20 Topics Contemporary Issues in U.S. Education for an Informative Speech

20 Topics Contemporary Issues in U.S. Education for an Informative Speech Despite being one of world’s foremost literate country, contemporary issues still plague the U.S. education system. If you are currently studying these or informative speeches as part of your curriculum, your instructor will get you to write an assignment on one of the issues at hand. If you do not have the time to begin in-depth research, you can take your pick from the 20 topics listed below. The Loopholes and Inconsistencies in the Common Core State Standards The Positive Impact of the Common Core State Standards in 42 States How the No Child Left Behind Act Failed Students, Educators and Schools Transparency and Accountability of Teacher Assessment Under the NCLB act Systematic Budget Cuts of The US Educational System. The Inefficiency in Educational System Resource Management Over the Last Decade The Economical and Educational Risk Factors of School Violence How to Reduce, Prevent and Control Violence in School The Realities English as a Secondary Language Students Face in the Current Education System How to Integrate ESL Learners in the School Environment Effectively Understanding the Needs of Gifted Students Defining the Factors Necessary for Creating an Effective Educational Program for Gifted Students The Realities of Gender Bias in Today’s American Schools An Objective Look at the Current Gender Based Policies Made for Schools An Assessment of the Efficiency of the High Stakes Test for Evaluating Teachers The Effects of Politics and Elections on the US Educational System Incentivizing School Teachers to Motivate Them Towards Better Education and Classroom Environments How to Attract Fresh Graduates to Take Up Teaching as a Long-Term Profession The Effects of Students’ Environments at Home and School on their Learning Patterns The Feasibility of Designing Education Systems per State Based on Their Demographics If you need more help with any of these topics, you can check out our 10 facts on contemporary issues in U.S. education for an informative speech for guidance and inspiration. However, if you need help writing an informative speech, you should check out our how to write an informative speech about education guide for help and valuable tips. To give you an idea of how to write an informative speech on a contemporary issue in the U.S. Education system, here is a quick sample for your review. Sample Informative Speech: How to Reduce, Prevent and Control Violence in School School violence is one of the biggest contemporary issues within the U.S. Educational system. However, teachers, parents, community members and even students can work together to make sure that there is no violence altogether. It is important that they all collaborate as there is not only one factor that triggers violent tendencies. Violent actions should be stopped before they happen because controlling them afterwards can become messier. There have been instances where students have carried weapons in schools and went undetected by metal detectors and security measures. This proves that weapons can make their way to campus easily. Therefore, it is time to demotivate students from becoming violent while providing safety guarantees for others before they begin fearing coming to school. There are various alternate solutions provided by Public Health that have more effective results. For starters, students should be encouraged to join extracurricular activities that can assist them to solve their personal issues in a healthier way rather than becoming violent. School based violence prevention programs can help reduce the aggressive behavior amongst students. These prevention programs must teach students about controlling their emotions, self-awareness, self-esteem, teamwork, how to behave in a society, and conflict resolution. However, it is equally important to prepare and inform students about what to do when a violent altercation occurs between peers. Another reality schools need to face is that violent physical episodes cannot just happen between students. There have been instances where school administrations have winded up getting physically hurt as well. Therefore, school-based prevention programs should not just be subliminal. Students should be bluntly told how a small fight can lead to permanent injuries and even deaths. Teachers play an active role in the fulfillment of these awareness and prevention programs. By building healthy and friendly relationships with their students, teachers can listen to children’s struggles outside of the school and be their pillar of support. This way, violent attitude and behaviors have less room to grow. A responsible teacher who listens to his or her students cannot only make the student’s life easier, but also improve the classroom environment, reduce conflicts, and prevent fights from happening in the school premises. There should be an open channel relationship between the parent and the teacher. If both of them are in sync, they can align their strategies if the child has been showing aggressive tendencies. Both teachers and parents need to assume responsibility if the other is showing negligence. As some parents might find it offensive if they are told that they are not being responsible enough, having monthly workshops about the role of parents in reducing children’s stress for the parents generally can be a better solution. The school itself should be physically altered so that there is accountability at all times. This type of security should be obscured because the idea is to teach the children to be nonviolent, not force them to. The staff should also be told to keep a lookout for altercations, hidden cameras should be placed, and the hedges in the play area should be kept to waist height. You can definitely come up with a better speech if you put your heart into it, so get going and begin informative speech writing right away. References: Hankin A, Hertz M, Simon T. Impacts of metal detector use in schools: insights from 15 years of research. Journal of School Health 2011;81 100-106. Levine, M. D. (1994). Educational care: A system for understanding and helping children with learning problems at home and in school. Cambridge, MA: Educators Pub. Service. High Stakes Testing Pros and Cons. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2016, from education.com/magazine/article/high-stakes-testing-pros-cons/ Weishaar, M. K. (2007). Case studies in special education law: No Child Left Behind Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Prentice Hall. Berger, E. H., Riojas-Cortez, M. (n.d.). Parents as partners in education: Families and schools working together. Khalsa, S. S. (2007). Break the bully cycle: Intervention techniques activities to create a respectful school community. Tucson, AZ: Good Year Books. Schneider, M. (n.d.). Introduction to public health.

