Dustin Anderson

     In quote number one, Dustin Anderson is saying that educators are not currently preparing their student for the world in an effective way. Anderson also expresses that part of the reason students are not being taught certain skills is because the teachers do not possess these skills to teach them. I take Anderson's side with his opinion. Our world is forever changing and advancing. In order for the children of today to be prepared for the world of tomorrow, they are going to need to develop these "cognitive skills" that they simply are not exposed to.

     When I was in elementary school, computers that can access the internet were something new and not so advanced. Internet usage for me then, was limited to collecting information and word processing. Today, however, a computer is hardly a computer at all without internet. In my high school English classes, majority of the assignments that were given were to be completed through Moodle. Even group work was assigned through Moodle and other internet sites.

     It is true that many instructors do not have the skills to be able to teach their students. In some cases, the teacher would probably like to teach certain things, but just does not have the room to add it into a lesson because of the school district's curriculum. Many "failing" school districts limit classroom instruction only to the areas covered on standardized tests. They do this so that the students will be more prepared for the tests and so that the school does not lose its funding from the state.

WRT 150: Literacy Timeline

·         Loved books as a child

o   Learned to read at age four

o   Puppet shows at Daycare with Simba and Lemon

o   Wrote stories in Kindergarten

o   Made up different scenarios

o   Spelling tests every week in 1st grade

§  If I got anything lower than an A on a spelling test, I was on punishment for the week until the next spelling test.

·         Love dwindled as I got older

o   Did not like reading as much

o   Preferred to create things instead

o   Mostly read for school only

§  Barley read for school

o   Middle school books were boring!

o   Then there was high school

·         Love was found in high school

o   Found interest in books I read in English class

o   We had to read a different book and report on it every month

o   This class helped me to rediscover my love for books!

o   Since 9th grade, I have never lost my passion for reading

o   I even enjoy reading for my classes now

§  Even Political Science!

Summary Response: Sherman Alexi

Sherman Alexi grew up on an Indian reservation.  Education was provided, but it was not something that was pushed on the children.  Alexi's father loved books.  Due to his father's deep affection for literacy, Alexi loved books too.  However Alexi, at the time, did not know how to read or write.  He then taught himself how to read and write.

As an adult,  living his life as a writer, Alexi noticed that not much had changed as far as education on the reservation.  Because Alexi had such a drive and passion for reading and writing, he felt that the Indian kids could develop that same love.  Just as Alexi was determined to learn to read, he was determined to teach and inspire others.

I admire Alexi for his boldness as a child in the classroom, as well as his being persistent.  As a child, I probably would not have had such a drive to learn to read if the opportunity was not provided to me.  I learned to read at the age of four as a pre-school student.  I do not remember it being difficult to learn to read.  I just remember practicing.  Like Alexi, I did have a drive to learn to read.  Unlike Alexi, my drive to learn to read was not as powerful.

WRT 150: The Importance of Writing

Writing is a skill integral for success in my career.  I plan to become a psychologist.  As a psychologist it is necessary for me to write up reports on my patients.  Communication is also important in my career.  In order for me to do my job effectively, I must be able to communicate my findings to the world of psychology.

I see myself as writing at an average level.  When I picture myself as a professional, I do not see one who is average (or writing as a freshman in college).  Obviously, I have a lot of growing to do as a person and in my writing skill. 

If for some strange and traumatic reason I decide that I no longer want to pursue a career in psychology, I will however still need to know how to write.  I love helping people, so it is only right that my job reflects what I love to do.  My second career choice is Social Work.  In the career of Social Work, there is so much writing.  As a social worker, I would have to do multiple  reports that are read by different people who do different things.  Because so many people are reading what I write, I would need to know how to choose my words carefully and communicate more effectively so that my writings are perceived in the way I intended for them to be.