The Life And Times Of James Joyce :: essays research papers

Life and Times of James Joyce James Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, whose psychological views opened up a whole New World to twentieth century writers. He is still known as one of the most influential writers not only in Ireland, but all throughout Ireland. Joyce was born in Dublin on February 2, 1882, into the care of his mother and father, both poverty-stricken. He attended only Jesuit-run schools, first the boarding school, Clongowes, then the day school, Belvedere, and finally the Royal University, which was better known as the University College (Litz 8). While he attended Belvedere he enjoyed writing essays, and won several awards for his phenomenal test scores. Even as a young man, Joyce was destined to be well known and famous for the rest of his life. But by the end of his university years he had rejected Catholicism in favor of literature (Litz 8). His love for writing just had to come first before anything else. After his years in the university he began experimenting with prostitutes and alcohol, and spent large amounts of money, which he claimed was to study medicine, but instead wasted it on sick pleasures in Paris. He returned shortly from Paris when his mother was diagnosed with cancer. (Litz 15). After his mother died, family life became even tougher for Joyce, he began to drink heavily. He made a little money reviewing books, teaching school, and singing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In February of 1904 he started writing a long fiction autobiography called Stephen Hero, which he could never find the time to finish or even begin again (Litz 8). In June 1904 he met Nora Barnacle, a chambermaid whose down-to-earth attitude welcomed him more so than any of the girls he met at the university did. They ran off to Europe together in October 1904. James and Nora ended up in Trieste and Pola, Austria, where they spoke Italian, and were desperately poor, so poverty-stricken that his brother, brother Stanislaus ended up paying a lot of their bills (Litz 8).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1909 and 1912, James visited Ireland, first trying to arrange publication of Dubliners. Between 1914 and 1920, Joyce's fortunes gradually improved as his writing gained attention and the wealthier readers began to turn their heads in his direction. But his big break which is an irony is when the banning of Ulysses (published 1922) occurred, and turned Joyce into a household name (Chace 25).

