The Power of Introverts

I want to write about introverts because in our society, we introverts tend to be forgotten or ignored. Here is the link on the power of introverts: . I am pride to be an introvert. It's who I am. Let's discover more about introverts. Here is a list was inspired by the book The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World by Marti Laney:

Top ten myths about introverts

Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk.This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.

My response: Yes, it's so true. I don't like small talk. Though, I do use small talk to warm up the conversation and the information I gather helps me with to continue the conversation. I just don't like small talk with random people.

Myth #2 – Introverts are shy. Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.

My response: I am shy only in certain situations where I'm not familar with the crowd. I tend to suffer a mild case of social anxiety. When you see me in a large crowd, I would find people I know or they seem familiar and just listen. Yes, I need a reason to interact with others. If there is a topic I really know about, I would start talking.

Myth #3 – Introverts are rude. Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.

My response: Yes, I crave authencity and honesty. It's very exhausting to hang out with fake people who just interact for the sake of interacting and just talk non-sense.

Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people. On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.

My response: I love people. It's just that I prefer to spend time with family and friends individually or in small groups. I'm at my best for interaction in one to one. I've been told that I talk too much. Hey, when I am talking about something I know and care about, I can talk for hours. Not many people get the joy to hear me talk for that long. Yes, I am very loyal to the few close friends I have. However, I do have a lot of friends.

Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public. Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.

My response: So true! I love to go home and process whatever experiences that just happened. Like tonight, when I went to the Davis Graveyard with a crowd of people. It took about 45 minutes of my time. I'm home now and I just processed my experience and put it in my memory bank. I love to go out in public to experience new things so I have something to think and process about. With Gardiner's Multiple Intelligences, I have a strong intrapersonal intelligence.

Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone. Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.

My response: This explanation is so true! I don't mind to be alone to think, daydream or whatever. However, I do love to share my discoveries with a dear friend. It's part of my process. Earlier tonight, my friend Tammy called me and I shared a lot on how I am doing in grad school and what discoveries I picked up from life and my readings. My close friends have picked up when I get so excited, I can get loud.

Myth #7 – Introverts are weird. Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.

My response: Yeah, that's me. Though, when I was younger, there were pressures to follow popular beliefs and trying to fit in. That was a normal part of adolecense. Though, even as a teen, I did continue to follow to my own drum. I didn't go into dating just because many of my peers did. Actually that's so true in my 20s. I'm comfortable being single and just live my life. Who knows? Maybe in the future, someone may come my way and he would value my introvert side which I would love. Right now, I am living an enrich life with my own projects and spending time with family and friends. I don't need anymore than that.

Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds. Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.

My response: That is true to a point. But I love people watching and making up my own stories. I do secretly desire to become a writer so I keep my observational skills sharp by paying attention around me when I'm out in public.

Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun. Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.

My response: When I relax at home or in nature, I recharge so when I'm in public, I can interact with people with the energy I need. That's so true about too much talk and noise. I do shut down and I would lose my focus in whatever task I'm doing. I don't like loud chaos situations. However, I've been working on dealing with that because truthfully, we live in an extrovert world where their strengths are valued.

Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts. Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ. A world without Introverts would be a world with few scientists, musicians, artists, poets, filmmakers, doctors, mathematicians, writers, and philosophers.

My response: In the past, there were people who wanted to change me. They said I need to be more outgoing and join in random conversations in group settings. That was so much pressure. I've been told that the teaching profession isn't for me if I can't be an extrovert. That is so untrue. I tend to show my extrovert side when I'm around children. However, I do have my introvert moments with them and this encourages the children who are naturally introverted too. It's when I entered adulthood was when I appreciate who I am. I am a pride introvert.

Source: http://www.carlkingdom.com/10-myths-about-introverts

Marylhurst University's First TV Commercial Shoot

Today, it was Marylhurst University's first tv commercial shoot. This commercial is produced by NXNW Production (from WA). (Yesterday, I went on campus to sign up for this commercial and met one of the producers named Matt.) Anyways, I showed about noon at the B.P. John's Administration building's lobby to meet up with everyone. I was put into place toward the back on the left side (on the right side from the camera's angle). We went up the stairs lip syncing to a line from a song created by one of the production staff. The music came from the Notre Dame fight song, I believe but it's in public domain so they got to use it. We did a lot of retakes, wait time, and repositioning. All the moving with so many people on the stairs and the bright light behind us, it was so hot. Good thing the windows were propped opened so while we waited, we had some cool breeze come our way.

