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Reflection of my Class Experience: College Writing II

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Reflection of my Class Experience: College Writing II

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This class turned out to be exactly what I was looking for in a summer class. It all starts with the Professor, as Dr. Wetzl was one of the best Professor's I have had in my time in college, and that is not an overreaction. The way she was able to explain exactly what we are doing and how to do it is superb when comparing the other teachers I have had the past. Dr. Wetzl cares about her students success, as she is always available to chat either over office hours or by email. You are able to email her literally 24 hours a day, which comes in handy for me a lot as I work late into the night on occasion. She is always looking to help students in the class, as students success seems like the most important thing to her. I have never had to use APA format before, as all my previous writing classes have used MLA format. I thought she made the transition to APA fairly easy, as we had exercises to complete along the way that she would help us with in order to make sure we understood what we were doing. This is my 3rd time taking College Writing II, as I just could never stay engaged for the entire semester, as I have a problem of letting things outside of class get to me and affect my work. With this class, I was able to keep on track, as I loved the way Dr. Wetzl would post assignments weekly, with exact instructions of what we need done before and after class. This made it tough to get off track, as in order to keep going with the class you needed to turn in prior assignments, as the links were right in Blackboard for us to submit, or we could of just emailed her directly. With this information already in front of me, I never had a problem with forgetting assignments and knowing exactly what was expected from me. I actually just got the luck of the draw with this class, as I didn't research any professor's prior to signing up for the class. I will definitely be suggesting Dr. Wetzl to future students taking College Writing II, as they will be setup for success, as Dr. Wetzl is one of the most considerate and knowledgable Professor's I have had in my time at college, in which I started out at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and have made my way to Kent State University.

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Number of Children aged 3 and 4 attending Preschool

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Number of Children aged 3 and 4 attending Preschool

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This is good because it is a proposal from Joe Biden, a Presidential Candidate, attempting to fix the preschool system, as many children skip out on preschool because they don't have the necessary resources to succeed in life.

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Biden universal preschool proposal could extend early childhood education to 3.7 million children

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Presidential candidate Joe Biden released a childcare plan that aims to offer universal preschool to all three- and four-year-old children. As of 2018, 46% of this age group were not enrolled in any pre-primary program, including preschool and kindergarten.

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There are a lot of different programs and funding available to low-income families and those in need in order for them to attend preschool.

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The Effect Different Preschools have on Children's Success Academically

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The Effect Different Preschools have on Children's Success Academically

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Overall in the survey, 9 total participants out of 23 had a total income level of under $60,000. Interestingly enough, there was 8 total participants who attended a public preschool or Head Start, and 1 who didn’t attend preschool, which makes sense.  Overall in my study, there were 6 participants who said their child attended Head Start, which is the most popular funded public funded program.  Eleven people in my study stated that money was the main reason in choosing their child’s preschool, as they either needed aid or simply picked the preschool that they could afford.  Nine people stated the main reason they selected their preschool was because they wanted a good school, or looked at the reviews for their institution, which is mainly done by parents selecting a private preschool.  Of the 23 participants, 21 out of 23 of them either said they believed their child was either Accelerated or prepared for kindergarten when their child was ready, and 19 believed they were academically setup for success on a whole.

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This is good in explaining the main differences in sending your child to a public school, compared to a private one.

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The differences and benefits between public school vs private school are myriad. Private school vs public school is an age-old debate for parents who can afford to take their kids into the world of private education.

Parents leaning in the direction of private education have to ask themselves if the benefits of private school are worth the high cost. Calculating the true cost of education, however, was further complicated by tax rules laid out by the DeVos-led Department of Education, which we can expect to soon change under Biden's administration, under Miguel Cardona, Biden's new Education Secretary.

There are also personal priorities related to faith and culture. For some parents, the cost of public school vs private school is secondary to the perceived advantages of faith-based education.

