Final Thoughts

Through this assignment, I learned quite a few different things that will help me in my own classroom someday. As an artist, I was able to really dig deep into different topics and I learned to stretch myself in a broad sense, so I could visually understand how different subjects could weave in and out of one another. I loved researching the topic of “new ideas.” My group and I loved learning how there was no true answer to our subject. In some ways it is absolutely true, there are no new ground-breaking ideas, but even tweaking things in the slightest way can spark something new and different (in an old version kind of way…). From an educator’s perspective, I discovered quite a few things about myself. I learned that I have about zero patience when it comes to projects with technology, and that I need to start understanding and learning more about it because that is where classrooms are headed. When a teacher uses technology in the classroom, students are so much more engaged and have a true desire to learn. They use all sorts of technology, all the time, so why not let them use it to create new and exciting things? I also believe that allowing students to use and create their own projects, or turn in assignments that require technology, allows the students to learn and retain more information because it does two things. For one, it allows them to learn new ways of working or a new skill, and second, it is more hands on, helping all different kinds of learners in their own unique way. I also learned that students need more time to figure things out when using technology, so in all aspects of my future teaching, I need to make sure that I am well prepared beforehand. I need to plan out my lessons and be honest and reasonable with myself when asking my students to accomplish a task that they have never used or tried out before. I know for me personally, I struggled with the technology on many different levels. If it was not for others in the group that knew what they were doing at times, I would have failed miserably and drowned in my own technology tears.

            Each member of my group did a fabulous job of putting in their best effort and getting their own parts of the assignment completed on time. I contributed by bringing in my own interview on music, and coming prepared to class the next day with certain quotes and information that I felt was very important to bring to the table. I also came up with the different slides for the music section, researched different lyrics that had to do with the word ‘sorry,’ and helped think of different ways that we could remain on stage and use the space to our advantage.  I also came up with the idea to have each member of the group say what our interviewee’s final thoughts that were on the topic of new ideas, once they had had some questions and time to fully wrap their brain around the concept. I even showed my group different videos of whiteboard/notebook animation videos so we could make sure that we were all on the same page with the vision that we had in store.

            In the beginning stages, especially when trying to figure out how to incorporate acting into this project, I was not fully understanding how English was being used in what seemed to be a more theatre based assignment; however, by the final product, I was able to see how I could incorporate this into my own classroom in the future. I would want to give my groups the freedom and space that we were given to really dive into heavy topics and find something that could be researched for clearer understanding. (I also think that having teenagers interview others, especially those much older than them, would be great practice for job interviews and real world situations of gaining better social skills.) I would base this project around a novel that we just read, or even have each group read a different novel and then build off it from there. I loved how each of us was held accountable for both the technology and the acting portions of this project because I was forced to learn new things and stretch myself to new ideas. I feel that group projects can be very simple if everyone just explains what their talents are, makes assignments to what is easiest for each person to do, and then just combine it all at the end. But this project really made me step out of my comfort zone and try a mix of different things which all and all made me smarter and more confident in my abilities.

Game for Change

PLAY MY GAME: http://philome.la/carlyhorse222/socks-vs-sandals


Here are the different sites that I found for the controversy of socks vs. sandals

A Big No-N0

People are still deciding. Vote!

#7 is in for the kill

Since WHEN IS THIS OKAY?!

The Fashion Police Have Spoken


Instagram has joined in on this as well:

1. It's a major no.

2. Is this a thing?

3. BRB. Heading to the store to buy some fashion magazines

I believe that this was one of my most favorite assignments that we have done so far! I loved the reading and the game that we were asked to play to prepare for class last Wednesday. I am a visual learner, so anything that is hands on or creative in any way helps me learn SO much better. Just sitting and reading a text book is good, but I cannot hold that information as long as I can remember playing a game or how I was feeling that I was being chased down for trying to get some water for my family. After playing, I had the DESIRE to go and learn more about the subject. 

I think that creating games would really help some students learn better, and for those that is doesn't help, reading a book or article may be the way to help them. For my sources, I knew that there was not going to be a scholarly article about it, so I decided to see what trends were out there and look on instagram and other social media platforms to find information on the subject. I honestly didn't even know the answer to this, so it was fun to research and find out the new real answer in the fashion world. Many of my friends have been wearing socks and sandals and I just always thought they looked so silly, but it really is the new thing! I tried to view myself as a teenager and make the quiz seem more relaxing rather than intense. I tried to keep the lingo and questions more fun and use examples that they would be able to recognize. All in all, this was a great assignment and I'm excited to use it with my own students some day.

Storytime

There once was a little girl named Suzie who was very hungry after doing her chores. She snuck out of the house to go pick some berries but then… An old man dressed in a brown trench coat and holding a toffee approached Suzie. And as Suzie was very hungry, she said, “H-h-hello…” “Hello, my dear… want a toffee?” (Soren Baker) Suzie knew strangers were bad. There were always strangers at her house with mommy. That’s why she ran away. But this man didn’t seem so bad. She really loved toffee (Lexi Cramer) Suzie walked with the man to the police station as he handed her toffee after toffee. She smiled happily because she felt a lot better after eating all that sugar. When they got to the station, all the police greeted Suzie with smiles and handshakes. “You’re a hero Suzie! You saved the town!” (Daniel Fifefield)

Textual Poaching

For this assignment, I decided to a collage of different women in my family and how I am today because of them. I feel guilty because I have been blessed from them, but I really don't know them or their stories.

