Today I participated in Wheelchair Sports. I got to play basketball and football. It was a challenge to maneuver the wheelchair, but it was plenty of fun. Throughout the night I was thinking of how much fun this was. I was also thinking of the reality that people deal with when living in a wheelchair. For me it was a few hours of my time, but for them it is a way of life. I then began to think of other dimensions of life in which I would have to use a wheelchair. That can be very challenging.
As a future teacher I know that I will have to have this perspective when dealing with students who have a disability. I need to be able to think on their level when adapting and modifying my lesson plans.
The highlight of my night was merely participating in the activities at hand. I am usually competitive, but I took this experience in and thought of the many challenges I have faced as a teacher in the making. Throughout many of my experiences I have felt that I learn the most. As a future teacher I feel as though I will learn plenty about myself while teaching. As a teacher, I really am just the first learner.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
December 1 and December 3-RA Program
On both of these nights I collaborated with my fellow Physical Educator, co-worker, and friend (most importantly) Brandon Herwick to show students in the dormatories the movie Murderball. Students got to see everything the rugby players had to deal with as they had varying degrees of disablities. We were able to lead a discussion after the showing of the movie on both nights about what it is like to live with a disability. Some residents shared how they have family members who live with disablities. They said how it made them feel when they are treated differently. It was very interactive and positive. Facilitating conversation is necessary in order to make progress in our society.
Both nights were very successful. I enjoy teachable moments. As I am about to go into student teaching I am bursting as the seems to be a person who passes on knowledge that I have. I will always be a learner, but I am eager for my opportunity to teach.
Both nights were very successful. I enjoy teachable moments. As I am about to go into student teaching I am bursting as the seems to be a person who passes on knowledge that I have. I will always be a learner, but I am eager for my opportunity to teach.
10/27-Damn Good Movie Night
Tonight, I attended "Damn Good Movie Night." Several students gathered in Park Center to watch a movie called Murderball. This movie was all about rugby players who are confined to wheelchairs. The players all have different degrees of paralysis, paraplegia, or quadriplegia. The movie depicts things just as they are. There were some introspective moments that really gave the viewer an idea of what it is like to live in a wheelchair.
The movie covered the history of some of the players and how they got to where they are now. The movie followed the United States team in their quest for Olympic success. There were interviews with family members. There were also newly injured people who were shown in their rehabilitation.
This movie was very gripping emotionally. It played to happiness, sadness, pain, anger, and laughter. All elements were covered. It just goes to show the viewer that despite our differences we all have the same feelings and emotions in many different capacities to one another.
The movie covered the history of some of the players and how they got to where they are now. The movie followed the United States team in their quest for Olympic success. There were interviews with family members. There were also newly injured people who were shown in their rehabilitation.
This movie was very gripping emotionally. It played to happiness, sadness, pain, anger, and laughter. All elements were covered. It just goes to show the viewer that despite our differences we all have the same feelings and emotions in many different capacities to one another.
10/10-Leadership Conference
Today I spent a few hours at a Leadership Conference. Professionals in the Physical Education Department and a number of students were on hand to discuss what makes a good leader.
I was able to go over my philosophies that make up a good leader. Trust and respect are two things that I have noticed are essential as an authority figure. As a Resident Assistant I have learned that if my residents do not trust me they will not respect me. If they do not respect me in all likelihood they do not trust me. I was able to discuss these talking points with my fellow students and professors. We broke up into groups and discussed leaders in our lives and how influential they have been to us. It was certainly an eye opening experience. For me to have the opportunity to hear what others feel is important in a leader made me feel encouraged about the future. Dr. Casciani noted that his views 20 years ago are different than what they are today. The ability to adapt and change was discussed. This showed me that there is no single definition on what makes a great leader.
This conference was a good learning experience. I hope to go to many more. It is always refreshing to gather with professionals in your field who have similar interests.
