Joe+Baraona+-+Introduction

Hello everyone! My name is Joe Baraona, and I am a MAT student at SOU, here in Southern Oregon. I was born in California's Bay Area, and lived in various parts of California until I was 20. At that point, I moved to Oregon, and have been here for the last 11 years. Some of my hobbies and passions are education, the arts, the outdoors,the kitchen and of course teaching. I love learning, and teaching, and that is why I am here. I have have been placed in Kennedy Elementary in Medford, and so far it has been an amazing experience working with 4th graders. I can't wait to have my own classroom, as I am eager to apply all that I have learned.

= = =Creativity through the Visual Arts = ="Creativity now, is as important in education as literacy", Sir Ken Robinson =

==The purpose of this wiki is to highlight the importance of fostering creative thinking within classrooms. As educators, we may feel increased pressure to teach to the test, while placing heavy emphasis on the instruction of math, science, and literacy. All too often, it is the creative disciplines that suffer for the increased demand to teach core subjects. Research has proven that the incorporation of right brain thinking such as art and music, leads to an increase in overall knowledge and comprehension. Furthermore, it is vitally important to ensure that our students are instilled with a strong sense of creative thinking, that will better prepare them for careers that reward and embrace creativity, innovation, and change. ==

===Top 5 things I learned through my research: === ===Right brain and creative thinking instills a sense of intrinsic motivation within individuals. By capitalizing on personal interests and allowing individuals to explore their interests for the purpose of sheer enjoyment and satisfaction, people tend to perform at their full potential, while pushing the boundaries of their discipline. === ===Employers of top paying jobs such as, the people who hire engineers, consider problem solving and creative thinking equally as valuable as scientific and mathematical skills. Research has shown that the agricultural and industrial workforce that has sustained our country in the recent past, is a workforce that cannot sustain prosperity for future generations. There is a push for reintegration of creative disciplines in order to ensure our success as a country of innovators that can sustain the American economy as a global leader. ===

===Programs such as No Child Left Behind promoted a sense of urgency in education, in order to prepare our students to become global competitors in a world marketplace. In an attempt to increase performance in math, science, and literacy schools have reduced the amount of resources dedicated to the arts. The result of their actions led to a drop in overall test scores in these subjects. Recent study suggests that it is through a combination of right brain (arts) and left brain (science and math) thinking, students knowledge and understanding of core subjects will dramatically increase. ===

===Right brain thinking has been proven to increase math scores. Rather than provide students with rote approaches to solving math problems which exist in the left brain, providing creative opportunities to tackle math in a visual, spacial, and physical manner allows students to apply whole brain thinking which deepens their knowledge and understanding. ===

===In order for right brain teaching and thinking to be successful, teachers need to apply cross-disciplinary approaches as frequently as possible. ===

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This video from Sir Ken Robinson provides many examples of why creativity is important to teach in our schools. Ken discusses the archaic model of education that is currently in place, and how that model serves a purposed that is expired and outdated. He stresses the importance of re-prioritizing our educational objectives, while placing a heavy emphasis on the importance of creativity within the classroom. (5/5)

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This video clip is of Neil DeGrasse Tyson, explaining the importance of creativity and exploration in regards to the development of scientific and mathematics knowledge and skills. (5/5)

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If you can only watch one video, this should be the one. This video is of Daniel Pink making an appeal to the United States Senate, to reconsider the importance of right brain and creative thinking within American schools. He makes a well composed and highly effective argument for the increase in creativity within our schools. "We need to make sure that we are preparing them for their future, rather than our past", Daniel Pink (5/5)

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This video models the importance of creativity as a means to improve motivation and personal engagement in the workforce. It stresses the importance of fostering creativity in American schools, as a means to ensure the next generation of American workers as global competitors and innovators. (4/5)

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This video demonstrates not only the importance of education in America, but the importance of creativity within our educational system. It provides alarming statistics that provide a rationale for an increase of creative thinking within education. (3/5)

