All posts by sergio2410

What’s The impact of reading aloud to preschool kids? Blog 6/6

Uncategorized

What’s the Impact of Reading Aloud to Preschool Kids?

Albert Einstein once said, “If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.”

Living in times when technology, the internet, and social media platforms are used for almost every aspect of our lives can get us thinking if it is worth it for parents and caregivers to read to their preschoolers. Should parents take 30 minutes of their day to connect with their children through a book, or is it okay to hand the child a tablet so they can watch cartoons or play online for hours and hours? Many people might say, “I am a busy parent; I don’t have the time to read to my preschooler. Plus, they can listen to many audiobooks on the web, and I am sure their teacher will read to them.” To those parents I write today, do not let your child get consumed by the web; it can be a dangerous, addictive place, especially for a child.

Another piece of advice I offer to parents and caregivers is not to take reading sessions with your child for granted nor rely on their teacher for your preschooler to learn the value of literacy, get more mental stimulation, and reduce stress levels by reading. Reading to preschoolers is a beautiful way to engage and form a better relationship with them.

In her audiobook, “Raising Readers: How to Nurture a Child’s Love of Books,” Megan Daley says that reading to a child is to immerse them in language, and it is one of the best ways to give them a head start and help them to reach their academic potential. Higher linguistic proficiency is acquired as the child might feel the urge to repeat the familiar or unfamiliar words they listen to in the story. In addition, children tend to copy adults’ behavior, so why not read to them?

First, reading to children allows them to feel the story, get more familiar with the voice of their loved ones, and learn how to read aloud. However, learning to decode words for a preschooler might be overwhelming. Still, it is up to the parent and caregiver to develop ideas and strategies to avoid reading sessions becoming a burden. It takes time and patience when reading and teaching to young children, but eventually, they will learn not only to read but to understand the meaning behind the words truly.

Second, preschoolers who are read to develop better interpersonal relationships at a young age. Daley claims that reading can be turned into a meaningful learning experience when children enter preschool face. Preschoolers understand how a person’s vocal tone can dictate how a character in the book feels and thinks. When books are presented in different forms or modalities, children respond with enthusiasm to both the book and the person reading to them.

Usually, between three and five, a child can notice when a parent takes time to read to them out of a busy schedule.

Third, reading to preschoolers can positively impact them cognitively. Reading strengthens mental muscles and widens people’s imagination. Daley says that children between the ages of three and five (preschoolers) regularly have longer attention spans than younger children. Even though they still get easily distracted by little things, reading provides better concentration skills.

Why is it that children gain so much cognitivism by reading? According to Paige Greenwood, reading is an acquired skill that relies on cognitive control and language abilities. It is a higher-order process that relies on language skills, such as semantics, phonology, and orthography. Additionally, visual processing and executive functions. Sessions of questions and answers is another way to get that brain stimulation going, proves Lea McGee and Judith Schickedanz.

In conclusion, the more people read to children, the more they want to read by themselves. Reading to little children foster and expedite linguistic development. Reading provides preschoolers with the opportunity to develop their comprehension and analytical abilities. As children enter school for the first time, they need to be reminded of their love. Sharing a book with them is a good way for parents or caregivers to say “I love you” in the most meaningful way. It is time for parents and caregivers to put aside that electronic device, sit down and connect with a child through a book.

Works Cited

Daley, Megan. Raising Readers: How to Nurture a Child’s Love of Books. Narrated by Helena Plazzer, University of Queensland3 Press, 2019. Audiobook, 90 chapters.

McGee, Lea M., and Judith A. Schickedanz. “Repeated Interactive Read-Alouds in Preschool and Kindergarten.” The Reading Teacher, vol. 60, no. 8, 2007, pp. 742–51, International Reading Association, doi:10.1598/RT.60.8.4. Accessed 28 April 2021.

Best Ways to Communicate in a Communication / Public Relations Crisis blog 5/6

Uncategorized

Unfortunately, crisis management experts such as public relations or communications professionals cannot plan for every situation, even the most thoughtfully designed conflict management process.

Sometimes, verifiable information about what is happening may be lacking during a crisis. This causes people to become more active seekers of knowledge and, as research suggests, more dependent on the media for information to satisfy the human desire for closure.

A crisis, in order words, puts a great deal of pressure on organizations to respond with accurate, complete information as quickly as possible. Experts say how an organization responds in the first 24 hours often determines whether the situation remains an “incident” or becomes a full-blown crisis. The book says that problems are not always unexpected.

How to communicate in a crisis (according to the book PR strategies and tactics):

-Put the public first.

-Be accessible.

-Take responsibility. An organization should take responsibility for solving the problem.

-Communicate with critical publics. Set up a central information center. Never say “any comment.”

-Be honest. Do no obscure facts and try to mislead the public. Instead, provide a constant flow of information.

-Monitor news coverage and telephone inquiries. Be familiar with media needs and deadlines.