I was able to go over my philosophies that make up a good leader. Trust and respect are two things that I have noticed are essential as an authority figure. As a Resident Assistant I have learned that if my residents do not trust me they will not respect me. If they do not respect me in all likelihood they do not trust me. I was able to discuss these talking points with my fellow students and professors. We broke up into groups and discussed leaders in our lives and how influential they have been to us. It was certainly an eye opening experience. For me to have the opportunity to hear what others feel is important in a leader made me feel encouraged about the future. Dr. Casciani noted that his views 20 years ago are different than what they are today. The ability to adapt and change was discussed. This showed me that there is no single definition on what makes a great leader.
This conference was a good learning experience. I hope to go to many more. It is always refreshing to gather with professionals in your field who have similar interests.
10/24 Wheelchair Softball
Today I helped run a wheelchair softball tournament. Many students from campus came. I helped set up all the equipment in the LUSK fieldhouse. I was an umpire for this event. Some of the struggles students had involved maneuvering the wheelchair in the proper direction. Making contact with the softball wasn't necessarily easy. Students were unable to pivot their hips and had to use the upper half of their body to swing. I had some challenging calls to make as an umpire. Even in the adapted setting, things were very competitive. I should expect nothing different from any of my Adaptive students in terms of drive and motivation. Just because someone is in a wheelchair does not mean they are going to be any less competitive.
To me, this is a satisfying equalizer. I know that many in the field of education do not see the a student who has a disability can have the same drive as a student who does not have a disability. I feel that Physical Education spearheads acceptance and inclusion. This tournament was just an example of how students can be incorporated into engaging in physical activity.
Overall, the tournament was a success. Many people told me how fun it was. I talked to a few people about their experience. I asked what it was like for them to ride in the wheelchair and play softball as opposed to playing without a wheelchair. I have plenty of fun.
To me, this is a satisfying equalizer. I know that many in the field of education do not see the a student who has a disability can have the same drive as a student who does not have a disability. I feel that Physical Education spearheads acceptance and inclusion. This tournament was just an example of how students can be incorporated into engaging in physical activity.
Overall, the tournament was a success. Many people told me how fun it was. I talked to a few people about their experience. I asked what it was like for them to ride in the wheelchair and play softball as opposed to playing without a wheelchair. I have plenty of fun.
10/27-Dance Abilities
Today I spent time helping set up a Halloween Dance for students who have disabilities. It was an ejoyable time. Adverstisements were put up across campus for the event. There was music, food, and plenty of interesting costumes.
I encountered one student who was shy about dancing. I made sure to be silly when I danced so as to make her feel more comfortable. She laughed at me and told me I was funny. She did start to dance just a little bit after seeing me make a fool of myself. I was plenty happy to do so. As a Resident Assistant at SUNY Cortland I have always prided myself on being able to let my guard down around others in order to make my residents feel comfortable around one another. When I am able to set the tone for the floor that I oversee it makes me feel accomplished. I carried this experience over to the dance on that night. As a teacher I will have many students who are not looking to participate for a variety of reasons. My transition from student to teacher has been a benefit to me as well. I am not self-conscious like I was maybe in high school. Being a teacher gives you no time to be self-conscious. If I lock up for any amount of time the unmotivated and less eager students will be a lot more likely to stand on the side while class is being conducted.
What I learned most from this dance was that I need to be the one who sets the tone for the class. It can go a long way depending on how much I put into the class.
I encountered one student who was shy about dancing. I made sure to be silly when I danced so as to make her feel more comfortable. She laughed at me and told me I was funny. She did start to dance just a little bit after seeing me make a fool of myself. I was plenty happy to do so. As a Resident Assistant at SUNY Cortland I have always prided myself on being able to let my guard down around others in order to make my residents feel comfortable around one another. When I am able to set the tone for the floor that I oversee it makes me feel accomplished. I carried this experience over to the dance on that night. As a teacher I will have many students who are not looking to participate for a variety of reasons. My transition from student to teacher has been a benefit to me as well. I am not self-conscious like I was maybe in high school. Being a teacher gives you no time to be self-conscious. If I lock up for any amount of time the unmotivated and less eager students will be a lot more likely to stand on the side while class is being conducted.
