This Class

When I was told that I needed to take this class I was not happy! That's a understatement, I was upset at every person who didn't share the programming requirements from the start. See am taking this class because I needed it to get into a education program at Trinity. The only way to ensure that I made it in this fall was if I took this course or pass the Tap test.

Well, I am learning that my plans will shift quickly when God plans are different. He knew that I needed to be in this class; so he slowed down the process and made me take this course. I have learned so much over just the pass few weeks. My writing was not bad, it just needed to be perfected. I work in ministry and leadership. How can I lead people if I can not honestly address them with my written communication. You are judged by others on how well you write and speak. It's was not a lot of checks and balances with my writing in the pass. I would write what needed to be said, but I never would read it over to make sure it was correct.  My choice of words has changed, and I am more comfortable with my writing. This class has truly being great!

Reading For Fun

I am not a person who can remember reading for fun ever. I was not a good reader, so I had to take a longer time when I would read. Unlike most children when I would read a book, it would be hard to remember the storyline. I can remember my mother reading to me each night. She would allow me to pick out the book, however,  I was wanted to read a book, so I would just cry instead of picking out the book. It was the same issue when I went to school, I never wanted to read in front of the class. I can remember crying during reading class and my parents had to come to school to pick me up that day.
One day when I was given a big red dog, yes- Clifford the big red dog was the best day ever! My mom had gotten me this stuffed animal from the school during a book fair. She wanted me to hold on to him while I was reading; it was the best decision she could have made. I was completely happy when ever I had The Big Red Dog!

What Motivates Me

Motivation is the key to have success in all areas to me. If you dont have motivation nine times out of ten you will not be successful. I have can tell a child all day long that education is important, however if they dont have a great reason (a motive)to want an education it means nothing.

The formula for motivation is so true in my eyes. When you can see the value of something you are more interested in experiencing it. There will be times when you get tired and want to give up. If you understand what you will gain from finishing what you have started you are more than likely to stick with it.

This can also apply to your faith. I get so sad sometimes when I dont see what I know God has promised me, but I dont give up because I understand that delay is not denial. I have to remember that it will happen at the right time. Hard work is the key to any success in my opinion. Your motivation is based off what you believe, so keep telling yourself what you want and it will happen for you.

Learning How to Adopt a Creative Mindset

As I was reading the text this week, I found myself agreeing with the part about adopting a creative mindset. When I was in high school I suffered a great lost, my mother passed away. See everyone thought that I was going to fall apart and I was not going to finish high school. My mother was killed by a drunk driver a few days before I was scheduled to take my final exams. I could remember sitting in my room, I had to stop and say to myself, Norma you are not going to let mommy down so pull it together. That's just what I ended up doing, pulling it together. I finished my junior year out with a high GPA.

Was this an easy assignment that I had been given by God? No, it was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. However I would get up each day an create a new mindset. I had to remind myself to do the best I could each day. The choices you make will have a effect on your life.

My name is Norma Johnson, am thirty (Blank) years old back in school. When I stop and look back over my life I can't believe that I am back here again. Grateful yes I  am! God allowed me to get accepted into Trinity. I start this journey about two years ago, back at South Suburban.  At the time I was not looking to attend a different college. Even though I knew it I wanted to be in the education program, I just did not know where to start.
  One day while I was on a break in between classes I ran into a representative for Trinity at South Suburban. He was gave me some information about the adult studies program here at Trinity.  I called to set up a time to meet with Sandy and here we are now two years later.  It was one of the best decisions I ever made deciding to join adult studies program at Trinity. Everything I was looking for was here. I needed to be in a classroom setting that was small and affordable. I was drawn right away when I was told about the education cohort,  it was designated just for me. I prayed and asked God to allow me to be accepted into Trinity if this was where he wanted me to attend.
I can remember my first day on campus, it was a Wednesday in July.  Everyone was in chapel, but I wondered around campus getting myself familiar with it. That September I started my courses, my first class was a college algebra. I was so scared not just because I did not like math at all, but because I needed to pass the class. Look at me now almost completely done!! I am so proud of myself.

