Final Paper Juvenile Justice Essays

Final Paper Juvenile Justice Essays Final Paper Juvenile Justice Essay Final Paper Juvenile Justice Essay Final Paper Juvenile Justice BY SGreene93 Stephen Greene 12/03/2013 qc-113-001 Final Paper There are currently two programs specifically in Henderson County which I am writing this paper about. One of the programs is the local Boys and Girls Club of Henderson County and the D. A. R. E. Program of Henderson County. I decided to write about local programs because it would give me the opportunity to learn more about juvenile delinquency prevention programs within my own community. Both programs are a huge staple within Henderson County and are two of the most important uvenile delinquency prevention programs within Henderson County. First I will report about the local Boys and Girls Club within Henderson County. On November 1st 1993 The Boys Girls Club of Henderson Co. opened its doors to 150 youth in the Green Meadows Community Center. (This 2000-sq. -ft. room now houses the Clubs game-room and a kitchen. ) (3). In 1995 The Club obtained two adjacent houses†one eventually renovated into a teen center (1250 sq. t. ), and one renovated into a classroom facility and counseling center (1200 sq. ft. ) (3). In February 1996 The Club pened a 12,000-square-foot addition of classrooms, lobby, office space and a large gymnasium to serve the expanding membership (3). Between the years of 1998 and 1999 The Club operated a satellite unit in an old school annex building in East Flat Rock, expanding the Clubs reach into other parts of Henderson County (3). On January 1st, 2000 The Club opened its doors to a 3,000-square-foot Center for the Arts. : Divided into a visual arts space and a performing arts space, the building also houses the largest kitchen on campus. This expansion of the main campus allowed he organization to merge the East Flat Rock unit into the Green Meadows facility. Annual membership surged to more than 500, with a uniquely balanced distribution of African-American, Hispanic/Latino, Caucasian and Native American youth (3). Currently in the Henderson County branch of the Boys and Girls Club attendance is well over 1000 children, which is simply amazing. The mission of the Boys and Girls club is simple, to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens (1). The second rogram I am going to talk about is the Henderson County D. A. R. E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program. The D. A. R. E. program started in 1983 in Los Angeles, California as a partnership between parents, schools and law enforcement to educate children on the consequences of drug abuse and teaching good decision making skills to enable them to live productive drug and violence-free lives (2). The Henderson County branch started in 1985 in several schools in Henderson County as a pilot program for North Carolina and was implemented in 1987 in all the elementary schools locally (2). DARE has continued in the classroom since that time with well-trained, dedicated officers making a difference in childrens lives. The DARE Curriculum is focused at the 5th grade level, but has lessons available for all grades. There is also a D. A. R. E. amp in Henderson County, which is a summer program that children can attend that goes into even more detail than Just the course they are required to take in school. It is an amazing opportunity for the children as well as their mentors. DARE Camp has grown from a day camp with 35 campers to an overnight camp with approximately 220 campers each year (2). Activities include: archery, swimming, first aide, zip line, the blob, fishing, canoeing, crafts, team challenges, singing, devotions, skit night, campfire, DARE Dance, self-defense, kayaking, K -9 demonstration, speakers, lots of good food and fun (2). Campers learn to do new things, build friendships and more than anything learn that you can have an extraordinary amount of fun without drugs. Overall I feel like both of the local juvenile delinquency prevention programs within Henderson County are successful. With the Henderson County Boys and Girls Club I feel the way they attract the hildren into the program and once the children are accepted into the program they have peers around them that share a lot of similar traits and make the child feel comfortable. It is a great prevention method by putting trouble children with friends who will support them and mentors that will teach them how to live and have a successful life. The Boys and Girls Club of Henderson County will ultimately be successful in the long run. My definition of ultimately successful is helping any amount of children become more successful in life and divert them from making the rong choices, which is exactly what the Boys and Girls Club is accomplishing with their programs all around the world including Henderson County. The local D. A. R. E. program in Henderson County is another great program offered by Henderson County. I agree with making the D. A. R. E. program mandatory in elementary schools, if you target the children at a young age it accomplishes more before they get into drugs. The D. A. R. E program is not only in North Carolina, when I was in 5th grade I went through it in Florida where I went to elementary school, I now it affected me in a positive way by making drugs bad and promoting other things like friends and finding other hobbies that you can enjoy. Just like the Boys and Girls Club of Henderson County I feel that the D. A. R. E. program within Henderson County will be ultimately successful. I say this for the same exact reason as the last one, helping any amount of children become more successful in life and divert them from making the wrong choices is what is ultimately successful in my book. References: (1). N. p.. web. 1 Dec 2013.. (2). N. p.. web. 1 Dec 2013.. (3). N. p.. web. 1 Dec 2013..

