Demissie-Gordon,+Beshu

** Assignment #1 **

 * 1. A. On your page please write a brief biography for yourself and include a photo or icon so we might know or imagine what you look like. **

Hi everyone. My name is Beshu Demissie-Gordon. I worked as an Archivist at the International Community School of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia until last June. We moved to Stamford, Connecticut when my husband took a job in one of the public schools here in the US. We have three beautiful children in each school level. My oldest daughter is Rebekah. She is attending high school in 10 th  grade. Faven, my second daughter is in middle school attending 8 th  grade. My son Lukas is in Kindergarten. At the moment my husband is the only one who provides our financial needs. I am a full time mom, who keeps the family’s other needs since we moved here. I have my Bachelors Degree from Iona College in Computer Information Science. I joined SUNY when I was in Addis. I am looking forward to learn a lot in this CONFLICT-RESOLUTION course where we can module to our children solving conflicts in love and peace. This is a picture of my children.

Conflicts happen everyday in school. They can be good or bad. I’ll be trying to explain how to resolve conflicts and how to prevent them from happening again in the future. School is the most likely place where children find themselves in different circumstances that often leads to escalated conflicts with their peers. Adults also can get into conflicts for a different reasons. To have a peaceable school we have to create a peaceful environment where everybody respectfully resolves their conflicts without using violence. Having peaceable school creates peaceful generations. In order to achieve that, the following issues are a few of many to be addressed.
 * 1. B. ****On the page you have created for your name, would you please write a short statement (250 +- words) describing what you think a course in Conflict Resolution / Peaceable Schools should be about. Please list five specific topics you would like to see included in this course**.

>>> =** Assignment #2 **=
 * 1)  **Involvement and cooperation:-** To have a peaceable school, parents, teachers, administrators, students and the whole school communities’ involvement and cooperation is needed. The school community, administrators, teachers, students should work together towards conflict resolution and try to preserve it from happening.
 * 2) **Diversity: -** Acknowledging and accepting the fact that the community is built with different kinds of people changes how we see things. Working together, encouraging and reinforcing the acceptance of diversity is a crucial aspect for peaceable schools.
 * 3) **Communication: -** Effective communication should target to teach and learn conflict resolution skills. Good communication helps one solve problems, think critically and build respectful behavior, which brings caring sharing and other important skills we need in life.
 * 4) **Rules for students:-** Making rules that the school community respectfully follows is important. As an example for giving students a variety of things to play with and take a turn and rotate makes them in control of their behavior.  Take a group of young children for example. Giving them the chance to play with a toy and then making them give it up for another person, makes them have control over their behavior and emotions. Even if there is a conflict between them, teaching students to be problem solvers instead complainers is one rule for great methods towards having a peaceable school.
 * 5) **Consistency:-** Once the rules are created they Should apply to everyone that enforces fairness and equality. This minimize favoritism and there would be less complaining and less conflict.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">After watching the movie that you requested be approved by Hank or after Watching American History X have a discussion with those others who watched the movie on the role of nature and nurture in the film and the role of school, teachers and mentors in the film. Then, write a brief - 2- page (500 word+ or -) report describing the influences you observed and discussed. Post this entry on your individual wiki page.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Kids know the difference between black and white but knowing the difference doesn’t make them hate each other. People by nature can like or dislike anything or anybody but, to really hate something or someone you must be taught by other people. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dennis Vineyard is a husband of Doris and a father of 4 kids in the movie Titled “American History X”. Derek is the oldest brother, Danny and their two sisters live together with their parents. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We thought Derek had good intentions at the beginning of the film. Before all the violence started he had a positive outlook on his teacher Dr. Sweeney and the books that his teacher gives him to read in school while they are studying the black literature course. He liked both the course and his teacher. One night while having dinner together his father seeds a racist comment by revealing his anti-affirmative actions against blacks, jews and all immigrant (minorities). Later on in the film the father is killed by black drug dealers. Derek, (the main character) and his little brother became resentful against minorities especially black people <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. The resentment was strong <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">enough to remember and react on the hate rate feeling their father’s plant in them so much so to join the skinheads. Nurturing hate brings violence. He killed 3 black men who came to to steal his car. We know stealing is bad. Finding a better way to deal with that didn’t come to Derek’s mind which made him end up in prison. That is what happened to Derek in the film. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">While in prison for killing three people, he met Lamont an African American man as a working partner. As they worked together Lamont somehow started to bring out Derek’s good nature. He talked to him all the time until he got Derek’s attention to listen to him. The two eventually became friends. Lamont was unjustly sentenced to six years in prison for attempting to steal a television from a store. Derek on the other hand killed 3 people and was only sentenced to a few months and this caused him to have pity for Lamont. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As Derek became closer to Lamont, he kept his distance from the other prisoners (the skinheads) he started to see the skinhead prisoners getting angry with him. His resentment to join them brought a conflict that caused him rape. When he was under treatment from the rape his old principal Cameron an African American guy came to visit him. The relationship he built with Lamont and a visit from his former principal made him see how wrong the group he was leading was and how bad their beliefs were. At that point he realized to protect his brother Danny not to follow his footsteps. Only bad could happen from being a part of that kind of thing. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My conclusions on this movie regarding nature and nurture are that humans, kids in particular are not hateful by nature. But, they can learn to hate, just like Derek and his brother. Nurturing hate only brings more hate. The little bit of positive influence Derek got from Lamont, his teacher and his principal, started to bring his natural being out. The movie ended with his brother’s death before he strengthened his ability to love. I thought it was great the general focus of the movie described by a quote from President Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Desperately wishing to avoid this terrible conflict, Lincoln ended with this impassioned plea: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the [| __better angels of our nature.__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">”