Heroes And Hooligans Essays - Beowulf, Geats, Anglo-Saxon Paganism

Heroes And Hooligans Essays - Beowulf, Geats, Anglo-Saxon Paganism Heroes And Hooligans Cruel kings, dangerous monsters, and vicious villains are the reasons we need heroes for. Heroes are the ones people root for and believe in. They are the ones who will save people from total annihilation by the evil threatening to eradicate them. People call and depend on heroes to save them when in need. No matter what society or how long ago you lived everyone had a hero to count on and give them hope. Heroes are smart and guide people along their lives and help friends in need. A great example of a hero is Beowulf. Beowulf was a hero in the times of the Angles-Saxons. The story of Beowulf is still told today because he was such a great hero. He is very brave and noble, like before he fights the evil dragon he says, When he comes to me I mean to stand, not run from his shooting flames, stand till fate decides which one of us wins. My heart is firm, my hands calm. I need no hot words. (anonymous, 674) Beowulf was also a great hero because he was always confident like when he was going to fight the dragon, Then Beowulf rose, still brave, still strong and with his shiel at his side, and mail-shirt on his breast, strode calmly, confidently, toward the tower(anonymous, 689) Beowulf was loyal to the king and his people, the Geats, could trust Beowulf to be honest and trust him to get the job done. After Beowulf eradicated the loathsome, grotesque, and sinister Grendel he left his arm dangling from the ceiling of Herot No Dane doubted the victory. (anonymous, 514) and greatly appreciated Beowulf. All t his shows Beowulf is a majestic hero. Modern Day heroes are different from heroes of the days of yore. People and times have changed. We no longer need a hero to fight the evil that runs rampant. Celebrities are looked up to now more than superheroes. We now idolize people who have the same interest as we do. Our heroes now are people we look up to and dream of being. Rick McCrank is a modern day hero. He is always progressing and speeding up the progression of skating. He is worldly known for his pure skill on a skateboard. Kids of the future look up to him as an idol and something to strive to be. Like professional skateboarder, Moses Itkonen said, when Rick skates people dont even cheer him, they laugh, because he has so much skill. McCrank is constantly taking skating to the next level. Rick McCrank is a modern day hero that we look up to and strive to be like. People, like him, push people to make the most out of themselves and to have something to strive for. No matter how different they are from one another, a hero is still a hero. Without heroes we would never have hop and the willpower to survive. Heroes are looked upon for inspiration and guidance. Heroes have to relate to people. They have to have the same frame of mind. If people cannot relate to a hero they will not be stoked on him and he will not be a hero to those people. Whether the hero goes on perilous journeys, fighting monsters, or the guy who won the best trick contest, he will be a hero and will be remembered for years to come.

Virgil Aeneid Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Virgil Aeneid - Essay Example In the following arguments we observe climatic argumentation: â€Å"Achaeans must be hiding in this timber, or it was built to butt against our walls, peer over them into our houses, pelt the city from the sky. Some crookedness is in this thing. I have no faith in the horse! Whatever it is, even when Greeks bring gifts I fear them, gifts and all†. The speaker uses parallel constructions which are arranged in the enumeration pattern (‘to butt against our walls’, â€Å"peer over them into our houses†, â€Å"pelt the city from the sky†) which makes the sentence very dynamic and powerful. The next sentences are short and concise and it adds to the dynamism created by the previous sentence. The rhetoric question and the following argumentation stand in ‘question-answer’ relation, though it’s not so obvious as rhetoric question do not require answers. We come to the conclusion that the rhetoric technique used is the hypophora. The author catches attention of the listeners with powerful rhetoric questions and proceeds with reasoning which is indirect answer to the questions. The answer is detailed and lengthy. The attractiveness of the hypophora is in its ability to catch the attention of the listener. The orator asks question which listeners are curious about but feel difficulty in clear articulation of the answers. The listeners want the orator to formulate the answer to the question of interests. What the author achieves with the use of the hypophora is catching listeners’ attention at once and making the listeners’ reason along with reasoning of the author. The use of this rhetoric device makes the listeners to think and make conclusion along with the author. The hypophora is a useful tool in the situation when it’s important to persuade people in the rightness of the author’s opinion but when the majority stands on the opposite. The speaker does not impose his view rather he brings the listeners’ to