Enron-The Smartest Guys in the Room paper Essay

Answer the following questions based on the film Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005). 1. (a) Describe the ownership structure at Enron. (b) How did the ownership structure contribute to the Enron scandal? (15 points) When Enron became a publicly traded company, the employees and executives had more incentive to manipulate earnings and financials. With the shift in structure, there were more external stakeholders to satisfy, which caused the company to focus on short-term results, rather than long-term interests. The company went as far as to trade all sorts of things, including weather and broadband, in order to gain support from investors. Enron got a lot of that support. Investment banks put about $25 million each into the company. With high stakes and image on the line, Enron manipulated earnings to drive stock prices up through mark-to-market accounting to please its stakeholders. 2.(a) Describe the following three leaders: Ken Lay, Jeff Skilling, and Andy Fastow. (b) How did EACH leader contribute to the scandal? (20 points) Ken Lay was a very ambitious man. He was the son of a poor Baptist preacher. Because of Lay’s humble roots, Lay worked several jobs as a kid. He always dreamed about being a businessman one day and making huge wealth for himself. Lay believed he could have a better life with more wealth. He also believed in government deregulation. Lay had a PhD in economics. He aggressively pushed for deregulation of energy markets in Washington. His goal was to liberate businessmen from government’s hold. He took advantage of government letting energy prices float with the market, and started Enron Corporation through a few mergers. Jeffrey Skilling, former CEO of Enron, was said to be â€Å"incandescently brilliant† by many at Enron. In reality, he was a risky, danger-seeking gambler. Skilling had a Darwinian view and strongly beli eved in the idea of â€Å"survival of the fittest†. He implemented a group called the Performance Review Committee. The committee was involved in the â€Å"rank and yank† system, in which the bottom 15 percent of the company got fired each year. This ultimately led to numerous unethical actions and turning a blind eye to fraud because of employees’ determination for job  security. Skilling was a former nerd, and went on to change himself. He was very admired at Enron. When he got Lasik surgery, everyone else did too. Skilling was responsible for making energy into a tradable entity and for his advocacy of mark-to-market accounting, which was the main tool for Enron’s earnings manipulation. Fastow was a very greedy man. He served as CFO of Enron. He was responsible for running numerous companies that partnered with Enron. He mainly worked to cover up the financial fantasy land that Lay and Skilling had created. He was hired before age 30 by Skilling to join Enron. He always idolized Skilling and wanted to please him. He ended up hiding about $30 billion in debt through his companies. In addition, he skimmed off many of the deals he made, using Enron stocks as collateral. Fastow did not have a strong moral compass, and would play to the greed of the investment banks. He would offer investment banks accounts for their silence. One analyst, John Olsen, star ted to question the firm, and weeks later, was fired by the investment bank because Fastow paid off the bank with big Enron accounts. 3.(a) Describe the organizational culture at Enron. (b) How did the organizational culture contribute to the Enron scandal? (15 points) The culture at Enron was very cut-throat and filled with greed. Money drove the company and its employees. In fact, even the elevators had displays of the stock prices. The company was overtaken by hubris as well. Everyone was on the bandwagon—the accounting firm, investors, executives, and employees. The entire company thought it was changing the world. Everyone was blinded by arrogance, greed, and money. Enron was always portrayed as a super power in the market. It was said that is someone wanted to be part of the market, they had to go through Enron. In addition, many employees, including Skilling, were former nerds and had something to prove. There was a very macho culture at Enron. Skilling would organize dangerous, macho trips for employees and big clients. The stories from these adventures became legend. One man almost died from a flipp ed Jeep. Stories like that were legendary in the office. The culture ultimately led Enron to scandal because of the ideas it had put into people’s heads—that money drove everything and cash was king. 4.(a) Describe the performance management/reward system at Enron. (b) How did the performance   management/reward system contribute to the Enron scandal? (20 points) The reward systems were big. The executives and employees were all fans of the â€Å"pump and dump† system in which the employees drove the stock prices up, and would them sell the stocks off. The company was consumed by stock prices, as stocks were a large part of the compensation structure at Enron. Even the elevators had stock prices posted, so people could be reminded daily that there was more money to be made. The cash bonuses were extravagant too. In fact, a 25-year-old made a $5 million bonus. Executives were given multi million dollar bonuses. In addition, to prevent anyone from raising any flags, Enron played on the greed of the outside accounting firm, Arthur Anderson, as well as law firms. In fact, in 2001, Arthur Anderson got $1 million a week to keep things quiet and go along with everything. The la w firm was paid off handsomely as well. Analysts at investment banks would never really look into things because of greed as well. Because of all the bonuses, outsiders turned a blind eye, as did employees, which ultimately gave way to the scandal that ensued. 5.(a) Describe the regulatory/oversight weaknesses for Enron. (b) How did the regulatory/oversight weaknesses contribute to the Enron scandal? (15 points) Enron sought to take advantage of the low level of government regulation and the hyper capitalism created by the reigning consumer culture of the time. The company was run by a group of intelligent individuals who recognized they could take advantage of the government failure of low regulation. Early on while working for Enron, Lay founded many friends within Congress, including the friendship of George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. The government helped in pork barrel legislation for the company, granting it even more power. In addition, Bush senior helped secure millions of subsidies for Enron and helped promote Ken Lay as ambassador of deregulation at large. In addition, even energy-specific regulators turned a blind eye. Pat Wood, chair of FERC, was recommended by Lay as chair, and would work with Enron in lack of government in tervention. Even the power plants in California were working with Enron at one point. Enron could call someone at a power plant and cause rolling blackouts in parts of California,  driving energy prices up. With support from the government and very low regulation and intervention, Enron had a clean path to scandal. 6.Describe three (3) specific ways, which are directly related to the above factors, that Enron-like scandals could be prevented in the future. (15 points) 1. Publically-traded companies should have a strong board of directors that oversees the company and does not have investment in the company. Greed drove Enron to do what it did, but a board of directors who has no stake in the company would be more objective and ethical in decision-making for the company. 2. There should be less compensation tied to stock performance, as that was a large incentive for fraud at Enron. People’s earnings were tied too closely to stock. 3. Analysts should be help more responsible for their actions. The investment banks they worked for got sued, but who’s to say the analysts who turned a blind eye ever got punished? They made the banks lots of money, so they probably kept their jobs and got a slap on the wrist. More consequence in the public eye would deter these actions in the future.