=** Assignment #3 **=

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Peaceable school shows caring and sharing school wide. It shows better communication environment. It shows that everybody in the community respect each other. It shows it is ok to agree to disagree. It shows that hate the behavior not the person. It shows do not gossip, be honest, be committed to teach and practice peace. Communicating and sharing ideas for better teaching and learning. Giving a value to create or keep peaceful environment. Resolve conflict in a peaceful manner. Be fair to everyone. In a peaceable school everyone should be treated fairly and everyone should feel responsible for treating everyone else fairly. If administration provides all possible resource that is needed to teach peace, the support of her or his staff is valued. To acknowledge teaching peace not violence contributes on creating peace in the world. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The biggest idea for peaceable school is to have open communications on how to solve conflicts in a peace talk. Communication should happen between administrators and teachers (staff) and between teachers and students. In the conversation Love, Peace, Respect, Diversity, Responsibility, Accountability, should be included.
 * A. Remembering the film we just watched describe what the elements of a peaceable community or peaceable school might be. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">** What would a peaceable school or community look like? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">** What elements of communication would be included? **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Communication. By agreeing to disagree. Respecting the differences. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Violence, name-calling or cursing shouldn’t be tolerated. Discussing about the incident to solve the conflict, to understand each other is acceptable. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- The rule should be listening to one another in a respectful manner. - No violence under ANY circumstances. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- To teach peace throughout the day in all class that means students learn specific strategies to address conflict while studying history, literacy math sciences or PE. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As a teacher or as a parent whether or not it is in the curriculum teaching peace and developing Conflict resolution methods for the students is very important. Moreover, being a role model to the students is essential.
 * =** How is conflict resolution taught in our school? **=
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">** What would be tolerated and what would not be tolerated? **
 * = **What would the rules be?** =
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">** What would the expectations be? ** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If and when conflict happens to solve it in a peaceful way and learn from it. Listening and Talking in a lower tone also helps this way conflict get resolved more efficiently.
 * = What would the responsibilities be? =

=** B. Do a web search for Oscar Arias (use a minimum of two sites other than Wikipedia) **=

[|__http://www.worldtrek.org/odyssey/latinamerica/oscar/oscarbio.html__] [|__http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Oscar_Arias_Sanchez.aspx#1-1G2:3404700261-full__] [|__http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1987/__]

=** C. Read the Oscar Arias speech to the international educators at the Tri-Association, found at this link. ** =