These questions have arguably never been harder to answer. When it comes to the old public vs. private school conundrum, there are abundant practical considerations, that go far beyond cost.

"Instead of just looking at the raw data, parents should instead ask themselves what type of schooling are they looking for, for their child," says Mark Dynarski of the Center on Children and Families at the Brookings Institute. "What type of environment would best be suited to your child?"

Here's a quick side-by-side look at public school vs. private school.

Public School vs. Private School: Teachers

According to data found in 2018, the percentage of new teachers (less than four years of teaching experience) is higher in private schools at 16%, compared with public schools at 11%. "Due to higher salaries and better benefits packages, teachers gravitate toward public schools," says Dynarski. "A common complaint you hear from private schools is they feel like a feeder system for the public schools."

The public school teachers also have a higher percentage of master's degrees - 48% compared to 36% in private schools. Also, more public school teachers participate in some form of professional development every year than private school teachers do, and public school teachers are paid more, on average, than private school teachers.

Public School vs. Private School: Class Sizes

The disparity between class sizes is a huge consideration for parents debating between public and private schools. The average class size is 25 kids, compared to 19 kids per class in private schools according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Correspondingly, private schools have a better student-to-teacher ratio of 12.2 students, compared to 16.1 students per class.

Public School vs. Private School: Cost

Well, this isn't new information: private schools are expensive. While public schools are paid for by local taxes and, except for some small fees, are free, private schools cost on average $11,004 a year but can range anywhere from $7,000 to $25,180, according to a report from the NCES. Cost varies depending on the type of school children attend, with Catholic schools offering the best cost at $6,890 a year on average. Nonsectarian schools, however, can reach the hefty price of $21,510 per year.

Public School vs. Private School: Diversity

The nation's 34,576 private schools offer parents the ability to be more selective about the students with which their child will spend their days. "Numerous studies have shown that private schools, on the whole, offer a more positive peer environment," says Dynarski. Part of the reason for this phenomenon is the fact that private schools can screen who they allow in, and can tailor their offerings to the type of child they want coming through their doors. Plus, because parents are paying, students tend to come from a higher socio-economic class. Public schools, except some charter schools, are not allowed to pick and choose who attends.

Public School vs. Private School: Classes

Since they are not under state supervision, private schools can offer a curriculum that suits their focus. "If you have a child that wants to study the arts, theater, music, or other such subjects a private school will be a better fit," says Dynarski. "Due to ever-changing budgets and mandated testing, public schools are more focused on the core classes, often at the expense of more peripheral subjects."

At the high school level, many private schools focus on preparing kids for college. They tend to offer a wider array of extracurricular offerings, advanced placement courses, International Baccalaureate programs, and gifted studies classes.

Public School vs. Private School: Test Scores

A recent recap of high school graduates showed private school students scoring 4 points higher on the ACT. The same disparity is found between primary and middle schools, according to the NCES. A comparison of mathematics tests showed private schools scored 18 points higher for eighth-graders and 8 points higher for fourth graders. Reading had the same results, with the private schools outscoring their public counterparts by 18 points in eighth grade and 15 points in fourth grade.

Public School vs. Private School: Religion

The separation of church and state is guaranteed by the Constitution and that means local public schools can't introduce religion into the classroom. A vast majority of private school students (79%) attend some form of a religiously affiliated school. A full 1.9 million kids are enrolled in Catholic institutions, making it the largest component of the private school universe. But, it's a system that is changing. According to the National Catholic Educational Association, 18.4% of all the students enrolled were non-Catholic, a number that has been steadily growing over the years.

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Which One Is Better: Private School or Public School?

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The debate about private school vs. public school causes headaches. Here's what to know about the debate between public vs. private school.

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High-Quality Preschool seen through the Experience of a Child

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High-Quality Preschool seen through the Experience of a Child

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The experience in which a child, Angel, was finally able to attend preschool as a 4 year old, as a program became available to him because of funding from the state made it possible for him to attend preschool.

