Chairs, cars and bridges

This article made me really think about all the things that I use in my daily life. I never really think about all the aspects to an object when I am using it, I just use it and go about my day. When I do purchase something, I tend to think about some of the seven components of the design of the object. For example, with a car, I know that I need it, what it can do for me, is it a good car to have during the struggling economy, does it look good and am I able to drive it properly. I also pay attention to little details of the car, such as the interior, the CD player, automatic windows and more to fit my lifestyle and convenience. I feel that choosing a car says a lot about a person, their personalities and their interests. For example, the author said that she has a Volkswagen beetle that looks like a baby.
I find it very interesting to think about the seven components of different objects and how they have changed in objects overtime. People are always changing and wanting newer and better things to fit their lifestyle. Just look at cell phones and how often a new model comes out. People are always getting a new one that can always do something better than the last. Cell phones were once just to talk on and now there are so many different forms of communication that can be used on a cell phone such as talking, texting, picture messaging and e-mail. I agree that the aesthetic experience is based upon social expectations. There is a certain social status that goes along with objects the people have. For example, if you see someone driving around in a BMW people think that they have a lot of money. The knowledge about the prices of these objects lets people make judgments and inferences about others and their social or class status.

Art and Literacy

Students are very visual learners and in my experience I feel that teachers do not present material in a visual way often enough for students to have a clear understanding of the material. I think it is a great idea for students to create a story with pictures and then they can go back and add words or talk about their story to someone. I noticed in many lessons that I have taught that students need to have multiple forms of assessment so that they have a variety of ways to show their knowledge. In a science lesson, I taught about pollination as part of it and the students were given the option to write or draw what they knew pollination to be. Every student in the class decided to draw it. It is important to have visuals along with literacy because I feel that children can really have a much better understanding of the story and will be able to remember it by thinking of the pictures.

One of my favorite children’s books is called My Teacher For President by Kay Winters and Illustrated by Denise Brunkus. This is such a great book because it shows the jobs the president does and relates it to things that the teacher does in the classroom. For example, both the president and the teacher finds jobs for people. The teacher and the president both have to deal with the media. The words on the page tell that the teacher and president do the same activities but the pictures show a completely different meaning. For example the page where it talks about the media shows the president dealing with cameras and news stations while it shows the teacher trying to work the VCR playing on the television in the classroom. The pictures show great detail and the differences between the president and the teacher but the words tell about the similarities. It is a comical book that could be a great opening to a lesson on the election. The teacher could ask the students what they think is part of the presidents job. The teacher could then read the book to the class and have the students listen and look for similarities and differences. A discussion could occur after reading the book about the jobs of a president. This book will help students to remember the jobs because it makes connections with a teacher, something they have knowledge in and it is comical. After, the students could then break up into groups and research about a particular job the president does, such as making peace. The group would then have to give a real life example from the current president to the class about that job the president does.

My Tattoo

Heather Knapp's tattoo design

Tattoos and teenagers

I do agree with this article when it says that tattoos are a form of expression and someone’s identity. It shows their likes and interests. I have noticed that some people have tattoos just to have them. They get a tattoo because they like how it looks even though it doesn’t mean anything to them. There are people who get tattoos just because they are old enough and they think they are unique and cool. I think it is stupid to get a tattoo just to get one. I understand getting one if it means something and show the type of person that you are. What gets me angry is when I see people who have crosses on their body even though they aren’t religious at all. What is the point of that? Those are the things that you have on your body for your life and the tattoo one gets will always be a reminder of something. This reminder may be about their culture, identity, something they thought looked cool, or a poor choice after a drunken night. No matter what, it is permanent and I think people need to really think about what their tattoo means to them before they get it.
I no longer think that tattoos are associated with drugs and other problematic behavior or poor lifestyles. I think that people are starting to get tattoos more often now to show who they are as a person, to express themselves. Tattoos are looked at more like an art form now. I think that overtime, tattoos will become more accepting but it also depends upon where you get them and what job you plan on having in the future. I don’t think visible tattoos will ever be professional in most companies, but in others it is the norm. For example, the music industry has many artists, producers, etc who all have tattoos. They get them to show what they stand for and what is important to them in their lives.
I am surprised at the young ages that kids get tattoos. I believe that they do it because they want a change with their look, something new and different. At a young age when they get a tattoo, it also gives them attention from their peers because it is not the norm. Tattoos are an interesting thing. You may look at them and think it looks nice, but it may have so much meaning behind it. What I find interesting is how a lot of Americans get Japanese writing on their bodies or symbols that represent a word. I once hear a comedian saying that the Japanese people don’t go around and write English words all over their body.
As a future teacher, if a student of mine or their parents has tattoos, I am able to learn more about that person and their culture. Tattoos can say a lot about a person and what they believe in. It is important to be aware of your student’s culture and life so that you can know how to make your content interesting to them.