=** D. Describe how if Hank (your professor) came to your classroom or community he would observe the elements of a peaceable community. **= <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Pictures to promote different cultures, the IB Learner profile on the wall. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I think more than anything, accepting a personal responsibility makes the world a better place. Because, building a peaceful community requires everyone’s cooperation. That means changing a personal or impersonal potential enemy into a friend is a beginning of peace.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">** What evidence would he see? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">** How will you promote peace in your community? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">** Describe how if Hank (your professor) came to your classroom or community he would observe the elements of a peaceable community. **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If Hank walks to my room first he will see a welcoming smile and warm greeting. As we all know to create a peaceful world requires the effort of many individuals. I try to teach my students that by creating Rituals. As we start the day I give my students an opportunity to greet and welcome each other just as I welcome them. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Then the students like sharing information about them either by talking or by displaying what they have. That give them a chance to share what they have or what they did outside of a classroom which gives the students to know a little bit more about each other. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In kindergarten kids have a short time memory span. They are told and reminded to practice to respect humanity and accept their differences, earth, tree, and animals in different ways throughout the day. They learn and practice to be respectful of their peers, their teachers and everybody in their community. It is important for the kids to know the world is a better place with White, Black Hispanics, and Asians… in it. They learn that through the cultural pictures on the wall, the educational activities and the books. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">They are aware of trying to solve their conflict with a friend before they come to the teacher, they are directed to be a good listeners, use kind words with the use of “I” message. For example, I do not like it when you do this to me, or when you say these things to me, other than you did this to me. I wish you asked me first. If the person who is fighting with you doesn’t stop arguing, tell them to STOP if they are still bothering you, ignore it and walk away. Use the words please and thank you more often. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I tell them to accept all the personal responsibility to make our classroom a peaceful place. Telling and showing love to one another brings more happiness than a war. Mainly they are reminded to be respectful to their peers and their teachers, everybody in their community. In addition to that, I make sure the student show Hank what they know about the IB Learner profile and the colorful world which is displayed on the wall to teach and promotes diversity. I am hoping that they put all this in a practice throughout the day for Hank to see.

=<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Assignment #4 =

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Quiz <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> & <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Participant <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Be A B C D

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. F F F F T <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. T T T T T <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. F T T T F <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4. T F F F F <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5. T T T F T <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**1. Why do you think the rate of homicide violence has gone down in the last 800 years?** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I think that homicide violence rates have gone down. Because of different reasons. These are some of them.
 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">One reason being the different technological resources that are available to the country’s justice system.
 * 2) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">New York City illegal drug use went down because of increase number of police on the in the city.
 * 3) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Another the reasons for this includes the change in lifestyle for many people. For example, discrimination against different races has gone down, so violent crimes that have occurred against the discriminated have gone down as well. The fact that minorities luck of opportunity to get a better paying jobs increased.
 * 4) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Stronger economy in the different countries.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I always thought there was more violence in the world than good doing including in the united states. Mostly because of what we see and hear from the media. Even though we can witness some violence in person most of the information we get comes through the media which makes me overestimated violence in the United States. The international and national news is mostly about tragic incidents that have occurred everywhere. The good things that have happened around the world are the things that often go unnoticed. But, this course made me look in to different aspect of the media coverage. For example John Stossel’s posted an article titled [|__Violence in America__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">that showed me some facts saying “The world hasn’t gotten meaner. Terrorism is a threat, but less of one than the hot and cold wars of my youth. The air and water are cleaner, and crime is down over the past 25 years”.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Did you over or underestimate violence in the United States? **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**3. What did your 4 subject colleagues think about violence in general?** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I discussed violence with the people I gave the quiz with. We all agreed on the fact we live in the world <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">there was conflict in the past, there is conflict now and there will be a conflict in the future. But, violence (war) shouldn’t be the answer to resolve it. It is wise to find a better solution to resolve it in a non violent way. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Violence shouldn’t be the answer to conflict because it just brings more conflict. Just as hate brings more hate. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I am happy in a decision I made on taking this course. I enjoyed it. And I learned a lot from it. The readings we are given, the websites articles and the movies we watched are very informative. I learned a lot of things that I didn’t know before. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">How did New York became safe? Where do we get our information about the world? of course it is from the media. Should we believe everything we see in the media? I learned a lot from this article. In particular Picker’s message to the public and for journalists. It was an eye opener for me. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">U.C. Berkeley School of Law professor Franklin Zimring talks about his article, "How New York Beat Crime," in the August issue of Scientific American <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">By [|__Steve Mirsky__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> | August 9, 2011 <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In his article titled [|__The city that became safe.__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Where he said to the public “you have got to think clearly. You should not base your view of the world on images, because that’s just not an accurate indicator of the shape of the world.” And also he said to the journalists, “ If you just say, here’s a violent event, therefore the world is getting more violent, you are making a mathematical error. You are misleading your listeners,”. That made me realize how bias the media is. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Video watched on Waterboarding. This is an "enhanced" interrogation technique. Write a brief comment about what you think about using torture or other "enhanced" interrogation techniques. (less than 250 words) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Being religious person, I thought torture is immoral and inhumane treatment. Torture violates the basic dignity of the human person that our religion holds precious; I think it was hard for me to take a side whether it is OK to torture a person to get the information that could save thousands of people or not to get the information and let those people die. On one hand I can not believe how much cruelty you must have in you in order to torture a human being to that extent. On the other hand I say as some people argue while torture is wrong, in extreme cases it would be justified to use it in order to get information that would save a lot of people. But how many innocent people would have to be at risk. How many innocent people have to go through torture for something that they may or may not have what is needed from them. It’s hard for me to make a definite decision and makes me wonder where do we draw the line.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Why? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5. What did you think about this lesson? **