Business Memo (AVID) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business Memo (AVID) - Essay Example This report analyzes the strategic position of the company, the external environment and the financial performance of company based on its financial statements during the years 1999 and 2000. The first big strategic decision the company made was in 1993 when the firm launched its initial public offering (IPO) to become a publicly traded company and raised $53 million. His capital was utilized to spur the firm’s future growth. The three markets Avid serves are: Media composer was the initial product helped the company become such a popular firm in the industry. As the company matured it realized it needed help from other firms in order to developed new products. They entered into a series of strategic alliance with different companies. Avid System became a mid-size company. In this industry they were at a competitive disadvantage with larger firms such as Sony which had unlimited resources. Avid as a pioneer in the industry pushed for open standards for the participants in the digital industry. The company with the help of 150 other firms in the industry created the Open Media Framework standard. The creation of an open standard indirectly hurt the company because lost its edge of having a unique product in the industry. Avid in the early 1990’s utilized a Mac platform for its software. The company noticed that Apple was not doing to well in the computer industry and it felt continuing operating under a Mac platform was risky. In 1997 the company entered into a strategic alliance with Intel in order to convert its software into Windows based platform. The company gave up 6.75% of its common stock in exchange for Intel’s expertise. In 1993 the company entered into an alliance with Lucas film in order to develop special effects products. The firm entered into a partnership in 1994 with Tsushnki Company to develop the world first full motion digital camera. A huge transaction for the company was the

