Sunday, March 20, 2011

Natural Disasters

I think that natural disasters bring people together. We often become so self focused on our busy lives that we forget about those around us.With such diversity in the classroom disasters is one thing that students can all relate to. With disasters we can have students do research on a certain region that relates to them. Giving students ownership in their learning is important. Allowing students to share their culture and their experiences helps us respect and understand that we all come from different backgrounds and experiences. It just sad that it takes something like a disaster for us to appreciate one another. Disasters are devastating but it is overcome with love and compassion thhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifat we share as a humanity.
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2 comments:

  1. L. Copeland-JohnsonMarch 21, 2011 at 4:55 PM

    Hi Susan,
    Natural disasters are very devastating. Being involved or closely related to someone involved in a natural disaster can be very horrifying. When the recent tsunami hit Japan, I wanted to see how many of my students were aware of the situation and their feelings. Most of them seemed detached. I think having students do research on natural disasters in their region where they live will sensitize them and they will develop some compassion for others that may be affected by natural disasters in other regions. It is sad that it takes devastation to bring a society together.

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  2. AmyMarch 27, 2011 at 8:33 PM

    Hi Susan,

    I think that LaKeitha brings up an interesting point that sometimes the students do seem detached, despite how social networking, etc. works to bring people from all different locations together. Perhaps part of it is just information overload?

    I know that personally, social networking has done just the opposite; I have a couple of friends who were directly impacted by the events in Japan, and the outpouring of support from my friends who only know these people through me has been amazing. This happened last year as well when one of my friends lost his new home and all of his belonging in the gas explosion in San Bruno CA.

    I agree with both you and LaKeitha that we need to make sure that our students understand that even though some disasters are far away geographically, there are people suffering who could benefit from our acts of kindness and compassion. Amy

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