https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p EDHD 3001 en-us 2016-12-11 23:35:25 UTC 2025-09-29 00:44:53 UTC hello@padlet.com adkis011 https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143025692 SPCPA is right in Downtown Saint Paul. At the corner of 5th and Wabasha near the Wells Fargo building.]]> 2016-12-11 23:38:10 UTC https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143025692 adkis011 https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143025809
The mission of Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists is to provide the highest caliber of academic and artistic education for aspiring pre-professional performing artists in the areas of instrumental and vocal music, theatre and dance, and to fully prepare students for college and conservatory.

]]> 2016-12-11 23:41:29 UTC https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143025809 adkis011 https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143026033 A magnet school and a charter school.  Open to applications from all over the metro.  Here are my gripes with this charter school: It is overwhelming white despite the surrounding demographics and the teachers are not unionized and get burned out quick. And with the new Education Secretary there will probably be more.]]> 2016-12-11 23:45:17 UTC https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143026033 adkis011 https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143026248 Info was hard to find online, but while volunteering I noticed the school was overwhelmingly white. This is where I have a criticism.  The area around the school is mostly minority but the school is mostly white.  Also, the school makes people commute.  Meaning you have to be rich enough to have a car and can afford gas.  Plus the school doesn't provide lunch, so you have to pay for it at nearby restaurants.  These reasons make the school mostly white and wealthy.  One positive for demographics, the school is mostly LGBT friendly.  Multiple teachers and students told me that this school was a haven for LGBT youth ]]> 2016-12-11 23:49:39 UTC https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143026248 adkis011 https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143026425 Hands down my favorite reading in this class was by Chris Emdin. In his book, "For White Folks who teach in the Hood," Emdin goes into why white teachers struggle with diverse classrooms. I absolutely love how he talks about you have to connect culturally to students. This was true at both places I volunteered. At SPCPA, to connect to artsy kids, I talked about my favorite Marlon Brando movies. Or in history class, while talking about the Romans, I brought up Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar". Conversely, at the Boys and Girls Club, which is mostly African American, I talked to kids about the NBA or my Timberlands or DBZ.  You always have to connect with what kids know and understand!]]> 2016-12-11 23:53:57 UTC https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143026425 adkis011 https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143026916 This book was a great way to learn about teaching. The chapter called, "Creating an Environment For Learning," was awesome in showing how the physical space kids learn in is important. The chapter goes over what is needed: a place to move/play, a place that encourages contemplation/reflection, a place that encourages community, and most importantly a place where kids can see each other! The classroom I volunteered in had these aspects.  Students sat in a circle, there was a place to work quietly (reflect), and there was enough room to stretch and move around.  Out with the old style of classroom, in with the new!

]]> 2016-12-12 00:05:14 UTC https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143026916 adkis011 https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143027581 Another chapter I wholly identified with was the third one, "Liberating the Curriculum."  I love how the author calls it 'liberating.'  Cuz that is what you have to do! Especially in history, my sub-field.  I love history and find it fascinating.  I thought everybody's house they grew up in had portraits of civil war generals - but I guess not.  So you have got to make class more fun.  Mrs. Johnson did a great job of this.  For instance, instead of just learning about ancient leaders, the kids did rap battles as them.  This is how you make history fun.  And honestly, I thank Hamilton (where she got the idea), which made history hip - we gotta do more of that!]]> 2016-12-12 00:19:46 UTC https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143027581 adkis011 https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143028613 This school feels awesome.  It is smack dab in the middle of the city.  It has no building of it's own.  The school is spread out over multiple buildings.  You have to go across skyways.  You see professionals going to and fro.  The kids even get to meet politicians like Dayton and Franken.  An awesome location]]> 2016-12-12 00:40:24 UTC https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143028613 adkis011 https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143028982 I volunteered in a study hall. Kids often had math questions. I worked with this one kid all the time. The first time I accidentally offended him. I assumed he knew PEMDAS (the way to know which operation should be done first in an equation) but he did not and felt ashamed he did not know. I did not mean to make him upset but it taught me a valuable lesson. Never make a kid feel dumb. Afterwards when I helped him, I never assumed he knew something and was always excited when he got something right. Over time this gave him confidence and he got better. This may be a stretch but I connected this experience to Paper Tiger. You have got to accept any student unconditionally and help them. You both have the same goal and kids need support!]]