University of Illinois at Chicago Acceptance Rate, SAT/ACT Scores, GPA

The University of Illinois at Chicago is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 76%. UIC is the largest university in the Chicago area by enrollment. The school has 16 colleges and offers 86 undergraduate degree programs. Considering applying to UIC? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students. Acceptance Rate During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, University of Illinois at Chicago had an acceptance rate of 76%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 76 students were admitted, making UICs admissions process somewhat competitive. Admissions Statistics (2017-18) Number of Applicants 21,106 Percent Admitted 76% Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 26% SAT Scores and Requirements University of Illinois at Chicago requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 76% of admitted students submitted SAT scores. SAT Range (Admitted Students) Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile ERW 510 610 Math 510 610 ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing This admissions data tells us that most of UICs admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to University of Illinois at Chicago scored between 510 and 610, while 25% scored below 510 and 25% scored above 610. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 510 and 610, while 25% scored below 510 and 25% scored above 610. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1220 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at University of Illinois at Chicago. Note that these scores vary for the different schools and colleges at UIC. The School of Engineering is the most selective with the middle 50% of students scoring between 1250 and 1430 on the SAT. Requirements UIC does not require the optional SAT writing exam or SAT Subject tests. Note that University of Illinois at Chicago does not provide information about their superscore policy. ACT Scores and Requirements UIC requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 41% of admitted students submitted ACT scores. ACT Range (Admitted Students) Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile English 21 27 Math 20 27 Composite 21 27 This admissions data tells us that most of University of Illinois at Chicagos admitted students fall within the top 42% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to UIC received a composite ACT score between 21 and 27, while 25% scored above 27 and 25% scored below 21. Note that some programs at UIC are more selective. The College of Engineering is particularly selective with the middle 50% of students scoring between 26 and 31 on the ACT. Requirements The University of Illinois at  Chicago  does not require the optional ACT essay, and scores on the essay will not be used for admission purposes. UIC does not provide information about their superscore policy. GPA In 2018, the average high school GPA of University of Illinois at Chicagos incoming freshmen class was 3.35. This data suggests that most successful applicants to University of Illinois at Chicago have primarily B grades. Note that students accepted to the College of Engineering tend to have GPAs between 3.5 and 3.9, the equivalent of an A/B average. Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph University of Illinois at Chicago Applicants Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph. Data courtesy of Cappex. The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to University of Illinois at Chicago. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in  with a free Cappex account. Admissions Chances University of Illinois at Chicago, which accepts over three-quarters of applicants, has somewhat selective admissions. If your SAT/ACT scores and GPA fall within the schools average ranges, you have a strong chance of being accepted. Keep in mind, however, that UIC has  a holistic admissions process that involves other factors beyond your grades and test scores. A  strong application essay and glowing optional letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities  and a rigorous course schedule, Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their test scores and grades are outside of UICs average range. ï » ¿In the scattergram above, the blue and green represent accepted students, and most had a high school average of B or higher, an ACT composite score of 19 or higher, and a combined SAT score (ERWM) of above about 1000. Higher numbers increase your chances at UIC significantly. If You Like UIC, You May Also Like These Schools University of ChicagoIllinois State UniversityUniversity of Wisconsin - MadisonMichigan State UniversityNorthwestern UniversityLoyola University ChicagoMarquette University All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and University of Illinois at Chicago Undergraduate Admissions Office.

