Friday, March 4, 2016

Alex Abrams- Journal 7: response to The Hobart Shakespearians

Watching the film, The Hobart Shakespearians, took my breath away. This was such a powerful yet motivational perspective that has influenced me to follow Rafe Asquith, who taught the 5th graders at Hobart Elementary School and made a huge impact on them. As my major (Early Education from elementary students), I have always said that I would love to make a huge impact on those who have different socioeconomic status. It is my dream to influence the children, while they are young, that everyone has an opportunity to succeed in life. This film overall made me have mixed emotions. I was happy to hear that many of his students in the past have continued to succeed in their lives. It is amazing to see what one person can do to help motivate the other to be the better than what people give them credit for. My other emotion was being excited. I was excited to see that the children were intrigued in everything that Rafe would present them. It was nice to see that students would have many emotions and reflect on how the Shakespeare books made them feel. Last but not least, I felt heartbroken. To see the kids cry on the last day of school really affected me. Rafe didn't treat his students differently. He treated them the way they should be treated. Equal American human beings. He made them important and created an unforgettable bond between each other. This film was overall astonishing.

Growing up with a single parent and a brother was not only tough for my mother, but my brother and I as well. In fact there were times where I would feel like an outcast due to teachers not being understanding and wanting to work with me when I had concerns. A student of Rafe's, Alan Avilla, mentioned that when he would ask his teacher questions, they would get constantly frustrated when he didn't understand what was being taught. In fact, Avilla mentioned, "Every time I had trouble with learning, Rafe would always continue to work with me until I fully understood how to resolve the issue." I could relate to Alan because during elementary school, I had the toughest time with school. I always did my best to get A's and B's but I never fully understood the concept until middle school. In 6th grade my homeroom/ history teacher change my way of thinking I could be better than the best. I could count on him to help me through any issue I had understanding the subjects I was weak on. It took a lot of time but he was patient and never gave up on me. One big contrast that I found that was fascinating, was knowing that Rafe never yelled at the children and made them the center of attention when the students tried to make "short cuts". This made a huge affect on the children because raising your voice at children just makes them highly upset and that bond is broken. In Rafe's mind, sitting the student(s) in an area away from the class gave them a chance to talk about what false decision they had made. Since I started school, teachers have always yelled at students that were not cooperative. Instead of discussing what the student had done wrong, the teacher would put an immediate front showing the child who is the boss. Yelling at a student is like hammering a straw into a brick wall. 

Goals are really hard to keep. Knowing the goals you make may or may not be achieved and it just ends up setting for failure. One major goal I hope to achieve next year is to use time more wisely. I am a witness of being a procrastinator. I am ashamed to say this because as Rafe said, " If I am not working hard to organized and stay on top of things, how do I expect my students to do the same?" Taking this in consideration really makes me want to do more than I did the day before or the week before.I want to change a bad habit of mine and turn it into a good habit. I want to be the one that others talk about me highly. I want others to see me as a hard worker and the most dedicated person alive. Sacrifices that could hurt me or break me from the consisteny of studying and homework is worth it in the end. Being a teacher is my dream. It is something I have wanted to do since I was little when I used to play school with my cousins. Like I told my mama, "I would rather bust my butt during these 4 years, if that means I won't have to work a day in my life"

7 comments:

  1. I really did love how Rafe would continue to work with his students even if they didn't get something the first time. He is so determined to make his students understand it's like that determination rubbed off of Rafe onto the students and made them also determined to do well.

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  2. I think it is great you want to be a teacher. It sounds like you already know what not to do by observing those teachers that would yell and not take time with you. Sounds like you slipped through the cracks until sixth grade. Keep working hard, there is no doubt in my mind you will make a wonderful teacher. I think we all have been effected in a positive way after watching this documentary.

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  3. I agree the film was very powerful. The metaphor you used about yelling at students is spot on. I'm sure you'll make a great teacher!

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  4. I need to improve my time management as well. I procrastinate myself and need to use time a lot better if i want to be as successful as i hope.

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  5. i love how you explained that you felt like and outcast because your teachers werent understanding i cant imagine what that was like

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  6. I like how he worked with them, and separated them into groups that he thought would push each other to succeed.

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  7. I agreed with what you said about how teachers act. They have to try and prove that they're the boss instead of actually trying to help the student.

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