Here is the link to why I am a mormon.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Friday, April 2, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Monday, October 12, 2009
The Fourth Turning Part II
We are headed for a Crisis, if we are not already there. It is amazing that by studying historical trends, Strauss and Howe were able to predict with what would happen in the future. The book was written in 1997 and some of their predictions have come to pass.
I have been interested in the generational cycle that goes with the historical cycle. I have had a bad impression of what is called a "Nomad Generation." At first glance, the Nomad generation sounds like a bad generation to be among. However, I didn't understand that they have great strengths such as hands-on, get it done leadership and taciturn warriors. The greatest example is George Washington.
They are called "Nomads" for a couple of reasons. The first is that they are intellectual "Nomads" because they are exploring a lot of ideas. They are seekers of truth. They also get the name because they are physical "Nomads." They move a lot. This is not bad because they have brought the expansion of a country. Not everyone in this generation fits all of the description, but most of this generation do.
I have been interested in the generational cycle that goes with the historical cycle. I have had a bad impression of what is called a "Nomad Generation." At first glance, the Nomad generation sounds like a bad generation to be among. However, I didn't understand that they have great strengths such as hands-on, get it done leadership and taciturn warriors. The greatest example is George Washington.
They are called "Nomads" for a couple of reasons. The first is that they are intellectual "Nomads" because they are exploring a lot of ideas. They are seekers of truth. They also get the name because they are physical "Nomads." They move a lot. This is not bad because they have brought the expansion of a country. Not everyone in this generation fits all of the description, but most of this generation do.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The Fourth Turning, part I
I have been reading The Fourth Turning by Strauss and Howe. I am thinking about how time is both linear and cyclical. The main idea is that there are cycles to history and by studying the cycles one can predict what the next cycle will be like and prepare ahead of time.
I know that people do not necessarily believe in the cycles of history. However, I am finding truth in what I am reading. They predicted a crisis around 2005. The crisis would be marked by a radical change in thinking. While they were off by a few years, I think that we are in the beginning stages of that crisis. One of the predictions was that a terrorist attack on the United States would precipitate this crisis. The book was written in 1997.
We could debate whether the current financial crisis was brought about by the collapse of the Twin Towers. It was the catalysts that brought us to this point of crisis in other financial markets.
“A spark will ignite a new mood. Today, the same spark would flame briefly but then extinguish, its last flicker merely confirming and deepening the Unraveling-era mind-set. This time, though, it will catalyze a Crisis. In retrospect, the park might seem as ominous as a financial crash, as ordinary as a national election, or as trivial as a Tea Party. It could be a rapid succession of small events in which the ominous, the ordinary, and the trivial are commingled.” (272)
There is no doubt that we are in a crisis and our mood has changed. The question before us is where do we go from here? We can give into the mood or learn to rise above it.
I know that people do not necessarily believe in the cycles of history. However, I am finding truth in what I am reading. They predicted a crisis around 2005. The crisis would be marked by a radical change in thinking. While they were off by a few years, I think that we are in the beginning stages of that crisis. One of the predictions was that a terrorist attack on the United States would precipitate this crisis. The book was written in 1997.
We could debate whether the current financial crisis was brought about by the collapse of the Twin Towers. It was the catalysts that brought us to this point of crisis in other financial markets.
“A spark will ignite a new mood. Today, the same spark would flame briefly but then extinguish, its last flicker merely confirming and deepening the Unraveling-era mind-set. This time, though, it will catalyze a Crisis. In retrospect, the park might seem as ominous as a financial crash, as ordinary as a national election, or as trivial as a Tea Party. It could be a rapid succession of small events in which the ominous, the ordinary, and the trivial are commingled.” (272)
There is no doubt that we are in a crisis and our mood has changed. The question before us is where do we go from here? We can give into the mood or learn to rise above it.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Essay On Being A Master Teacher
Kaleen C. Polakoff
24 July 2009
ESSAY ON BEING A MASTER TEACHER
For just about as long as I can remember, I wanted to change the world. I first became aware of it in Kindergarten when I befriended a little boy with mental retardation. I thought that if I could be his friend, life would be better for him. Sadly, it did not turn out that way.
