BLOGGING

            Blogging is something that is fairly new to me. Over the last few years I have heard about famous bloggers that like to blog about fashion, upcoming trends etc. Never before have I thought to blog about my process going through the education program here at Southern Connecticut State University. 

            Before I started my first blog about education, I thought I would research other teachers' blogs. I found a lot of good ideas, lessons and information from them. They helped me understand how to blog and showed me blogging is basically a freedom of speech and expression. I think I like blogging so much is because it is basically a free write and I am able to voice my opinion about anything I want. I have a creative mind, so blogging allows me to use my creativeness. Hopefully, over time I will be able to make blogging a hobby and something that I naturally will do all the time.

 

            Over the course of my life, I’ve embraced a number of different hobbies: soccer, shopping, biking, taking pictures and track and field. But none of them have had to do with bettering my learning. Now I have a new hobby, blogging. Our task now is to complete a series of blogs for a class assignment. Once this class is over I plan to continue blogging.

            What do I hope to get out of my blogging experience? My goal is to become a better writer. At its core, writing is communication. It is about recording thoughts on paper. If I continue to record my thoughts, then I should become a better writer. This will then allow me to become a better thinker. Something great about blogging is that it is free. If others read your blogs then you can inspire them with your writing.

What and Why Do I Read?

 

Reading

            Reading has never been something I was too fond off. Once I got out of high school I gained appreciation for it. In high school I was forced to read materials that I was not interested in. I know that doing things you don’t want to do is a part of life, but when you spend hours reading and answering questions about material you don’t like, it gets old. I liked to read but the books I was given were boring and did not interest me in the slightest bit.

            It is very important to add reading into your life daily. Reading something as simple as a milk carton or the newspaper is better than not reading at all. I read because it is relaxing and helps me gain more knowledge. If I have the right book then I could sit and read for hours. Seeing hundreds of new words allows me to gain a better vocabulary. Reading also helps me to improve my imagination. I can predict and make connections to help. It also betters my verbal abilities. Books offer an outstanding wealth of learning.

            Realistic fiction is the genre that interests me most. I like how it can so easily be connected to my life. I am a very creative person and this type of writing gives me ideas and opens my imagination. If I could read books about love stories of people my age everyday then I would. Reading about love makes me so hopeful and excited for the future. The past three books that I have read have been romantic novels. Just recently I read a mystery book and loved it. Never before would I have ever chosen this type of genre, but I am happy I did. Genres that don’t interest me are: myths, folktales ,and anything about history. Those are topics that I cannot relate to, therefore I would never choose to read one of these types of books.

Writer's Workshop: Realistic Fiction

 

Conferencing

            In class today we met in our conference groups to continue to discuss our informational text essays. I continued to work on my paper about realistic  fiction. My classmates and Professor met with me to make sure I was on the right track. The goal of conferring was to pin point out target areas that need more growth. We discussed the components needed for the criteria of the paper. We need to be sure to include the definition of the genre, benefits it has and how you would teach it and implement it into the classroom.

            One of the biggest target areas I need to focus on was adding in text citations in APA format. I cited my sources at the end of the paper, but did not include them throughout the essay. In addition, I used MLA so I need to change the format to APA. I have never used APA before, so this will be something new to me. In addition, I need to work on making my paragraphs a little bit longer. There are a few paragraphs that are 3-4 sentences. Combining paragraphs together is something I can do to fix this. Another issue was how many times I use the word “then”. This word  was used in almost every sentence or every other sentence. I do this subconsciously all the time. Using other words to replace this is a must. A target area I really need to work on was making sure that I show and don’t tell. For example, I wrote, “ this is what I researched….” instead I should have just began to explain the research I found.

            Next step in my writing process will be to fix the errors I created. I will work on the targeted areas that my peers gave me. Hopefully, I will be able to improve my paper for the next draft!

