All posts by Laila Zandi

Where do I learn to be me?

Blurring the In-School Ouf-of-School Line
“Indeed, the developing adolescent is frequently immersed in existential questions: Who am I? Why am I here? What is my purpose? How do I make moral decisions? Whom should I love and how should I love them? What is sacred and what is taboo? In what or whom should I place my trust?” (Toshalis 190)

     This article discusses a very important and at times controversial topic: what is the role of (public) schools in the education of faith? Legally, in public school teachers and administrators are not to include religion in the classroom; they should, however, open the space for students to discover for themselves who they are. Continue reading Where do I learn to be me? →

The modern day pen pal

eLiteracy and Social Media(tion), Media and Technology Critiques

Approaching the topic of youth’s connection with media and technology through a parental lens, I have a conservative stance. I believe that too much technology can negatively affect a child’s ability to create and imagine; to a teenager, the internet serves as an extremely useful tool, however, with its great power comes great responsibility. Continue reading The modern day pen pal →

I am not unable; I am disabled.

Differentiation as an Approach to Teaching Diverse Learners
“It is important, however, that educators not dwell exclusively on these negative factors but focus as well on the ‘whole’ student. Having a disability is, after all, only one aspect of the life experience of a student with a disability. Too often, educators behave as if this one factor were the only factor to consider. Students with disabilities are more like all other adolescents than they are different from them, if one can see past the disability.” (Wehmeyer 176)

This chapter focuses on the potential challenges faced by adolescent students with disabilities when it comes to identity building. For the non-disabled teenager, creating an image for him or herself is a laborious task. Hormones, self-esteem, and the desire to be understood all play into the creation of one’s self-definition. Continue reading I am not unable; I am disabled. →

How the internet s(l)aved me

eLiteracy and Social Media(tion)

For this week’s reading, 4 Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide/When Social Networking Was Enuf, I picked out two MVPs (I apologize, I couldn’t help myself). The first is:

“‘Tonight I did it,’ she continued, rehearsing the common wisdom of the street: ‘I had to do what I had to do.’ As she read, the air between us thinned. My mother’s eyes swelled with moisture as she continued with her story. ‘My babies can’t eat air. And it didn’t last that long anyway. But I am still ashamed of myself, but I can feed my kids and I didn’t have to rob no banks. I don’t know if I will do it again, but I will do anything to feed my kids, or I’ll die.’”

Continue reading How the internet s(l)aved me →

Big Brother is watching you–and it’s your fault

Socioemotional and Psychological Development in Adolescence
“At 9:13 P.M….At 9:17 P.M….at 1:37 A.M….At 6:39 P.M….At 5:20 P.M….at 7:44 P.M….at 9:41 P.M…” (Parker).

Choosing a quote for this week’s MVP was quite difficult. In Parker’s article alone there were numerous passages that caught my attention, especially those which made reference to the cyber world. Within 6 minutes of internet time, Ravi knew about Tyler’s musical interests, sexual orientation, computing needs, and personal beliefs printed on T-shirts. He easily and rapidly shared this information with friends online. Every single comment Ravi has made is now being used against him. Every comment or IM has minute-by-minute play-by-play. For Ravi, the possibility of prison and potential deportation hang over his head. If the aforementioned isn’t scary, what is? Continue reading Big Brother is watching you–and it’s your fault →