I had a fabulous English teacher in High School, Mrs. Andrus. I took Honors English in 10th grade and she had us memorize poetry. One day, a former student came to visit our class. He had been a prisoner of war in Vietnam for four years. He attributed his survival to her having him memorize poetry. He tried to remember the poetry every day that he was a prisoner of war. At that moment, I knew I wanted to change the world and save lives. I wanted to be a teacher.
I wanted to be an English teacher to be more exact, just like Mrs. Andrus. Mrs. Andrus encouraged me to have a few things published in our high school’s newspaper. Never mind that I had attended a small high school, I thought that I could write. My creative writing teacher in college proved me wrong. He told me in no uncertain terms that I was not a writer. I began to think I could write. I am not one to stand and argue a losing argument. I switched into Botany for a major that very day.
While finishing my degree at Brigham Young University, I decided to take a class on how to teach Seminary for my obligatory religion class. I was disappointed to find out that it was only for those that were majoring in secondary education with another major. The other disappointment was that I was female and the Church does not hire female teachers for Released Time Seminary unless they are older with no prospects for marriage or have all of their children raised and gone from their home. I was neither, but they let me stay anyway.
The idea of being a master teacher took hold in that religion class. A master teacher is one that follows the pattern of the Savior in their teaching. The pattern being someone that loves their students, relies on the promptings of the Holy Ghost, and finds ways and methods to inspire their students. It is a pattern of service and sacrifice.
After graduating from BYU, I took a year off and just worked. In the meantime, I received my patriarchal blessing and learned that I am blessed to teach words of wisdom. Originally, I thought that I would just teach in church. I had served as a Primary teacher since I was 16. Then, I was inspired to go back to school and become a teacher of science.
My mentor teacher, Hugh Baird, had a belief that all teachers should be master teachers and he inspired me to focus again on being a master teacher. He broadened my definition of a master teacher: A master teacher is someone who loves their students, cares for their needs, and finds ways to inspire them. A master teacher has discipline and inspires students to discipline. Discipline should bring our students to Christ, whether they believe in him or not. I studied methods of team building, project based learning, and simulations to inspire learning.
I taught school for one year in Texas, was married, and moved to Maryland. I have always felt that my place was in the home. I became a mother of six children and practiced what I had learned at home and at church. I was an at-home mother for 16 years before I had with a financial problem that I could not solve. After much prayer, fasting, and consulting with my bishop, I went back to work as a substitute teacher.
The day I accepted a position to be a mentor at Eagle’s Aerie Schools, they gave me a copy of Oliver DeMille’s Book, A Thomas Jefferson Education, and told that this would be my blueprint for education from then on. When I read A Thomas Jefferson Education, I knew the type of mentor/teacher described in the book was exactly what my mentor teacher at BYU had envisioned for me to become. Once again, my definition of a master teacher broadened. It now included being a mentor and using classics.
At the end of last school year, the new principal came to me with a charge to change my way of being. I needed to speak a little softer and not be so harsh with my students. At that moment, I knew that I had lost sight of some of what used to be my better qualities. In addition, I had lost sight of becoming a master teacher.
I will be working at new employment this summer and the philosophy is not like my old school. I have pondered how I will use this new information in teaching. Because of the book, The Choice, I have changed my way of being. I think I am a little softer and a little kinder than I was at the beginning of summer.
One of the ways to inspire students is to set an example. I have added to the definition of master teacher, someone who is true to their greatness. I know now what it takes to get a great education and by my example, I hope to inspire students to want a great education, whether the new school provides them with an opportunity or not. I will show them that the only education is self-education.
There are so many new things that I have learned that I want to share with my students. I am excited for a new adventure. Since I became a teacher and a mother, I have known that I need to continue with my education. I have taken my children on many adventures in learning and we continue to learn together. I am adding many books to my list for when I am finished with my Masters Degree and I will have time to read them.
My greatest work is in my home and the best place to practice being a master teacher is with my children. I no longer worry about changing the world for the better or whether by being a teacher I will save someone’s life. Through my education, I have already influenced my children. I am so proud of them because with all of their challenges, they are becoming great leaders. They have already shown me what they can do.
24 July 2009
ESSAY ON BEING A MASTER TEACHER
For just about as long as I can remember, I wanted to change the world. I first became aware of it in Kindergarten when I befriended a little boy with mental retardation. I thought that if I could be his friend, life would be better for him. Sadly, it did not turn out that way.
