Showing posts with label John Vaneiker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Vaneiker. Show all posts
Friday, August 23, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
John's Peer Profile of Carmen
Learning a new language is a difficult
task for most. It takes dedication, time and practice. Often people trying to
learn a new language will find someone to help them learn the new language like
a parent or teacher or friend. Carmen was no different. Coming to the US at the
age of six knowing very little English, she found the person that would give
her a hand in accomplishing this task.
It
all began one unforgettable day, when Carmen was six entering the second grade.
She walked into this unfamiliar building in which she had no telling of what
would happen, how she would be received, how many friends she would make or
what she would learn. It was P.S. 69 in Brooklyn. Carmen remembered that day as
a sunny day, walking through the blue and yellow hallways. Carmen felt “lost”,
she approached the room when soon she would learn her new language. Here is
where a new Hero would be born. Teaching her English was just part of the
impact that her teacher, Ms. Tidona, would have on her.
Carmen
describes Ms. Tidona as someone who wouldn’t allow her to give up and went the
extra mile to help her. Carmen remembers her paying individual attention to her
and making sure she understood the material. Ms. Tidona was unlike her previous
first grade teacher, who ignored her and didn’t spend the extra time needed for
Carmen to be able to learn the material. One time after a well done homework
assignment, Ms. Tidona put a sticker in the homework assignment saying “I did
it” and made Carmen pronounce it word by word.
Not
only would Ms. Tidona be remembered for her perseverance on Carmen but also for
sticking up for her. One day after a medical issue in which one of her eyes had
to be patched, a classmate asked, “why do you have an eye patch?” Carmen
started to cry. Ms. Tidona asked her what had happened and simply made the following
announcement. “Nobody make fun of Carmen.” It worked very well because Carmen
didn't have to answer another question about her eye. Ms. Tidona didn’t know
that she was influencing Carmen into becoming a teacher.
Wanting
to test the waters, Carmen volunteered to tutor first graders. She describes it
as a key factor in deciding what her major was going to be. Describing the
students as “hard to handle”, Carmen blamed herself for this because she was
not authoritative enough with the kids. Who most times would ignore her when
ask to do their assignments and work. It most have been difficult handling
10-15 students alone while all they wanted to do was go home and not do their
homework. At that age kids just want to play. This left an unsatisfactory taste
in Carmen`s mouth about teaching, although teaching high school students can
still be a possibility, but when asked if she ever wanted to try teaching high
school kids, she responded, “No” and she stated that she would have to deal
with bigger problems like laziness and absences. This left Carmen opened for
more career suggestions.
In
the 6th grade, Carmen was put in an ESL class and rapidly showed her abilities
by transferring out of the class within a week. In the 8th grade
Carmen was able to move into the Honors class at her School. This opened a great
deal of opportunities for Carmen because she could now set herself up for a
better high school experience. Most middle schools in New York offer the
opportunity to take regents for their 8th grade honor students. This
would allow the student to be able to take advanced classes, register for classes
they would like to take, or leave school early. Carmen took advantage of this
opportunity and took the Spanish, biology, and government regents. This allowed
her to take more challenging classes in high school.
For
Carmen middle school wasn’t just three years to prepare for high school, it was
when she was reoborn. Carmen`s original name was Jia Wen Tang, which in
pronunciation sounds like Carmen. This was when Carmen took on a new role and
became more confident. Since now her name was easier to say she was able to
make more friends and be more social.
High
school is viewed as the transition towards adulthood. In high school students
carry a greater workload because is viewed as preparation for High School.
Advanced placement classes are considered the stepping stones from high school
to college. Carmen took AP Chemistry sophomore year and AP Psychology senior
year of high school. Having difficulties
in her Chemistry prepared her for college because she could sample the
workload. Chemistry being the hardest class in all of high school, it is often
avoided by students. But Carmen not being one of these students took it upon
herself to take this difficult class. Carmen shows a great amount of confidence
and courage. which was passed on from Ms. Tidona.
It
is hard for someone to find a figure to admire at a very young age, but Carmen
did. Not only did Ms. Tidona help Carmen learn English, but she helped develop
a smart, friendly and dedicated girl who now has the confidence to smile and
participate in class. Her English has not only improved but has risen to a
college level. Carmen treats others with the same amount of respect she wants
to be given. Ms. Tidona still teaches at P.S. 69 in Brooklyn, many students
later, many heroics later she probably doesn’t remember Carmen but her
influence is all Carmen needs to know who she was and know where she began. Carmen
now attends the City College of New York on her way toward accomplishing great
things and who knows maybe teaching is still in the plans.
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