R U Really Reading?

I think there are differences between traditionalistic and online literacy. I think to a certain point educators,as well as society, should embrace the new way kids are reading, but at the same time I do not thinkntradionalistic reading should be done away with. I might be being old fashioned, but so much of the world is changing as it is, and as test scores are showing, this is not a positive change. While online reading might be more cost efficient, I do not think it is a change that should be made right now. I personally am a very visual learner, so I think it would be a challenge for me to learn by reading a book online because I have to highlight things and make my own little side notes, which you can do on the computer but it just not the same. This is a hard topic to have a firm opinion on because there are so many high and low points to each type of reading, but I think for now educators should stick to the facts, which are showing that kids who do not read are not doing well on test.

Cell Phones and Families

I am very sorry everyone for just now gettting this done. I have had a very busy weekend!:)

I believe that cell phones do more harm than good to the family dynamic. While it is good to be able to communicate with each other at will, it is a distraction when at home in the family setting. I know that personally speaking my dad is ALWAYS on his cell phone it seems. I give him a lot of credit because he is involved in and head of so much stuff, but sometimes it would be nice to just sit around and talk without his phone ringing. He owns a business, coaches my sisters traveling softball team, and is treasurer of the Bullard Baseball Association so if it is not a customer or employee calling it is a parent or fellow board member; always somebody!

Convenient communication with one another is very important though. I love being able to send my mom a quick text about where I am at or what time I am going to be home instead of having to stop what I am doing or find a quiet place and call to update her on my where-abouts. More so than they would like to admitt, our parents enjoy this convenience as well. While they like to play like they need to hear from us all the time they secretly enjoy us not calling them every few hours to let them know what is going on. This is a win-win for everyone involved.

Another negative to having cell phones in the family dynamic is the games that come with or can be bought on most phones today. I do not know about everyone else's family, but everyone in my family, aside from my younger sister, has an I-Phone, so it seems that if someone is not texting or talking they are playing. My parents love to sit around and play solitare or majang and we are all guilty of being on facebook.

I do not think that cell phones should be done away with or anything extreme like that, but I do believe they are harmful to the family setting. This is a sad, but true perception of today's society.

My shibboleth

My shibboleth is loyalty. I have always struggled with loyalty from others. The dictionary defines loyal as: unswerving in alligence; faithful to a private person whom fidelity is due. I have never experienced true loyalty from anyone I do not think. I am an extremely loyal person and because of this I expect that from others, but time and time again I am let down. You would think that after being disapointed enough I would stop expecting so much from others, but that has yet to happen.

I absolutely hate when people talk to me about others then turn around and talk to that person about yet another person. I used to be friends with a girl who did this all the time and it drove me crazy. It bothered me to the point that I had to end our friendship. If she was talking to me about everyone else then she was more than likely doing the same thing to me. I want someone to be my friend all the time or none of the time. Loyalty can be a fine line to walk if you are friends with two people who do not get along. But that is really the true test of loyalty I think. You should never say anything about one to the other and they should respect your friendship with the other person enough to just not talk about them at all when you are around.