Its All about You Week 8

Lifespan development actually did make me use the word why a lot. I've learned about the different stages and life span as well as the theories that attempt to explain the ways. Some theories I can put into practice and some theories I still don't quite understand. (P300) I've learned about theories that apply to the physical cognitive and social and some theories I have drawn to light and others not so much.
Now I agree that theories are just facts with meanings.

Piaget views on cognitive development have shaped children in the preschool years. He feels that children learn best by doing and experiencing things on their own instead of it being given explanations by an adult. (P62 theories of childhood) This is on of the theories I can agree with. Children are able to understand more when they play.  When we use the word learning we should remember it only discovering new ideas.

These developments for lifespan have started a lot of controversy especially when it comes to the expectations for teachers to cover specific curriculum concept and to meet the state standards. (303 life smart) so many teachers now are teaching just what the test will cover. They're not remembering to engage children in activities that are interesting and fun. It's important that we incorporate things that are children based in our curriculum as well as covering the material needed to meet those expectations. This can be very challenging indeed. Absolutely loved Diane Ravitch quote when she stated that academic performance is not for teaching but poverty.  So many of our babies come to school hungry, unclean, and tired. Many of them do not know where their next meal make come from and they do not have the proper supplies needed in order to have the best education.

I believe that we need to put more funding into our education system and into the health care of our children especially if we want to see the physical and cognitive and social aspects develop as they age. Being an educator is not an easy professional however it is a rewarding profession. As I look back over the lives that I've touched over the past few years,  I'm amazed at how God has entrusted me to empower and build the Next Generation. We are definitely building leaders one child at a time.  I wouldn't have it any other way.

Death is a part of life week 7

Wow!! I would like to say "wow" was the first word to  come up when I was reading this chapter. Grief was explained as being an emotional response to the loss of a person including feelings of anxiety, despair sadness and loneliness. (248) I can truly attest to this being signs of grief, because I experienced it after the loss of my mother a few years ago. I was very fearful about what was getting ready to happen in the next stage of my life, I depended on her not only financially but emotionally and spiritually. I took on a large responsibility when she passed as well. She had adopted her biological grandchildren and because I had the same heart as she did I kept those children along with another family member. Even after my mom's death and planning her funeral I had to take some time to pause to make sure that I was doing things the way that she would have liked. If I had it all over to do again I would definitely do the same.

Not everyone deals with grief in the same way they are definitely different factors that go into how one processes it. (284) I have a great relationship with God and I did not understand his plan but I trust the process. Which allowed me to be able to deal with her death on a more relational level.  I missed her like crazy,  however I continue to ask God to give me strength and help direct me and what he saw fit to happen next. If I did not have his guidance and strength I definitely would haven't  been able to make it.

Distorted grief was very new to me and I could quite possibly see that occurring if a person wasn't able to deal with the death of a loved one. (286) Even though my mother's death was pretty sudden and unexpected she had discussed prior to her death her wishes. We were very clear that she did not want to be put on life support and have her life dragged out for an extensive amount of time. So a living will is definitely a legal document that's necessary. I would suggest  that each person would take the time to have one drawn up and include there family in on their wishes .(289) Her death was the result of congestive heart failure. Even with Her diagnosis she continued to live her life as a strong woman all the way up to her demise. She took vacations, she enjoyed rebuilding her home, and have a close family time with her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

 My sister and I held the health care power of attorney which allowed us to make the decisions because she was unable to make them. (289) I've witnessed people fights as a family over what should be done with the loved ones because they didn't have documents and place to help the transition.

Death is very painful so it's important that we all remember that this person live their life a certain way and you should respect that person's values even until death. Now we all know that death is going to happen. The only thing we don't know is the date that it will happen. So it's Our obligation to keep our affairs in line. When I said personal affairs.. I'm covering your spiritual, mental, social, and financial.

I believe if nothing else this chapter should help you put your life into some type of order. If it's the role of a funeral and how you want that to look, if you're dealing with some type of grief from losing a loved one, or your perspectives on how you want people to deal with your death. But the most important part was my spirituality my relationship with God. It made me go back and reflect on is my heart and my soul is pure and if God would be pleased if I was to leave this of today with the way I've lived so far great chapter!!