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| Okay, so...update:
I bought a car. Silver 2001 Chevy Cavalier. It's awesome.
I joined SALT (Students About Living Truth). Their doctrine is a little different than what I believe...alot in some cases...but the people are nice and it's fun. Tonight is Murder Mystery night. So it should be fun.
Today was warm and I didn't have to wear a coat. Sweetness.
I'm feeling rather nervous and apprehensive right now and I don't really know why....
I'm hungry and I think I'm going to go get something to eat.
Then get ready to leave.
And go to SALT.
Then come home.
And go to sleep.
For another great day of friends.
And possibly iceskating.
Lata.
-Me | | |
| Ahhhh....so...It's SNOWING!!! The Altoona School District Schools were closed down all day today, and the campus was closed as of 3pm today. WOOT. I'm just really glad that I don't have to go to my 7pm SPLED class. I really didn't feel like giving my presentation on Stuttering. Although I did stay up late last night and woke up early this morning to finish my essay for tonight....but still. NO CLASSES! woot woot.
So Val's friend Cassie is here. We all went out and played in the snow. lol. Yea, a near 20 year old outside playing in the snow. I'm a child at heart, what can I say. I wanted to make a snowman. Actually, I wanted to make the Marx Brothers. lol. But the snow isn't packing snow, so it wouldn't work. So we sleded down out tiny hill instead. I wish Xanga would let me post pictures again, I'd love to post pics of the snow. It's gorgeous. Theres almost a foot out there right now.
SIDE NOTE:: I discovered that my grandma makes a killer cup of hot chocolate. I gotta learn how she does it.
So I got my tix to see My Chemical Romance this April! woot! I got floor tix. me and brit did. All my other loser friends haven't gotten theirs yet, so they're going to have crappy level seats, while me and brit are standing pushing our way up to the front by the stage! haha, we are so going early and claiming our ground close to the stage! I don't care if we have to stand for an hour! lol, we're going to be close! AND as a topper, the concert is on the 29th of April, 3 days after my birthday! WOOT, happy birthday to me!!! WOOT
I have grown to have an even larger appreciation for this band. For several reasons. First, I read an article about the band that just showed alot about their reason and character. And they are respected by alot of people, and save lives through their music. you'd have to read the article to understand. It's in SPIN magazine, february 2007 copy. Do a google if you're really interested I'm sure you'll find somthing. And second, believe it or not, they helped me get through the ordeal with my pap. Their new album's main character is called the patient, and it's about a man who is dieing and is going through his mind his regrets and his life etc....there is a song called Cancer that reminds me of what my pap went through, and how i know he was feeling. And then theres the song The Black Parade, which reminds me of my paps faith in Christ...the character tells his son live on for "the broken, the beaten, and the damned" and the phrase "I'll carry on, I'll carry on, Although you're broken and defeated, you're memory will carry on". Then there is the last song on the cd, Famous Last words that say "I am not afraid to keep on living, I am not afraid to walk this world alone..." and that song actually helped me stop crying after my grandfathers funeral, which was a really hard time for me. So all you who think that My Chem is just one of those bands who sing for the sake of singing, your wrong. Theres alot in their music if you take the time to stop listen think and appreciate it.
Okay. Now that I've preached my sermon, I'll be going now. :o)
Yourwelcom Bobbo.
--Danielle
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| Ok, so, I gave my last speech in my Public Speaking class the other day and I got a few requests for postage of it on here, so here is an overview of my Speech, which is an overview of No Child Left Behind.
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No Child Left Behind is an Educational Law that was passed to help improve our Educational Systems. The Main Objectives of the program are to 1) Improve the quality and reliability of academic assessment 2) Better the measurment of student academic achievement and 3) Keep track of student progress over periods of time.
These Objectives are based off of 4 issues. These issues have been given the title of The Four Pillars of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The pillars consist of the following:
1.) Stronger accountability for results
2.) More freedom for states and communities
3.) Proven education methods
4.) More choices for parents
The following will consist of a brief overview of each one of these issues with little commentary by me on my personal opinions of each topic.
--STRONGER ACCOUNTABILITY FOR RESULTS
NCLB is supposed to be working toward closing the achievement gap between all students, including disadvantaged students. All students, according to NCLB, should be able to achieve academic proficiency. Under NCLB, they have issued the need for schools to provide tutoring and after school help to achieve this goal, and if the problems that exist are drastic enough then the schools will be forced to change the way their schools are run, whether than means through the teaching curriculum, or the teaching staff.
But how do they know how a school is performing? They have begun finding methods of measuring individual school's achievements. One method that has been put into use currently, is the use of Standardized Testing.
I agree with the effort to raise the academic achievement of students in schools. The main reason for educating our students is so that they can gain knowledge and achieve enought to become a well educated citizen and make a good life for themselves, correct? BUT, I have a problem with how severe they are making these standardized tests, and the effect that they are having on our school's curriculum. Teachers are forced to alter their curriculum to satisfy the needs of standardized tests, instead of teaching information that will be useful and beneficial to the student as a person. Information of meaning and substence is being lost in the want or the "need" of a high proficiency statistic. As an example, I can recall from my highschool days, on several occasions, teachers commenting that they had to get through this topic because it was going to be on the PSSA (the standardized test we take here in PA), or they had to skip information in the text that was useful, but not needed for the PSSA, just so that they could get to the information that was going to be on the PSSA. I believe that is a huge waste of good education. The PSSA here, is a requirement for graduation in our highschools. If a student does not get proficient on the tests, then they have to retake their senior year. This puts un-needed pressure on the teachers to "fly" through the curriculum, which then looses it's substance and meaning even more because of the brief lessons, and even more pressure on the students to achieve a "grade" rather than benneficial understanding. Standardized tests are limiting student's knowledge and limiting teacher's uses of well trained teaching ability.