The Use of Listing in Composition

The Use of Listing in Composition In composition, listing is a discovery (or prewriting) strategy in which the writer develops a list of words and phrases, images and ideas. The list may be ordered or unordered. Listing can help overcome writers block and lead to the discovery, focusing, and development of a topic. In developing a list, observes Ronald T. Kellogg, [s]pecific relations to previous or subsequent ideas may or may not be noted. The order in which the ideas are placed in the list can reflect, sometimes after several attempts to build the list, the order needed for the text (The Psychology of Writing, 1994). How to Use Listing Listing is probably the simplest prewriting strategy and is usually the first method writers use to generate ideas. Listing means exactly what the name implies- listing your ideas and experiences. First set a time limit for this activity; 5-10 minutes is more than enough. Then write down as many ideas as you can without stopping to analyze any of them. . . . After you have generated your list of topics, review the list and pick one item that you might like to write about. Now youre ready for the next listing; this time, create a topic-specific list in which you write down as many ideas as you can about the one topic you have selected. This list will help you look for a focus for your...paragraph. Dont stop to analyze any of the ideas. Your goal is to free your mind, so dont worry if you feel youre rambling.(Luis Nazario, Deborah Borchers, and William Lewis, Bridges to Better Writing. Wadsworth, 2010) Example Like brainstorming, listing involves the unmonitored generation of words, phrases, and ideas. Listing offers another way of producing concepts and sources for further thought, exploration, and speculation. Listing is distinct from freewriting and brainstorming in that students generate only words and phrases, which can be classified and organized, if only in a sketchy way. Consider the case of a postsecondary academic ESL writing course in which students are first asked to develop a topic related to modern college life and then to compose a letter or editorial piece on the subject. One of the broad topics that emerged in freewriting and brainstorming sessions was The Benefits and Challenges of Being a College Student. This simple stimulus generated the following list: Benefitsindependenceliving away from homefreedom to come and golearning responsibilitynew friendsChallengesfinancial and social responsibilitiespaying billsmanaging timemaking new friendspracticing good study habits The items in this preliminary list overlap considerably. Nonetheless, such a list can offer students concrete ideas for narrowing a broad topic to a manageable scope and for selecting a meaningful direction for their writing. (Dana Ferris and John Hedgcock, Teaching ESL Composition: Purpose, Process, and Practice, 2nd ed.Lawrence Erlbaum, 2005) An Observation Chart A type of list that seems especially appropriate for poetry writing instruction is the observation chart, in which the writer makes five columns (one for each of the five senses) and lists all the sensory images associated with the topic. Composition instructor Ed Reynolds [in Confidence in Writing, 1991] writes: Its columns force you to pay attention to all of your senses, so it can help you do a more thorough, specific observation. We are accustomed to relying on our sight, but smells, tastes, sounds, and touch can sometimes give us more important information about a subject. (Tom C. Hunley, Teaching Poetry Writing: A Five-Canon Approach. Multilingual Matters, 2007) Pre-Writing Strategies ExpeditioList, Listicle, and SeriesOutline

Multinational Corporation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Multinational Corporation - Assignment Example This refers to an assumption that the structure of a market would influence the conduct/ behavior of a firm. The manner in which an organization conducts itself in a given market will thereafter affect its performance. For example; in market where there is less competition, organizations have few obstacles. This gives them an opportunity to have various options in which they can behave in a market, and an example is increasing the prices of their products. Entry through green field methodology promotes competition between the companies in the market. This increases the quality of the products offered, and lowers their price. This is because a new company enters into the market, and it comes with its own strategies of penetrating the target market (United Nations Conferance on Trade and Development, 147). Entry into a host market through mergers has an effect of limiting completion, and this leads to an increase to the prices of goods the organization offers. This is because a multinational company collaborates with an existing company that offers similar products. This collaboration reduces competition since the organizations are not in conflicting of taking each other’s customers, but on retaining these customers. The control of the market by the host country can take the form of price controls, or requirements that before an entry to a given market, the company under consideration must incorporate local people as part of its ownership or senior management. A multinational cooperation can enter into a host market either through mergers, or green field entry. Green field entry has an effect of increasing competition. This is because there is an increase of the number of firms operating in a given market. Mergers on the other hand limit competition, because of the reduction of the number of firms operating in a given market. The entry of Mars into the UK ice cream market leads to decline of producers and sellers of ice

Employee Relations and Employee Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Employee Relations and Employee Law - Essay Example The latter was largely unpopular with employers and some employees but provided a lot of billing time to the legal fraternity due to its intricate and indefinite procedures that were wrought with problematic clauses. An Associate at Mogers Associates, Tim Gofton observed that, ‘The complexity of the SDRP and the wide interpretations given by Tribunals to important areas of the SDRP (such as supposedly straightforward issues such as what constitutes a ‘grievance’) pushed employees towards seeking legal advice. This in itself pushed parties further away from resolution’ (Gofton, 2009 p.2). For the second time in five years, dispute resolution between employers and employees will be radically overhauled through an introduction of a process that has less stringent measures to the defaulting persons or entities when compared to the earlier process. While a majority of the players have welcomed the new forum for resolution of grievances, others have questioned the ambiguities encompassed in the new code which might lead to further escalation of grievance claims like in the earlier process (an increase by 40 - 65 percent within the last two years). Tynan (2009), however asserts that ‘the code is certainly less prescriptive than the old statutory dispute resolution procedures (SDRPs) that promoted fixation on procedural compliance rather than working actively to resolve the dispute.’(Tynan, 2009, p. 1). The formation of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) in 1975 was preceded by a period of great turmoil in the relationships between employers and their staff. Large-scale industrial unrest in the late 1970s and 1980s was widespread due to lack of an agreeable dispute or grievance resolutions mechanism between the employers and employees. The government as a result formed ACAS through the Employment Protection Act to act as the arbitrator in the many highly volatile national strikes that were paralysing the nation hence sabotaging

The Benefits of Using a Curriculum Within the Outdoor Environment Essay Example for Free

