Discussion Board: EDU 215 Spring 2016 Semester

Read war play article and post response on Blackboard. Share

three things you learned after reading the article and respond
to at least two peers postings in three or more sentences per
response. All of these steps should be completed by midnight
on Saturday, April 16, 2016. (30 points)

1.
2.

3.

Thread: War Play Article

Author: Rachel Hamilton
Posted Date: April 16, 2016 4:02 PM
Although at first thought, you wouldn't think war/fighting and children's play
would be a good mix, this article shows that war-play can actually be
beneficial in some ways for children, in that it allows one:
To step outside his/her perspective and see the impact his/her actions has on
others.
To come to understand the violence they are exposed to through
media and/or their communities because it helps them to be less frightened
by it, encouraging one to accept it in his/her perhaps more sheltered
framework of reality.
A healthy outlet for his/her competitive energy, which lets them experience a
feeling of competence, and unlike most sports, exercises the imagination at
the same time.
EDU 215 Classmate #11:
RE: War Play Article
I like how you focused on the positive aspects of war/play. It is brought up as
a negative thing a lot of times, but there must be a reason children naturally
avert to it. I also liked in your third point how you mentioned that war play
exercises the imagination unlike other sports. Its a way to exercise both your
mind and body!
EDU 215 Classmate #2:
RE: War Play Article
Rachel, I agree with you that you didn't think was play and children's play
would be a good mix but after reading the article it made me think also that
they go hand in hand. I also think that war play can bring kids to see different
perspectives of certain things. Also your other two points were made very
well because it is a positive outlet and not just a negative one.

1 Names of respondents have been undisclosed for privacy reasons.

Discussion Board: EDU 215 Spring 2016 Semester

(continued)
Thread: War Play Article Response
Author: Another EDU 215 Classmate
Posted Date: April 16, 2016 11:58 AM
From this article, I learned:
1.) War Play is not necessarily a bad thing, despite growing concerns that it
makes children more violent. It has not only been a part of children's play for
centuries, but it also gives
children a sense of empowerment and teaches them to look at the world from
different points of view.
2.) War Play also allows children a chance to understand and interpret the
violence they see all around them. They can resolve conflicts and work
through situations on their own.
3.) However, completely unregulated war play in which children mimic the
violence they see on television is not always good. Teachers do not always
have to ban such play from their classrooms, but it may be more effective to
allow children to channel their feelings on these issues through writing, storytelling, and building. These creative outlets can help children comprehend
and gain a sense of control over the violence they see.
Rachel Hamilton
RE: War Play Article Response
I really like how you worded your second point. It clarifies that war play is not
beneficial necessarily because it encourages children to take violence lightly.
Rather, it provides them a healthy way to interpret these issues and channel
it into their own personal conflicts. Great post!

Thread: War Play Article

Posted Date:
April 16, 2016 10:21 PM

Author: Another EDU 215 Classmate

From this article I learned:

1) Warplay can help children feel like strong people who can take care of
themselves. It can also assist children who are struggling with separation
from home and other challenging life issues.
2) Banning war play altogether can alleviate many problems for teachers but
it also denies children the opportunity to work out developmental issues and
violence they have been exposed to through their play.
3) Whether teachers partially ban war play or actively facilitate it, talking with
children about their war play and the related themes in their drawings,
stories or buildings is one of the most important ways we adults can help

them work out the violence they see and even learn alternatives to that
violence.
Rachel Hamilton
RE: War Play Article
Great points! I really like what you said about war play helping children cope
with challenging life issues at home. I also completely agree with what you
said about how finding other activities to express these themes, such as art,
can allow children to explore the concept of violence in alternative ways.

Discussion Board: EDU 218 B- Fall 2015 Semester

As a future educator you will be challenged more than ever before to
inspire and motivate students to reach their goals. Please describe
two teaching strategies that you would employ as a teacher
to encourage students to reach their goals. Please use complete
sentences. You response must be at least 100 words in length.
Please comment on two of you fellow classmates' strategies. Your
comments must be at least 50 words in length.
Thread: Teaching Strategies For 21st Century
Hamilton
Posted Date: August 28, 2015 6:21:39 PM EDT

Author: Rachel

As a future elementary teacher, I understand that keeping my students

motivated is significant to their success and development. While I know that I
have a crucial influence on their performance, I think that young individuals
can also learn many good habits from each other. Thus, one thing I would do
is praise those who are cooperative and focused, rather than scold those who
are off task. For example, if I am concerned by how one of the students in the
class is chattering while I'm giving instructions for an assignment, I will not
single him or her out. Instead, I will remark on the respectful and attentive
behavior of another student, and commend him or her for it. Ideally, this will
lead the others to emulate the applicable behavior, as well as encourage the
student I mentioned to continue to stay on task. Additionally, if other
students are talking over me to intentionally distract their peers, my use of
this strategy will show them that they will only get the attention they desire
by demonstrating good conduct. Another strategy that I plan to utilize
is arranging students into table "teams", each of which would have a mix of
students in terms of levels of intelligence and effort. Each table would gain
points for staying focused, being obedient, and/or showing respect, and
would have the promise of a special reward if they earn the most points by
the end of the week. I think this would be effective because it could provide
students with a more exciting incentive than simply trying to please the
teacher, and it could develop teamwork between students, prompting them
to encourage each other to succeed.
EDU 218 Classmate #1
RE: Teaching Strategies For 21st Century
Rachel, I really like these ideas! I especially like the idea of reinforcing
positive behavior only. I have witnessed this technique when I worked in an