Inspirational Leaders Essay Example for Free

Inspirational Leaders Essay In 1994, the internet was fresh in the market, and it did not incorporate commerce in its operations. As a result, he saw an opportunity for a new business network, and after doing research, he made a decision of creating a space in the internet where books could be viewed by the public. This led to the creation of Amazon in 1995. Today, Amazon is widely successful and has had a great impact on the organizational culture of internet business. Jeff Bezos is considered to be the founder of e-commerce, remains a pioneer in the industry (Inc, 2009). This paper will discuss how the culture of Amazon has changed as a result of Jeff Bezos presence; today, among many things, the public can view full book lists on Amazon, a mission that was impossible before the early 1990s. Organizational Culture Organizational culture can be related to how an organization organizes itself based on its rules and beliefs; therefore, culture gives an organization an identity. The behavioral patterns of an organization are represented in their norms; according to Kratschmer (2011, p. 2), organizational culture includes values that are shared among the members of an organization. Needless to say, organizational culture can be changed. Kratschmer (2011, p. 3) adds that, organizational culture can be changed and lead to success, only if well managed. In addition, resistance to change is expected in any organization mainly because the employees are already attached to the existing culture; hence, they may resist change for fear of the unknown. Needless to say, changes in organizational culture can be of great benefit, for instance, it may contribute to new knowledge and skills for the employees, and productivity is achieved through motivating employees. Finally, as employees adapt to change, flexibility is achieved, which leads to improvement. However, for organizational culture to be successful, effective leaders must be in place. Culture is very important, as it promotes healthy competition at the place of work, hence motivating employees to perform. A healthy culture promotes employees’ interaction at the place of work, therefore uniting them despite their different backgrounds. Providing employees with a favorable working place increases their productivity. Schein (2010, p. 80) adds that, the shared values and beliefs in an organization are important, as they determine how goals are met. Moreover, a strong culture retains talents, engages employees, creates energy, changes how work is viewed, and contributes towards cooperation at the place of work. Jeff Bezos is one of the few inspirational leaders who have contributed to change of culture in Amazon, leading to the success of the business. Amazon and change in organizational culture When Jeff Bezos discovered the potential of the internet in 1994, nothing held him back from introducing commerce in the system; he abandoned a well-paying job and concentrated on Amazon. Today, amazon. com is one of the internet giants, fostering online retail and an e-reader. Indeed, he is among the founders of e-commerce (Inc, 2009). Within 30 days, he had sold books in all the American states and in 45 countries, with sales worth $20,000 weekly. Since then, the growth of Amazon continuously accelerated, but it 1997, he announced that the company would be unprofitable for some time. However, in 2003, Amazon made its first annual profit, contributing to revenue of $4billion by 2008 (Inc, 2009). The company has embraced e-commerce, and Bezos’ will to start an online bookstore has yielded to a diverse selection of books. Today, he is the founder and chief executive officer of Amazon. com. According to Katzenbach (2008, p. 6), Jeff Bezos insists on fostering positive motivation, which does not involve money. Employees are likely to be motivated to performing their tasks if they are committed and disciplined. Ensuring that respect is fostered among employees will help in maintaining a positive working environment. Amazon. com recognizes employees’ effort by giving a specific employee an award on monthly basis for the capability of making significant savings. Amazon’s culture includes an informal, but effective environment, one that involves fun; this company is obsessed with customers. Therefore, it continuously improves its website and its systems with an aim of serving customers quickly and reliably. It also strives to maintain its culture, which includes talented personnel, who are creative and innovative in finding solutions to challenges (Lussier, 2011, p. 56). Therefore, it is evident that a strong culture is influenced by effective leadership. According to Dubrin (2011, p. 291), the strong organizational culture fosters quality, productivity and morale; such a culture values human dignity, and therefore, it fosters job satisfaction and increases employee motivation. Jeff Bezos has noted that a culture that involves experimentation is crucial in the continuously changing world. Invention may lead one to paths that are considered weird by the world (Dubrin, 2011, p. 291). Before the existence of Amazon, click shopping did not exist; these are some of the changes brought about by Amazon. The company also deals with online shopping for electronics, computers movies, games, music, as well as books. Amazon, being one of the web giants, implies that an effective leader must be diverse, being behind such a company that started very small and transformed into a giant. Bezos is regarded as visionary, but he is keen that his employees meet the demanding schedules; weekly management meetings are set with his managers. In addition, he encourages his employees to be innovative, and a reward program has been implemented that rewards innovative employees (Zakomurnaya, 2007). Moreover, the company hires intelligent and innovative personnel; indeed, Bezos would rather not hire anyone rather than hire the wrong person. Bezos is also approachable and easy -going, which makes him an effective leader. In 2007, Amazon introduced a hand-held electronic book reader, which uses E-ink to bring out a print-like appearance and has no strain on the eyes. In addition, the introduction of I-pad to the world was seen as direct competition for Amazon, therefore, Jeff introduced Kindle Fire, which shares many of the same features as I-pad, but is much cheaper. The Amazon kindle fire is an e-book reader, which is a small hand-held device; this is as a result of technological advances. Nevertheless, these e-book devices are expensive, but advantageous compared to paper copy; indeed, technology has changed in the digital reading world. Another advantage is that these e-readers can be borrowed from libraries. According to Mc Graw Hill (N. d, p. 3), kindle fire is competitive compared to other e-book readers. In 2007, Amazon. com created a successful e-bookstore that allowed client access from any computer or from e-book reader model. Amazon has therefore made book reading easier, and the kindle e-book can be referred to as published. Amazon. com offers a collection of above two million free e-books with titles; therefore, Amazon has succeeded in improving the digital world by providing e-book readers, which assist online clients in accessing digital e-books. For instance, the kindle e-Book reader has a rechargeable battery, which is built in and has a wide internal storage that can fit 1000 full-length books (Mc Graw Hill, N. d, p. 5). Another advantage of owning kindle fire e-book reader is that, the kindler-formatted e-books are easily accessed. In addition, kindle fire can be used as a form of an entertainment device, which allows one to surf the web, send, and receive emails, among other functions. Therefore, Amazon’s Kindle fire is a device of many functions, which is a competition for I-pad among other devices. Amazon prime is a membership program, which enables individuals to receive unlimited fast shipping. Members enjoy a variety of services, which include unlimited and instant streaming of above 10,000 movies and television shows. Amazon prime offers a wide variety of kindle books through the kindle lending library; members who own kindle devices benefit more from reading and borrowing books for free. In addition, members of Amazon prime enjoy free shipping for orders that are above $25, a relatively good deal for customers. Moreover, Amazon prime enables one to try free shipping for one month, and ensures that customers save by spending less, and save time by guaranteeing two day shipping. It also provides unlimited deliveries, hence guaranteeing convenience. Big online shoppers benefit the most, and this is because of the unlimited deliveries that guarantee quality of members’ money. With a range of affordable entertainment, free movies, free kindle e- books, and a two-day shipping for only $75, Amazon prime is a friendly program. Therefore, Jeff Bezos’ intervention has led to a variety of services and products that blow the clients’ minds away. It is this transformation from a small enterprise to an internet giant that has led to a change in culture at Amazon. Conclusion Jeff Bezos, the founder and the chief executive officer of Amazon. com is a visionary, and has contributed to the success of this company through motivating employees with rewards, as well as ensuring that customers’ demands are met. He is an inspiring leader, and despite the fact that he does not value communication, he believes in the â€Å"just-do-it† aspect that motivates employees to perform. Jeff is not limited to only e-books, he has also engages in online retailing of music, movies, clothes, and streaming television shows. The unveiling of kindle fire in 2007 is among his achievements; Amazon prime has also been a competitive advantage for the company and has attracted many members. A strong organization culture requires an effective leader; Amazon is one successful company that has been influenced by an inspirational leader. Indeed, Jeff has contributed to various changes in the organization, which have contributed to successful culture in the organization.