The Benefits of Using a Curriculum Within the Outdoor Environment Essay If education is a voyage of discovery, why not explore the opportunities to take learning outside? Chiara Pannozzo The Early Years are a time of unrivalled personal discovery, in which each day holds the potential for adventure for a child – and nowhere offers greater potential for adventure than the great outdoors. The benefits of outdoor play are really very basic, says Harry Harbottle, a consultant in play and risk management, who was formerly appointed by the EU as a child safety expert to the European Standards Organisation. If children arent allowed to engage with the elements – mud, water, air, even fire – how can they begin to understand the world that they live in? Harry argues that there is a need to move away from a culture of reluctance to let children explore outdoors. We are at last realising the consequences of children spending most of their time indoors, says Harry. There are too many children who have been adversely affected by a lack of exercise and stimulation. The outdoor environment is a rich, dynamic and natural space to enhance the school curriculum and stimulates quality learning and development in children of all ages. Its value as an essential learning resource has been recognized by many pieces of research and more recently with the ‘Eraly Uears Foundation Stage (EYFS), particularly within the principle of ‘ Enabling Environments’. Outdoor activities, whether they be core National Curriculum core subject or foundation based, can always be adapted, if necessary, for children with additional learning needs/physical disabilities by the teacher doing a reckie of the area outside which is to be used and then assessing how circumstances can be adapted for pupils with such difficulties. Also, a buddy can be placed with a child who has additional needs and assistance given when necessary. It is imperative that restrictions are only placed for health and safety reasons; otherwise, one should always endeavour to give children ownership to encourage a sense of independence and success. To give an example of how an activity could be adapted for children with additional learning needs/physical disability: Making hot chocolate drinks in Kelly Kettle †¢Children collect kindling in areas accessible to them †¢Children stay at base position to help build the waffle raft for fire †¢Children organize kindling into different sizes When the curriculum is taken into the outdoor environment, children have been observed having confidence and independence with activities they have pursued, providing them with a sense of success and raised self esteem. Children will develop relationships (PSHE) with their peers and adults. As confidence grows, children will begin to consider the needs of others (disabled/additional learning needs), as well as individually. Practitioners in the woodland have reflected that children in this environment had gained confidence in adapting to new situations and in trying new experiences. This also impacted on their ability to choose activities independently and their confidence in self initiating tasks was seen to develop dramatically. To give an example of an obvious benefit of bringing the curriculum into the outdoor environment: Child X enjoyed making shelters and would often enlist the aid of one his/her peers by sayon, â€Å"Oh – this log is heavy, can you help me ? † The other children present would the all work as a team by holding onto the large log and assist moving it into position. Child X had acquired more skill in making and strengthening friendships , the art of consideration and compromise – â€Å"Can I help you? instead of â€Å"That’s mine! †. Though these changes may be maturational, children’s experiences gave them real opportunities for practising these elementary life skills. ‘ Through their comments (the significant other), practitioners should see their role as very varied and should include: ensuring the environment is safe, allowing the children choice of equipment such as, ropes, trowels and buckets, observing and valuing their self initiated learning. Practitioners should feel by questioning, suggesting and providing propts/props, they can extend children’s self-initiated development. Dowling describes self-initiated play as spontaneous, where the practitioner can choose to be involved by participating alongside and offering a reassuring presence. Such an important aspect needs to be adopted by all adults who work with children involved in bringing the curriculum into the outdoor environment, if this is to be a successful element for children’s potential learning. â€Å"The adult needs to be aware of the potential for learning in children’s play, but this is a very different matter from predetermining the play. ’ – Dowling (1992)

Is Marcus Brutus An Honorable Man? :: Julius Caesar Essays

In deciding whether or not a person is good, all of their characteristics must be looked at. That person might look good on the outside, but if their heart is exposed they may not look as perfect as thought. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Brutus is a perfect example of this idea. He is sympathetic, kind, and generous, but when his motives are questioned, he does not look so sensitive. Brutus is not an honorable man.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Brutus was a very selfish and self-centered person. He continually ignored Cassius’ and the conspirators’ ideas. He was the leader and everyone was supposed to go along with them. Not to mention that all of his decisions went against Cassius and they were all the wrong moves. Brutus refused to admit that he was wrong or listen to other people. He had a big ego and was obviously used to being in charge. When Cassius thought it was a bad idea to leave Sardis and go to Phillipi to fight Antony, Brutus did exactly the opposite. His idea of friendship should be questioned because he constantly disagreed with Cassius, his best friend, and that is not what friendship is all about.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Brutus did not value the people around him. Along with ignoring his friends, he killed his closest friend of all time. For most normal people, killing their best friend would not even be an issue, no matter what they thought was best for their country. If they thought something bad could be happening, they would talk to that friend and tell them what they think and how it should be resolved. No real friend would jump to conclusions and make such a drastic decision as killing that person. Brutus also did not value his wife, Portia. He was never home for her and, eventually, part of her suicide was linked to this. To drive her to suicide was a very selfish act on Brutus’ part. He should have been there for his wife.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Brutus did not think about his actions before they were done. He didn’t think about what would happen to the Roman empire if Caesar were killed. By assinating Caesar he started a civil war. He ruined an entire empire by his quick and stupid descions. Many, many people died that did not need to. How can a person be considered honorable when they were responsible for so many lost lives and the loss of an empire? Brutus was not a very good military leader. His action when his army first arrived in