after school program and it was very successful. Sometimes the students
really need this to understand what they are supposed to be doing, all while
keeping a positive energy.
EDU 218 Classmate #2
RE: Teaching Strategies For 21st Century
Rachel, I admire your method of positive discipline. I think it is very
important that misbehaving students do not just get scolded or punished, but
understand why their behavior is inappropriate. By praising good behavior in
front of them, they are able to absorb visible examples of appropriate
conduct and will be able to imitate them in the future. I also think your
strategy fits well with our discussion in class, because it is not only a good
way to keep a positive attitude as a teacher, but also to be an effective
teacher.

Discussion Board: EDU 218 B- Fall 2015 Semester

(continued)
Do you agree with the statement, "Teachers are role models
and their actions, in and out of the classroom, impact their
effectiveness in the class room?" Please share your thoughts
by posting no less than 100 words. Also, reply to two
additional fellow classmates by posting of no less than 50
words.
Thread: Teaching & The Importance of
Hamilton
Consistent Professionalism
Posted Date: September 1, 2015 4:28 PM

Author: Rachel

From the surface, it may seem that a teacher's goal is to simply help students
learn how to spell, multiply and divide, use proper grammar, think critically
about their reading, etc. But what is the point of teaching all of these things?
In my opinion, it is to help these young people become analytical problem
solvers, so they can make rational and shrewd decisions in their adulthood.
Thus, I certainly agree with the above statement; teachers definitely serve as
role models in their duty to influence their students to become diligent, lawabiding, and sensible citizens. I believe that in order to establish these
qualities of responsibility and integrity in others, one first must live out these
values. This means having true authenticity and not leading a dual life. It
doesn't matter whether or not the students know about how the teacher lives
his or her life outside the classroom; true role models are not hypocrites. I
think an effective teacher sincerely cares about his or her students' success
and well-being. Therefore, (s)he will strive to develop in them good habits to
prevent them from making reckless choices later in life. A teacher cannot
genuinely instill these values in others when (s)he does not respect them
enough to put them into practice!

Additionally, in order for students to get all they can out of their lesson, it is
essential that their teacher has enough energy and concentration to be fully
invested in the moment. Thus, since teachers have such a profound impact
on the classroom, it is important that they take care of themselves. This
means minimizing anything that could cause stress, exhaustion, or anything
that could otherwise distract them from the task at hand. For a simple
example, if a teacher is sleep deprived from the night before (by choice, not
necessity), it can certainly hinder his or her effectiveness during the school
day, in spite of the fact that his or her decision to stay up too late was
made outside of the classroom.
EDU 218 Classmate
RE: Teaching & The Importance of Consistent Professionalism
Rachel,
I agree! If you are going to "walk the walk" you better "talk the talk" I really
like what you said about teachers taking care of themselves and avoiding
anything unnecessary that might cause stress, exhaustion, or anxiety.
Obviously, there are things out of our control that might cause us these
things but situations like partying on a school night or being under the
influence are absolutely unacceptable. Great insight! I never thought about
that before!

Discussion Board: EDU 218 B- Fall 2015 Semester

(continued)
In your opinion has No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and "high
stakes testing" (state assessment testing) increased student
achievement and the ability of teachers to reach more
students, or has NCLB caused teachers to focus only on testing
and stymied their creativity?
Please use complete sentences. You response must be at least
100 words in length.
Please comment on two of you fellow classmates' strategies.
Your comments must be at least 50 words in length.
Thread: The Effects of Standardized Tests
Author: Rachel
Hamilton
Posted Date: September 20, 2015 5:30 PM
Given that the purpose of standardized tests is to directly evaluate teachers'
implementation of the obligatory concepts for that grade level, I think state
assessment testing has been a bit counterproductive in some cases. Instead
of authentically serving as an analysis of a teacher's ability to get the class
where they need to be, it seems that some teachers have treated it as more

of an assessment on how well (s)he prepared his or her students for the test
itself. For instance, teachers often tend to "teach to the test", setting aside
chunks out of the school day to review the concepts that will be covered in
state assessment testing, rather than integrating the material into their
curriculum. I believe that NCLB and standardized tests should contribute to
the curricula already set in place, not take away time from it; cramming a
review for these tests into the lesson plan could cause a lot of additional
pressure for both students and teachers. I do think, however, that NCLB and
standardized tests can be beneficial to student achievement so long as
teachers utilize them as guidelines of what their overall objectives should be
for the year. If teachers use the standards set by NCLB as the premise of
what their students should be able to accomplish from the lesson, (rather
than an extra lesson to cover), I think it will help them to reach more
students. Finally, the requirements set by NCLB do not always necessary
hinder teachers' creativity because they can still allow teachers to think of
creative methods to incorporate the material into their lesson plan.
EDU 218 Classmate
RE: Effects of Standardized Tests
I think you make excellent points Rachel. The point of standardized tests is
not to hinder student learning but to measure it. By adopting a proper
mindset towards the state and NCLB standards, teachers can continue to use
their creativity to teach effectively while also ensuring that students are
prepared for the tests.

