 14 special needs students ranging from 2nd-5th grade… and probably learned a whole lot more than my students did.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Someone I know personally **: My mom, who has been a special educator for 26 years and will fight to the end for her students, my dad, who has taught me so much through his actions, not necessarily words, and my husband, who has come from tough situations and has risen above.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Someone I don’t know: ****<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;">Rev Run’s daily inspirational messages ** ** J **


 * Name:** Cassy Nieuwkoop
 * Something I've read:** //The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time// by Mark Haddon. Amazing novel told through the perspective of a male student with Asperger’s.
 * A situation or event:** My mother pushing me to read everything and anything as a child.
 * A work of art:** “anyone lived in a pretty how town” by e.e. cummings, “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou, and an endless amount of music with personal favorites being A Fine Frenzy and Ingrid Michaelson
 * Someone I know personally:** My dad who fought and survived cancer against all odds.
 * Someone I don't know personally:** ** Jane Austen. Dorky, I know, but I kind of love her. **

**Name:** Mary Dullard My mom read to me every night, tucked me in, and taught me not to be afraid of anything. My dad taught me that family is more important than anything, to look at the bright side, and to find something to laugh about every day. I learned to bake between the kitchen table and my great aunt Bessie while up to my elbows in flour. Dr. Eugene Irving taught me that you could still be a good teacher even if you had times when you failed and that sometimes you could use those failures to help your students. Ms. Takes taught me to admit them, learn from them, and move on. Bad teachers taught me to not be like them. Possibly the best song(s) ever: //Skokian// or by Louis Armstrong, //Full Force Gale// by Van Morrison, //I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)// by The Proclaimers, //Fix You// by Cold Play, //You Can Call Me Al// by Paul Simon
 * Person/people who have inspired me:** My parents, 3 brothers, and 3 sisters.
 * People who taught me well:**
 * Great Books:** //The Skin We Speak// by Lisa Delpit, //Matilda//- or anything by Roald Dahl, //Homecoming//- or anything by Cynthia Voight, //The Reader’s Digest Reverse Dictionary// and //The Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins//
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Something I learned from a 4 year old Jessica's Daily Affirmation**
 * Name**: Brandon Knapp
 * Something I have Read**: Maus Comics, Art Spiegelman. Easy read that deals with the Holocaust and some of the struggles survivors still deal with.
 * Situation or Event**: Coaching Junior High basketball while in high school. It was then that I realized I wanted to spend the rest of my life working with kids.
 * A Work of Art**: Any vehicle designed or restored by Chip Foose.
 * Someone I know personally**: My Mom, growing up mowing grass and landscaping with her she taught me that sometimes you do things for people just because you can, not because you’re getting anything out of it.
 * Someone I don’t know personally**: Bobby Knight, I’ve always admired the high expectations he holds his players to. I also think it is great that he maintains a relationship with his former players and never stops teaching them even after they are done playing for him.


 * Name:** Sarah Houston
 * Something I've read:** The Art of Racing in the Rain. by Garth Stein. It's a story of a family from the dog's perceptive. As a huge dog lover, of course I loved it, but it also makes you think about the events of your life, as well as how you let the events affect you. Very interesting and makes you think about your own life.
 * A situation or event:** My mom was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 12 years ago. She died 2 years ago, and the whole experience absolutely changed my life.
 * A work of art:** We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things-Jason Mraz's latest album. The Blind Side--This movie made me stop and think about my students on a much deeper level.
 * Someone I know personally:** My mom, for her ability to see the bright side of everything, no matter what was going on.
 * Someone I don't know personally:** Dr. Suess. His incredibly humble creativity and humor inspire me.


 * Name:** Sarah McCready
 * Something I’ve Read:** Little Women (I LOVE IT!) and The Five Love Languages
 * A situation or event:** Being left with substitutes for five months while my cooperating teachers were gone on family emergency leave and figuring out the ISAT alone!
 * A work of art:** Photography by DeidreLynn for its simplicity in our world today.
 * Someone I know personally:** My mother for her hard work, devotion to her children, and the love she has for spreading knowledge to anyone.
 * Someone I lost:** My grandmother who lived three houses down the road from me passed away unexpectedly. She was an incredibly generous, passionate and caring person.