Elderly Client Project

Elderly Client Project Winston Salem State University Nursing 3303 October 17, 2012 Elderly Client Project Mrs. F. Nowell is a ninety-four year old mother, grandmother and great grandmother living in a skilled nursing facility. She has several co-morbidities which are managed medically and chemically within a detailed nursing care plan. She is diagnosed with type II diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, pedal neuropathy, and arthritis.Within this paper we will explore her age related changes, concept of health and wellness, one chronic disease, diabetes, along with the care and health maintenance associated with this chronic illness, compare and contrast medical/nursing care with current research, health promotion, safety and any special concerns, current resources used and community resources not used, and the clients perspective of her own quality of life. Age Related ChangesWe begin with age related changes which everyone can see externally, however it’s in part, the individual’s concept of these changes that occur over the life span that help define the person’s health. American’s are living longer and Mrs. Nowell is a prime example of this fact at age ninety-four along with her sister-in-law in the same nursing facility at age one hundred and four. Americans over the age of 65 now comprise almost 13 percent of the United States’ population. Mrs. Nowell notes a definite change in her physical body and abilities.However, though now faced with physical mobility limitations, she admits a life satisfaction and is living a happy and productive life. Common age-related changes she’s experiencing are visual acuity or presbyopia for which she wears glasses to assist in ready, very slight hearing impairment or presbycusis, along with hypertension, coronary artery disease and arthritis. Though Mrs. Nowell does have diabetes, she doesn’t associate this chronic disease with normal aging. She stated â€Å"Iâ⠂¬â„¢ve been a diabetic as long as I can remember. Obvious integumentary changes are seen, yet no deep, well defined wrinkles, having not been a smoker, and wore hats to protect her face from sun exposure. Mrs. Nowell does appear to have a slight bit of memory loss because when asked how old her husband was when he died she was unable to recall. However, when asked about her childhood and where she grew up, she recounted very vivid memories. This is typical of the aging adult. The speed with which information is processed, stored, and received is decreased; older memories tend to be intact with new memories being recalled less frequently.What is important to remember about the aging population is while they are experiencing moderate physical limitations, they learn to live with them and lead happy and productive lives, as is Mrs. Nowell. Concept of Health and Wellness Mrs. Nowell’s concept of health and wellness is definitely one of her own perspective. She equates herself to being healthy for a ninety-four year old lady. At ninety-four Mrs. Nowell is mentally healthy with little to no signs of dementia. And because she â€Å"has her mind,† she does not see her physical limitations as making her unhealthy.She envisions wellness and her state of well-being as optimal because with the use of her motorized wheelchair she can come and go as she pleases within the confines of the skilled nursing facility in which she lives, as well as, out in the community. She feels she’s definitely one of the healthiest ninety-four year olds she knows because each day she dresses well, though with assistance, puts on her lipstick and matching jewelry. She states when she looks good, she feels good. Chronic Disease and Care to Improve/Maintain Health Though Mrs. Nowell has several co-morbidities, this paper will focus on her type II diabetes.Diabetes Mellitus is associated with many related health factors of which Mrs. Nowell currently precipitates. She does h ave some visual impairment which is linked with aging, as well as diabetes. She also manifests pedal neuropathy of which she admits to taking Neurontin to alleviate the nerve discomfort and tingling. She lives in a skilled nursing facility where her blood sugar is checked before meals and at bedtime. She is treated with Novalog Insulin in the morning and evening which keeps her blood sugars at a normal range between 80 and 100, and below 150. They ncourage healthy meals and eating, though Mrs. Nowell admits to having family bring in snacks to her liking which are not always on the American Diabetic Association (ADA) food options. The nursing facility also goes to great lengths to ensure meticulous foot care is provided to all diabetics. They inspect their feet when assisting in dressing and showering, as well as, have podiatry perform toenail clipping. Mrs. Nowell does not see her diabetes as a disease, but rather a lifestyle and way of living. Compare and Contrast Medical/Nursing C are and Current Research As previously mentioned Mrs.Nowell’s diabetes is treated with insulin and given a diet per recommendations of the ADA. The nurses perform regular blood sugar checks before each meal and at bedtime, following a regimented nursing care plan to keep her blood sugar below 150. However recent guideline updates recommend that primary care physicians do not push the patients to obtain a standard targeted blood sugar level. The facility nurses also provide education on healthy snacks and exercise programs available to their residents. Because