I got to know some of the people around me. I met a couple Marylhurst students from other majors. However, there are a few people in the commercial is connected to the production team and their family and friends. Anyhow, the majority of the people in this 30 seconds commercial that are actual Marylhurst University students. After this experience, I kind of understand what's its like to be a Hollywood actor on camera and waiting between takes. It was so fun. After the shooting was done, we had lunch in the old library. I left after lunch. By the way, the next shot was at the old library. I can't wait to see the final product. Right now the team will be in post production and in about a few weeks, the commercial should be aired on tv. I will post a link of this commercial when it comes out.

I never done this before to be part of a commercial. One goal for my life is to do crazy or fun things. Once I was part of the youth event at Beaverton Nike campus back in high school. This event was shot and it ran on PBS. I watched it years ago and I thought I saw my legs and my umbrella when we went up the bus.

Stay tune for the first Marylhurst University commercial......

Observation

On Monday, I visited my classmate in her practicum classroom, K-1 setting. The student profiles are short narratives of what I learned about the students from my observations of them. It's so late. I need to go to bed soon. I've been having problems falling asleep at night. I will update this entry after my visit.

I had a chance to visit Bolton Primary School. It's is a small school with excellent resources; it's amazing place to learn even in a public school setting. It must be nice to be located in a middle-class neighborhood. I learned that they support the whole child philosophy. The school believe in risk-taking. They do teach about what is safe play. Though, when I observed during morning and lunch recess, some of the kids are doing things that are considered unsafe in some other public schools. For example, I saw a boy climbing over a fence (low) which divided the black top area from the natural play area. They have two cool club houses that many of the kids seemed to enjoy. They have the whole playground and the garden to run around in.

Benefits of Multilingualism

Last night, I learned a lot in my elementary ESOL Methods class. If a young student are placed in English only classroom, it would take that student about 10 years to master academic English (the kind of English used for college and many professional careers such as being a doctor or a lawyer). This previous statement is so true because I was one of those students who was in an English only classroom in my early educational years. I did get reading support in my primary years but it doesn't help me understand the English language and how to write academic English correctly. I have had grammar lessons in grade school but I was treated like a native-language learner. However, there are some differences between the Chinese and the English language. If I could understand my native language structures vs. the English language structure, I would have master the English language quickly in a few short years. If I was supported in learning my native language and be part of a balanced bilingual program, I would be biliterate and that would be a wonderful asset for employers and our American society.If a young student had some ESL support, it would take that student about 5 to 7 years to master academic English. Even this is better than English only classrooms. It took me years to be able to write English correctly. However, there are some English grammar that I still struggle with.

In one of the in-class assignments, we paired off to work on reading an article and creating a big graphic organizer of information of summarizing the article's information. My partner and I had the article called "Bilingual Education in Texas: Lighting the Path, Leading the Way" by Josefina Tinajero from the Language Learner magazine (November/December 2005 issue). After we read the article, we had three points on our web-like graphic organizer and the supportive reasons behind it. We called our graph Texas Found A Solution. Here are our points:

1. There are many bilingual programs in Texas that are successful. But funding and high stake testing has been a problem for those programs to continue. Many of these bilingual programs are becoming more about rushing the ELL students to gain English proficiency before they are ready and not fully supporting the native language anymore. These unbalanced bilingual programs are using the native language to learn English than rush them to English only instruction. When this happens, ELL students would struggle in learning content that is needed to be successful in higher education and beyond. Ms. Tinajero reported that "the high stakes that NCLB (No Child Left Behind act) attaches to English language learners' scores on English language achievement tests are damaging to bilingual programs."

2. A true bilingual program supports both the native and the English language development. The benefits of bilingual education are:

*Students acquire at least as much English as those in all-English immersion programs and usually acquire more.

*That learning to read in the primary language is a shortcut to learning to read in English.

*Students consistently outperform those in all-English alternatives on test of English reading.

*It has a positive effect on English language development.

3. Studies have shown that non-native English speaking students can read and speak English fluently at a faster rate if they are enrolled in a balanced bilingual program. When native-speakers learn concepts in their language, they can transfer that knowledge to learn in English. Back in 2002, President Bush spent $1.8 million dollars of tax money to research the outcomes of bilingual programs through the National Literacy Panel. They had found that bilingual education actually works to help ESL students to learn English faster. This report has been blocked from being published to the public by Bush's Department of Education because of the influences of the conservative right and the English Only movement.

