viernes, 14 de octubre de 2011

Karla Gabriela loves books

BRENDA CASTRO RODEA (MÉXICO)


Carol Cardenes-Grimaldi
EDU 1300-8432
Prof. Lee Paez
Reflection Paper #7

“I don’t want to miss another day of school, mom!” My daughter Karla told me last week. She was very sick and she had to stay home for a whole week. For most children missing the learning experience that assisting to school implies may be fun!  Not for my daughter. Missing school is kind of a tragedy for her.  She just loves to learn. She loves to do homework. She enjoys working in projects. She also loves to read and write! It is very motivating for me, to hear her teachers said: “You have an avid, strong and enthusiastic learner. She is a commitment student!

Karla Gabriela loves books since she was a baby!
The reward of having a daughter so thirsty of learning means a lot to me. It means that my children have the same interest for studies that I have. While attending class this week, we were discussing about preparing for academic performance, challenges and learning experiences. We read about the different kind of approaches for academic learning. Some students approach studies using Surface learning witch means that people just study because they need to do so. They are motivated for external rewards, no for the intimated satisfaction that the process of learning products.  They rely only in memorization to pass the subjects and learning is not a point of interest to them. They visualize learning as a boring thing to do. The second approach is:  Deep learning in this case students are highly motivated to learn deeply and with a vast interest. They enjoy studying and see every assignment as an opportunity; they can be creative and practical. In this case, the reward is more from the inside, because every opportunity to learn brings an internal satisfaction of successes. The final approach is called: Achievement learning in this specific case, students approach learning with a deep motivation created for the academic grades and internal rewards that being a commitment student means. In this step of learning, students are self disciplined, have study habits and are very autonomous.
During class’s discussion I shared the fact that I just love to learn! I love to discover new things.  That is the reason why during my study experience I can't see myself too often, in the surface approach. When I start a new subject I normally approach to it with confidence and deep learning. The more I learn the more confident and the more desire I have to continue learning. In my college experience, I would place myself in both Deep and Achievement learning approach, because I am really motivated through my classes and I like the internal and external rewards that my progress signifies. I try to focus in the material that is important.  I have been able to manage my time, using it wisely and to self disciplined me in order to success. It has been hard thought, because I have to focus and work hard in subjects like Math, witch I don’t like. That is why while discussing our college challenge I posted that I manage to take Math last semester, approaching it with confidence, not with fear, as I used to do before. I encourage them to use specific strategies while approaching subjects like that.
 Some of my classmates posted that they are really having a hard time applying themselves to be successful in college and to do assignments on time. I will advise them to try to fall in love with studies and the whole process of learning. It is really difficult to apply yourself in a subject if you don’t have the internal and external motivation to do so. I think if they put effort and try to enjoy the learning process; it will make them to become college achievers.
While working in our study unit this week, I found out some excellent strategies that help a lot while preparing for college success. I still remember my mother, which used to homeschooled us, reciting in Spanish “Dos y dos son cuatro, cuatro y dos son seis, seis y dos son ocho y ocho es diez y seis!” (Two plus two equals four, four plus two equals six, six plus two equals eight and eight more is sixteen!) Here in the States, I know that Elementary School utilizes song like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” to help the students memorize facts too. These Mnemonics strategies are really helpful while memorizing.
I read about the different range of difficulty in the reading material and how we can determine each one...  The first level is the inherent grade of difficulty, and then comes the quality of presentation of our writing or speech. We need to determinate by what our book called “intuitive-formal continuum” the relevant points of each lecture or study material. It seems that every academic learning experience is unique. That is why each person approaches learning in a different way. Deeper learners use strategies that help them to success.
When I was reading chapter 6 from our book “Academic Transformation, the Road to College Success”, I found that we have a lot of helpful strategies to help us achieve in College. There are two kinds of learning tools:
 1) Simpler ones like taking notes or learning rhymes
  2) Advanced ones, like using Matrix, Maps and Graphics.
  I will advise myself and my classmates also, to take advantages of the different study’s methods that we can apply in the beautiful process of learning.  This has been an actively week of participation between almost all of us.  It has been pretty easy to post comments in my learning group. We didn’t have any controversial or complicated subject to share at this time. I personally enjoyed writing about the things that aren’t wrong in our lives. I posted that even when I manage a very busy life, I have the motivation to have a supportive husband. I also have caring and smart kids. I am in the process of reaching my goals and I do have a family that loves me! I think that none of these things are wrong in my life. We also discussed about the results that each one of us obtained while performing the self assessment: Skills for Success. I posted that there are some areas in this assessment that I have some strong skills. I shared that during my college life I see a lot of improvements like:
I am learning how to be an autonomous student.
I can access difficult levels in my courses, and change strategies.
I can complete assigned material before class.
I do my best to keep my attention focus in the subjects of learning and take advantages of the different tools and strategies.
I can also plan my schedule better.
I do recognize the important points of a subject of a lecture.
I am satisfied with my current abilities to learn in class.
We also posted about the process that we are having reaching our personal goals. Seems like most of us, are satisfy with the results. This week I have a personal challenge. I need to work in my writing structure. Dr. Lee encouraged me to practice short sentences and avoid confusing paragraphs. I have been working hard in focusing in each assignment so I can develop a better writing assessment. I don’t feel bad, because I do recognize my language’s limitations and my background. In other hand it is a good thing to put into practice, because this unit I learned about the importance of the quality of a presentation.   In general, it has been a very useful study’s lessons this week! Same as some of my classmates I find this course just great. I had learned a lot. I am looking forward to enroll in more nutritive classes like this one.
©Carol R. Cárdenes-Grimaldi

martes, 11 de octubre de 2011

In Peace



By Carol R. Cardenes-Grimaldi

http://escriboalaire.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.html


I found myself walking on the beach in an attempt to find peace! This kind of deep peace that I need so hard and that is so difficult to understand!
I love the sea. Its waves are like soft music that thrills my life. Blue waters transmit me a serene confidence.
Peace! It is difficult to walk in life when there is no peace. The Ocean is the reason why I return again and again, and I experience such a delight to feel the gentle breeze caressing my face, while the warmth rays of the Sun fills my soul of a heat sensation! The Sun! So powerful and so far. It hurts to look at it. When you try to focus the eyes in the Sun, its energy hurts you view and force you to look away, but I love feeling it on my skin. To Feel the Sun is like a reaffirmation that I'm still alive and that the peace that my soul seeks someday; this Peace may be found.
I walked a lot. The grief that troubled my life, no longer exists.
We are still together. The sea and I. The sand does Tickle in my feet. Now it curls up overnight. I enjoy the warm company of silence. Melodiously the sea sings to me! I close my eyes. Beside me there is an immense peace. 
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¡Caminando sobre la playa intento encontrar paz!