ENTRY 20

For the past two weeks I have been attending  a staff development workshop,on Visual and Performing Arts it was very informative and creative. I enjoyed the hands on activities.
 It was refreshing to see that I can teach in such an interesting way, lessons taught in this manner, where the children create colleges, that while creating the teacher can illicit from them their previous knowledge, and thus encouraging language development and more, without any  pressure on the class to remember information.
 In this way, I am building a child's self efficacy and cognitive development. This workshop has also granted me the opportunity to realize how I can reach the children in my class who are artistic more than academic. However, I am looking forward to my two days off so that I can experience some self efficacy and  avoid teacher burnout.  

ENTRY 19

 In life a person must have long term and short term goals. One of my immediate short term goals is finishing this paper, lose ten pounds and get my drivers license. Some of my long term goals are providing a home for my son and I, getting my degree and building a continous relationship with Jesus.  

ENTRY18

When I am not studying academically or writing lesson plans I do read for pleasure. So right now I’m reading a book entitled ‘Serious about Love’ by Dr.Kay Kuzma  in the book she talks about having fourteen good trait for a good relationship these are having happy disposition, being thoughtfulness, they are not easily angered, willing to solve problem, practice purity and thoughtfulness, exhibits Good health habits, accepts responsibility, has a good sense of self-worth, likes children, has a personal relationship with God, accepts you just the way you are, willing to grow, and is affectionate.

Who agrees or disagree?

ENTRY17

Imagine come from a place where when my son gets an asthma at attack I call the ambulance and they arrive in minutes, too now live in a place where when Andrew gets an asthma attack I have to pray and go take transport to get him to the hospital. I wrote all that to ask what is happening with our health care system. 

ENTRY16

ENRTY 16

I don’t know if anyone can answer this question.

Why is a country Trinidad and Tobago that is filled with so much natural resources and wealth have so many people whose basic needs can’t be meet?

When I pose this question I am not speaking of the people on the Bethem for most of them live better than I do. I am addressing the people in other areas of the Island. I had the privilege of going to visit a student whose father was murdered, that family lives in Cascade on my way to their home I was amazed at the clear division between the haves and the have nots. As I entered the area I was fascinated by the large beautiful homes and then I drive over a bridge a few miles up the same road, where I enter a new world of homes build with boards and I have to pass through a track to get to the student home.   Explain this scenario to me.

ENTRY15

A word of advice work hard at maintaining peace in your friendships, because the older you get the less chance you have at making peace.  

ENTRY14

All parents believe that they have the best children in the world. But that is because they have not met my son Andrew, for he is the best son in the known universe. How can I make such a bold statement? Well what other eight year old you know who has a full day of primary school and then goes to college at nights with his parent and rarely complains. I thank God for his personality and the lecturers’ high tolerance and love for children. God bless you all. 

ENTRY13

Great people talk about ideas

Average people talk about things

Small people talk about other people

So I am striving to be great

ENTRY 12

ENTRY 12

Having dyslexia has its own problems. But try adding being a single parent, who has to work and go to college. Sometimes my nights are so long I cry.  Having to juggle with assisting my son with his home work, do reviews and projects. Then when I am finished get my assignments done on time. All I can say is that a twenty four hour day is not enough.

I must say that I thank God for the relationship that I have developed with him for had it not been for God I would not able to make it, because I have no family support for my main support system lives abroad. I am suggesting that the college set up some kind of homework centre where students with children can leave their children to get homework help. While their parents are attending classes.

ENTRY 11

ENTRY 11

College Life

by Francisca Spinks

People who go to college are incredible,

I go to classes where learning in inevitable.

I read and absorb various materials,

And are comprehensively tested by other intellectuals,

 Sometimes I get so frustrated and want to give up ,

But I get down on my knees and send a pray up.

To the one who sits on high and looks down low,

I am eternally grateful for his love and patience you know.

He remains me that my real future is in his hands,

That is when I climb up to rest in his loving arms.

So as I travel this five to seven year path,

Making new friends and colleagues that will find a place in my heart.

I try to always remember every victory comes in time,

 I am working today to change tomorrow it makes college life easier on the mind.

ENTRY 10

Slang is a part of everyone’s everyday life, to say that I don’t use it would not be the truth, but it is a part of how I communicate to friends and family in a relaxed manner.  I avoid using it in my profession. Sometimes, in conversation my sister might say to me, did you see on the news that someone has gone postal, meaning that the person who did not show any violent tendencies, kills coworkers, families and members of the general public in an act of mass murder.  The slang came about after a series of postal workers had done these acts of supposed unprovoked violence. 

ENRTY 9

As a verbal communicator, I am becoming an effective communicator; in my speech I try not to use language conscientiously that will offend my listeners. I am beginning to use jargons that apply to the audience or people I am speaking too. I use vocabulary that applies to my listeners for example I teach children so I won’t use the word linguistic to infants, during a lesson because they won’t understand what the word meant or the context in which it is being used. So , I have to say I do demonstrate linguistic sensitivity.     

ENTRY 8

The Trinidad Express had an article about the recent raise in Muslims being targeted. At first glance of the title, I thought why the big fuss, because these people in my opinion are the reason for all the terrorist attacks in the world. So what if they are being targeted, finally they will understand the fear the rest of the world have been experiencing because of them.

But, as I continue to read I came face to face with the reality that not all Muslims are terrorist. But, they have family and friends that they are financially and socially obligated too. And Muslims are not all plotting and training in camps to kill people in the western world.