Caroline Maria Hansen is my great-great-grandma. She was an incredible knitter and received many blue ribbons because it. She was also able to use some of that money to support her son on his mission. She was also a terrific gardener. Because of her calling as a RS officer, she would use her horse and buggy to travel the two-three day trip to visit other towns and the women there. She served in the RS presidency for 25 years.

Patty Bartlett Sessions is my 5x great grandma . She was known as Mother Sessions and was asked by the prophet to be a doctor and midwife for women. She delivered nearly 4,000 babies in her lifetime and was even sealed to Joseph Smith. I had the special opportunity to learn more about Patty while serving in the Mormon Trail Center at Historic Winter Quarters while on my mission and show people her journal/delivery book. She told the women of the Bountiful RS, “I have got the feeling in my bosom that if I hold out faithful to the end it will be a happy end."

Ethel Thomas is my great grandma from my dad's mom. She was a music major but was always very shy to share her musical abilities with others. Actually, she was very shy and preferred to stay behind the scenes for most things in life. She had grown up in the great depression, and therefore was always very careful with her money. She was always extremly kind and friendly to others and was always willing to help those in need. She was known by all for her love to serve. She worked for the UT state government for a time. She constantly encouraged her children to excel in education. She was a wonderful wife and mother, and she always supported her husband. My grandma told me that she constantly believed in herself, because her mother did as well. "You can do anything you set your mind to" was her motto in life. She was also a great primary children and loved having children around. My great uncle, Tom, was diagnosed with MS around his 20s, and my great grandma cared for him until the day she died. She was extremly devoted and dedicated.

Mary Emeline Johson is my great grandma from my mother's side. She was the only girl in a family with 7 brothers. She had a very kind heart. After a divorce with her first husband, she married a man who had 7 children. She instantly took on the role of step-mother for them and cared for them in the best way she knew how. Though those 7 kids were never kind to her, she continued to love them. Her husband died soon after their marriage, therefore leaving her very poor. My grandma told me how she never went to the doctor or the dentist, but that "Emma" had such a strong faith in the gospel that she never worried. Because the priesthood was not in her home, she would use consecrated oil, put it on my grandma's head, and say a prayer. "Her faith could move mountains." She was always willing to step in and serve, and she had a heart of gold. She always helped people and let them feel loved around her. She never had an easy life, but she was always positive and kind.

Vada Worthen is my great grandma (my grandpa on my mom's side). She was an excellent wife & mother. She was a hard worker and walked everywhere. When she served in the RS, she would walk nearly 45 min one way to help and serve her sisters. She was an incredible cook. (My grandpa went on for about 5 minutes just on her cooking and his favorite dishes of hers.) She was always willing to help others and was always the first to take food over for others.

Through doing this assignment, I was able to reflect on my own life and the type of legacy that I want to leave behind. What do I want to be remembered for? How will people describe me once I am gone?

I could incorporate this assignment into my English class by having my students do the same thing. They could do research on their family tree and where their family came from. They could find similarities between them and their ancestors. They could write about their own type of legacy that they want to create. I didn't think of this until it was practically too late, but I think I would have my students create a powerpoint of their research as well. I loved calling my grand parents and getting some of this information. It was a little difficult getting pictures and creating a collage but after some time I was able to figure it out. I mostly had to do it all on my phone because my computer wouldn't let me save pictures from family search. So I had to screen shot and crop into frames, download the family search app and a picture frame app, and do some edits.

This weekend I had the opportunity to talk to my grandparents and learn more about my great grandmas and others in my family tree for a class assignment. Listening to stories about these incredible women and the legacy that they left behind has really made me question what I am working on in my own life and what I would be remembered for when I leave this earth. I am so very grateful for all that they have done and the sacrifices that they have made for the gospel of Jesus Christ, which has lead to my own personal testimony of this gospel, and the opportunity that I had to share it with others while serving a mission in Nebraska. I can't want to meet them some day and say thank you for all they did to help me be where I am today. #familiesareforever

A photo posted by 🌷Carly Case Callister🌷 (@ccubed222) on Feb 12, 2017 at 6:53pm PST

Double speed audio

For this assignment, I created an audio of getting gas. I started with music, turned off my car, and then began the process of searching in my purse for my wallet, paying, unscrewing the car novel, filling up the car, and cleaning my car out while waiting for the car to fill up. Once I was finished, I closed the cap, buckled my seatbelt, started the car, let some music play again and then ended the audio clip.

The process of creating this strip of audio in double speed was extremely difficult for me, and I’m grateful for the practice. I’m not the best with technology quite yet, so to even get an audio clip from my phone to my laptop was a big step for me. At first I tried to find an app that I could use on my phone to speed up my audio, but that setting required more money than I was willing to pay for one assignment. From there, I tried to upload my audio from my phone, put it into my ITunes, and synch that to my phone. (Again, this was MAJOR PROGRESS for me.) Nothing was working so I then tried to find an app on my laptop but those apps were extremely expensive. From here I might have shed a tear in frustration….then inspiration from above came when the thought of using IMovie happened. I was able to use a setting to speed up the process, save the file, create a sound cloud account, and upload my audio to that. It was difficult, but I’m very proud of myself!