=
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #243f61; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Google the word "Amygdala" and discover what that is. ===== <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**A. What is Amygdala Hijack?** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My understanding of Amygdala Hijack is an immediate emotional response that suddenly onset. After you react on the situation in the way you don’t normally do. Then you find it is inappropriate act when you take time to think about it.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Under normal circumstances people experience situations through their five senses. When there is an Amygdala Hijacks the brain freezes.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Describe a time when you saw someone's brain get "Hijacked" by their Amygdala. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Then, write a brief (250 word+ or -) report describing what you observed or experienced.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There was an incident that happened between a mother and her son. Both the mother and the dad are working full time. The mother is a nurse who work a night shift every day. One day she had to work more than her regular days which made her tired and cranky. The Dad came home a little earlier than usual he had a rough day at work. When he came home, he went straight to the bedroom and fell asleep. Their 13 years son were at home with friends having a party and the house began to get messy. Food cramps everywhere and one or two beer bottles on the table. The sofa had a big stain from ketchup. The mom came home after working all night and extra hours covering for a friend. She got home exhausted and stressed out. She didn’t expect to see the house in the condition it was, and she lost her self control. She was furious and her logical reasoning were no longer present, her responses were only emotional. She Yelled and screamed till her son got embarrassed in front of his friends. Later that evening after she had calmed down she regretted what she said. She apologized to her son for all the things she said to make him embarrassed. She wasn’t thinking right at the time. Her cortex side of her brain was hijacked by the amygdala, because, the power of emotions and stress from work overwhelmed her rationality. People respond to stress is in one of three ways. Freeze, fight or flight. Using breathing, counting and praying are some of the ways that help to control it.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Then, write a brief (250 word+ or -) report describing what you observed or experienced. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My Observation is that how body language can be as powerful as the words can be. She was explaining ways of nonverbal communication to express how we feel or in a way that is more effective and meaningful than just words. She was explaining the way we physically move our body to power pose influence others more than what we tend to say. We spend too much energy focusing on the words we are saying. She said that in many cases the words matter less than how it has being said. In general people often are more influenced by how they feel about us than what we are saying. It is not about the content of the message, but how it is communicated. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I like the way she explains the mind and posture relationships. She said that when we find ourselves incompetent we tend to fold our hands and collapse our shoulders, cross our legs, and hunch our shoulders. These kind of people can improve with a little twist by standing or sitting in powerful posture for 2 minutes which stimulates higher levels of testosterone. Testosterone is a hormone that linked to power and dominance in the animal and human world and the lower level of cortisol(the stress hormone). That can significantly change how our life unfolds because, body language affects how others see us or how we see ourselves. She also said that if we stand up in high power poses which is a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident our cortisol decreases by 25% and testosterone increases by 19%. The testosterone and cortisol levels in our brain may even have an effect on our chances for a successful life. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I know confidence comes from telling yourself that you are smart and strong that you can handle the task. Working on the body language; like the arm crossing and shoulder collapsing … are all bad habits that needed to be addressed. In Addition to that the ‘fake it till you make it’ concept can work sometimes but not all the time. I am a kind of person who can do it well once you show me what to do. Where I came from, culturally you do not talk big about yourself it is more respected when others say good things about you which contradicts how I used to think. But, to learn the point she made about spending too much time and energy on words are less important than how it is said or delivered to convince others is a one of the skills I have to work on myself. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I learned that working on to achieve these skills are more beneficial to me and others who are locking confidence and who do not feel competent enough to be a go getter.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">B. **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Amy’s talk about Body Language**
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> After watching this video is to share it with at least one other human being. A whole class would be better. **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Assignment #6 **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Conflict is a disagreement over something important between people, groups, etc., that results in often angry argument or a different that prevents agreement between ideas, feelings, etc. Conflict can be good or bad.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. What is a conflict? **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**2. What is conflict resolution?** (Texts, Web and personal observations are permitted. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“Conflict resolution is a way for two or more parties to find a peaceful solution to disagreement among them. The disagreement may be personal, financial, political, or emotional. When a dispute arises, often the course of action is negotiation to resolve the disagreement”. The main goal of negotiation with your opposition is to come to an agreement that benefits all parties. Detailed information that helped me understand about what, when, how and why should we [|__resolve conflict?__]