Writer's Workshop: Realistic Fiction

Pre-Write


         Our next assignment falls in the category of Writer's Workshop. My goal is to create four blog posts about the writing process of my informal essay. I had to pick a genre that interests me most and write about how it is used in a classroom. Before actually writing my essay there is a long process.
          The first thing I did was brainstorm what genre I felt the strongest about. I decided to pick realistic fiction because these stories resemble real life, and fictional characters within these stories react similarly to real people. I think it's great when a child can listen to a story and be able to personally relate or apply it to real life. It allows them to create personal connections while reading, as well as have a sense of imagination while writing.
    I had to brainstorm all the information I could remember about realistic fiction before I started my research. Last semester I was enrolled in a creative writing class where we were always writing fiction stories. Thankfully, this worked in my favor because the information was fresh in my mind.
      Defining what this genre is, is a simple task, but explaining how it is utilized in an elementary school classroom is not. I kept trying to think about why students need to use this in their writing process and how they benefit from it. In the class I am currently observing in the students have not done fiction yet, so I was unable to relate it back to them. Realistic fiction allows students to have freedom while they write. It is based off of what they think and not research. Using this genre helps portrays the realities of life so children can gain a more in depth understanding of human problems and relationships.By just reading other peoples' writing it helps students gain a sense of who people are and what they are going through.
   The actual writing of my essay will NOT be easy, but the planning I set up with background information and ideas will definitely help. Stay tuned for the next step in my realistic fiction extravaganza! 

                        

The Maze Runner

BOOK CLUB SESSION 4

            This week our book club finished The Maze Runner by James Dashner. This week we discussed chapters 50 to 62. Throughout the whole book I was very intrigued and attentive to what was going on. Sadly, once it got toward the end I was disappointed. I felt that the ending was rushed, and confusing. Throughout the book the events were done at a good pace. I felt that the end was thrown together in about three pages. Maybe the author meant to do this? But personally it didn’t work for me. Fortunately enough, I did enjoy the rest of the book, and definitely will read the next book in Dashner’s series. Our past three book club meetings were held face to face, so we felt it would be a good idea to host a meeting over text message. Here we all had the opportunity to voice our thoughts and opinions on how we felt about the ended. Some agreed with me while others felt the ending was a good fit for the book.

            First off, we discussed how the boys and Theresa wanted to test to grievers hole to see if it was a way out. I was shocked to see Gally alive. Did the grievers just take him into the hole and not kill him? Or did the creators do this on purpose? I personally think the creators did this on purpose.

            I did not think that Chuck was going to die. I thought this was a very sad moment. I felt bad for Thomas because he felt that he had let chuck down. Thomas had promised to protect Chuck and in the end it was out of his power. I don’t think Thomas will ever be able to forgive himself. We discussed how the creators were vicious, heartless people.

            I felt that the “flare” was an interesting concept, although it did confuse me at first. Our group had a lot of unanswered questions. We wanted to know more about life after the maze. We also wondered what was the deal with group b. I personally wanted to know about their memories. Did Theresa and Thomas form a relationship? I would have loved to see memories of everyone’s personal lives and families. One main thing we all wondered was, are they safe with these new people. Do these people have their own intentions with them? It was odd how as soon as the bonus escaped the other group of people came right in. How did they know they escaped? Where they watching to? I feel like this is a weird coincidence that must have some sort of important meaning.

            Overall, I enjoyed the book. I did have a lot of unanswered questions, but hopefully they will be answered in the next book. Our group did a great job of working together assessing this book.

The Maze Runner

BOOK CLUB SESSION 3

            This week our group held its third book club meeting. We continued to discuss The Maze Runner by James Dashner. As the book comes to end it keeps getting better and better. I am so eager to find out what happens at the end of the book. Will Thomas and Theresa start a relationship? Will they all get out of the maze and go back to the “real world”. Will the author show a glimpse of their home lives? I also wonder if one of the major characters will die to create some drama in the book.

            This week we talked about chapters 40-49. We continued to make text-to-text connections with The Hunger Games.  One thing we talked about for a while was the process of Thomas going through the changing. We wondered that if Thomas hadn’t done this would the rest of the crew be successful in trying to complete the maze. Every person that had gone through the changing has felt something different. As a group we were curios as why everyone who goes through the changing sees Thomas, but not Theresa. Why is Theresa not popping into everyone’s minds?

            I feel that Thomas and Theresa are able to talk to each other threw their minds to show that they are apart from everyone else. I feel that the author wants us readers to know that these two characters are special. I also noticed that everyone is starting to like Theresa a little bit more. Before she was hated by most. Since she has helped with the codes, she is trusted a little bit more. It was stated that the ones that survive would be used for something, but what?  This is a question that is pondering my mind.

            Something we talked about in class today was, processing. This is what you do as a group to help your discussion flow smoothly and be successful. It also is ideas that you use that enable everyone in a group to get along. I feel that my group has done a GREAT job. We have all kept up with our reading. I think it helps because we are all very interested in the book. We are all eager to find out what is going to happen. When we are in book club we provide a comfortable environment. We allow everyone to share their ideas and never judge or put down people based on their opinions. We try to focus on predictions and character development.

            This was a very short book club section but a lot of information was given. I

have a few ideas that I think may happen in the end, but I am not sure. Stay tuned!