Amanda,
I just wanted to let you know about English 1102. I am in Ms. Ingram's class this semester. She has taught us to learn in so many different ways. When I saw the syllabus had blog post dates on it, I was a little nervous. I wasn't so sure about putting my work on the Internet for anyone and everyone to read over. I thought it was to be blogging about out personal lives, but I was wrong we were blogging about our research. Doing the research this way has taught me tremendously! With it being on the Internet I review it probably 3 times as much as I normally would if it was on paper in my notebook. If I'm confused about something I can look at what other people in my class has done and get a better understanding of how to approach it. I have learned more about opening up on paper, and actually enjoying what we are researching. I have also learned a new way to research, this way is definitely more beneficial for me. It may be beneficial to you also, I know you struggle with some of the same things in writing that I do. We all don't learn in the same thing in the same way. So maybe I can teach you what I have learned by doing research in this manner.
What its like to be you essay:
I really enjoyed writing this essay, I was kind of nervous being so open at first. I figured everyone has they skeletons in their closet, and their struggles. I wanted to be completely open because I know someone else will read it and it might inspire them to be more open in their essay. The audience for this piece are my peers and my teacher. They affected the writing of it because I knew our teacher was going to read it so I wanted it to be good, but more so that my peers would read it was more of a motivation to make it more real. To tell the true story. It was also nice to be able to read the others students papers. I learned so much from them also. Not everyone has a nice peachy life, but you have to make the best of it. I know that I will revise this one for my final portfolio, I felt that I had to tell you my past for you to be able to understand who I am today. I never really got into who I am today, I need to revise it to tell about that more. (look out Ms. Ingram you may have a 10 page essay : ) It was easy once you just let the words start flowing, they start making sentences and paragraphs in no time! The difficult part was not omitting things because others would read it. Writing this paper I learned about myself also, I haven't thought too much about my past before. I always remembered what it was like, but I never dissected it before. I learned why I look at some things the way I do. I learned that I probably spoil Kelsey too much because I don't want for her to feel like I do about my mom, and because of her father. I learned that I really do still hold a grudge against my mother. I learned that nothing with her will ever change after all these years, it just is the way it is. The only thing that I can do it not repeat the mistake. I talked with my older sister (which I use that term lightly because we arn't even a year apart) about our childhood and we have different memories of it. She doesn't remember things being like that toward her, I have to remind her that's because they weren't toward her but they were toward me. Aside from that I also learned that I need to work on run on sentences. I had many in this essay and probably my Annotated Bib also.
Peace Butter and Jelly
I have to be honest when I saw "be prepared to buy PB&J from me next week in class" I laughed I thought you really were going to have sandwiches! A lot of times when I am reading that's all I do. I just read it, I can close the book and cant tell you a single thing I read in it. I found that still true in this book, at first it didn't interest me at all, it would take me forever just to read a page. I would get distracted and realize that I wasn't focusing and start over. If I couldn't tell myself what I just read I would start the page over again. I have a student mentor this semester and she has helped me greatly in reading strategies. After a while I began to enjoy the book a little bit. Although I was confused somewhat with all the jumping around (keep in mind that I am easily distracted lol ) Meeting the author and seeing his passion for his book and for his recipes changed all that for me. I read the book over after meeting him. Now I think the book was a great idea to jump start our semester thesis question. It might be a good idea for him to make a short video introducing himself or something to play before your students actually start reading. They may be able to make more connection that way. I like the book now and I wont be selling it back at the end of the semester, and that's due to actually meeting him.
Haiku
All of this thinking
has my head spinning away
its time for a break : )