Evolution of the Hominids - 1290 Words

Modern humans are the only remaining species of the hominids, a branch of great apes which characterized by posture, dexterity, sociality and uses tools which trend towards larger and more complex brains. Early hominids, for example the australopithecines had more apelike brains and skulls, are less often thought to as human than hominids of the genus of Homo. Homo heidelbergensis are considered to be the most likely to form the line of ancestry of modern humans. Homo sapiens began to reach their modernity about 200,000 years ago. They began to exhibit behavioral towards modern era around 50,000 years ago. Humans have become the most cosmopolitan species at the earth that established their populations on all parts of earth except the smallest, driest, and coldest lands. They also permanently manned spaces in Antarctica, on area offshore platforms, and also orbiting the earth. Humans are distinguished by their relatively larger brain with its, prefrontal cortex and temporal lobes, which enable high levels of reasoning, language, problem solving, and culture through social learning. Human uses tools to a much higher degree of complexity than any other animal, and are the only known species to build fires and cook their food, as well as using cloths and also creating numerous other technologies and arts. Humans are also uniquely adept in utilizing systems of symbolic communication, such as language and art which they used for self-expression, exchanging ideas, andShow MoreRelatedHominid Evolution2435 Words   |  10 PagesHominid Evolution The evolution of hominids has been and still is a heated topic of debate. Many scientists debate over which species can be classified as â€Å"human†. The root hominid refers to members of the family of humans, Hominidae, which consists of all species on our side of the last common ancestor of humans and living apes. The time split between humans and living apes used to be thought of fifteen to twenty millions of years ago, but now the time period has shifted to around fiveRead MoreThe History of Hominid Evolution Essay1049 Words   |  5 PagesWhat evidence shows the changing from the early hominids to the modern humans? Throughout the human evolution body parts like legs and harms have changed for the better. By the early hominids being biped, meaning they are able to stand and even walk on two feet, it helped them to be able to do more things like getting around more and help with their tool making and hunting. A lot of the fossils discovered were found in the Great Rift Valley in East Africa, which contained many different lakesRead MoreBipedalism : What Is That All About?1114 Words   |  5 Pages Bipedalism: What is that all about? The issue at hand in these articles is the evidence for the development of bipedalism in hominids. Bipedalism seems to be one of the most important factors in the evolution of mankind and therefore the surrounding debate is rife with various hypotheses as to the background of this development in hominid evolutionary history. Although each of the three articles reviewed in this essay make different arguments, each seem to be cogent in their own way and do seemRead MoreThe Evolution of Man1269 Words   |  6 PagesThe Evolution of man Describe the evolution of man Georgina Taylor 10/10/2012 Word count: 1141 â€Æ' The Evolution of Man The greatest mysteries of science, a subject which intrigues us all is how exactly the human species evolved. Evolution is the sequential process of change over periods of time which shape and establish the formation of modern man. 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This change from quadrupedalism was the most significant adaptation that ever happened to these early hominids. It caused many adaptations that make man what he is today. This process occurred in early hominids for many different reasons, each reason helping toRead MoreThe Anatomy of Homo Sapiens is Unique1170 Words   |  5 Pagesother species is the utilization of bipedal locomotion. Humans have established a unique way of moving from one location to another that is due to the evolution numerous anatomical developments over millions of years. Hominid bipedalism has evolved as a product of natural selection, a theory coined by Charles Darwin in 1859. This theory of evolution through the process of natural selection explains that some organisms are more reproductively fit than others. Therefore, these organisms are able toRead MoreThe Evolution Of Human Speech1392 Words   |  6 PagesThe Evolution of Human Speech As human we can communicate via our speaking ability to express our feelings, as a way to deliver the message we want another. These articles that I read discuss the anatomical prerequisite for humans to gain the ability to speak such as the absent and present of the air sac in hominids. Morphological changes of the face structure such as the reduced growth of the palate and the descent of the larynx. The controversial hypotheses of the hypoglossal canal size are indicativeRead MoreThe Role Of Physical Anthropology On Human Evolution843 Words   |  4 PagesHow have they become so advanced, when compared to that of similar species? Many have sought to find out the answer, and have found some clues that can be quite interesting. The best way to answer these questions is through the idea of evolution. Evolution, from a biological perspective, is the belief that changes within species takes place over a period of time, but that those species can be tied to a common ancestor. (Park, 2011) Through physical anthropology this idea can be supported. ThereRead MoreCreation Myths And Its Impact On Society1188 Words   |  5 Pagesacross the world, we must first understand what hominids came before it and their contribution to the evolution of the Homo sapiens. First we have the Australopithecus â€Å"southern apelike creature of Africa† which had no language and was certainly not as intelligent as the hominids that proceeded it. Next we have the Homo habilis who was instrumental in the art of tool making. Following the Home habilis was the Homo erectus, which was the first hominid to be in the upright walking position scientifically