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">One incident that I have witnessed was that one of my family member and her husband got on a fight over a little thing. It was obvious that they have had a previous argument (conflicts) that was left unsolved. They both have had a lot to say to each other but passed unspoken. I sensed that they easily get angry at each other because they both feel hurt. One day the wife came from work a little later than usual. There were some of their common friends who were stopping by to visit at their house. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> When she was on her way home, I called and made an arrangement to meet with her at her house. As she walked in, her husband asked her where she was till that time. She replied she was at work that wasn’t all the truth. She went shopping with one of her girlfriends that he doesn’t care much for and who was also was recently divorced. He thinks she is a bad influence to their marriage. He got angry and started acting disrespectfully. He lost his temper (control) started yelling and calling her names. She tried to ignore (flight) what he was saying by paying very little attention about his reaction. She was more attentive to talk to their friends who were visiting. Her quietness made him even angrier (fight).
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Analyze one conflict that you have observed or participated in terms of a "Hijacked Brain". This would be a conflict that started and escalated because of an emotional engagement. **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As we described it in the above paragraphs, the fight continues. As he convinced himself she is purposely hurting him he got angrier. He lost it again. He told his friends to leave the house and called his father in law and told him he cannot spend the night with his daughter in the same house. He gave him a reason he made up on his mind; she was out with another man and came home late. “ What was he thinking?” Honestly speaking he wasn’t. It seems like he was consumed with jealousy, fear, aggressive and rude behavior that demonstrates the three signs of the “ amygdala hijack”. Strong emotional reaction, sudden onset, and regret for his actions when he reflects later. Her husband apologized to their friends and to her father on the phone. He made them think all of it is her fault he said her action and behavior provoked him. A day went by. They are not talking to each other, The wife started looking away and then he started to rationalize his behaviors and to see he only have a little bit of time for his marriage to end. At that point he knew that requires his logical thinking. When that happened he regret the name-calling and the embarrassing act in front of their friends and family.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Describe what happened in the conflict, Who was involved in the conflict, and how the emotional engagement of the Amygdala were all working to hinder the conflict. **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In my opinion, yes emotions involvement and the Amygdala most of the time hinder conflict resolution. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Amygdala plays a big role in our [|__emotional life; in which conflict__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> happens all the time. It is involved in the processing emotions such as fear, anger and pleasure that happen in our lives. In addition to that it is also responsible for what memories are stored in the brain. The question is that how do we deal with the conflict that happens in our everyday life? When event happens that triggers an intense emotion response, our amygdala gets activated and starts a fight or flight responses, which makes it difficult to think in a calm logical approach. Because our emotion is hijacked the amygdala brings out a situation that gives us the ability to tap into our rational brain (cortex) to make good decisions. It takes time to reclaim the rational brain but, using some methods like counting, breathing, rethinking and communicating to calm the amygdala and reclaim our rational brain help us to make the right decisions on making towards resolving conflicts. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">“ Fear can make us avoid conflict (“flight”), or we might respond with aggression (“fight”). Or, we might steer clear of either by embarking on productive negotiation and reaching an agreement. Fear can hamper constructive conflict transformation when it fogs our mind, or it can enhance it when it sharpens our senses and alerts our thoughts to engage in higher level regulation”. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">For example, in the case described above, the husband started to see he only have a little bit of time for his marriage to end unless he reclaim his rational brain by handling the triggering emotions. After he calms down they can start discussing what their individual interests addressing these questions. What do we really care about in this conflict? What do we want or need? What are our concerns, hopes and fears? After they both carefully looked at their interests they came together to discuss all the issues they have. In order to resolve their conflict they need to, listen to each other where both parties explain their own point without being defensive by talking the other parties fault. In order to resolve conflicts following these steps would be helpful. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Understand the conflict
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Question: Do the involvement of emotions and the Amygdala always hinder conflict resolution? **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Communicate with the opposition

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Brainstorm possible resolution

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Choose the best resolution

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Use a third party mediator

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Explore Alternatives

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">7. Cope with stressful situation and pressure tactics


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Assignment #7 **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">__Part 1__

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Identify and deliver 3 - I Messages (1 correction or negative "I" message & 2 positive or Rewarding messages) Post your "I" Messages on your wiki page.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tell what the reaction was to your "I" messages!