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This video displays how current school curriculum is undermining the importance of the arts within our schools. It claims that by placing greater importance on mathematics and literacy, schools covertly imply that the arts are of a lesser significance to society. This video then presents examples of how the arts contribute to the success of the core subjects. (3/5)

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #808080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">This radio segment on the aspects of creativity is extremely interesting. It stresses many facets of creativity including what it takes to actually be creative and innovative, as well as offering techniques on how to foster and hone creativity within students. This segment also provides examples on how to heighten student creativity a midst the many distractions of contemporary society such as video games, and internet usage. (4/5)

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #808080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">This slide show serves as a visual how-to guide on how to be a whole brain thinker. It offers instructions on how to incorporate right brain thinking into left brain mentality. (3/5)

=<span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: center;">Community Based Learning Project = =<span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: center;">Visit a student with an IEP in their home setting =

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">**Observation:** The Brown family was kind enough to invite me into their home for an interview and an observation of Stevie. Stevie is an energetic third grader who enjoys all the things that typical third grade boys enjoy however, Stevie is on an IEP that stems from his diagnosis of ADHD. Stevie is on medication for his ADHD and sees his school speech therapist on a regular basis. When Stevie is not at school, he can be found riding his bike around his neighborhood, playing video games, or running around the yard with a stick kicking rocks. Stevie has an older sister in high school, a very popular cheerleader who excels at her academics. He lives with his sister, mother, and father, in a low income rental unit. His mother works as a dental assistant, while his father has seasonal employment in construction. During my time spent at the Brown home, I observed a very typical relationship between brother and sister. There was typical sibling rivalry throughout my visit, which took the form of Stevie seeking attention from his sister, who in turn scolded him for bothering her. I would consider the interaction between Stevie and his parents as stern. Stevie was highly engaged in his video games when I arrived, and when his parents asked him to get ready for bed (which was a routine of getting all his school supplies in order, changing his clothes, and brushing his teeth). When Stevie was asked to get ready, he began negotiating with his parents, for more time to play. His father denied his repeated requests which lasted through about five minutes of intense back and forth. After Stevie lost the battle and went off to bed, his father George and I talked. I asked George about any changes he makes with his parenting when interacting with Stevie. George informed me that Stevie’s behavior changes from day to day. Some days Stevie is attentive, respectful, and calm. Other days he is “Bouncing off the walls”. George noted that Stevie gets excessively compulsive about certain activities such as playing video games. When it comes time for Stevie to stop doing something he likes, there is a good chance he will become reluctant to stop, and begin negotiating for more time. George accredited a growing level of patience that he has had to develop when parenting Stevie, to help resolve such conflicts. In addition to his patience, George informed me that having a wide range of outlets for Stevie’s high energy, has made parenting Stevie a little easier. When I asked George what was working, he quickly replied the trampoline. George acquired a large trampoline which Stevie has taken a strong liking to. The trampoline has become a daily and routine aspect of Stevie’s life. George informs me that when Stevie comes home from school, he jumps on the trampoline for about an hour without stopping. When he is done, his energy level in the house is still high, but noticeably lower than before they had the trampoline. When I asked Gorge what was does not work with Stevie, he mentioned that Stevie does not take well to following direct orders. Rather than telling Stevie to take out the garbage, Stevie is motivated by the choice to take out the garbage. If Stevie knows there is a sleepover at a friend’s house, or extra time on the video games, he is much more motivated to be on better behavior.

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">**Reflection**: Stevie is a lucky kid who has a very caring family (aside from his sister) who seemed to be a really happy individual. His ADHD was apparent, as was his speech impediment. Aside from those two minor details, I would have taken Stevie as a normal third grade boy, with no outstanding qualities that advertise any differences. George seemed like a very caring and involved father but did not seem to know too much about his educational “disabilities”. George is so used to his sons ADHD that he does not seem to be conscious of many modifications that he makes for his son. I am glad that I had this opportunity to observe Stevie in his home setting with his family. They are very nice, warm people indeed.