Thing 12

1. Two points I think are important are read before you write and be polite. So many times after I've read a news article and scroll down to the comments, the comments either have nothing to do with the article, or the commenter has not read the article thoroughly enough to say something intelligent. I resent this and see it as a waste of cyberspace. Also, politeness has all but been forgotten in cyberspace, not to mention the workplace. Please, let's try to remember our etiquette!

2. Choose at least five different Learn2Play blogs and make at least one comment to each.

on http://mrshilersbioblog.blogspot.com/ whoknows said...

I think using trading cards to learn TAKS concepts would be a really fun way for students to interact!

June 21, 2008 11:06 AM

on http://bjsbubbleblog.blogspot.com/ whoknows said...

This is a really eye-catching way to set up a writing assignment!

June 21, 2008 1:10 PM

on http://sbisdblogspot.blogspot.com/whoknows said...

I agree. This is a very helpful video but we all can't access it at school. :(

on http://technicolordaydreamer.blogspot.com/ whoknows said...

This is very helpful for me as well. It is a time-saver, isn't it?

June 21, 2008 11:18 AM

on http://mhammack.blogspot.com/whoknows said...

It was a bit confusing for me to begin at first as well, but I am hoping it will get easier! :)

June 21, 2008 11:22 AM

3. Find two blogs about a subject of personal interest (Google Blog Search!) or from the blogroll of any blogger you read. Comment on these two blogs that are not a part of the Learn2Play community. In your post about this Thing, explain what drew your attention to these blogs.

This blog drew my attention because it was a comment on genetic links to persons with autism, and genetics and disease is of interest to me.

who knows on http://www.autismvox.com/
Jun 21, 2008 at 2:29 pm

Although autism is neither wholly caused by genetic factors, I believe it would be beneficial to continue to pursue research into being able to find genetic markers for this.

This next blog really got my attention, especially as this 13 yr old boy's PTA thought this video about real-life bullying was "too graphic" to be shown. Please view it if you all are interested.

Fighting Back Against Bullying

June 19th, 2008 by Melissa Anelli

There’s a video going around today, and it’s one I think Harry would be proud of: a 13-year-old from Udall Road Middle School in West Islip, NY, is making an online stand against bullying. He made this video to show at his PTA meeting and was told it was too graphic. So he put it online.

We’re not talking about a shove in the hallway or some light freshman hazing: reports say this kid has been hit by a rock from school bullies. This is an often-overlooked ill, and I for one think this video shows that this child is more courageous than all those who pick on him put together. If his courage could manifest in muscles, they would be too frightened to go near him. Dumbledore’s Army supports you, Patrick Kohlmann.

1. who knows

   June 21st, 2008 at 1:53 pm

   I commend this boy for making public what many schools do not consider to be important.

   As a teacher and an aunt, I have seen much apathy on the part of schools to deal with this. Not enough monitoring of activities in the cafeteria and the playground contribute to instances of bullying.

   Also, it has been my observation that at times this behavior is considered to be “typical” of children and teens and thus nothing is done, especially with the more subtle bullying in which females engage.

   Once a bully always a bully - those children that bullied me when I was young are the same bosses and co-workers who exist by using intimidation and fear in the workplace.