I had a fabulous English teacher in High School, Mrs. Andrus. I took Honors English in 10th grade and she had us memorize poetry. One day, a former student came to visit our class. He had been a prisoner of war in Vietnam for four years. He attributed his survival to her having him memorize poetry. He tried to remember the poetry every day that he was a prisoner of war. At that moment, I knew I wanted to change the world and save lives. I wanted to be a teacher.
I wanted to be an English teacher to be more exact, just like Mrs. Andrus. Mrs. Andrus encouraged me to have a few things published in our high school’s newspaper. Never mind that I had attended a small high school, I thought that I could write. My creative writing teacher in college proved me wrong. He told me in no uncertain terms that I was not a writer. I began to think I could write. I am not one to stand and argue a losing argument. I switched into Botany for a major that very day.
While finishing my degree at Brigham Young University, I decided to take a class on how to teach Seminary for my obligatory religion class. I was disappointed to find out that it was only for those that were majoring in secondary education with another major. The other disappointment was that I was female and the Church does not hire female teachers for Released Time Seminary unless they are older with no prospects for marriage or have all of their children raised and gone from their home. I was neither, but they let me stay anyway.
The idea of being a master teacher took hold in that religion class. A master teacher is one that follows the pattern of the Savior in their teaching. The pattern being someone that loves their students, relies on the promptings of the Holy Ghost, and finds ways and methods to inspire their students. It is a pattern of service and sacrifice.
After graduating from BYU, I took a year off and just worked. In the meantime, I received my patriarchal blessing and learned that I am blessed to teach words of wisdom. Originally, I thought that I would just teach in church. I had served as a Primary teacher since I was 16. Then, I was inspired to go back to school and become a teacher of science.
My mentor teacher, Hugh Baird, had a belief that all teachers should be master teachers and he inspired me to focus again on being a master teacher. He broadened my definition of a master teacher: A master teacher is someone who loves their students, cares for their needs, and finds ways to inspire them. A master teacher has discipline and inspires students to discipline. Discipline should bring our students to Christ, whether they believe in him or not. I studied methods of team building, project based learning, and simulations to inspire learning.
I taught school for one year in Texas, was married, and moved to Maryland. I have always felt that my place was in the home. I became a mother of six children and practiced what I had learned at home and at church. I was an at-home mother for 16 years before I had with a financial problem that I could not solve. After much prayer, fasting, and consulting with my bishop, I went back to work as a substitute teacher.
The day I accepted a position to be a mentor at Eagle’s Aerie Schools, they gave me a copy of Oliver DeMille’s Book, A Thomas Jefferson Education, and told that this would be my blueprint for education from then on. When I read A Thomas Jefferson Education, I knew the type of mentor/teacher described in the book was exactly what my mentor teacher at BYU had envisioned for me to become. Once again, my definition of a master teacher broadened. It now included being a mentor and using classics.
At the end of last school year, the new principal came to me with a charge to change my way of being. I needed to speak a little softer and not be so harsh with my students. At that moment, I knew that I had lost sight of some of what used to be my better qualities. In addition, I had lost sight of becoming a master teacher.
I will be working at new employment this summer and the philosophy is not like my old school. I have pondered how I will use this new information in teaching. Because of the book, The Choice, I have changed my way of being. I think I am a little softer and a little kinder than I was at the beginning of summer.
One of the ways to inspire students is to set an example. I have added to the definition of master teacher, someone who is true to their greatness. I know now what it takes to get a great education and by my example, I hope to inspire students to want a great education, whether the new school provides them with an opportunity or not. I will show them that the only education is self-education.
There are so many new things that I have learned that I want to share with my students. I am excited for a new adventure. Since I became a teacher and a mother, I have known that I need to continue with my education. I have taken my children on many adventures in learning and we continue to learn together. I am adding many books to my list for when I am finished with my Masters Degree and I will have time to read them.
My greatest work is in my home and the best place to practice being a master teacher is with my children. I no longer worry about changing the world for the better or whether by being a teacher I will save someone’s life. Through my education, I have already influenced my children. I am so proud of them because with all of their challenges, they are becoming great leaders. They have already shown me what they can do.
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