Building A Radio Empire :: essays research papers fc

"Media do not simply present cultural products for consumption; they provide much of the stuff of every day life through which we construct meaning and organize our existence."--Michael R. Real, Super Media DEFINING MOMENTS IN MASS MEDIA Newspapers. Media began with the written word . . . To date, the oldest existing written document dates back to 2200 B.C. By 500 B.C. Persia had developed a form of pony express and the Greeks had a  ¡Ã‚ §telegraph ¡Ã‚ ¨ system consisting of trumpets, drums, shouting, beacon fires, smoke signals, and mirrors; transmitting a form of communication to the masses. In 200 B.C. the Chinese circulated the first  ¡Ã‚ §newspaper, ¡Ã‚ ¨ the Tipao gazette, to government officials. Newsletters began circulating in Europe by 1450. Over 150 years later, in 1609, the first regularly published newspaper was circulated in Germany. Advertising began to shape the media industry by 1631 with the first classified ads featured in a French newspaper. And, in 1833 a New York newspaper was sold for one penny, enabling this media to reach a mass market. Radio. At first there was the print, and then there was sound . . . In 1821 an English man named Wheatstone reproduced sound. However, the future of radio didn ¡Ã‚ ¦t really begin until 1890 when Branly transmitted the first radio waves in France. In 1901 the American Marconi Company, the forerunner of RCA, sent radio signals across the Atlantic. And five years later,  ¡Ã‚ §a program of voice and music was broadcast in the United States. ¡Ã‚ ¨ In 1907 DeForest began a regular radio broadcast featuring music. In 1909 the first talk-radio format, covering women ¡Ã‚ ¦s suffrage, was broadcast. And in 1912, the United States Congress passed a law to regulate radio stations. In 1917 the first radio station, KDKA, was built; and in 1920 the first scheduled programs on KDKA were broadcast. The going rate for ten minutes of commercial airtime was $100. By 1924, the first sponsored radio program, The Eveready Hour, began. In that same year there were two and a half million radio sets in the United States. The 1930 ¡Ã‚ ¦s are characterized as the  ¡Ã‚ §Golden Age ¡Ã‚ ¨ of radio. In 1929 automobile manufacturers began installing radios in cars. In 1933 Armstrong discovered FM waves. And in 1934, the government passed the Communications Act, creating the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In that same year, half of all American homes had at least one radio set. In 1935 A.C.

Balance Based Literacy: Is it the Best Solution?