Depression The Fastest Growing Psychological Disorder

Depression is one of the fastest growing psychological disorder. It affects a major part of the world population. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), depression is defined as a condition in which a person feels discouraged, hopeless, unmotivated or disinterested in life in general. There are two types of depression namely Major Depression and PDD (Persistent depressive disorder) (America). A major depressive episode involves an interference with the ability to work, play, eat or sleep. Also, a major depressive episode will have five symptoms namely persistent anxiety or sadness, feelings of guilt or helplessness, loss of appetite and thoughts of death and suicide etc. Some of the causes may be the death of a loved one, a romantic breakup and a medical illness etc. On the other hand, PDD is less severe than major depression but involves a lot of the same symptoms such as low energy, poor appetite, and overeating etc. According to the ADAA, the differ ence between major depression and PDD is that a person with major depression sees life as worthless and may try to end it. Whereas, a person suffering from PDD will see life as a half empty. According to the DBSA, roughly 14.8 million American adults are affected by major depressive disorder (Alliance). Some more statistics include the median age of onset is 32 and that it is prevalent more in women compared to men. 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About 2.7 million women in the United States abuse drugs or alcohol. Women typically enter rehab sooner than men, but they have more psychological distress, and are more likely to suffer from a mood or anxiety disorder (Liff, 2012). Most research on gender-based differences in addiction treatment has focused on organizational issues (suchRead MoreEating Disorders Destroy Lives Essay777 Words   |  4 PagesTitle Eating Disorder – a combination of 14 letters that has the power to rock the life of the person who has it. Some of the most common eating conditions are anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder. According to the LA Times, â€Å"In 2009 the government published data that showed that kids under 12 were the fastest-growing population of patients hospitalized for eating disorders.† Not only are eating disorders becoming more popular and not in a positive way, but also the teens who have themRead MoreThe Psychology Of The Geriatric Population864 Words   |  4 Pagespopulation is the fastest growing population in the world; in fact, the current number of seniors in the U.S. exceeds 40 million. As people live longer, the elderly population is expected to reach 72 million by 2030. Medical professionals receive very little training when it comes to the mental health of seniors, which is concerning since the age group with the highest rate of suicide is the geriatric popu lation. Caregivers and medical professionals know the signs that indicate depression. 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Chronic activation of a child’s stress response system affects neurochemical dysregulation, contributing to dissociation and depression.          The brain develops in a sequential manner, starting with the brainstem, growing upwards and outwards towardsRead MoreEssay about Does Social Isolation Adversely Affect Health1168 Words   |  5 Pagespatterns. The first adverse effect of social isolation on human being is on physical health. House et al 1988 found and described by Cacioppo and Hawkley 2003 that â€Å"the consequence of social isolation are particularly strong among some of the fastest growing segments of the population: the elderly, the poor and minorities such as African Americans†. Cacioppo and Hawkley 2003 explained the relationship between social isolation and physical health condition. According to them socially active and connected

Open Eyes and Wonder free essay sample

I stepped out of the gray colored elevator into the hall. In front of me stood a golden, oak-colored wall that said â€Å"Maternity†. Walking to my right, I pushed a calling bell that had a camera attached. When I informed the receptionist who I was, the doors unlocked and I pushed open the entrance to the day that changed my life. I stepped in and a green carpet with black speckles welcomed me. The walls were the color of oatmeal; the lobby smelled like witch hazel solution and diapers. After I walked through the halls for about half a minute, I found the secretary at the reception desk and informed her that it was my last day of volunteering at the hospital that summer. She spoke words of sorrow and repeatedly said that she would miss me terribly. I shared with her my feeling of not wanting to leave the hospital, and proceeded to my daily duties for the last time. We will write a custom essay sample on Open Eyes and Wonder or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Throughout that summer, the nursery had always been a sacred sanctuary for me. It had comforted me during some of the worst moments of my life. I had experienced three deaths through the course of those two months, so seeing the miracle of life happen in front of my eyes everyday had often left me in awe. When pondering upon this fact, I was called into the nursery to assist a nurse. I handed her some papers and arranged some mustard-colored binders for the new patients because it had been a busy day. There were about ten babies born within four hours; two of them were twins, and the nurses were running a marathon to finish all the work ahead of them. As I turned around after putting away the binders, I noticed one of the twins: twin B. Since it had only been about an hour after his birth, he had not even opened its eyes yet. He was about a foot and a half in length, cream in color with a head full of black hair. Suddenly, there was a slight twitch in his eyelids. His eyeballs moved . The miniature eyelashes fanned, possibly creating the slightest wave of wind possible. His blood-red lips quivered. Slowly, he opened his pale eyes: inside were two perfectly round blue balls staring at me with wonder. A subtle smile appeared on his cherry-red lips that seemed to say â€Å"I like this place so far.† These few seconds sent a comforting wind through me that blew away my past and put a clear future ahead of me. My future, I realized, was determined then. I finally understood my calling. I was destined to work in that environment where each day creates a sense of new life within me. The atmosphere does not call for the same repetitive tasks that await me each day, rather a new person, a new life, and a new story. I was meant to be a nurse practitioner surrounded by these true joys of life. What more could I ask for than to help people make the most brilliant of memories? My patients trust me to shape the most personal aspects of their lives. How could I ever be more honored? How could I ever be of more help to anyone if not by making that day the most special of all days? I walked out that day leaving behind the pain of the summer, but ever so tightly holding onto the treasured lessons I learned from the experiences. Sharing those few precious moments with my twin B enabled me to realize my passion for working with children. When I stepped into the car at 2:30 p.m. that day, I was certain t hat I wanted to repeat that same delicate moment I had with that cream-colored twin many more times. The story simply cannot end with that single occurrence because; how wonderful it is to share the very first moments of a newborn’s life.