-Designate a single spokesperson.

In 2011, the Institute of Crisis Management found that only 36% of business crises are surprising. And 16% are what the institute calls “smoldering” crises, in which an organization is aware of a potential business disruption long before the public finds out about it. Many ‘smoldering” crises could be prevented if professionals used environmental scanning and issues management to develop a strategic management plan. Miss management causes 50% of the crises, and employees accounted for another 32%. The top three triggers for a crisis are financial regularities, unethical behavior, and executive misconduct.

Sources:

Wilcox, D. L., Cameron, G. T., & Reber, B. H. (2016). Public relations: Strategies and tactics. Pearson.

A differing perspective regarding COVID-19

Uncategorized

Nothing has prepared us for a global pandemic.

The uncertainty of not knowing what comes after the pandemic has people constantly feeling a mix of emotions. Many would say that the virus has brought the best in humankind. Some would argue the complete opposite. It is essential to understand concepts such as the “third-person effect” and “risk communication” to explain why people have such different responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are living in a technological world. Ever since the pandemic started, social media users have increased. It is so easy to go online and find speculations and conspiracy theories about COVID-19, the government, and more. Social media impacts people’s beliefs. For example, some people are skeptical about the vaccine and other regulations because the media can negatively portray our current situation and solutions. This explanation involves the “third-person effect.” The textbook “Communicating About Health Current Issues and Perspectives” explains that “most of us believe we are not personally susceptible to persuasive messages in the media, but we think other people are” (Pre & Overton, 2020). The reality is that whether we think we have a healthy relationship with social media or not, everything we consume affects us either negatively or positively.

The second concept I want to talk about is “risk communication,” it can be found in the same textbook on chapter 12, page 270. “Risk communication is an ongoing process that involves disseminating information and engaging in interactive discussions about how people perceive and feel about risks messages” (Pre & Overton, 2020). COVID-19 started when former President Donald Trump was in administration. At first, Trump denied COVID-19. Then, when the disease spread and cases began to rise, he announced the virus but told the public it was under control. This situation was controversial because the World Health Organization started to talk about COVID-19 openly. It took a while until Trump admitted there was a global pandemic. Many people in the United States felt a sense of distrust and disappointment from the government; many people do not trust what health officials say. Since then, it has been challenging to gain the public’s trust. Risk communication works so that when people are aware of an emergency or danger, they can mentally prepare and contribute as much as they can to the table. For example, if Trump had talked about COVID-19 as soon as we knew about it and told the people about the risks, people would have reacted less chaotically because humans appreciate honesty.

I believe people have such different responses to the coronavirus pandemic given the information we have because we live in a world in which inaccurate information is easy to access and because of our natural trait of stubbornness and always wanting to be correct. In other words, some people agree to get vaccinated, wear masks, and practice social distance. In contrast, others do not due to their belief system formed by society and their media consumption. Therefore, it is crucial to get accurate, up-to-date information from reliable sources and educate ourselves to protect others.

Sources

Pré, D. A., & Overton, C. B. (2020). Communicating About Health: Current Issues and Perspectives (6th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Listening to Audiobooks or Reading Books?Blog 3/6

Uncategorized

I love listening to audiobooks because they are less time-consuming, cheaper, and save shelf space. However, I recently came across an article by audioboostore.com that talks about why audiobooks are better than hard copy books. While some audiobooks might provide some people with a better experience than a physical book, I disagree with how the article was written. In my opinion, the article is completely biased.

Let’s begin by examining the name of the website, audiobookstore.com. The title tells the audience that the company will advocate listening to books since they have to profit from their business.

It is essential to keep in mind that what works for some people might not work for others. For example, a friend of mine loves listening to the podcast but is not a fan of audiobooks. It would be dumb to assume that because she likes listening to a form of audio, she would prefer that over reading a physical book.

People learn in different ways, and while I agree with the article by audiobookstore.com that audiobooks are better, if I were the author of the article, I would argue that everyone learns in different ways and encourage the audience to stick with the reading they enjoy the most.

What about you? Are you an audiobook lover, or do you prefer to read a physical book?

Blog 2/6 people and exotic pets

Uncategorized

“More tigers are kept as pets than in the wild.”

People who are into domesticating exotic pets claim they do this because they love animals and want to be closer to them. Others say it is because of the adrenaline and thrill it gives them.

According to Born Free USA, exotic animals such as lions, tigers, monkeys, gorillas, or elephants are inherently dangerous to the individuals who possess them. Also, this decision can impact the community at large. Another downside to owning exotic pets is that exotic animals pose serious health risks to humans. There have been cases of people infected with Herpes B, Monkey Pox, and Salmonellosis through their pets.

The World Animal Protection says it is cruel even to try to domesticate wild animals. “Wild animals belong in the wild, not as pets. The reality is that a life in captivity is a world away from a life in the wild.”