Literacy has become an important consideration in the field of education. To address literacy problems, educators (Strickland, n. d. ; Frey et al. , 2004) use the Balance Based Literacy Program, which specifically stresses the use of varied approaches to teaching literacy. According to California Department of Education (as cited in Frey et al. , 2004), the term balanced literacy originated in California in 1996. This was made into a curriculum in response to low reading scores of students on a national examination. It promotes the concept that reading and writing must go hand in hand to promote literacy.In contrast to using a specific approach to teaching literacy such as Phonics Approach or Whole Language Approach, Balance Based Literacy combines these approaches and more in order to ensure meeting the goal of literacy. Believing that every student has the capability to learn how to read and write, Balance Based Literacy allows students to achieve a certain literacy level through a combination of approaches relevant to their ability. The literacy model established with balance allows students to plan their own personal progress, and attempt new techniques in learning, with the support of teachers and resources.Based on Frey et al. (2004), many authors believe that combining a balance of teacher-directed instruction and student-centered activities is the most effective way of teaching literacy. In addition, Asselin, and Pearson (as cited in Frey) believe that Balance Based Literacy must include elements of community, authenticity, integration, optimism, modeling, and student control and connectedness. Activities incorporated in Balance Based Literacy include reading and writing aloud, shared reading and writing, guided reading and writing, and independent reading and writing. According to Mrs.Stewart’s Kindergarten Web site, one model of Balance Based Literacy being employed nowadays is the Literacy Collaborative Model. This comprehensive model is desig ned to provide a school-wide approach to improve reading and writing. This model includes a wide range of individual, small-group, and large-group reading and writing activities (Literacy Collaborative Web site). One component of Balance Based Literacy is Reading and Writing Aloud. In Reading Aloud, students learn the language through acquisition. It supports the idea that language is acquired, thus students are asked to read aloud a text to other students.By doing such, the read language registers in the mind of the students, making them learn the language. However, beyond the purpose of learning, the goals of Reading Aloud are to promote enjoyment and emphasize the uses of print (Mrs. Stewart’s Web site). It exposes the students to the uses of printed materials, and develops discussion skills by motivating them to ask questions during the activity. During Reading aloud, students do not need to view the read text. The focus is not on the content of the text, but what the stu dent reads or explains about the text.The selection for such activities may be fiction or nonfiction, or it can be a narrative, or a picture book Another component of Balance Based Literacy is Shared Reading. During Shared Reading, students reformulate ideas from the context. Either the teacher or a proficient student reader reads to the class, while the rest of the students are invited to join in the reading. One important component of shared reading is an enlarged text which is readable by all children. The text used may contain songs, poems, charts, or lists created by the teacher or developed with the class during shared writing activities.During the reading, the teacher or student reader points to or glides a locator on the reading material to guide the students in reading. This is to draw students’ attention to the print in order to promote familiarity with words in the text. Shared reading activities involve multiple readings of books over several days. During the init ial reading, the teacher emphasizes reading for enjoyment while subsequent readings are done to increase participation, and teach vocabulary, ideas, author’s style, and intonation patterns.Through repeated readings of a particular text, children become familiar with word forms and build up recognition of words and phrases used in the text (Bridge, Winograd, & Haley; Pikulski & Kellner, as cited in Frey et al. , 2004). The third reading component of Balance Based Literacy is Guided Reading. In this kind of activity, students are given more chances to express their ideas and feelings through inquiry. As such, it requires more student participation. In most cases, students are grouped together according to their level, and asked to read a text appropriate to their reading ability.In this case, the teacher needs to carefully identify each student’s level to ensure proper assessment. The fourth reading component is Independent Reading. This activity allows the student to ch oose from a wide variety of texts. It aims to make students become confident, motivated and enthusiastic about their ability to read. Considered as an advanced approach to reading, this activity makes use of skills learned during the Reading Aloud, Shared Reading, and Guided Reading activities. The writing components of Balance Based Literacy also ensure variety in the application of approaches and resources.One component is the Shared Writing activity. In this activity, the teacher and the students together decide to write a text in which the teacher acts as the scribe. The activity requires discussion of what they are writing about, and modeling of the teacher on the board how the text should be written. The students are asked to verbally interact with the teacher before, during, and after the activity to help make connections. The second writing component is the Interactive Writing activity. In this activity, either the teacher and the class, or students in groups collaborate to write a material.The students articulate the words or sounds that they are about to write, and discuss with the teacher or group mates what they are writing about. The third component is the Guided Writing or Writing Workshop. This intends to allow students to spend time daily to write about things that interest them. Students are guided to experiment with a variety of genres. The ultimate goal is for students to develop a style of their own, and apply previous learning. In addition to the writing activity itself, the teacher offers a whole class session, small group lesson, or a conference where students can learn and share their written output.The fourth component is the Independent Writing. This activity allows students to write independently by choosing their own topic and genre. By letting them write freely, students develop the natural habit of writing, thereby making them improve along the process. In this kind of activity, teacher evaluation is set aside in order to promote creativity. The components of Balance Based Literacy are directed toward a common goal: to ensure effective strategy in teaching literacy. They support basic literacy theories introduced in the past such as the constructivist, interactive, and experiential theories.Encompassing these theories, Balance Based Literacy may be viewed as a holistic approach to literacy instruction. Taking from the behaviorist theory of B. F. Skinner, the Constructivism theory believes that all knowledge is constructed through a process of reflective abstraction (Huitt, 2003). In the constructivist classroom, the learner is presented with opportunities to construct new knowledge in addition to prior knowledge and experience. In particular, Reading Aloud and Shared Writing support this theory. As students read and write aloud, they learn new sounds and vocabulary, and benefit from the sharing done by their classmates.Interactive Reading and Writing anchor on the Interactive theory. This theory believes tha t learning is best attained through interaction with others. As discussed above, during Interactive Reading and Writing, students are given the opportunity to listen to other’s ideas. All the components mentioned above support the experiential theory. This theory purports that learning will best occur through individual experience. By asking students to read and write aloud, express ideas in interactive activities, and read and write on their own, teachers promote experiential learning as the very basis of their instruction.Although many educators believe in the effectiveness of Balance Based Literacy Instruction, some authors see disadvantages in its application. For instance, Wren (n. d. ) suggests that the needs of the learners must be the first consideration when designing an appropriate program of instruction. He claims that instruction should be patterned to the needs of the learners and not specific of one approach or a balance of many approaches. Another issue regardi ng application of Balance Based Literacy is the specific focus it gives on reading and writing.This tends to neglect other skills such as speaking and listening, which are also important aspects of literacy. To mitigate problems arising from this neglect, the teacher should incorporate speaking and listening resources as tools for reading and writing instruction. For example, instead of focusing on printed materials, guided writing could use listening resources as motivation activities. Furthermore, technological resources should likewise be used to promote a holistic approach. Conclusion Balance Based Literacy has been considered by many as an ideal program to teach literacy.Given its whole rounded and comprehensive approach to reading and writing, it purports not just base learning but mastery of skills in the target areas. In addition, the activities it introduces provide a way to monitor the progress of students, and allow them to experience learning in various ways. Studies val idating the effectiveness of Balance Based Literacy have found its applicability to young learners. However, not much has been said about its applicability to adult learners who are more in need of a balanced instruction.In this regard, it is highly recommended to conduct research on the applicability of the said program of instruction among adult learners. References Balance overview. (n. d. ) Retrieved March 19, 2008, from http://projectcentral. ucf. edu/Past%20Initiatives/BALANCE/index. html Dorothy S. Strickland (n. d. ) Balanced Literacy: Teaching the Skills and thrills of reading. http://teacher. scholastic. com/professional/teachstrat/balanced. htm Frey, Bruce B. , Steve W. Lee, Nona Tollefson &Lisa Pass. (2004). Balanced literacy in an urban school district. Retrieved 17 March 2008, from http://people. ku. edu/~bfrey/balancedliteracy.pdf Kolb, David A. , Richard E. Boyatzis & Charalampos Mainemelis. Experiential learning theory: Previous research and new directions. Retrieve d March 20, 2008, from http://www. learningfromexperience. com/images/uploads/experiential-learning-theory. pdf Literacy collaborative: Our purpose. (n. d. ) Retrieved March 19, 2008, from http://www. literacycollaborative. org/about/characteristics/ Martha Manson French, M. (1999). Planning for literacy instruction: Guidelines for planning and instruction for literacy. Retrieved March 19, 2008, from http://clercdev. gallaudet. edu/cc/Products/Sharing-Ideas/planning/guidelines.html Root, Cathy (n. d. ) Balanced : Reading and writing in the first and second grade classroom an internet-based treasure hunt on balanced literacy. Retrieved March 18, 2008, from http://www. swlauriersb. qc. ca/english/edservices/pedresources/balancedlit/balancedliteracy. htm Thelen, Jeff. (n. d. ). A balanced literacy program for the upper elementary grades. Retrieved March 19, 2008, from http://curriculum. edenpr. org/~jthelen/languagearts/a_balanced_literacy_program. htm Wren, Sebastian. (n. d. ) What do es a balanced literacy approach mean? Retrieved from http://www. sedl. org/reading/topics/balanced. html