ENTRY 7

I knew nothing about the Colombian culture before my group presentation. Since the presentation I have learned that family is important to Colombians. The elderly are respected and perceived as beginning wise.

Men shake hands while looking directly into the person’s eyes, that they are talking too and they are a tactile people. When planning to visit someone fruits and flowers are accepted, but lilies are used for funerals.

I also learned that depending on where a person lives certain articles of clothes are used for different purposes, for example, a scarf will be worn in the high lands on the head to keep the person warm, and that same scarf will be worn in the low lands around the waist as decoration.

 After, this presentation I can better appreciate the way other cultures live, I believe the carnival season is the best time to communicate a tolerance and appreciation of other cultures.

ENTRY 6

From the class presentation I learned that a person’s accent, verbal and non – verbal communication can be based on where that person lives, for example in Columbia the persons in the high lands are more serious and direct in their speech, and they prefer to make eye contact while in conversation. Where as a person living in the lowlands tend to be more humorous and relaxed both in speech and attitude.

Through the presentations I gleaned, that in the Indian culture it is a mark of respect for a person to stand at least an arm’s length away, when speaking to someone. It is also respectful to bow low and touch an elderly person’s feet when greeting them.

In Italy for example, it is good business practice for the person you plan to do business with, to do a back ground check on you before they have a business meeting with you.

ENTRY 3

If I had to say anything about myself, I would have to say that I am a Christian, who loves to make people laugh. I have learned to be flexible and spontaneous because life is so unpredictable. I consider myself to be disorganized. It is said that the first step toward improvement is to admit you have a problem. Therefore I consider myself on the road to recovery. In essence I am a mom, a teacher, a friend and a counselor.

ENTRY 5

The Trinidad and Tobago culture has influenced the way I communicate in many ways.  Trinidad and Tobago is made up of mixed races, predominantly of African and Indian heritage and because of this diversity the average Trinbagoian is quite tolerant notwithstanding his or her race.  

I find that I don’t laugh at other peoples accents. However, I gesticulate a lot, using my hands to communicate. I have also been told by other cultures that Trinidadians seem to be always happy and the way we speak sound as if we are singing .
            As for my verbal and non verbal communication, my ex husband is Jamaican so when I was around his family I would have to speak slowly in order for them to understand what I was saying.  Moreover, a number of Trinbagonians, including myself, do not pronounce th as they should.  For instance, I know that sometimes I say tree for the number three. This obviously influences my communication with people who are not of my culture.

ENTRY 4

I read the Newsday article, dated Sunday February 12, 2012, on the death of thirty-four year old Randy De Couteau.  He was shot thirty-five times at his home in Moruga on Thursday night, for no apparent reason, according to his family.

When I started reading the article, I thought maybe this is another person killed because of drugs, or it may have been some gang related incident. The question in my mind was, “Even if it is, what is the police service doing about these killings?”  They are to protect and serve all especially law- abiding citizens.

As I finished reading the article my perception changed.  I began to think of the three children who are now fatherless.  I  began to wonder if anyone in government has really begun to look at the generation that is growing up without fathers.  It seems to me that over the years, fathers,  for one reason or another have not been there for their children; but to me, outside of slavery and wars, the numbers of absent fathers have never been so high.  Therefore,  I have to say that I am saddened by these events .

ENTRY 2

Hi,
My fellow bloggers, running up and down as usual, but had to put this in.
My childhood was like most with loving parents and siblings. Then at the age of twelve, my mother got an asthma attack and died in my father's arms and in our presence. At the funeral, I kissed her cheeks, it was the coldest thing I have ever felt in my life.

The responsibilities of the house now fell on me. I had to pay the bills and make the groceries because my father was confined to a wheel chair. Just as I am working through the lost of my mother and my new responsibilities; my mother passed away. Exactly one year to the day of my mother's death; my father died as a result of a diabetic coma. At age of thirteen, my whole world was shattered again.
Before I knew it my siblings and I were spilt up. My brother was sent to live deep south, my sister goes by one aunt and I by another. Three months later my sister and I were allowed to stay together, but we only saw my brother during the holidays.

Did these events change my life? Yes. I don't do well with change and I don't save things. If I buy a dress I wear it as soon as possible, because I don't want to die and never use it. Personally, I try to keep my friends and famly close. My son is always with me, not just because I am a single parent and don't have a choice, but because I don't want anything to happen to him when I am not around.
Did my parents' death cause me to think differently? Yes. I am living in the moment, because I feel that there is no future and I could die soon. I am always trying to help someone because, I don't want them to experience the loss and loneliness I felt. But, as I have allowed Jesus into my life I now have a future and hope.

ENTRY 1

Hi, fellow bloggers, my name is Francisca Spinks.  I am pursuing a degree in  BS-Elementary Education majoring in Reading. Presently, I am a teacher in an elementary school in Port - of - Spain. I am a single parent and I recently relocated to Trinidad after seventeen years, it was a culture shock for both myself and my son. On a scale of 1-10 as an effective communicator I would say that I am a seven,because although I teach I am don't like speaking to crowds.
Ways that I can improve on my area of weakness as a communicator are:
When speaking to a crowd, I can look slightly over their heads,so that I appear to be looking directly at them without looking at the crowd to make myself nervous.
 Another technique I can employ is to begin my topic with a joke that way I relax myself and the audience.