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High-Quality Preschool Seen Through the Eyes of a Child

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Why Parents should send their Kids to Preschool

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Why Parents should send their Kids to Preschool

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This article examines why parents should send their children to preschool in the first place and advantages of attending preschool over staying home.

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Preschool provides a foundation for learning both socially and academically that will help your child succeed in elementary school.

1. Preschool is an opportunity for growth

For many children, preschool is their first experience in a structured setting with teachers and groups of children. It's an opportunity to learn to share, follow instructions, and begin the foundation for learning that will occur in elementary school.

2. Preschool prepares children for kindergarten

As kindergarten becomes more academic, many parents look to preschool to launch their child on the path to success in school. At the same time, parents may worry that the current trend to focus on pre-math and pre-literacy skills in preschool cuts into important play time and pushes a child to grow up too fast. It's a confusing issue,especially with friends and family offering different opinions and advice.

Fortunately, in selecting a preschool, parents aren't forced to choose between protecting a child's play time and making sure she's ready for kindergarten. A high-quality early childhood education program will offer children both.

But how do high-quality preschools benefit children's learning and development? And what features should parents look for in a preschool program? One answer to these questions is that the staff at high-quality preschools and child care programs understand the particular ways that young children develop and learn. And they organize space, time and activities to be in sync with children's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical abilities.

3. Preschool promotes social and emotional development

In order to learn, a young child needs to feel cared for and secure with a teacher or caregiver. A 3-year-old child is able to spend time away from parents and build trusting relationships with adults outside the family. High-quality preschool programs nurture warm relationships among children, teachers and parents. And teachers build a close personal connection with each child in their care.

Children thrive when there is consistency in care between home and school. In high-quality preschools, teachers value parents as the experts on their children. Parents get daily reports on their child's activities and regular meetings are scheduled for more in-depth conferences with staff. Teachers strive to understand and respect parents' child-rearing goals and values.

Young children learn social skills and emotional self-control in "real time." Three- and 4-year-olds learn through their experiences and good teachers make time for those "teachable moments" when they can help children learn to manage frustrations or anger. They don't automatically step in to resolve children's conflicts for them; they have a well-honed sense of when to let children work out their own problems and when to intervene. Without shaming a child, they encourage her to notice the impact of her aggressive or hurtful behavior on another child.

4. The preschool environment is structured, although it may not appear that way

A highly structured environment helps young children learn to make friends and play well with others. This doesn't mean there are lots of rules or that adults constantly direct children's activities. On the contrary, the structure of a high-quality preschool classroom is largely invisible to children. Classroom space is organized to encourage social interaction, and minimize congestion and conflicts.

5. Children get to make choices

Children have several choices of activities; a child who is wandering aimlessly is encouraged to choose one that interests him. Teachers are alert to a child who can't figure out how to enter other children's play and may offer him suggestions on ways to join the group.

6. Children learn to take care of themselves and others

Children's sense of competence and self-worth grow as they learn to take care of themselves and help others. Teachers appeal to a young child's desire to engage in "real work" by offering him chances to help out in the classroom, for example, by setting the table at snack time or feeding the classroom hamster. Children are expected to wash their hands before snack time, keep personal belongings in their "cubby," and put away toys before moving to a new activity.

Teachers also encourage a child to view herself as a resource for other children. For example, a teacher might ask a child who's more competent at pouring water to help a child who is learning. Or she might ask a "veteran" preschooler to show a newcomer where the sand toys are kept.

Throughout their school years, much of children's learning will take place in the company of their peers. In a high-quality preschool program, children are introduced to the behaviors required to function successfully in a kindergarten classroom. For example, during group activities such as "circle time," children learn to focus attention on the teacher, listen while others are speaking, and wait their turn to talk.