A second part to stronger accountability for results, is the use of funding. It used to be that funding was given to ALL schools, regardless of achievement statistics. Now, due to NCLB, only schools that already have a high academic standard/achievement rate can get federal school funding. This means that the underachieveing school are left to fend for themselves. But what makes an underachieving school? Lack of qualified staff, lack of resources, unsafe/unqualified teaching environments, lack of sufficient text books, etc. Now I can understand the motivation for the underachieving schools that might be given through this movement to do better as a school as to once again recieve federal funding, BUT how can they improve their status, if they have no funding to do so. It takes money to make worth-while improvements, and if a low status school has no money, then its stuck in a stand still. It takes money to make changes. This is just another small flaw in the system.
--MORE FREEDOM FOR STATES
NCLB gives states more flexibility in how they can use their federal education funds. Instead of being issued a certain ammount for a certain purpose, districts can now take the funds that they recieve and use these funds for whatever specific need that is currently needing attention.
I believe that this is one of the more beneficial parts of the new NCLB law. It is allwing better education to be achieved, whether it be the hire of better qualified teachers, the improvement of teacher training, supplies, etc...
--PROVEN METHODS
NCLB has issued scientific research on the best methods of teaching.
Reading~ $4.3 billion dollars have gone into reading programs and research for better teaching techniques. Resources have been made available to parents for bettering early reading development, as well as resources for teachers, all to ensure that every child learns to read.
Math and Science~ An effort is being made to help the public understand the need and the importance for better math and science education.
English Fluency~ NCLB has made a goal that all students in the USA will have a highly developed knowledge of the english language and how to speak it correctly, no matter if native born, or if coming in from a differnet country. All will know how to speak the english language.
Quality Teachers~ This, in my opinion, is the best proven method. What makes a quality teacher? A good quality teacher is one who is well-prepared; knows what to teach, how to teach, and has command of the subject. To ensure this quality is met, there now are offerings of training programs and workshops where teachers can work face-to-face, teacher-to-teacher, to improve student learning. States are now issueing annual evaluations and reports of teacher accountability as well, to make sure they are staying up to par with their skills.
--MORE CHOICES FOR PARENTS
This part of NCLB is mostly for parents with children in low-performing schools. If a child is in a school that does not meet the State standards for at least two consecutive years, parents can transfer children to a better-performing school withing their district, including charter schools or private schools. Students from low-income families in schools that fail to meet State standards for three consecutive years are eligible to recieve extra educational services, including tutoring, after school services, and summer school.
This new feature is helpful, but not as beneficial to low-income children as higher-income children who get to attend a whole new school with better staff, better curriculum, and safer learning environment. In my opinion, the rights and ability of education should be made equal for all students, regardless of their type of income. This is what truly needs to be achieved for "no child to be left behind".
My viewpoint on No Child Left Behind is not that it is harming the educational system, but nor is it that it is the best system that we could be using to increase the effectiveness of our educational system. At least we are taking a step forward, and making an effort to improve the way things currently are. It may not be a perfectly flawless plan, it has a few bugs to be worked out, but at least it is a step in the right direction.
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Comments? Opinions? Hate Mail? Go for it.
--Danielle
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| Random Facts.
I don't understand the point of statistics when they can always have loop-holes and but's and if's.
I don't like the cold, but I love snow.
I don't always like the color red.
I can never buy a pair of jeans that aren't too long.
I believe in heartbreak more than love.
I love romantic comedies and happily ever afters.
I love Cap'n Crunch.
I listen to veggie tales. (there too funny)
I miss highschool.
I have 3 real best friends.
I have bad luck with timing.
I'm always late.
I hate dress clothes.
Shopping makes me tired.
I'm currently talking to SirJohn.
Life confuses me.
I want to Study Abroad in England next semester.
I'm afraid of Death, regardless of my faith or not.
I'm in love with music.
Head Automatica is currently blaring from my laptop speakers.
I have 49 minutes til choir practice.
I miss my friends.
I'm wearing a black sweater.
I like sparkly nail polish.
I like the color purple.
I can't sleep at night lately.
I hate being stressed out.
I don't like worrying.
I want to go out and have fun ALL NIGHT the last day of classes.
I want it to snow.
I'm excited for christmas.
I like taking photos.
I don't like being in photos.
I don't like my smile, its crooked.
I could sit at Carnegie all day and stare at Monet's Water Lillies.
I wish I could go on a trip alone.
I would love a weekend to myself.
I hate folding drawings.
I'im still a kid at heart.
I like trampolines.
I want to have twins.
I want a tiny dog.
I don't know if I want to get married.
I want to live in the city.
I want my own apartment in a quaint little town where everyone knows everyone.
I'm not yet comfortable in my own skin.
I always feel like people are judging me.
I am most comfortable when I am alone with my iPod/headphones and a sketchbook.
I need a challenging art project.
I have to get ready for Choir Practice.
Later.
--Danielle
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| so i am now a DeviantArt.com user! my username is danyellersluvsyou (same as xanga) so check it out! :o) | | |
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