Van Hoc Anh

The Nightingale and the Rose | | The Nightingale and the Rose – Oscar Wilde Note: please take time to read the actual story before reading this analysis. There can be multiple interpretations for any one text and everyone's opinions differ. This analysis is meant as a guide only. Links to text: on ZYLite online-literature. com A readable but tragic story at first glance, this particular story has deeper themes which mock people in society for being pretentious. A large part of the story is set in the garden with its animals and plants, and that sets the background for the ending. It is useful to take note of first impressions when reading a text. In this case the notable first impression is the concept of sacrificing a life for love. The nightingale went through suffering and sacrificed her life for the sake of love – the concept of true love. This is an allegory to the biblical concept of sacrificial love. The allegory is the first hint, further reading of the story reveals that the language used, parallels that used in the bible. The language is simple and friendly-reading for children, but yet note the nightingale's description of the lover and love, that she describes his hair and his lips as similar to beautiful plants like roses, and even says â€Å"his lips are sweet as honey†. For those who know, this is familiar language because it is derived from Song of Solomon in the bible. The statement which represents the theme of the story â€Å"†¦ for Love is wiser than Philosophy, though she is wise, and mightier than Power, though he is mighty. This is another statement that alludes to the language of the bible, this time from the book of Proverbs – that philosophy is referred to as â€Å"she†, and power is referred to as â€Å"he† (see below for more detailed references). What does Oscar Wilde want to convey from these hints in form of the story? Take a closer look at the statement – the nightingale claims love to be favoured over philosophy and power, but at the end Wilde uses symbolism to contradict this very statement. The rose represents love, but it was tragically thrown on the road to be rolled over by cart wheels. Sadly it is people in society who value philosophy and power more than they value love. (the student went back to valuing philosophy over love after his attempt failed, and the professor's daughter valued power in the shape of the Chamberlain's nephew) The ending of the story becomes a mockery of how society behaved at that time – that society claims to follow biblical doctrine, but only so on the surface. People in society were hypocritical enough to claim to follow Christian doctrine, but miss the meaning of true love. When practical considerations come in, a lot of people are self-interested and merely use speech to give the appearance that they possess good virtues. One last interesting note.. it is ironic that the student thinks that art has â€Å"no sincerity† and is â€Å"selfish† – but sadly that was how art was perceived in Victorian times. The field of knowledge was seen as a more worthwhile personal pursuit and it was in society's self-interest to study that to gain renown.

Tda 2.1 Transitions Essays

Tda 2.1 Transitions Essays Tda 2.1 Transitions Essay Tda 2.1 Transitions Essay TRANSITIONS A transition is any significant stage or experience in the life of a child or young person that has a bearing on their behaviour and/or development. TRANSITONS: Emotional Intellectual Physiological Physical Children and young people naturally pass through a number of stages as they grow and develop. Often being expected to be able cope with these changes. Some children may have to face very particular and personal transitions not necessarily shared or understood by their peers subsequently it is important to understand a child or young person in context of their life. Being able to recognise and understand the impact of any transition is vital as is recognising the role of parents and carers in supporting children and young people at points of transition. At these points all parties involved with the child or young person must understand the need for reassurance, advice and support. SKILLS IDENTIFY TRANSITIONS: Listen to concerns Recognise/take account of signs of change in attitude/behaviour Build honest and open relationships Always take into account age, development, family culture and background Manage in a timely manner Help to reach a positive outcome PROVIDE SUPPORT: Empathise Communicate simple, reassuring messages Reassure children, young people, parents and/or carers Explain what is happening Explore/Examine possible actions/ways to deal with new or challenging situations Identify opportunities to discuss the effects and results of transition Work within your own limitations Make effective links with other professionals if necessary Where appropriate, illustrate the benefits of transition KNOWLEDGE Recognise how children and young people respond to change Consider issues of identity Be aware of possible signs of transition Know the likely impact of key transitions Understand that additional support may be required when dealing with children/young people with disabilities or special education needs Know when to seek specialist advice Recognise the influence of peer groups and how this may vary according to culture WHEN AND HOW TO INTERVENE: Know about: Organisational procedures Relevant legal frameworks Appropriate referral routes Local resources Understand your own role and its limitations as well as the importance of providing care and support