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Negative or correction “I” message to my kid the sleeping time Rule. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Behavior: Phebs, when you stay up late at night, you will be too tiered to wake up in the morning. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Event: When you wake up late, you will miss your bus. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Feeling: I have to drive you to school, and that makes me late for my job, which makes me angry. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Phebs Response: No response.


 * 1) Phebs, When you stay up late at night
 * 2) you are too tired to wake up and miss your bus
 * 3) And I am disappointed.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> 2. Positive or Rewarding “I” message the same message to my kid in the form of suggestion.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A. Behavior: Phebs, Respecting your bed time gives you enough rest to wake up in the morning. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Event: Then you will not miss your bus. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Feeling: I feel happy when you cooperate with me <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Phebs response: I am happy when you are happy. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">B. Positive statement: (I asking her, if she finished her homework before she uses her phone to socialize that annoys my teenage daughter) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">C. Behavior: I am hoping you finished your homework before you get on the phone. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Event: Her “I” statement is “ I feel frustrated when I am reminded over and over to do my homework. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Feeling: That makes me feel sad, because you think I am irresponsible.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Part 2

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">On your wiki page give Gigi and "I message" to help her change her behavior and after she changes her behavior give her another "I Message" to reinforce her behavior change.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Your assignment is two final "I Messages" One corrective and one positive!

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">__Corrective I message__

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Gigi, as you know my new boyfriend lives with me now. He is noticing that you come over to my house while we are out and go through our stuff. I didn’t mind it until now but, my boyfriend feels that his privacy is invaded; a phone call before you come over will make him feel better. Can you please call us before coming over?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">B. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">__Positive I message__

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Gigi, I am happy you are coming to visit us. Calling us before you come makes your visit appreciated more than you know.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT!

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What do you think of this video / new article?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Would an "I" message have worked better?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What could the "I message" have been?

[|__You stink!__]

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What do you think of this video / new article? I couldn't open the one you gave us but I found another one like it. This is the sight used

http://www.tydknow.com/a-pre-kindergarten-teacher-is-facing-disciplinary-actions-after-telling-parents-their-children-smell-bad/

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I say, It is the parents not the kids fault. It is important for the parents to send their children clean to start the day. They are only ages 3 and 4, they can get dirty as the day goes by that is OK! and it is a part of growing up. I do not have a problem with the teacher’s message if she only said it a little differently. It is impolite for her to say “she couldn’t stand to be near or touch the children”. with this statement, I am only imagining what those kids are feeling and how she could treat them in a classroom.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I Definitely think the “ I “ message. Could have worked better.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Would an "I" message have worked better? **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. I feel guilty not to say something when I see the kids come to school unclean. Please check your child’s hygiene it is a safety and health concern.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What could the "I message" have been? **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. I feel distressed when the children come to school with dirty clothes and unpleasant smell. I am concerned about their health and safety please make sure to send them clean.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. I feel uncomfortable to tell you to check your child’s hygiene before drop off. Because I do not want to you to feel you have been careless.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4. I wish you check your child's hygiene before dropping them off. Because their safety and health is our concern.


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Assignment #8 **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">S T U D E N T C O N T R A C T

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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. To take directions from my teacher with undivided attention. =====

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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5. To be a good friend to my classmates. That means I will keep my hands to myself and do not make fun of my friends. =====

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">These are my rewards/reinforces if I meet my goals: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. If I meet five of my goals on the first week I get a star sticker for each one of them. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. If I meet my all my goals by the second week I get to sit on my teacher’s chair for some of the day and be a special teacher helper. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. If I meet all my goals all and keep them for a month, I get to take the entire star stickers in the box home to show off. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4. If I meet all my goals and keep them for six months, I get to keep the entire star stickers box and get an ice cream from my teacher. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5. If I meet all my goals and keep them for the whole year I get to go to the amusement park over the summer. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">These are my consequences if I do not meet my goals:

=<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. No recess = =<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Go to principal’s office = =<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Call home = <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My contract will be reviewed <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">After one month <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Signatures <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Student__. Date__.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Teacher _Date__.__
__<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Parent _____ Date__ ___ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Do describe the behavior issues that you are working to change. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">At the beginning of the school year we made a rule to build a learning community. That community includes students, teachers, parents and all grown ups in the school. The students are taught to respect the rules and follow them. One of the rules and commitments the student taught is to take care of themselves, to take care of others and to take care of the place they are learning at that includes listening and following directions from the teacher. The kindergarten students ages 5 and 6 mainly have a behavior in common that challenges them. Some of the behaviors are difficult with body and mouth control. For example, not being able to sit still for more than fifteen minutes, getting physical when they do not get their way, wanting to always be first, difficulty sharing and taking turns. They are constantly reminded to follow the rules. Most of them tend to manage their behavior. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This particular student, in addition to all the behaviors listed above has an aggressive personality (behavior management issue). He seems to repeatedly misbehave in the classroom. Even though most of the kids at this age group have the some of the same issues, His behavior is noticeable. He continually talks to a friend while the teacher is teaching. Sharing is also a big issue: when he has something he likes he doesn’t want to give a turn to others. If others have what he likes he uses force to take it from the other kids. While the rules are in place, time out and notification to parents is pointed out to letting them know that he was misbehaving the action is taken to redirect him to gain his self-control to notify them that it is not a punishment. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In your discussion think about the advantages and disadvantages of having parents sign off on behavior contracts with students. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There are more advantages on having parents sign off on behavior contracts with students than disadvantages. One of the advantages is that when the contract signed by the student, the parent, and the teacher it becomes transparent. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">That means when the contract signed by the student, the parent, the teacher and any other teacher who may be involved to enforce the contract are informed that briefly checks each day as needed to reinforce the expectations of the contract and evaluate whether the goal was met that day. Some of the goals can apply at home and at school. This information is sent home to the parents as well as the student and reports his success or failure to the parents. If he achieves the ultimate goal that is agreed upon the parents and the teacher, the reward is provided to celebrate. In the same manner, to accept the consequences when the boundaries are broken.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">One of the disadvantages is that if teacher do not follow up with the contract the parents will be mad. The other reason can be also the student’s home environment. This case is mostly true for younger children who come from a family with no other siblings. When the child is alone in the in the house it is difficult to exercise how to share and care with others, this behavior may bring a different parent observation at home however, the parent can fix it with a little effort by planning play dates with friends and by taking the child to the playground, the library, etc. to see the child’s interaction with other kids. This kind of action will minimize the defensive feeling the parent might have. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Think about the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Intrinsic and extrinsic are two types of motivation. Intrinsic motivation refers to doing something because it is inherently interesting or enjoyable. Extrinsic motivation refers to do something because it leads to a separable outcome. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In our case motivating children in this age group works very well. Intrinsic motivation is an important part of learning process because when people are internally stimulated to learn, they gain deeper understanding of new skills. Especially when this motivation is used in early age, it is beneficial for life. For example, the very fact that the young children are learning at home and at the playground even before they come to school which is mostly sharing, caring, self-control, listing and creativity. These are intrinsically stimulating skills to motivate kids. However, extrinsic motivation helps young people at home and in school enforce the rules and regulations we put in place. It makes them think to get the rewards or to deal with consequences. Teachers and parents using [|__intrinsic and extrinsic__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> motivation in order to improve students learning behavior can have positive and negative impacts of children learning.

Assignment #9

After reading the personality prototypes article by Susan Baum and Henry Nicols, I learned the difference between each personality prototype, and how they relate to our lives and explain why we behave the way we do. I found out my personality model is Practical Manager followed by People Persons, then came Learned Expert. My results were very close. As I was thinking about my lifestyle I noticed that the test results seemed just about right.

I agree with many of the points that my result showed. One of them being the ability to organize people in order to do some things; this is one of my strengths. I am active in my church where we do a lot of charity work to help others. In these places people ask me to lead and organize. I get a sense of satisfaction planning and getting stuff done. I see my self as a Practical Manager because I like it when things happen exactly the way I want them to be. I like to do a good job in whatever I get involved with. In order to accomplish that, detailed directions and clear expectations would be needed and could help me accomplish the task.

People Persons is also another one of the personality prototypes that I scored high on. I strongly agree with the sensitivity of emotional behavior. I come from a big family, and I grew up practicing a different culture than I use now. I pay attention to the feelings of other people around me. I try to provide an inviting environment and make them as comfortable as I can. I know that I cannot expect the same from other people all the time because some people are different. I am learning how to cope with what I have, to work on getting what I need and to avoid any possible problems.