obesity is a major concern and noted problem among the diabetic community daily exercise is recommended for the diabetic patient.However given Mrs. Nowell’s physical limitations daily exercise is minimal at best. Researchers are now giving acceptance to bariatric surgery among diabetics faced with morbid obesity, which has shown rapid blood sugar levels and decreased pharmacological intervention needs. However giv en Mrs. Nowell’s advanced age, she is not a bariatric candidate. Current medical care of Mrs. Nowell includes keeping her hemoglobin A1c below 7% per her primary care doctor and nursing supervision. Yet it is evidenced that the aging adult is more vulnerable to hypoglycemia, and combined with Mrs.Nowell’s cardiovascular disease, recommendations are pointing to an A1c below 8%. The Mayo Clinic also has an online tool developed for diabetics which includes low blood-sugar risks, weight changes, blood sugar testing requirements and costs which help the physician and patient weigh the risks and benefits of diabetic medication therapies. Health Promotion, Safety and Special Concerns Mrs. Nowell’s promotional health needs are met through nursing care provided and maintaining an optimal sense of wellness. Mrs. Nowell’s immunizations are up to date including her flu and pneumonia vaccinations.She receives assistance with activities of daily living (ADL’s) to maintain meticulous skin care and foot inspection to reduce risks of diabetic ulcers. Her diet remains well balanced per the ADA guidelines for optimal nutrition, to further reduce risks of pressure ulcers, which would be of concern with her mobility limitations. She also suffers from incontinence, yet admits to receiving quick response to toileting needs and perineal care. The floors are kept clutter free with no rugs or sliding floormats. The bathrooms are equipped with handrails and emergency call bell pull cords.Showers are large and can be accessed with a wheelchair and have showering chairs for those with mobility limitations such as Mrs. Nowell. Daily use items such as her toothbrush, hairbrush and makeup are kept within easy reach to decrease risk for falls. Mrs. Nowell voiced no special concerns or needs that weren’t being met to her expectations. Current Resources Used and Community Resources Not Used Mrs. Nowells uses the assistance of the occupational therapist that works with the clients of her nursing facility to maintain optimal health and wellness.She has been trained to use a reaching device or â€Å"reacher† which clasps items out of safe reaching range or items she may have dropped and desires to retrieve reducing her risk of falls. Mrs. Nowell takes great pleasure in participating in the community offerings that come to the nursing facility for senior involvement opportunities, such as church groups, entertainment companies, and many local businesses, including restaurants that offer samplings of new menu items. She has participated in numerous provided educational classes and socialization activities for the residents.She also uses the facilities transportation system for group outings and community access. Mrs. Nowell stated they do have a hair dresser that provides services twice a week, however she prefers her daughter, who visits daily, to assist her with her hair care needs. She further does not use their common dinin g area choosing to have her meals in her room or with family when they visit. Yet does frequent the common area for bingo and karaoke for socialization and enjoyed participation. Quality of Life, the Client Perspective Mrs. Nowell considers her quality of life optimal. She finds herself healthy.As with Maslow’s Hierarchy, having her basic needs met, Mrs. Nowell presents with a high self-esteem and self-actualization. She is living a healthy and productive life, exhibiting an exuberant personality. She is still a good mother, grandmother and great grandmother able to enjoy family and friends, while appreciating her life and memories. Conclusion In summary Mrs. Nowell is a wonderful example of an aging population that is well adjusted and reached the highest plateau of hierarchy. As a nurse caring for the elderly, we must be better prepared to assist the aging population to this optimal level of health and wellness.We can achieve this through continued research and provision of age appropriate care. Living happy and productive lives within the elderly population, and given their limitations, be it physical or mental, should be the goal of all nursing. References Anderson, B. , de Chesnay, M. (2012). Caring for the vulnerable: perspectives in nursing theory, practice, and research. (3rd ed. ). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Jett, K. , Touhy, T. (2010). Gerontological nursing & healthy aging. (3rd ed. ). Saint Louis, MS: Mosby Elsevier. Khardori, R. (2012, October 8). Medscape references.Retrieved October 14, 2012, from Type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment & management: http://emedicine. medscape. com/article/117853-treatment Resources For Seniors, Incorporated, (n. d. ), Retrieved October 6, 2012, from: http://www. resourcesforseniors. com Seniors Health, (n. d. ), Retrieved October 14, 2012, from: http://medical-dictionary. thefreedictionary. com/Seniors’+Health Winslow, R. (2012, July 9). The wall street journal. Retrieved October 14, 20 12, from New strategies for treating diabetes: http://online. wsj. com/article/SB10001424052702303292204577517041076204350. html