 * Name: ** Jenni Bierbaum
 * Something I've read:** My Sister’s Keeper. What a sad story! This book really makes you appreciate life.
 * Situations or events: ** Becoming a mother. It has been the best experience of my life. It has taught me what truly matters in life. I have learned so much from him in just one year that I cannot wait to see what the future holds.
 * Someone I know personally:** My sister, she is a strong willed person who fights for what she believes in even if other people may doubt her.
 * Family: ** My husband, son, and dog Reggie. They are always there for me showing me what is important in life.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Name: **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kim Dubbelde
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Something I've read: ** //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time // by Mark Haddon. A student of mine with Asperger’s recommended this book to me. He said it was “like reading his own brain.” I loved the book. It was truly eye-opening for me.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">A situation or event: **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> Growing up, I learned so many valuable lessons from my dad riding in the car on the way to the golf course. My first year of teaching (and second and third) provided me with more knowledge and education than all my college years combined.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Inspiring works of art: ****<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Déjà vu- **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (album), Berenice Abbott photographs, Sunflowers by Van Gogh, //Their Eyes Were Watching God// **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;">by Zora Neale Hurston, any poem by Allen Ginsberg. **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">People who inspired me: **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> My grandfathers for being the best men I have ever known. They showed me that real life heroes can exist. My parents for teaching me to value thoughts over things. Mrs. Garner, Mrs. Newton, Mr. Hawkins for being phenomenal teachers that helped me see something in myself that maybe I could be just like them (and for making it look so easy J <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">)


 * Name:** Erik Walles
 * A Situation or Event:** At least once a day I’m reminded that being a teacher is kind of awesome. I can’t imagine doing anything else.
 * Something I’ve Read:** //My Name is Asher Lev// by Chaim Potok; //House on Mango Street// by Sandra Cisneros
 * A Work of Art:** Music, for me, is a constant source of inspiration. I’ve really been into records by the National, Yeasayer, Jonsi, and Joanna Newsom recently.
 * Someone I Know Personally:** My parents both taught high school, and, by watching them, I witnessed the impact teachers with integrity, empathy, and boundless enthusiasm could have.
 * Someone Else I Know Personally:** I have an 18-month old son, and the thought of one day sending him to school has driven home for me the importance of treating my students the same way I want teachers to someday treat my son.

**About me:** I like to share my science class ideas with teachers and write something about my science class and my life. I have been teaching science for 14 years in the South Korea <span style="font-family: 굴림; font-size: 12.1pt;">. <span style="font-family: 굴림; font-size: 11pt;"> I always take notes and analyze the causes of success or failure in my classes, and share my problems and ideas with other teachers and educational experts to share the successes or find solutions for the problems. <span style="font-family: 굴림; font-size: 11pt;"> In 1999, I created the website www.sedu21.com to share science class ideas with teachers. I have uploaded lesson plan files, classroom ideas. Through the website, there have been many interactions with other teachers. When we dream alone, we are merely dreaming. But when we dream together, that is the beginning of reality. -Brazilian Proverb- I published two books for science teachers in 2002 and 2009. The first book includes many kinds of instruction strategies and ideas in the science class and introduces how to apply them to the class. The second book describes the problem solving process of how small ideas are changed into effective educational results. It focuses on teachers’ professional development. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**Someone I know personally:** My wife, she is very sociable. She wants to meet many American. Gyuri loves her class and homeroom teacher. Danwoo had hard time at American preschool, but he is getting better.
 * Name:** YoungHak Kim
 * A Situation or Event:** I came here on January 1st, 2010. Everyday in the U.S. is special day for my family!
 * Something I’ve Read:** //Sparks of Genius: The Thirteen Thinking Tools of the World's Most Creative People// by Michele M. Root-Bernstein
 * Family: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> My wife, 8 year old daughter, three year old son.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">** Name: ** Stacy Pygott <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">**Situation or event:** Getting a chance to experience my dream job this year. This is my first year as a school librarian in a 4th- 6th grade building. I have taught several grade levels in the past due to cuts and downsizing. I had to be flexible and willing to move around in order to ensure I had a job. But I knew there was a purpose and this year has proven that. By having been in the classroom I can relate to my teachers and it also gives me a broader more in depth knowledge of my students' wants and needs. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">**Books I've Read:** This year has been spent reading children/young adult literature. (Which I love!) I particularly like the __Lightning Thief__ series by Rick Riordan. __Life As We Knew It__ by Susan Beth Pfeffer really made me think about our world and how much is taken for granted. Lots and lots more to read.
 * Someone I know**: My husband of many years, and our four wonderful daughters. They are truly a fantastic bunch and I am blessed to have them. We spend many hours at show choir competitions, volleyball and softball games, and dance recitals. They are all so different and unique.
 * Someone who inspired me**: I would have to say my dad. He was a man of integrity, compassion and honesty- just an overall good person. I’ve always know how lucky we were to have him, but finally came to a peace not too long ago listening to some friends talk about their fathers (who are still living). In their description of their childhood with absentee, uninterested fathers, I realized that although I may feel our years were cut short, I was so lucky to have the years we did have and I am extremely privileged to be his daughter.