Catalysts Definition and How They Work

Catalysts Definition and How They Work A catalyst is a chemical substance that affects the rate of a chemical reaction by altering the activation energy required for the reaction to proceed. This process is called catalysis. A catalyst is not consumed by the reaction and it may participate in multiple reactions at a time. The only difference between a catalyzed reaction and an uncatalyzed reaction is that the activation energy is different. There is no effect on the energy of the reactants or the products. The ΔH for the reactions is the same.​ How Catalysts Work Catalysts permit an alternate mechanism for the reactants to become products, with a lower activation energy and different transition state. A catalyst may allow a reaction to proceed at a lower temperature or increase  the reaction rate  or selectivity. Catalysts often react with reactants to form intermediates that eventually yield the same reaction products and regenerate the catalyst. Note that the catalyst may be consumed during one of the intermediate steps, but it will be created again before the reaction is completed. Positive and Negative Catalysts (Inhibitors) Usually when someone refers to a catalyst, they mean a positive catalyst, which is a catalyst that  speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering its activation energy. There are also negative catalysts or inhibitors, which slow the rate of a chemical reaction or make it less likely to occur. Promoters and Catalytic Poisons A promoter is a substance that increases the activity of a catalyst. A catalytic poison is a substance that inactivates a catalyst. Catalysts in Action Enzymes are reaction-specific biological catalysts. They react with a substrate to form an unstable intermediate compound. For example, carbonic anhydrase catalyzes the reaction:H2CO3(aq) ⇆ H2O(l) CO2(aq)The enzyme allows the reaction to reach equilibrium more quickly. In the case of this reaction, the enzyme makes it possible for carbon dioxide to diffuse out of blood and into the lungs so it can be exhaled.Potassium permanganate is a catalyst for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into oxygen gas and water. Adding potassium permanganate increases the temperature of the reaction and its rate.Several transition metals can act as catalysts. A good example of platinum in the catalytic converter of an automobile. The catalyst makes it possible to turn toxic carbon monoxide into less toxic carbon dioxide. This is an example of heterogeneous catalysis.A classic example of a reaction that doesnt proceed at an appreciable rate until a catalyst is added is that between hydrogen g as and oxygen gas. If you mix the two gases together, nothing much happens. However, if you add heat from a lighted match or a spark, you overcome the activation energy to get the reaction started. In this reaction, the two gases react to produce water (explosively).H2 O2 ↔ H2O The combustion reaction is similar. For example, when you burn a candle, you overcome the activation energy by applying heat. Once the reaction starts, heat released from the reaction overcomes the activation energy needed to allow it to proceed.

Obama signs order on minimum wage Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Obama signs order on minimum wage - Assignment Example This move would be of great assistance for these citizens as it would improve their income annually and improve the economy of the country. Even though, this order has been positively accepted by the masses, it has also received negative criticism. Economists have argued that this implementation would harm the economy rather than bringing any benefit. They believe that employers and large firms would reduce the number of employees to cope up with the rising salaries and thus lead to unemployment. This would be a blow to the economy as unemployment rates would raise and dissatisfaction amongst the common man would increase. Though economists have presented their views and fears, but this decision taken by the President is a very bold one which is for the betterment of the Americans. It aims to improve the pay scale of the workers and to improve the income of the poor households. The bill would achieve its desired result if it is implemented with effective policies and a strong check is kept on the

Computer Ethics-Cyberbullying Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Computer Ethics-Cyberbullying - Thesis Example It is defined as â€Å"the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others† (Owens, 2010). Cyber bullying involves using technology, such as cell phones and the Internet, to harass another person. Cyberbullying is more dangerous than traditional bullying for the following reasons: (1) it is location independent; (2) it offers the ability to bully without a face-to-face confrontation (Meech, 2007); (3) it is difficult to trace or discover because of problems in identification; (4) it can be rapidly scaled to a large audience in a short time; and (5) there are neither codes of conduct nor procedures currently in place to deal with it (Owens, 2010). Cyberbullying is more unethical because as the world evolves, technology has become pervasive and a key component of our continued existence as a cohesive society. It is difficult to envision lives being lived without cyber-interaction especially among the youth. It is therefore vital for people to practice respect of each other in the virtual community just as much as in the physical world. Cyberbullying breaks this communal respect that is being nurtured online. Today’s youth need to be taught that even when no one can see what they are doing online, their actions affect other people. Furthermore, even if they can’t see those results, they need to know that the consequences are not only present and real but can also be catastrophic. A good example of cyber-bullying is the Amanda Marcuson case (Harmon, 2004). Amanda, a new eighth-grade student, reported her classmates for stealing her pencil case. But at the end of the day when she went home, the girls that she had reported begun sending her insulting instant messages on her home computer. Amanda’s mother took her away from the computer to watch a basketball game with the rest of