Assessment and Child Essay

Assessments are very important in determining how to teach our children and where they are in terms of development. There are many types of assessments that can be beneficial in helping determine how to approach the learning style of each child as an individual instead of as a whole group. While each assessment is structurally different, they can produce results which give us insight on where our children are during different stages of their lives. There are both formal and informal assessments that can be used. â€Å"Formal assessments are norm-referenced tests that have standardized, formal procedures for administering, timing and scoring. They have been â€Å"normed† or administered to a representative sample of similar age or grade level students so that final test results can be compared to students of similar characteristics. Test results indicate a person’s relative performance in the group. These standardized tests must be administered as specified in the manual to ensure valid and reliable results†(ERIC Clearinghouse on Assessment and Evaluation). There is another type of formal assessment called criterion-referenced test. These type of test measure what the person is able to do and indicate what skills have been mastered. A CRT compares a person’s performance with their past performances. â€Å"In criterion-referenced measurement, the emphasis is on assessing specific and relevant behaviors that have been mastered rather than indicating the relative standing in the group†(ERIC Clearinghouse on Assessment and Evaluation). Formal assessments can prove to be beneficial as far as comparing test scores over a period of time and how the child is developing over that same period. While formal assessments are useful they also have flaws in them. Standardized test can make a child feel like pressure and anxiety. In a lot of situations when a child feels like this they will not do their best on any type of assessment. Another problem with these types of tests is that they use the same set of questions for all the children and are not sensitive to the situations that different children endure. Children who live in poor and underdeveloped environments may not be exposed to certain ways of life and may not have the same advantages of acquiring knowledge as the other children they go to school with. This will automatically put them at a disadvantage in school and on test they may take. There is another way to do an assessment that is better suited for the child and does not make them feel so uncomfortable and that is an informal assessment. An informal assessment focuses on play and observation of the child and not a test of sorts. By observing the child in a certain situation you can record how they act and how they respond to different situations and stimuli that are presented to them. You can use check-list and rating scales to record your findings and document them and file them away in a portfolio. Another way to do an informal assessment is by parent interviews. You can find out a lot of valuable information by asking the parents questions about their child. Over the past few years teachers have placed more emphasis informal testing than formal testing. â€Å"Some districts have increased the use of curriculum-based measurements(CBM). Several samples of a student’s performance are collected, using items drawn from the local curriculum, usually in basic skill subjects of reading, math, spelling and written expression. Such brief tests are called â€Å"probes†(ERIC Clearinghouse on Assessment and Evaluation). One form of an informal assessment is the Battelle Developmental Inventory. â€Å"The Battelle Developmental Inventory is an assessment for infants and children through age seven. It is a flexible, semi-structured assessment that involves observation of the child, interviews with parents and caregivers, developmental and social history, and interaction with the child using game-like materials, toys, questionnaires, and tasks† (Logsdon). This type of assessment is used to make sure that infants and children are reaching their developmental milestones or showing early signs of learning disabilities or developmental delays. This assessment can also be used through examiner/child and parent/child interaction. Examiners observe the child’s responses and score them based on standardized criteria. The parent caregiver input is also important in the assessment because it is used to gather information about the child’s history and interactions that take place beyond the testing session. When this assessment is used to observe the toddler through preschool development it is mostly done by tasks that involve testing the child with games, toys and tasks. They observe how the child follows directions, interacts with others, and how they perform certain tasks. Parent information is used to assess areas that can’t be observed during the testing session. The performance scores are based on standardized criteria. The Battelle is used to assess five components of development. They are adaptive behavior, personal and social skills, communication including expressive and receptive language, gross and fine motor skills, and finally cognitive skills are included. The results of this assessment can be used to determine if there are delays and how significant they are based on the age group the child is in. Another good assessment tool is play-based assessment. This is simply observing the child in their natural environment. By doing this the observer is able to see interactions between the child and their peers as well as how they speak, the language they use and their motor abilities. It is good to record all this information and keep it in an ongoing portfolio. By keeping a written record of what has been observed and any areas of concern you may suspect, you will have more information to share with the parents and find the proper method of dealing with the problems. I feel there is a major advantage when you use an informal assessment as opposed to a formal one. With formal assessments you can never really tell how smart a child really is. These types of assessments are based on statistics of a large group of children not the children as individuals. Just because children do well on a test does not necessarily make them smarter than others, it simply means they have better test taking skills. There are lots of times that the smartest people do horrible on tests just because they suffer from anxiety and get nervous. You can take the same kids that do poorly on a test and give them an informal assessment where they feel comfortable and you will get different results. Standardized tests are not a reliable means of assessing intelligence based on the fact stated above. These types of tests are often overused in this country and they do not take into account the comfort level or socioeconomic background of the child being tested. These play a more important role in test taking than the test itself. This is the number one reason kids are misdiagnosed for having  learning disabilities and other disorders such as ADHD. I also feel that a good relationship with the parents is essential in determining the educational needs of the child. No one knows their children better than the parents or caregivers. They are the ones who spend the most time with the children and can fill you in on patterns of behavior not seen during a certain test taking session. Parents are the most important resources you can obtain information from when dealing with children. I would strive to keep the parents informed of everything that was going on with their child and how to help them with anything that raised a red flag. The parents should always be informed when an assessment is going to be used. A parent could be upset when their child is going to be tested for a development problem without their consent. If you explain the process and how it can help to determine if the child is developmentally behind it can ease the parent’s mind and make everyone more comfortable. I feel that assessments can be beneficial if they are conducted in the proper manner. Making a child feel more comfortable in their environment is the best way to truly assess them and find out if they are lagging in certain areas of development. It is equally important to always keep the parents involved in all decisions affecting their child and the processes used to assess them. The information used by assessments can help make sure children are developmentally on track, just remember the most important factor is the comfort level of the child. Without assessments a plan of action cannot be implemented or executed if the child is behind in any facet of development. Bibliography Logsdon Ann. Testing for Infant and Toddler Development. About. com Guide. http://learningdisabilities. about. com/od/intelligencetests/p/battelledevelop. htm. Accessed on December 10, 2012. ERIC Clearinghouse on Assessment and Evaluation. Assessments for Young Children. 1999. http://www. 1donline. org/article /6040/ Accessed December 10, 2012. Sue C. Wortham (2012). Assessment in Early Childhood Education. 6th ed.