Observing math instruction free essay sample

In every aspect of life there is a need for some kind of standard, in mathematic instruction there are two aspects of these standards, processing and constructivism. Standards are an example of what learning should occur in students. Standards are important because it gives schools and districts a goal. By incorporating standards it allows everyone involved to be aware of what needs to happen, what the teacher will teach, what the student will learn and any assessments that will be done (great schools). In my opinion standards can improve student achievement because students and parents know what information they have to learn and they can better prepare themselves. Most people like having a pattern or guide of some sort to follow because it takes the guess work out. With such good guide lines in place some people still use traditional math instruction verses constructivist programs. With tradition al instruction the teacher provides the information and is the main authoritative figure, they usually disseminate their knowledge. We will write a custom essay sample on Observing math instruction or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The students react directly to the teacher’s instruction, and the classroom atmosphere is very passive. Students are not expected to rely on prior knowledge or background for learning experience. The lessons are usually revolved around a textbook and the assessments are usually formal and informal tests. On the other hand constructivist programs are based on theory. Constructivist teachers interact with their students, promote the construction of their own learning, allow students to have points of view and encourage participation in classroom activities. The students are usually active and work in groups. Constructivism focuses on problem solving, and the application of knowledge. Finally in a constructivist setting there is the use of such tools as running records, observations and portfolios when the student is being assesses because these tools capture knowledge and comprehension of concepts (Mazarro 2009). During recent observation of a math class in an elementary school the opportunity was permitted to see if and how certain math standards were being used in the classroom. The objective of this lesson was students will be able to improve their critical thinking skill by practicing solving problems. This particular teacher was using mathematical processes. In this particular standard the student focuses on problem solving, reasoning, and proof of. This particular teacher had already pre-assigned her students with partners to work with. This evidentially was done in the very beginning of the school year so all the students were familiar with their partners. The teacher presented the students with several sceneries and the students had to develop questions that could be used. She reminded the students they should focus on what the question is asking. There were several little games already in place for problem solving strategies. One of the questions was packing for camp, what things would one need to bring. The students worked with their partner and came up with different questions. The teacher was practicing constructive response. She used pictures, and drew something that resembled a T, this tool allowed the students to visualize the questions she was asking. The question was how many ways can 36 tiles are drawn? The students seem to enjoy the exercise, and the partners they had chosen were actively engaging in exchange of ideas. The teacher had a few students in her class that were Spanish speaking, there were no special education students, disabled students. For the Spanish students there was a paraprofessional that translated and helped the Spanish students to understand the questions being asked. When the teacher was asked about differentiation she stated â€Å"they have been here for a while and they comprehend pretty well with the paraprofessional giving them assistance†. She also explained that sometimes there are special education students in the class but the same procedure takes place with the paraprofessional. As far as this lesson goes the results and expected outcomes were pretty clear. The questions were everyday questions that any of the students could identify with regardless of background or culture. There was no need to make any changes and in my opinion I would not have done anything different. I have often been surprised when doing my practicum at this particular school because there is so little technology available to students. The teacher did however use an overhead board that had some technological tools. The students would go up to this particular board and click on what they wanted to use and then preceded to write whatever their question was. This particular assignment was more or less thinking skills so the use of technology was not necessarily needed. The teacher had different little rhymes she would use to jog the students memory. She allowed time for each question to be answered and when the class was over the students didn’t appear to be as though they were rushed. The assessment of the learning was through group activity so it was based on constructivism. The students were also given test prep questions as homework. The class was mostly based on allowing students to process information and practice problem solving. The best way to describe the assessment was observations. I did notice the teacher kept some type of record of student activity. The opportunity was not awarded to investigate this record. After the lesson and the practicum experience it has become very clear that the use of standards are a very important aspect of education. Standards are the baseline for most things we do in life. The math standards are clear and concise, so the use of these standards has become practical and easy for most teachers to use. The use of standards can make teaching a better experience on my opinion. According to several statistics noted student achievement has greatly improved, but the use of these standards is slow to catch on. The reasoning for this is many teachers have been in the system for a while and are not as open to using updated information. As more new teachers are put into the system the use of these standards will take precedence