Peter H Johnson's Choice Words Analysis

(Diane M Barone/Marla H. Mallette, 2013). Parents need to know how important literacy is for their

Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) it is enormously important for relationships to be formed and maintained. Relationships should be formed between teachers and their pupils, teachers and parents and between teachers themselves. It is important for relationships to be maintained throughout the EYFS so that the child’s learning and development is effectively taught, so parents and carers knows they can trust the teachers and so teachers can work together successfully. Teachers and their pupils need to have a positive relationship.

As I was reading Melissa Duffy’s “Inspiration, and Craig Vetter’s “Bonehead Writing,” I found myself connecting with Vetter’s paper more than Duffy’s. I found that the presentation in “Bonehead Writing” to capture my attention, and that Vetter’s feelings about writing was similar to my opinion on writing. Through his wording and humor, I think Craig Vetter wrote the best essay. I find that the wording and presentation of an article or essay influences my opinion of the writer, and it affects how I receive the idea they are trying to present to me. Craig Vetter uses a blunt approach to convey his idea that writing is nearly impossible to teach, and describes writing as “A blood sport, a walk in the garden of agony every time out.”

What kind of imagery comes to mind when the word savage its said aloud? What kind of connotation does you think drives this word? Primitive, barbarian, negligent? Because if so, it’s a perfect word that depicts what author Jonathan Kozol, in his book Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s School, is trying to portray about the United States School System. His book opens the eyes of the reader to the worse and best of what schooling in the U.S is.

Many of us have a role model we look up. A role model can be anybody, ranging from “famous” individuals, fictional characters, to “ordinary” people. One thing they do have in common is their influence on the lives of young people. In Carl T. Rowan’s “Unforgettable Miss Bessie” and Mike Rose’s “I Just Wanna Be Average,” both authors illustrate that role models are around us and they come in the form of an educator. Teachers are said to be second in line after parents when it comes to influencing young people.

Like Mark Mathabane his parents sacrificed a lot for their sons education. He mentions “If, because of my schooling, I had grown culturally separated from my parents, my education finally had given me ways of speaking and caring about that fact.” (1) This shows that his childhood had a huge impact on the way he looked at education and literacy. Due to his situation he was even more intrigued in reading. The only thing that made him uncomfortable about reading by himself was the feeling of ¨loneliness”.

The Good, the Bad, and the Back and Fourth: A literacy Narrative Her beady eyes challenged me from behind her wire-rimmed glasses, “I guess you just need to work on turning in homework.” This was the final straw. English was doomed to be my least favorite subject. At this time though I didn’t know I liked writing and reading, so I just got by.

Writing About Writing, A College Reader. Ed. Elizabeth Wardle and Doug Downs. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2011. 481-495.

Knoblauch’s scholarly article, Literacy and Politics of Education, he elucidates that literacy isn’t just reading and writing. Literacy is much more than that. In fact, someone could be literate in just about anything. To expand, Knoblauch also explains literacy in different areas in life, such as the basic needs to function and personal development. These two concepts go hand in hand with Barry’s situation.

If you were to ask me four years ago who I would imagine myself ending up like after high school, it would not be who I am today. The 13 long, and sometimes dreaded, years I experienced in school helped me discover the type of person I wanted to become. Finishing high school was the first milestone that I achieved as an adult and helped me discover my adulthood. Parker Palmer states student fears in his essay “The Courage to Teach” and Amy Tan discusses language barriers in her essay “Mother Tongue” which showed me how it was that I overcame my fear of rejection and the feeling of being ashamed about my mothers broken English. It is through their work that I can relate my personal struggles I encountered while finding my identity.

As a student, while reading this article I found many of the concepts useful but especially familiar. Throughout my years of public education, the older I became, the more I was able to recognize certain techniques and strategies that teachers used. For example, the article mentions to compliment good choices within earshot of peers and parents, keeping it simple and authentic to boost their self-esteem and make them feel comfortable and safe. This is just one of the many suggestions in the article that reminded me of my childhood. Anytime a teacher gave me a compliment, it first made me feel good about myself and distracted me of any fears I may of had.

Literacy can open new worlds for you, and opportunities you never knew existed. All three authors have had different experiences that lead them to a certain position. Mark Mathabane as a child doesn’t like school but he changes after time from his surroundings and experience, and finding

If one were to ask students about the process of writing undoubtedly there would be many who would express that they found the exercise difficult. Perhaps there would even be great scholars who would give the same answer. One problem that plagues writers is something known as “writer’s block”, the condition of being unable to think of what to write next. Richard Wilbur in his poem entitled “The Writer” details a story of his daughter attempting to write while experiencing writer’s block. Although writing may sometimes be difficult, the challenge can be overcome by a little help from outside sources, hard work, and determination.

In “Literacy in Three Metaphors,” Sylvia Scribner tries to define and explain what literacy really is. Scribner says that literacy as a notion may be defined in many different ways, and I agree with this statement. She states that it depends on a particular society and certain standards of this society. Scribner offers the solution to the problem of defining literacy. This solution consists of examining and discussing the three metaphors: literacy as adaptation, literacy as power and literacy as a state of grace.

Everyday, she excels in her job of caring for the children and making a difference in the community. Due to her kindness she would always bring thoughtful gifts for the children. She doesn 't have to do the classes with the children everyday but she continues to do it like Sylvia says “school supposed to let out in the summer I heard, but she dont never let up” (Bambara 96). The lessons learned while earning her degree has lead her to becoming a positive role model in the children 's lives; nonetheless, teaching them lessons that may never learn from others. She shows her passion in the story by saying “she said, it was only her right that she take responsibility for the young ones’ education.