What can we do to support bilingual education? Teachers and all interested parties such as parents and friends must be an advocate to our English Language Learners. There are other ways to support our ELLS but you would have to read the article.

Another group read an article about multilingualism. Here are what they found about the benefits of multilingualism:

*Strong sense of identity

*More flexible thinking

*Deep concepts transfer

*Acceptance and validation of the whole child/person

*Greater connectivity through diverse language skills

*Maintaining emotional connections with family and community

Tribes Summary

I'm doing well. It was a smart move for me to do grad school as a half-time student. Now I don't have so much pressure. I have time to reflect on my learning and learn new and old concepts with my peers. I am learning a lot. I find myself this term to use a couple strategies I learned from the Positive Classroom class at my after school program job. In this course, we are learning about the TRIBES system; my instructor is actually a Tribes TLC trainer. She even put the Tribes method on us with opening and closing community circle. I belong to two tribes, one is my main tribe (called OmegaDuckStars)where we work on in-class assignments and the other (Fantastic Others) is for a specialized project on creating a learning center about a classroom management style.

But at the elementary level, you don't put groups into tribes right away. First you need to know your students and put them through different grouping strategies. The Tribes usually get formed in the middle of the school year. The Tribes are small groups of students (~3-6 depending on grade level) who stay together for a long time to work and learn together for big projects. They sit together in clusters. Though, during reading and math instruction, there will always be flexible grouping or individual student work depending on learning needs and skills. Basically, Tribes promote community and every child will feel inclusion. They know they can trust someone to help them out. It's a great classroom management method because it encourages autonomy and cooperation. When implemented currently, the teacher doesn't need to manage as much. Basically, the system builds self-management, social, and group skills. (Of course, you would need to teach social skills at the forefront to get there.) The students learn more and are happier in the classroom. Many shy or special needs or behavioral students flourish. When students feel safe and included, there are less behavioral issues. Though, the Tribes method isn't 100% effective so there would be a few students who doesn't respond to this. Even then, you can still modify it for them so they can still be part of the classroom community.

This year I'm still working with the first graders after school. Wednesdays are my largest group days which is 25 kids. This year's first grade group is large and they come from three different first grade classrooms. However, my boss is in the process in hiring a new person who will take over the K-1 group. The kindergarten group has also grown. We have at least 40 or more kids between the K-1 on our busiest days (Tues-Thurs). I can't wait for a new person to come in and create a blended K-1 group. My boss and my co-workers who work with primary students believe in smaller group sizes. We can give them more individualized adult attention and with childcare, it's safer to have smaller groups. Though my boss says I'm doing a good job. This year my group of kids are wonderful. They get along so well. Sometimes there are conflicts but I'm there to help them problem solve the issues. I'm working with a couple students who struggle with good listening skills. Anyways, when the new person arrives, my group will drop done to 15 students who would all be full-time (every day after school).

Feeling Overwhelmed

I can't believe a month has gone by since I last blogged here. I'm mid-way through with my Positive Classroom course. There are so many assignments going on that I do feel overwhelmed. I can only do one assignment at a time. I know I'll be fine.

Anyways, two weeks ago, I started my second course this term and it's ESOL methods (elementary level). So far, I find what I'm learning in that course very fascinating. I can relate because I was an ELL (English language learner) student. English is my second language but however, it's my primarily language that I best communicate. So many stories but I won't share them today.

Here is a poem so true about teachers:

Just a Teacher (~Author Unknown)

Today I was a nurse binding a hurt with the white bandage of compassion,
A doctor healing a small broken world,
A surgeon suturing a friendship together.

Today I was an alchemist seeking gold in base metals,
A scientist answering endless whys,
A philosopher pondering elusive truths.

Today, I was an entertainer, refreshing young minds with laughter,
A fisherman dangling learning as a bait,
A pilot guiding youth away from ignorance.

Today, I was a general campaigning against intolerance,
A Lawyer speaking out for brotherhood,
A juror weighing right and wrong.

Today, I was a philanthropist sharing the might of the past,
A mother wholly giving love,
A humble follower of truth.

Mine are such varied occupations.
How can they know me?
Just a teacher.