Extended comments on Teaching Multilingual Children by Virginia Collier

     In this blog I will be responding to Shaelyn's post on the same reading. I really enjoyed reading your blog post on Collier's reading. I fully agree that students should feel that their primary language is part of their educations. Their education should not disregard the language they already know, it should be used to help them learn a second language. She writes that "The picture, which has emerged thus far from first language acquisition research, is that children actively engage in a gradual, subconscious, and creative proof-discovery procedure through which they acquire the rule system of the language." They are only going to learn the rules of the second language through using commonality to their first language.

Code- Switching:

Collier writes, "Linguists consider code-switching to be a creative use of language by bilinguals who know both languages well." I like what Shaelyn wrote about code-switching in her blog post, she covered this topic very well. A student who can successfully speak two language is more than likely to code switch. It shows their understanding of both languages and their intellectual development. A student should not be put down for their tendencies to code switch in any way. I think Collier writes about code- switching perfectly when she writes, "Code-switching, the most creative and dynamic process of the three, is highly structured. It is governed by the gram mars of both the first and second languages. It is not a linguistic weakness." We have to stop thinking of having a second language as a weakness, it is not a weakness it is just different than what we are used to.

In the article I found online called, "South African teachers Switch Language in Class: why policy should follow" on The Conversation, it is said that "research has proved many times that pupils learn best in their own mother tongues." This is done so that students don't lose touch with their own language and so that they can learn more easily. By doing this the students are allowed to keep a piece of their identity and use it to learn another language. 

Article: http://theconversation.com/south-african-teachers-switch-languages-in-class-why-policy-should-follow-122087

 (picture is from article above)

Blog #2- Kozol

Mott Haven

   A city where life can't be lived? When you begin to read the article by Kozol, you think about how hard life must be in Mott Haven. These children have witnessed more than most of us will see in a lifetime. They have dealt with more stress and anxiety than most will ever deal with. Saddest part is that they will struggle more than most will ever struggle. Kozol writes that, "Depression is common among children in Mott Haven." No child should ever have to deal with depression. Childhood is meant for learning and having fun.  

Drugs and Disease
     In this area drugs such as heroin and diseases, such as, AIDS, are most common. They are so common that almost every child knows or has a relative that suffers from drug abuse or diseases. 

A sanctuary in the rough?



  That is St. Ann's church. This area may be run down, and may be sad to look at but not when you walk into St. Ann's. The church is their diamond in the rough.


Kozol writes that, "The beautiful old stone church on 51. Ann's Avenue is a gentle sanctuary from the terrors of the streets outside."

Kozol goes on to talk about David and a conversation they had about his mother and her suffering. Imagine being the child and having to care for your mother who suffers from AIDS and going to a clinic and seeing that there is a table passing out condoms and clean needles. That just goes to show how sad the area is and how much help they truly need.

Is the statement "All lives Matter" controversial?
   I believe it is. In the article about this statement it is stated that this is just a distraction from the real issues. I agree with that statement. I think people are constantly trying to find a way to hide the real issues with a different point of view. Avoiding the issues we face is not a solution. It allows these issues to grow and continue to become bigger issues. It doesn't solve anything but instead allows these problems to stay the way they are. People tend to forget what the real problem in society is when their focus is pointed towards something else.

"Land Of Limitations?"

My Thoughts Today.. 

Land Of Limitations? By Nicholas Kristof






What does this image say to you?

Kristof writes about how we were once the land of opportunity. That is what this country stands for but it does not always prove to be true. Some of us are lucky enough to be born into the upper pr middle class.

Class:
Being born into the upper middle class gives you a better chance of making it in this country. Kristof writes that "A child born in the bottom quintile of incomes in the United States has only a 4 percent chance of rising to the top quintile, according to a Pew study. A separate (somewhat dated) study found that in Britain, such a boy has about a 12 percent chance." Why is the chance lower for someone in America than it is for someone in Britain? Why are these not the issues our leaders are looking at?

Opportunity:
Kristof goes on to write "“talent is universal, but opportunity is not.” This quote says a lot. Two people in this world could both be equally talented but because one has more money, or more connections that person has a higher chance of making it. As I continued to read I came across another one of Kristof's quotes that read, "the best predictor of where we end up is where we start." Kristof was talking about his friend but I was thinking of my own family and friends and how try this statement was. America is  supposed to be the land of opportunity and dreams but that is only true for a very small percentage of people. The system is set up for those in power to succeed and those without to stay at the bottom.

Schooling:
Lets consider school and education now. Do you know that the graduation rate for those in the lower class is much lower than those from the upper middle class? Have you ever asked yourself why? In my opinion this should be a concern. Where does this issue start? How do we as a nation solve this issue?

Kelsey's Life

Hey Guys!

  Welcome to my blog! Here's some information about myself :) 

My Name: Kelsey Hinchliffe

Birthday: 09/15/1998

Home Town: Burrillville, RI

Graduated From: Burrillville High School

College: Rhode Island College

Age: 21

THIS IS ME! 


















     High School
In high school I took AP classes, and played many sports. I ran cross country and beat my personal record by a total of two minutes my senior year. I played basketball and golf. I lettered in all three sports and got MVP for golf. I was awarded MVP for golf, sportsmanship for basketball, Overall sportsmanship for the school, Roger Hall Award and more. I broke my nose my senior year in basketball and wore a face mask to continue out the season. 









Jobs

Currently I work at Burrillville Extended Care which is a before and after school care program. I also work as a bartender at a golf course. Seasonally, I am the JV Girls Basketball Coach at Lincoln High School. 




Volunteer

I coach a recreational basketball team in the BYBA league for my town. I have been doing this for the past three years. I have coached a biddies team along with the junior and senior girls division. 














College Sports
    I play golf for RIC. I have been playing since I entered into RIC 3 years ago. 

Interests/ Hobbies
   I love going on adventures. My favorite trip I have ever taken was to California with  my best friend. We went right after we graduated high school.

I also like taken random day trips to go do things like hiking. Over the summer I took a trip to NH and visited Glen Ellis Falls and one other waterfall. 

Aside from loving adventures I am huge into health, nutrition and fitness. I go to Body Rock in Cumberland multiple times a week and love herbalife shakes. I have one everyday for either breakfast or lunch. My favorite place is New Rhode Nutrition in Burrillville.