Discussion Board: EDU 218 B- Fall 2015 Semester

(continued)
John Dewey has been credited with the founding of the Progressive
education movement. He believed that education is best served
when the whole child is considered, including all the aspects of
development. He believed that democracy should be practiced not
only in the governance of the United States, but also in the day to
day life of the school. Children should be free to question,
investigate, and make changes in their environment. Learning the
principles of democracy early in life would serve them well later as
adults. This was a considered a major shift in the philosophy/mission
of the school. Do you agree with the progressive movement of that
time and its modern day equivalent?
Please use complete sentences. You response must be at least 100

words in length.
Please comment on two of you fellow classmates' strategies. Your
comments must be at least 50 words in length.
Thread: John Dewey and the Progressive Movement
Author: Rachel
Hamilton
Posted Date: October 4, 2015 2:40 PM
I agree with the progressive movement in its intention of holding students
accountable for their own success to prepare them for the self-reliance and critical
thinking they will need to develop for later on in life. I also think that teachers should
be willing to make adjustments from year to meet the needs of the group of
children. However, I think to ensure the fullest productivity, certain boundaries should
be set in place.
First of all, I don't think the school should be run like a democracy. Going by the
requests of the majority certainly would not be beneficial to individuals who feel
differently. Also, I have been a personal witness to how allowing students too much
authority in the classroom can lead to chaos. My high school drama program was set
up with the mindset of Dewey's progressive education movement; as students, we
were constantly encouraged to question, evaluate, and critique the plays we studied,
minor details in rehearsals, and even some of the program's policies. While this
control challenged each of us to take initiative and think more critically about
theater, it also became the downfall of the program because a few of us took our
power too far; forgetting the respect our director deserved, some of the students
talked back to the director, insisted that their take on something was the only correct
one, etc. Students need to be taught that in life, there will always be leaders,
(whether that be a teacher, boss, etc.) and all in all, they owe these leaders their
utmost respect and cooperation. The absence of a clear leader can put an
environment in disorder, so students must learn that the leader gets the final say
because usually (s)he knows what is best.
Rather, I think each student should determine as an individual what (s)he can do to
help him/herself to succeed, as well as what the teacher can do to facilitate his or her
learning.
EDU 218 Classmate
RE: John Dewey and the Progressive Movement
Rachel, I like how you used an example from a high school experience. I can relate to
this as well. I have had many high school teachers who have been disrespected in
their classes. This happened because they allowed students to answer questions or
say something they felt was important. A lot of the students would take advantage of
this opportunity and most times it led to chaos. However, by the end of the class
period the teachers would regain their power back because the students knew that
what the teacher said was final. I truly think that respect is very important in a school
system. Teachers should remind students daily that they will always have a leader
(like you said) and that respect should be their number one priority.

Discussion Board: EDU 218 B- Fall 2015 Semester

(continued)
How can Due Process become both a positive and negative tool for
staff and student discipline?

Thread: Due Process

Author: Rachel
Hamilton
Posted Date: November 1, 2015 1:07 PM
Due process is for the most part, a very useful tool in terms of discipline in
schools. As we discussed in class, due process can prevent students from
dismissal from a school solely because a teacher targeted them based on
personal reasons, and vice versa. Without the right to a hearing for students
and teachers, it would be so easy for students or faculty to twist or
exaggerate how an incident occurred in a manner that would get the
opposing party unjustly expelled or fired; the opposing party would not be
guaranteed an opportunity to explain his/her side of the story. Additionally,
due process provides an extra layer of protection to students who may
naturally be more prone to getting themselves into trouble due to
vulnerabilities such as learning issues. Finally, due process is good in terms of
educational purposes because it gives students a taste of how our nation's
justice system works. However, like most systems that intend to be
beneficial, due process still has its disadvantages. Firstly, it can extremely
time consuming for teachers and is also financially costly for schools. Also the
reassurance that students may be able to avoid severe consequences so long
as they have an excuse may falsely embolden them to push the limits a little
more.
EDU 218 Classmate
RE: Due Process
Rachel, great post! I totally agree with you. Due process definitely is a great
tool that allows students to defend themselves when threatened with
dismissal. I also really like your point on how due process can be a negative. I
too believe that due process can be too time consuming and have a financial
disadvantage.