7. Preschool promotes language and cognitive skills

Preschool-age children's language skills are nurtured in a "language-rich" environment. Between the ages of 3 and 5, a child's vocabulary grows from 900 to 2,500 words, and her sentences become longer and more complex. In a conversational manner, and without dominating the discussion, teachers help children stretch their language skills by asking thought-provoking questions and introducing new vocabulary during science, art, snack time, and other activities. Children have many opportunities to sing, talk about favorite read-aloud books, and act out stories.

A young child's cognitive skills are strengthened by engaging in a wide range of hands-on activities that challenge her to observe closely, ask questions, test her ideas or solve a problem. However, teachers understand that preschool children are not logical in the adult sense of the word; their explanations of what makes a plant grow or why people get old, may not involve cause and effect. For example, "people get old because they have birthdays." They may rely on their senses and "magical thinking" rather than on reason to explain why wood floats in water and rocks sink - "The rock likes to be on the bottom because it's cooler."

8. Preschool teachers nurture a child's curiosity

Teachers observe, ask questions and listen to children's ideas during these activities - "correct" answers are not the goal. To nurture their curiosity and motivation to learn, teachers use children's interests and ideas to create activities. And even a simple, chance event - such as a child's discovery of a snail in the outdoor play area - can be turned into an exciting opportunity to learn.

Preschool-age children have active imaginations and learn through make-believe play. Teachers know that the line between reality and fantasy is often not clear to a young child. Sometimes this results in fears of monsters under the bed. But imagination also fuels learning. For example, when a group of children creates a make-believe pet store, they will practice many social and cognitive skills as they assign roles to each child, figure out categories of pet supplies and how to organize them, make signs to label products; help their "customers" select the right shampoo or cat toy; and take "money" for merchandize.

The imaginary play area in a high-quality preschool is well-stocked with costumes, "props," and child-size household items such as stoves, sinks and cupboards. It's often in this activity area that preschool-age children progress steadily from solitary play, to one-on-one play, to complicated group play.

9. Preschool activities boost pre-math and literacy skills

Young children show growing interest in pre-math and pre-literacy skills. They are curious and observant, and they want to be competent in the skills that their families and society value - such as reading the instructions for assembling a toy, or selecting the correct bills or coins to pay for a purchase. To prepare children for the academic demands of kindergarten, teachers offer a wide variety of games and activities that help children acquire the pre- math and literacy skills.

Singing an alphabet song while following along in a picture book builds a child's awareness of the connections between alphabet letters and word sounds. Learning rhymes and chants helps them to notice the distinct sounds within words. Engaging children in a discussion about an exciting read-aloud story encourages their listening, comprehension, and expressive language skills. Playing with magnetic alphabet letters may inspire a child to ask a teacher to help her write the first letter of her name.

Matching games, sorting games, counting games, and board games build children's understanding of number, categories and sequence, which supports later math learning. Putting together puzzles encourages children to notice patterns, plan ahead and problem-solve.

To sustain children's excitement and motivation for learning, high-quality preschool and child care programs introduce early literacy and math skills not as isolated exercises, but in the context of activities that are interesting and meaningful to children.

10. 10. Preschool helps develop motor skills

Physical coordination improves, allowing the child to explore her environment - and to challenge herself-in new ways. Young children are in motion for a good part of the day. High-quality preschool programs provide several opportunities daily for children to run, climb, and play active games. Activities are offered to help children develop fine motor skills, such as threading beads or cutting with scissors. And children are challenged through a variety of activities to build their hand-eye coordination and balance.

When you choose a high-quality program that suits your child and family, you can feel assured that your child is well cared for, is enjoying activities and making friends - and is building the knowledge, skills, and confidence to do well in kindergarten.

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10 good reasons your child should attend preschool | Parenting

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Preschool provides a foundation for learning both socially and academically that will help your child succeed in elementary school. For many children, preschool is their first experience in a structured setting with teachers and groups of children. It's an opportunity to learn to share, follow instructions, and begin the foundation for learning that will occur in elementary school.