Reading+Reflections

=**//Quarter Two //**=


 * Reflection #1**

The Scavenger Hunt was a fun and unique project that our class was assigned. Rachel, Jasmine, and I worked together to find items for our own elementary classroom, but the items can be used to benefit our New Visions class, as well. I learned that it is important to choose items based on quality, not quantity. Children will learn better if the classroom materials are creative and effective. My favorite items that our group bought were the black boards and white boards. Students can use these boards in a number of ways including playing games like jeopardy, answering questions, and solving math problems. I enjoyed the Scavenger Hunt activity because I now have an idea of what to buy for my own classroom someday.

=//Quarter One //=


 * Reflection #4**

I do not understand Henry Higgins' character at all. He certainly makes the story interesting, but why must he be so cruel? He finds it amusing to use Eliza as a puppet and determine what she will do and say. Higgins takes credit for Liza's success and acts as though it is a game. //Pygmalion// is similar to a play I read in 10th grade called //A Doll's House// by Henrik Ibsen. Though Higgins' insists on treating Eliza like a duchess, his actions are relevant to those of Torvald Helmer in //A Doll's House.// Torvald treats his wife, Nora, like a child, and enjoys instructing her. Both writers share a similar view on women. The personalities of these characters can help teachers understand what not to do in the classroom. Students should be able to take credit for their own achievements.


 * Reflection #3**

//Pygmalion// has an interesting storyline. In comparing Eliza Doolittle to Miss Jean Brodie, the two are opposites, at least in the beginning of the play. Eliza shows weakness because she is unsure of herself and quickly snatches Henry Higgins' offer to change her. Even though Higgins degrades Eliza and talks of her as a "squashed cabbage leaf," she continues to request his help in transforming her. On the other hand, Miss Brodie is a confident woman who doesn't take nonsense from anyone. Over the course of the play Eliza becomes stronger and comes to her senses, realizing that she deserves better than to be treated like an experiment or a puppet. I dislike Higgins' character. He takes credit for the progress that Eliza has made on her own and acts like he owns her. If I was Eliza I would accept his offer, only to receive the awesome upper-class clothing, then run for it.


 * Reflection #2**

Looking back on my past teachers, I feel that Miss Jean Brodie does just as good of a job teaching, if not better than them. There have been many instances when my teachers would simply not teach. At other times, one teacher would be too busy yelling at the students or another too timid to discipline them. Miss Brodie has high expectations of her students which is a quality that all good teachers should have. She focuses on the beauty of art and music while still teaching the basic core subjects to each child. I would not mind having Miss Brodie as a teacher because I would learn a lot of skills that I don't know to this day. Learning how to sew, sing, and paint seems interesting to me, even fun! I regret never taking the time to learn these skills on my own. If I had a teacher like Miss Brodie, I know that I would truly appreciate her dedication to the career and the knowledge she would have taught me.


 * Reflection #1**

Miss Jean Brodie is a teacher unlike any other. She is very caring of her students as a good teacher should be, but I feel she is much too open about her personal life. Miss Brodie tells her students stories concerning her love life, which in my opinion, is completely inappropriate. I believe a teacher should share experiences that involve only educational connections. Also, I dislike Miss Brodie's idea that beauty and manners come first. I feel that when students are exposed to this kind of philosophy, they will become shallow. An education in reading, writing, math, and science are just as, if not more important than appearance. However, I do believe that an etiquette class is valuable in all schools. Looking back, my middle school could have used a solid etiquette class or two. Students were ill-mannered and rebellious. I know Miss Brodie means well, I just think her methods of teaching can be improved.