What an interesting way to reflect on the course material by revisiting our first assignment! Looking at the Volkswagen advertisement, I see its purpose as selling a car to an average middle class, all-american family with the suburban house, stay-at-home mom, two kids and dog.  In line with the purpose, I see the intended audience as the average middle class family. Using the remote key to "lighten" up the car for Darth Vader is a clear indication that Volkswagen also is appealing to the "non-drivers" in the family. What better way to have your child rally for a 4 door sedan! I would think that the advertising team on this ad considered how children beg their parents for the minivan with the table in the middle and the high tech video system throughout. What car can complement the minivan for the family that may already have one? One with special Star Wars powers, perhaps? The mom's voice is probably not represented but does she really care? Is this ad about her? She probably already has her minivan or SUV so how can the dad's car be cool? How can he impress his mini Vader? The design is simple and completely relatable. The mom in the kitchen, the sister not home so the little brother can get in her room, the dog on the rug, the little boy playing Star Wars and "controlling" everything in his path. Every middle class (two parent) family can relate:)

Cited.org

I can see myself using Cited.org for the Rutgers Center for Literacy Development in many ways. First, it is an another excellent resource to share with the center members for up to date, evidence based strategies to improve literacy instruction in the classroom as well as move toward the integration of the Common Core.
Adding another vehicle for teachers to gain information can only strengthen everyone knowledge and the importance of the center. Secondly, I love the way it is broken down into resources for teachers, for administrators, and for professional development coordinators. This creates an easy path for me to follow when choosing and sharing appropriate resources.

This leads me to the next reason why Cited.org is such a great resource.  Since the literacy center is an "out of school" activity, members do not always have the time to devote to looking at and downloading the available resources. Some resources I chose for my toolkit are exactly focused on that.... how to infuse technology and online learning into their lives. Not only does Cited.org allow the access to excellent resources, the resources in reference are the ones that help you maximize online learning opportunities!  As a co-director of the center, I can only provide the platform for extended learning of its members and hope they take advantage of the available resources. Cited.org definitely helps!

Lastly, one of the main missions of the Rutgers Center for Literacy Development is to build capacity for ongoing learning in the schools. It is our goal to provide teacher leaders with research based resources to turnkey to colleagues by scaffolding the learning.  It is our intent for teacher leaders to lean on the center for resources and eventually be able to train on their own.  Cited.org's link for professional development coordinators fits perfectly with our goal. The resources there provide excellent ideas for teacher leaders when turn keying information and building capacity of literacy learning in their schools!

Learning Element

I created an online resource center for teachers. In essence, and for the purposes of this blog, I view it as on online "lesson plan"for members of the Rutgers Center for Literacy Development.

Teacher Resource:
The wiki I created is intended for K-8 literacy teachers, supervisors, administrators and building principals to continually learn about best practices in literacy instruction and how they relate to the newly adopted common core standards.

The focus is to stay abreast of evidence based research and how it can be applied to practical classroom learning opportunities. Learning is created through the scope of online tools such as downloadable resources, instructional videos,  discussion groups and links to literacy organizations.

Learning Level: K-8 literacy teachers, supervisors, administrators and building principals

Prior Knowledge: All members of the literacy center attend with some literacy knowledge already. The levels of knowledge vary greatly from novice teachers to Language Arts coordinators who have 30 + years experience.

Knowledge Objectives: The members of the literacy center gain deeper understanding of research based literacy instructional methods for their learning and ultimately increasing student achievement.

Knowledge Process: Through the wiki, members can communicate, collaborate, think critically and create learning opportunities through the various online tools.

Knowledge Outcomes: see objectives

"Ruff Bully"

SKI BUMS

Crop Exercises

This picture was taken last summer. I love the look on the look on the little girl's face as she lays on her dad's chest in the sunlight. She is showing a part sadness and part relief to be with her dad after not seeing him for three weeks. The first shop is slightly cropped to show the dad using a stuffed animal as his pillow. The dad is equally as sad/relieved. The close up of the little girl shows her vulnerability and sweetness. The last cropped shot, I wanted to focus on the dad's hand on the little girl's chin.  Cropping it this way enlarges the hand and conveys sensitivity between the two. 

Border Variations