Introducing Liz Tate a Reflection Post for EDU 414

2012-01-22T16:59:00.000-08:00

HeyEveryone,

Jenny on the Left, Lyla on the Right

Slinky Enjoying the Warm Pizza

Lyla Taking Up My Bed

I am Elizabeth Tate; however I am better known as Liz. I amcurrently a junior at Southern Connecticut State University; I am studying inthe Elementary Education/ Special Education Collaborative Program. I am veryhappy to have finally been accepted and to be able to get started with all theEDU and SED classes here. Along with theabove program of study I also study Liberal Arts where I focus on Psychology, History,and English. While all of these combinations are a ton of work I have to admitthat even when its overwhelming and I feel like I’m drowning in work and thatthere is no way I can possibly get it all done, I LOVE it all and I wouldn’t changea thing. That’s how I know I have chosen the right path for myself. Apart fromschool I enjoy spending time with my family which includes my mom, stepdad, andstepbrother, dog (Jenny), dog (Lyla), and cat (Slinky). When I’m not in schoolor at home I enjoy seeing my friends as well. I count myself extremely lucky tohave multiple friends still from high school and many new friends from College.And if I’m not doing any of the above, I can be found at work. I am currently employedat the Soundview YMCA in Branford, CT. I am a Child Watch Attendant, I watchchildren as young as 3 months all the way to 9 years old. I really enjoyworking with children and look forward to a future of doing so. One of myinterests include, running, I used to run cross country and track, but now I usuallyjust go to the gym and get some running time in, or when it’s nice outside I don’tmind going out to run. I also enjoy reading and traveling. Fortunately I havebeen able to travel recently within the United States to Las Vegas. However Ihave also been to many other different and interesting states. In the nearfuture I will be traveling to Canada for my third time for a vacation. This isalways a fun and interesting experience. Unfortunately I have not yet been ableto travel to any other places outside of the U.S. but one day I would reallylove to go to Germany, Australia, and many more places. When I’m relaxing athome reading I enjoy the Harry Potter Series, the Twilight Series and recentlyhave gotten into reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and The Help. WhenI’m not reading for fun at home I LOVE to paint my nails, I tend to change thecolor on my nails weekly, sometimes more frequently. Sometimes it bothers mebecause I don’t want to waste my colors but I love each old and new polish andam always so eager to see how a color looks, and to try new things with thepolishes. All of these interests keep me busy for the most part, butoccasionally like anyone I like to just sit back relax and watch T.V. With thenew semester here I will miss all the free time I had over break but I amlooking forward to challenges and changes this semester will bring.

Good Luck to All, Happy and Safe Semester!

Liz Tate

Millions of Cats a Post for EDU 307

2012-01-22T16:08:00.000-08:00

One of my first memories oflanguage arts goes as far back as kindergarten. At that time in my life I livedin Alabama and attended Glenwood School. My teacher at the time had beenreading to the class as a whole and encouraging us, the students, to go out andfind books that we would enjoy and that we could read by ourselves. Part ofthis lesson included a visit to the school library. There we were to search andfind a book that we would like and be willing to read. We also were to checkthe book out of the library and to bring it home to read with our parents. Tothis day my mom and I still remember and even have our own copy of Millions ofCats. At that point in my life when I went into the library looking for a bookto read and check out, I loved cats. I had my own cat at home that I loved and Iwanted to continue reading, thinking, and talking about cats. I knew it wouldbe something that I enjoyed and could have fun with. I really don’t rememberhow the Dewey decimal system worked, or how I found the book within the vastsea of books that surrounded me, but fate somehow brought the book to me. I sawthe cover and could read the title, and right off the bat I decided that wouldbe the book I was going to read and check out to bring home. After reading thebook alone during the time we were given in the library and in the classroom, Iwas in love. I could not wait to go home and share the book with my mom. At homemy mother read the book to me and I read the book to her as well. It wassomething we enjoyed together. After having to return the book when it was dueand the lesson was well over, I can remember returning to the library many timesand continuously checking and rechecking the book out time and time again. OverallI think this was a HUGE step and an AMAZING memory for my language artsdevelopment. By finding something that I really loved reading about and beingable to enjoy it over and over by myself and with my mother, it really made aBIG impression on me. I experienced that reading and sharing what I had readwas FUN. I think this experience really helped to show me that books are funand that reading is fun as well. I believe this was an important experience forme to have that really helped me to develop. By realizing how much fun I couldhave with books and the sharing of them, I was convinced to continue on my pathof reading for school and for enjoyment. I believe that a good first experiencewith books is crucial for young language arts learners. With a good firstexperience like mine students will want to read in school and outside ofschool. With encouragement and enjoyment it will make them happy and will givethem memories, like mine to remember and recall as they grow and learn throughoutthe years.

Blogging for Education

Introducing Liz Tate a Reflection Post for EDU 414

Millions of Cats a Post for EDU 307