Timeline from 1870 to 1880

Timeline from 1870 to 1880 1870 1870: Thomas Nast, the star political cartoonist of Harpers Weekly, began a campaign of lampoon the corrupt ring that secretly ran New York City. Nasts biting depictions of the Tweed Ring  helped bring down Boss Tweed.February 3, 1870: The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave the right to vote to black males, became law when the required number of states ratified it.June 9, 1870: Charles Dickens, British novelist, died at the age of 58.July 15, 1870: Georgia became the last of the Confederate states to return to  the Union.July 19, 1870: The Franco-Prussian War began. The war was provoked by Otto von Bismarck, the Prussian leader, as part of his plan to unite Germany.October 12, 1870: Robert E. Lee, Confederate general in the Civil War, died at the age of 63 at Lexington, Virginia. 1871 January 1871: Italian troops led by Giuseppe Garibaldi briefly fought against Prussians in France during the Franco-Prussian War.March 26, 1871: The Paris Commune, a temporary government, formed after an uprising during the Franco-Prussian War, was proclaimed in Paris.May 28, 1871: The Paris Commune was suppressed as the French Army took over the city during what becomes known as The Bloody Week.Summer 1871: Photographer William Henry Jackson takes a number of photographs on the Yellowstone Expedition. The scenery he captured was so remarkable that it led to the creation of the National Parks.July 15, 1871: Thomas Tad Lincoln, the son of Abraham Lincoln, died in Chicago at the age of 18. He was buried beside his father in Springfield, Illinois.October 8, 1871: The Great Chicago Fire broke out. It destroyed much of the city of Chicago, and a persistent rumor was that it was caused by Mrs. OLearys cow.October 27, 1871: William M.  Boss Tweed, the leader of the legendary New York poli tical machine Tammany Hall, was arrested on multiple charges of corruption. November 10, 1871: The journalist and adventurer Henry Morton Stanley located David Livingstone in Africa, and said the famous greeting: Dr. Livingstone, I presume. 1872 January 6, 1872: Notorious Wall Street character Jim Fisk was fatally shot in a Manhattan hotel lobby. As he died, his partner Jay Gould and Boss Tweed stood vigil at his bedside. Legendary detective Thomas Byrnes apprehended Fisks assassin.March 1, 1872: Yellowstone National Park was established as the first National Park in the United States.April 2, 1872: Samuel F.B. Morse, American artist, and inventor of the telegraph and Morse Code, died at the age of 80 in New York City.Spring 1872: After supervising work on the Brooklyn Bridge in the caisson under the East River, Washington Roebling came to the surface too quickly and was stricken with the bends. He would be in poor health for years afterward.June 1, 1872: James Gordon Bennett, who in many ways invented the modern newspaper by founding the New York Herald, died in New York City.November 5, 1872: President Ulysses S. Grant wins a second term in the election of 1872, defeating legendary newspaper editor turned candidate Horace Greeley. November 29, 1872: Horace Greeley, who weeks earlier lost the presidential election, died in New York City. 1873 March 4, 1873: Ulysses S. Grant took the oath of office for the second time as he began his second term as President of the United States.April 1, 1873: The steamship Atlantic struck rocks on the coast of Canada, and at least 500 passengers and crew perished in one of the worst maritime disasters of the 19th century.May 4, 1873: David Livingstone, Scottish explorer of Africa, died in Africa of malaria at the age of 60.September 1873: A stock market crashed sets off the Panic of 1873, one of the great financial panics of the 19th century. 1874 January 17, 1874: Chang and Eng Bunker, conjoined twins who became famous as the Siamese Twins, died at the age of 62.March 11, 1874: Charles Sumner, Massachusetts senator who in 1856 had been beaten in the U.S. Capitol in an event leading up to the Civil War, died at the age of 63.March 8, 1874: Millard Fillmore, former president of the United States, died at the age of 74.November 1874: The Greenback Party was established in the United States. Its constituencies were the farmers and workers adversely affected by the Panic of 1873. 1875 April 21, 1875: Charles Stewart Parnell, Irish political leader, was elected to the British House of Commons.May 19, 1875: Mary Todd Lincoln, the widow of Abraham Lincoln, was judged to be insane in a trial instigated by her son, Robert Todd Lincoln.July 31, 1875: Andrew Johnson, who became president following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, died at the age of 66. 1876 March 10, 1876: Alexander Graham Bell made the first successful telephone call, saying, Watson, come here, I need you.April 10, 1876: Alexander Turney Stewart, renowned New York City merchant, died.June 25, 1876: General George Armstrong Custer, commander of the 7th Cavalry, is killed, along with more than 200 of his men, at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.July 4, 1876: The United States celebrated its centennial with celebrations in cities and towns across the country.August 2, 1876: Wild Bill Hickok, gunfighter and lawman, was shot and killed while playing cards in Deadwood, Dakota Territory.August 25, 1876: The first crossing of the unfinished Brooklyn Bridge was accomplished by its master mechanic, E.F. Farrington, riding on a wire strung between its towers.November 7, 1876: The United States presidential election of 1876 was disputed and became the most controversial American election until the election of 2000. 1877 January 4, 1877: Cornelius Vanderbilt, known as The Commodore, died in New York City. He was by far the wealthiest person in the United States.Early 1877: An electoral commission was formed to settle the disputed presidential election of 1876 results in the Compromise of 1877. Rutherford B. Hayes was declared the winner of the election, and Reconstruction was effectively brought to an end.March 4, 1877: Rutherford B. Hayes was  inaugurated as president, and comes into office under a cloud of suspicion, being called His Fraudulency.May 1877: Sitting Bull led followers into Canada to escape the U.S. Army, and Crazy Horse surrendered to U.S. troops.June 21, 1877: Leaders of the Molly Maguires, a secret society of coal miners in Pennsylvania, were executed.July 16, 1877: A strike in West Virginia set off the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, which spread nationwide and spurred violent clashes in American cities.September 5, 1877: Crazy Horse was killed at an army base in Kansas. 1878 February 19, 1878: Thomas A. Edison patented the phonograph, which would rank as one of his most important inventions.April 12, 1878: William M.  Boss Tweed, the legendary head of Tammany Hall, died in jail in New York City at the age of 55.Summer 1878: The head of the Statue of Liberty was displayed in a park in Paris during an international exhibition.November 1878: The Second Anglo-Afghan War began when British troops began invading Afghanistan. 1879 April 30, 1879: Sarah J. Hale, a magazine editor who urged President Lincoln to make Thanksgiving an official holiday, died at the age of 90.August 21, 1879: Villagers at Knock, in rural Ireland, saw visions of the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, and St. John the Evangelist. The village became a place of Catholic pilgrimage afterward.October 1879: In Ireland, following mass meetings held earlier in the year, the Land League  was  formed to organize tenant farmers.

