Dawn, Porsche and Kelly Collab-bo:Let's Make Stuff!!

So for our project, we wanted to tackle princess culture by demonstrating what we feel the Modern Day Princesses Culture should be.

How we did this?

• We brainstormed "who is a Modern Day Princess that fits this Culture?"
• Megan Markle
• Smart
• Divorced
• Biracial
• Educated
• American Actress
• We utilized the Meme Generator 
• free through google search
• Meme
• pictures with a caption that use words to convey a message contrary to what the picture looks like
• gets a political and/or humorous point
• We captioned the Meme in accordance with our task:  Create a Product that informs/resists popular culture messages about gender

Post #6: GoNoodle

For my digital tool box presentation, I chose to share GoNoodle. GoNoodle is an online program that offers over 300 different movement and mindfulness videos for teachers, parents and children. I have been using GoNoodle for about 2 years and I love it! I use GoNoodle videos during transitions, brain breaks and indoor recess. GoNoodle is free but also offers a premium membership ($10 for 1 year) that offers educational movement videos that align to core subjects, customizable question games, along with extensions and printables.

GoNoodlin' :-)

Wanna know more? Go check out my GoNoodle powerpoint :-)

Kelly's GoNoodle Presentation

Post #5: Deconstructing Barbie

Deconstructing Barbie (p. 187, 1st edition)

In the article, Deconstructing Barbie, Swapna Mukhopadhyay discusses how educators can use mathematics as "a tool to interrogate issues of importance to students, their communities, and society in general". Mukhopadhyay states that mathematics can be used to shed light on culture, history and politics. In this chapter, she presents a math lesson for middle school students that takes a closer look at Barbie’s body proportions while learning about averages and ratios. Using thrift store Barbie dolls, Mukhopadhyay asks her students to find out what Barbie would look like if she was their size. Students worked together in small groups to determine the average height within their group, which sparked a discussion about how the mathematical term average contradicts real life. Students then had to compute Barbie’s life-size measurements, and draw a life size picture of Barbie and the average height group member onto 1 piece of butcher block paper. Students are immediately able to see the unrealistic body type of Barbie. Mukhopadhyay, repeated the same lesson with super heroes to show that this issues isn’t confined to just female representation.

Mukhopadhyay closes the article by highlighting the conversations this activity sparked with her students.
They discussed the impact of popular culture on body image, eating disorders and self worth, Barbie sweatshops,
and the superficial diversity of Barbie. This article shows how educators can tackle social justice and
academic content simultaneously. I thought it was really creative and a forward thinking
way of making math culturally responsive.

Post # 4: Disney

Hi, my name is Kelly and I love Disney.

I grew up watching Disney and even now as an adult I still enjoy it.  My family had almost every Disney VHS tape, and I loved to watch them with my younger sister. My favorite Disney movie is Beauty & the Beast. As a young girl I thought Belle was the best princess (Moana's my #1 now), she was kind, smart and beautiful. I remember asking my dad if I could change my name to Belle in kindergarten-my car is even named  Belle. For me, these movies are nostalgic and evoke feelings of happiness, love, and positivity. (I also loveeeeee the songs!)

I am definitely a consumer of Disney, and so are my students. My students watch Disney movies, tv shows, have Disney backpacks, and sometimes take on Disney character roles during dramatic play. I look forward to movie rewards just as much as my students do! 😛

Although I do enjoy these movies, I can definitely understand Christensen's perspective and reading this passage definitely makes me feel uneasy and almost guilty about my Disney obsession. Christensen says "our society's culture industry colonizes their[students] minds and teaches them how to act, live, and dream", this really makes me feel differently about the movies I love and enjoy. I agree that young people need to be aware of the media they consume and the implications of that media. I also agree with Christensen, in that its not enough to critically analyze media and identify injustices- students also need to understand that they have power to be change agents by sharing their analysis with others.

Frozen challenges princess culture in many ways. Traditionally female characters are searching for love and are "damsels in distress". In Frozen, Elsa is trying to understand and embrace her powers- she definitely isn't looking for love or anyone to save her. Anna goes on a journey to find her sister and bring summer back to Arendelle. The female main characters of this film are their own heroes. The villains in the film also challenge the princess culture- Hans and the Duke of Weselton are the bad guys, where traditionally a female character is the villain. And who can forget Olaf! A magical snowman who longs for the summer season. He's definitely a traditional princess sidekick.

Post #3: It's Complicated - Chapter 7

What do you make of the (divergent) positions of Boyd and Prensky (per our discussion in class and/or per the article above?)  Where do you stand on the “digital native” terminology?

Prensky believes that all young people are "digital natives" and that all digital natives are digitally competent and have the technological skills necessary to use all digital media, platforms and technologies. Boyd states that just because young individuals are familiar with social media and have some knowledge of digital media, doesn't mean they have the necessary skills  and knowledge to navigate successfully in the digital world. She also makes the point that the term "digital native" makes the assumption that all young people have a complete understanding of digital media and technology, and there is no need to educate them on how to navigate through the digital world. The internet has a vast array of information and if students aren't equip with the skills and knowledge needed to identify bias and inaccuracy, they will become misinformed. I also agree with Boyd's stance on technological skills; many young people have little understanding about how the technology they use works and how to troubleshoot technology. Boyd's MySpace example really resonated with me! I remember going to my friend's house so she could help my work on my profile page. She taught me how to embed videos, code, and make crystals drop down my page. I thought I was pretty cool 😎 .

This reading made me think about my role as an educator, and how I can work to improve my kindergartners digital literacy and technological skills. I know it's more that using an iPad or tablet, I'd love more insight as to what I can do to help my young learners increase their media literacy and technological skills. 

P.S-So I googled kindergarten media literacy and found a cool lesson that focused on understanding how messages are delivered through media and how media can change those messages.  Here's a link to the lesson and blog post. 

Post #2: Digital Native or Digital Immigrant

I consider myself a digital native. I think I'm pretty tech savvy, but I know there's more for me to learn and master :-). I was born in Providence, Rhode Island. I completed my undergraduate degree at The University of Rhode Island, where I studied Human Development and Family Studies.
I am currently attending Rhode Island College, where I am working on my masters in Teaching English as a Second Language.

Here's a youtube video of from one of my favorite shows, Rupaul's Drag Race.

Post #1: Introduction

Hi!

My name is Kelly Beckford 😀.

 I am a kindergarten ESL teacher in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. This summer I will be prepping for the upcoming school year, working in my garden, and baking :-). 

&&

I have the cutest havanese puppy, named Latrice. She's the best! I'm hoping to train Latrice this summer-she's a real diva :-)