> 2016-12-12 00:45:06 UTC https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143028982 adkis011 https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143029348 It was great how easy and connected the school is to public transit. This availability is key to allowing less privileged kids to attend!]]> 2016-12-12 00:53:04 UTC https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143029348 adkis011 https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143265240 This is something that has upset me since I read that article in class by Dipti Desai. I noticed all the textbooks, computers, and programs schools have to pay for and thought that it is so ridiculous people make money off this. I get that students should have the newest and best stuff but I don't like how it's such a big business but whatever someones gotta make money or no one'll do it.]]> 2016-12-13 00:55:05 UTC https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143265240 adkis011 https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143265817 SPCPA has a J-term. They let kids have January off and get them to help with a production.  This gives them field experience in their field.  This is awesome.  I think one way to make schools more interesting is to have hands on learning like this.  You could do it with trade schools and stuff too.  Need more of this instead of the traditional, dry old way.]]> 2016-12-13 01:04:51 UTC https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143265817 adkis011 https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143265986 In almost all our readings there was talk about forming relationships. Hands down this is the most important thing I learned volunteering. You have got to have a good relationship with students so they are willing to ask questions, ask for help, and participate in class. Kids just need confidence. The second most important thing I learned was preparation. Mrs. Johnson was always ready. She was always two steps ahead, foreseeing problems and heading them off. She knew the curriculum like the back of her hand. You have to be prepared and personable.  Also, I want to mention class size.  I think one of the reasons SPCPA is successful is that they have small class sizes.  It helps a ton.  Where I work (and also volunteer), at the Boys and Girls Club, there is usually a ton of kids.  In the summer sometimes it is me and 40 kids and it can get pretty crazy pretty quick. ]]> 2016-12-13 01:08:33 UTC https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143265986 adkis011 https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143266199 I volunteered on Tuesdays and Fridays. On Tuesdays, I walked to the school (I live near by) and went to study hall. I would help out for first period of study hall. I helped out in every subject but I most often proofread or tutored math. I was always helping with math and I learned that a lot of the kids were struggling. Often, I would ask to see their practice problems and they wouldn't have them. What kind of math teacher doesn't do practice problems with their kids? Also there textbook was online and I hated that. Others would like that but the interface was slow. So I felt bad for these students because they were behind in math. Otherwise, I proofread all the time. I love doing that. Working with English is always a joy. If I did not want to be a history teacher, I would teach English. Plus, I love helping students refine their thoughts. They usually have great insights but they can't quite put it on paper. The only thing that can be depressing working with English is that kids get really upset when you suggest corrections. I was like that too, people are too sensitive about their writing. On Fridays, after first period, I would go and shadow Mrs. Johnson's World History class. My only gripe is that Mrs. Johnson would not have stuff for me to do at first. I was kinda pushy but I eventually got her to let me do more. Besides that, It was awesome watching Mrs. Johnson teach. I learned a lot (mentioned earlier). When I have a history class I will steal ideas form Mrs. Johnson: rap battles, travel brochures, poems, goofy documentaries, cool quizzes and a free form enviroment.]]> 2016-12-13 01:12:30 UTC https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143266199 adkis011 https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143268107 2016-12-13 01:44:42 UTC https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143268107 adkis011 https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143268416 At my other job (Boys and Girls Club), I watched this movie. So it was great when it was an option in this class because it would be beneficial to anyone who works with kids. The movie does a great job of showing what some kids have to deal with before they even enter the school. The overall theme of acceptance is important. You just have to accept every kid as they are. It can be tough sometimes when I'm working at the Boys and Girls Club and notice which kids are the bullies. I try to watch out for the victims but you can't be everywhere. I was bullied when I was young and I instinctively dislike all bullies. So it is tough at work tolerating a kid who I know does awful things to his peers. But you gotta accept them. You have to build a relationship with the kids you don't like because they are young and don't know better. Instead of judging, you gotta help.]]> 2016-12-13 01:50:27 UTC https://padlet.com/adkis011/ngqhokkaro9p/wish/143268416