Middle School to High School Transition

Middle School to High School Transition The middle school years are a time of transition for tweens in many ways. There are obvious social, physical, and emotional changes happening with 6th to 8th graders. However, middle school also serves the purpose of preparing students for more challenging academics  and greater personal responsibility in high school. For public school students (and their parents), the expectations in the first year of middle school can be an abrupt and demanding change. Instead of teachers communicating with parents about assignments and due dates, they communicate directly with students and expect them to be responsible for meeting deadlines and completing tasks. There is nothing wrong with that, and it’s part of preparing students for  the middle school to high school transition, but it can be stressful for students and parents alike. Tales abound  of late-night scrambling to complete a forgotten project that makes up a high percentage of a student’s grade. As homeschooling parents, we don’t have to institute such abrupt changes, but it is wise to use the middle school years to prepare our students for high school.   1. Transition from Guided Learning to Independent Learning One of the biggest transitions during middle school is preparing students to assume responsibility for their own educations. It’s during this time that parents should adjust their role from teacher to facilitator and allow homeschooled tweens and teens to take charge of their school day. While it is important that teens begin to transition to self-directed learners, it’s also vital to remember that they still need guidance. It’s important that parents remain active, involved facilitators during the middle school and high school years. Some ways you can do that include: Schedule regular meetings to hold your student accountable for completing assignments. During the middle school years, plan to schedule daily meetings with your tween or teen, transitioning to weekly meetings by 8th or 9th grade. During the meeting, help your student plan her schedule for the week. Help her break down weekly assignments into manageable daily tasks and plan for completion of long-term projects. A daily meeting also provides an opportunity to make sure that your student is completing and comprehending all of her assignments.  Tweens and teens are sometimes guilty of pushing challenging concepts aside instead of asking for help. This practice often results in stressed,  overwhelmed students who don’t know where to begin to catch up. Read ahead. Read (or skim) ahead of your student in his textbooks or assigned reading. (You may want to use audio books, abridged versions, or study guides.) Reading ahead helps you keep abreast of what your student is learning so that youre prepared if he needs you to explain difficult concepts. It also helps you to ask the right questions to be sure that he is reading and comprehending the material. Offer guidance. Your middle school student is learning to take responsibility for his work. That means he still needs your direction. He may need you to make suggestions about writing topics or research projects. It could be helpful for you to edit his writing or offer advice on how to set up his science experiment. You may need to write out the first few bibliography cards as examples or help him come up with a strong topic sentence. Model the behavior you expect from your student as you transition to expecting him to complete the projects independently. 2. Help Your Student Improve Study Skills Middle school is an excellent time to help your student develop or hone her independent study skills. Encourage her to start with a study skills self-assessment to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses. Then, work on improving the weak areas. For many homeschooled students, one weak area will be note-taking skills. Your middle schooler can practice by taking notes during: Religious servicesCo-op classesRead-aloud timeDVD or computer-based lessonsDocumentariesIndependent reading Middle school students should also begin using a student planner to keep track of their own assignments. They can fill in their planner during your daily or weekly meetings. Help your students get in the habit of including a daily study time in their planners. Their minds need time to process all that they’ve learned each day. During their  study time, students should do things like: Read over their notes to ensure that what they wrote down makes senseLook over the headings and subheadings in their textbooks to recap the day’s lessonPractice spelling or vocabulary words  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ illustrating words or writing them in different colors can be helpfulMake their own flashcards to help them remember important facts and detailsRead over any highlighted textRead text, notes, or vocabulary words aloud 3. Involve Your Teen or Tween in Curriculum Choices As your student enters the teen years, begin engaging her in the curriculum selection process if you haven’t been doing so already. By the middle school years, students start to develop a sense of how they learn best. Some students prefer books with large text and colorful illustrations. Others learn better through audio books and video-based instruction. Even if you’re not willing to hand over the selection process to your middle school student entirely, take her input into consideration. Remember that one of the goals of homeschooling is to teach our children how to learn. Part of that process is helping them discover how they learn best. The middle school years also provide the perfect opportunity to test potential curriculum.  When you find yourself in the position of needing to modify or  change curriculum  in high school, its hard not to feel as though youve wasted an entire semester or longer. Instead, give potential high school curriculum a test-run in middle school. You can try the middle school version of the curriculum or use the high school version in 8th grade. If it is a good fit, you can put in on your childs high school transcript since high school level coursework completed in 8th grade counts toward high school credit hours. If it turns out that the curriculum isnt a good fit for, you can shop around and choose something more appropriate for high school without feeling as though youve lost ground. 4. Strengthen Weaknesses Because the middle school years are a time of transition, they naturally offer the opportunity to catch up on any areas in which a student is behind where you’d like him to be and strengthen areas of weakness. This could be the time to seek out treatment or learn the best modifications and accommodations for learning challenges such as dysgraphia or dyslexia. If your student still struggles with automatic recall of math facts, practice them until she can recall them effortlessly. If he struggles with getting his thoughts on paper, look for creative ways to encourage writing and ways to make writing relevant to your student. Focus on improving any areas of weakness that youve identified, but dont make that the total of your school day. Continue to provide plenty of opportunities for your student to shine in his areas of strength. 5. Begin Thinking Ahead Use 6th and 7th grades to observe your student. Start exploring his extracurricular interests and talents so that you can tailor his high school years to his skills and natural aptitudes. If he’s interested in sports, check to see what is available in your homeschool community. Often middle school is when kids move begin playing on their school’s sports teams rather than recreation leagues. Consequently, it’s a prime time for the formation of homeschool teams. Middle school sports teams for homeschoolers  are often instructional and try-outs are not as stringent as high school teams, so it’s a good time for those new to the sport to get involved. Most colleges and umbrella schools will accept some high school level courses, such as algebra or biology,  taken in 8th grade for high school credit. If you have a student who is ready for a bit more challenging coursework, taking one or two high school credit courses in middle school is an excellent opportunity to get a head start on high school. Make the most of the middle school years by using them to create a smooth transition from the teacher-directed elementary school years and the self-directed high school years.

Differentiated Instruction Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Differentiated Instruction - Research Paper Example I particularly agree with Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences and the different learning styles. Indeed, students have varying ways of absorbing and processing information. In facilitating the class, there is a need to be sensitive to the varied ways in which students can absorb and apply information. Similarly, various techniques, activities, and visual aids are effective in reaching out to all of the young minds inside the classroom in the most maximum way possible. As for the brain-based research, it is interesting to find out that there are discoveries linking the brain and how students learn. However, I find the content lacking to make it quite convincing. In my opinion, the information should be presented in a more concrete way. The methods in which the outcome of the said research may be applied should be expounded. For instance, the relationship between the anatomy of the brain and progressing learning could have been poignantly considered through meaningful exampl es. It would be more informative if several scientifically-based frameworks in furthering learning were specified. Regarding the authentic assessment, I find that there is nothing much new about its description. As what the site stated, â€Å"not enough† can be said about it. ... In what ways do you feel you already differentiate? As I reflect on my experience as a teacher, I can remember faces of some students who do not seem engaged in the lesson proper. I felt like they are uninterested. Some were perhaps totally clueless of what their classmates are talking about. I have also observed that several children were more active when it comes to certain kinds of activities and topics. For instance, some children do better when it comes to group work whereas some to be more at ease at individual tasks. There were also many situations when a concept is much more understandable with the aid of colorful visual aids such as multi media. Furthermore, I have noticed that there are students who can express themselves better at writing than in class recitations. The diversity of interests and learning styles, and competencies in the classroom made me realize the importance of differentiated instruction. In order for me to be able to have a meaningful communication with my students, I have to make the topics relevant to them. For them to understand, I have to present topics in ways that are interesting in their respective perception. As a teacher, I have to respect the uniqueness of each mind I am supposed to hone. Thus, to differentiate is indeed a need. I feel that I was somehow already into differentiated instruction when I realized that I have to consider each student when I am teaching, I tried to extend my methods and references as much as possible. I particularly researched on the different learning styles and multiple intelligences. Several tests were available to determine a student’s learning preferences. These were helpful in confirming and guiding my approach to each child.