What I learned most from this dance was that I need to be the one who sets the tone for the class. It can go a long way depending on how much I put into the class.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Deaf Event
On November 19, 2009 I was able to encounter a person who was hard of hearing. I was at Turning Stone Casino eating at their buffet. I asked him if he was Deaf and he said yes. His name was Stephen. He was a cook. He said that he was 38 years old and that he lives near Syracuse. I asked him if he liked his job at the casino and he said yes. I asked him if he had a wife and he said he had a girlfriend. He was at one of the cooking stations. I wanted to order something from him, but my plate was already full. He asked me where I went to school and I told him Cortland. I told him I was in Physical Education. He also asked me how long I've known ASL. I wasn't able to make out what he said about where he went to college. There was someone else ready to order. His hand movements were expectedly crisper than mine. ASL was second nature to Stephen.
I enjoyed getting to communicate with a person who was Deaf, albeit brief. I was a little nervous about what I would ask him. It was so unexpected. It was almost like it was over before it started. Stephen seemed very friendly. I'm sure he was happy to see many Cortland Physical Educators who came for the Physical Education Conference. A few other people had mentioned how they got to talk to him. I barely ever encounter Deaf people, but since taking ASL I have tried to be more aware of what is around me. It was cool to see how knowing ASL (albeit a small amount) could allow me to communicate with a Deaf person. Stephen seemed to carry no chip on his hsoulder when it came to communicating with a person who is hearing. It made me feel good because I've learned to be prepared for a Deaf person to possibly not have a whole lot of patience with me.
This event benefitted me because it made all the classroom material seem real. In the classroom sometimes things seem so rehearsed and repetitive. It was neat to see the random order in which I was able to communicate with Stephen based on the knowledge I have of ASL. I learned that ASL truly is a good source for communication. I learned that I am capable of communicating with a Deaf person. I could never say this before I started taking ASL in September.
I look forward to future encounters. I like the spontaneity of randomly seeing a Deaf person. To pick up on the fact that they are Deaf and to sign to them is intriguing. I would go to another deaf event regardless of whether or not there was a classroom requirement. It seems like it would be fun to go to a Deaf movie. I would like to try going to one of those. Just hearing about how loud it is at the theatre because of no sound restrictions intrigues me. It would be like going to a library that is really loud. Overall, this was a fun learning experience.
I enjoyed getting to communicate with a person who was Deaf, albeit brief. I was a little nervous about what I would ask him. It was so unexpected. It was almost like it was over before it started. Stephen seemed very friendly. I'm sure he was happy to see many Cortland Physical Educators who came for the Physical Education Conference. A few other people had mentioned how they got to talk to him. I barely ever encounter Deaf people, but since taking ASL I have tried to be more aware of what is around me. It was cool to see how knowing ASL (albeit a small amount) could allow me to communicate with a Deaf person. Stephen seemed to carry no chip on his hsoulder when it came to communicating with a person who is hearing. It made me feel good because I've learned to be prepared for a Deaf person to possibly not have a whole lot of patience with me.
This event benefitted me because it made all the classroom material seem real. In the classroom sometimes things seem so rehearsed and repetitive. It was neat to see the random order in which I was able to communicate with Stephen based on the knowledge I have of ASL. I learned that ASL truly is a good source for communication. I learned that I am capable of communicating with a Deaf person. I could never say this before I started taking ASL in September.
I look forward to future encounters. I like the spontaneity of randomly seeing a Deaf person. To pick up on the fact that they are Deaf and to sign to them is intriguing. I would go to another deaf event regardless of whether or not there was a classroom requirement. It seems like it would be fun to go to a Deaf movie. I would like to try going to one of those. Just hearing about how loud it is at the theatre because of no sound restrictions intrigues me. It would be like going to a library that is really loud. Overall, this was a fun learning experience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)