Jan. 24, 2011

Today in class we reviewed the idea of having one topic per paragraph and learned the balance between personal anecdotes and inclusive detail. By reviewing an essay in class, we witnessed first hand how easily it is to get completely off topic. In any type of writing there should only be 1 TOPIC PER PARAGRAPH and the rest of the paragraph should support the main idea.

Semester 1 final 01/19/11 Cesar Bernal

     For many students, summer is fun and freedom. While more privileged students travel and visit museums, libraries and summer camps, many low income students are stuck at home and fall behind in their education during the three month break. Studies have shown that when students continue studying and learning during summer, they improve in reading, math, and science. Because of this, educational reformers, with the contribution of their community and philanthropies, have begun to establish summer enrichment programs where less- privileged students can increase the academic skills and knowledge while also having fun, a different model than traditional education and one that involves the idea of stealth learning (yes, we are bouncing a basketball, but we are also learning about physics!)

     I agree with Drehle's point of view because I come from a low income family, and I know how tough it was to start a new school year and hear other kids talk about how much fun their summers where. Growing up I didn't have options of what I wanted to do during my breaks from school. My options during my break usually involved me babysitting, wether it was staying home and watching my sister or going out and having her accompany me. I will admit to the fact that there was a Boys & Girls Club right down my street, but what good does that do if I'm always in a rush to get home just so I could watch over her. My childhood and upbringing was not the best, but it did get me where I am today.

     "The Summer Slide" ,as academics would call it, really does take a toll on kids, not just low income children either. Many kids that are privileged to participate in a summer enrichment program usually don't do it because the idea of "more learning" during break does not sound too appealing. On the other hand, low income children would love to have the opportunity to join an enrichment program, but cant due to the issue that their is no money or the lack of effort on the part of the parents.

     In this article, it mentions summer enrichment programs all over the country, that incorporate the idea of "Stealth Learning." Places such as Cincinnati, Houston, and Corbin Kentucky have enrichment programs that have statistically shown the improvement of the children attending these programs. Summer is thought to be a time to relax, but why not relax by reading a book instead of playing a video game? Sumer enrichment programs will help, but there should be more people committed to the idea of helping the children.

01/11/11 The Case Against Summer Vacation article review Cesar B. & Josh B

*During summer some kids fall behind n school due to lack of summer enrichment programs

*Summer enrichment programs have a technique called stealth leaning

*Every student looses a significant amount of information that they learned the previous year 

*There is organizations all over the country to help kids improve in school during summer.

"The Case Against Summer Vacation" mentions how students' progress throughout the year is lost during summer due to the fact that summer enrichment programs nearby are not good enough, or worse, there is none at all. Some summer programs that prove effective have their students improving test scores by a significant amount. There are ways to teach kids during summer without them noticing that they're actually learning, such techniques are called "stealth learning." Kids that do not attend any summer enrichment programs are shown to fall behind the kids who do attend. Sumer enrichment programs are to help, not to ruin the idea of summer for kids or anyone else.

January 10, 2011 Paragraph Review

Organizations want to put more money into extra school classes during the summer without making kids think that they're in school, but the only challenge is that there are inexperienced teachers in poorly managed schools.

01/06/11 Essay Review

*Karen West's Corbin Program builds on a theme each sumer

*The entire community of Corbin, Kentucky pitches in to help the kids

*Students practice etiquette at restaurants. Promote health and fitness on The Longest Day of Play (which is organized by Baptist Regional Medical Center). Learn conservation by the department of fish and wildlife. Go fishing, and by trying to win first prize the kids do stealthy math by weighing and measuring their catch.

*Students in the Corbin Program don't fall behind during summer, they move ahead.

*More than half of the participants improve by a full letter grade or more in reading and math.

The students in Karen West's Corbin Program promote health and fitness, practice etiquette, and strengthen their knowledge of math and reading by stealth learning provided by the help of all the contributors in the program; in the process the students do not fall behind and move ahead

Jan. 3, 2011 Reading Reflection

Does? Informs


These two paragraphs continue to talk about summer learning loss, but demonstrates summer enrichment programs that are taking effect, such as Fifth Quarters in Cincinnati and Corbin's Redhound Enrichment Program in Corbin Kentucky.


Pathos exist in the first paragraph when the writer saw a lot of eager and engaged kids, and enthusiastic teachers and volunteers.


Logos exist in both paragraphs when it mentions how much time the students are spending in the enrichment programs provided.