=**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.9333px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Assignment #10 **=

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.9333px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I chose the first one assignment A.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.9333px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> A. Beg, borrow, rent or steal a copy of the 1999 film October Sky. You may watch the movie as a group or individually but all work must be done individually, and posted on your own individual wiki page. After watching the movie compare and contrast that film with the film American History X. Use specific examples from each of the two movies to explain.


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.9333px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. The role of nurture by the families of the two main characters, Derrick and Homer. **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.9333px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The role of nurture played a big role in both movies (October sky, Homer and American History X, Derek).

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.9333px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Homer’s family are good people. His father is a good man; he fights for the jobs of his men but, he does not support Homer’s project plan for the rocket because he wants him to work in the coal mine that is the largest employer of the town. His mother, Elsie, has big hopes him and supports his dreams. At last, the support he got from his teacher, friends, town and mother nurtured his action to fulfill his dream. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.9333px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Derrick’s mother didn’t have much of role in his life but his father seemed to have a big negative influence on his life. The father taught racism to Derrick and his brother, which didn’t help them become better people. They are nurturing bad behavior for his failure.


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.9333px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. The role of the mother in the development of each of the two main characters Derrick and Homer. **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.9333px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The roles of the mothers in both movies are different. The only common thing was that they both love their children. Homer’s mom has been supporting her son throughout his life in the movie. Homer’s father on the other hand is not a bad person but didn’t see his son’s potential other than working in the mine. He was upset when Homer left the mine to go back to school to follow his dream. He thinks Homer should follow his footsteps and not building rocket. His mother had a different opinion than her husband so much so that She threatened him that she would leave him if he doesn’t support Homer. She stood by her son (Homer) until his dream was fulfilled. At the end the movie, Homer's father came to see the rocket launch where he is given the honor of pushing the firing button. That showed Homer’s respect for his father.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.9333px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Derrick’s mom didn’t have a huge role in his life. She loved him. She visited him in a prison and later got him out. The movie didn’t show a lot on her part standing up against his wrong doing before or redirecting him to go on the right path now. He was disrespecting her by his aggravated action and words when he showed his hatred behavior and his disagreement of the man she was dating.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.9333px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In both of these movies the teachers’ played a significant role in their students’ lives. Homer’s teacher (Miss Reilly) was very encouraging. She even said, if these kids go to work in the mine and fail to follow their dream her life and work is meaningless. She believed in them. Derrick’s teacher tried to be close to the family but Derrick’s hate couldn’t let him come as close as he wanted to be. Murray did have a positive influence on him by trying to help.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.9333px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. The role of the teacher Murray in Derrick’s life and the role of Miss Reilly in Homer’s life. **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.9333px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4. The role of the two principals in the lives of Derrick and Homer. **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.9333px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sweeny highly influenced Derrick. When Derrick was Sweeny's student he was open to his mentor’s idea on guiding him in the right direction and he liked it. That was before his father planted a racist seed in his mind. After Derrick left school he was deeply involved with skinheads. That led him to jail for killing three black men. Sweeney went to visit him in prison and made him see all his wrongdoings. He taught him not to hate because hate only brings hate. He always thought he could change him. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.9333px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In October Sky, Principal Turner sees the job of the school to give the kids an education and send most of them to the mines or some of them to get football scholarships. He never thought they would be good enough to build a rocket until they won the science fair and proved him wrong.


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.9333px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5. The role of the community in the lives of Derrick and Homer. **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.9333px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The community plays a big role in the lives of both Derrick and Homer. The communities’ involvement shows one side for positive outcome and the other side for negative outcome. I thought Derrick’s support came mainly from his neo-Nazism community who had the same beliefs as white supremacists that build hate and conflict and divided the community apart. Whereas in October Sky, Homers’ community supported him for the good things that bring the community together. At the beginning they didn’t have any confidence in Homer and his friends that they are capable of building a rocket. Once they saw his accomplishment in the science fair, the people in the city of Coal-wood were very supportive of him. They were helpful to Homer and his friends for their effort and skillfulness of building the Rocket.


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.9333px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Once you have finished this assignment and all of the other 9 assignments on our Wiki site send Hank an email letting him know that you are completely finished. He will then email you your grade. It may take a few weeks from your submission until the grading is completed. **