Born Free USA and World Animal Protection agree that wild animals should not be domesticated. Check out their websites to learn more about liberating exotic animals and donate to their campaigns.

The importance of networking! 1/6

Uncategorized

The Power of Networking:

There are a lot of benefits to networking, such as meeting new people and creating meaningful connections. Connections can lead people to find new business opportunities, a rediscovery of shared interests, or even a new friend. For me, networking took the shape of all of those things and more.

 While scrolling on Instagram, one day, I stumbled upon the picture of a former coworker sporting a nice varsity jacket with a subtly eye-popping red logo that read “Thirteen 10”. The logo had Japanese characters on both the lower right-hand corner and the upper left-hand corner of the sweater. 

I gave the picture a heart shape “like” without giving it a second thought. Then, a couple of days later, the company gave me a “follow” on Instagram. So I followed them back, assuming “they’re going to unfollow me immediately,” but they didn’t. So I then thought, “it’s just a matter of time until they perform the backstabbing action.” 

Fast forward a couple of days, the company posted a new design they’re working on. I was instantly intrigued and decided to send them a direct message (DM) inquiring about available sizes. They got back to me within a day. After some small talk about the wrestling companies, I felt comfortable enough to purchase a track jacket.

Then, after a couple of weeks, the track jacket arrived. I was amazed by the quality of the material. I took a picture and sent it to them via DM. To my surprise, they posted the picture of me wearing the jacket; that action made my customer experience even better. While I got praised for how great the jacket fits in the comment section, I noticed that suddenly my following on Instagram began to grow. People from the wrestling community started to follow me, and I followed some of them back.

Fast forward a few years; I have attended some high-profile wrestling shows while proudly sponsoring (without being an athlete) Thirteen 10. I am proud to say that I now help the company expand it in the United States. I’m currently planning a trip to the UK (where Thirteen 10 is based) to explore how I can support the brand to make a significant impact in the wrestling community stateside. 

The brand has a ProWrestlingTees website and has gained athlete sponsorships from professional wrestlers such as Will Ospreay, Ricky Knight Jr, and even Heidi Katrina. 

According to a Forbes article by Bianca Miller Cole on “Why Networking is Critical to your Career,” it’s essential to change perspectives to learn how to process different ideas and constantly reassess your qualifications. I would’ve never thought that such an insignificant action on social media, such as a simple follow accompanied by a general business inquiry, would turn into reigniting a childhood passion of mine and dramatic hobby/career shift. 

It all just goes to show how impactful networking can be and how you never know where life will take you. So why not connect? @ Sergio_2410_.

blog 1/6 using resources

Uncategorized

Hello all considering we are all college students we are all probably living on a budget; or having to cut back on some expenses to be able to afford pursue a college degree. On the other hand, maybe we have the opportunity to purse one without having to worry about pinching pennies, which is fine too! 

However, according to studentsaganisthunger.org 20% of four-year College students are food insecure and with this pandemic leaving more than 20 million americans out of work. We are all living in circumstances we had never thought we would find ourselves in which is why it is important to help our community where we can.  

Hunger Solutions Minnesota is a food security program that ends to end hunger statewide they have a variety of programs to help meet our daily food needs one of them being there “find help” tool that helps locate food agencies around the state everything from food markets to discounted groceries all you need is your zip code!   

Find Help

the importance of ethnic studies in the classroom 4/6

Uncategorized

Learning about yourself especially when you’re a person of color.

I believe the main reason we have indicators such as the achievement gap, which tells us that people of color are underperforming, is because academically they do not learn about people who look like them. 

According to a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research where an ethnic studies course was piloted for high school freshmen who all held a GPA equivalent to 2.0 or lower. Once completing the eighth grade and were considered at risk of dropping out. This was a collaborative effort between the San Francisco Unified school district and the Stanford Graduate School of Education, which focused on social justice, discrimination, social movements and racial stereotypes. From the 18th century until the 1970s. 

Results found that students who participated in the courses had their attendance increased by 21%, there GPAs Jumped by 1.4 grade points as well as earning 23 more credit points overall compared to the credit points of their peers. 

I personally experienced the benefits of cultural pedagogy; by attending the Dave Larson immersion experience; which was an educational field trip designed to teach students about their native ancestry. It was there where I learned about my passion for education involving people of color. As well as my own native heritage. The trip inspired me to double major in ethnic studies and advocate for underrepresented students to close the achievement gap towards higher education.  

I believe if education departments were to take on similar initiatives the results would be not only be similar but we would have more students of color pursing secondary education.  

nurses: Americas heroes mexico’s outsiders 2/6 connecting

Uncategorized

They say idolizing someone or something is the worst thing you cloud do 

Since the public has known about COVID-19 in march Nurses have been celebrated and called heros all throughout the country with an article from CNN titled “the real heroes in the fight against co-vid 19 stating “Someday, when all this is over, we’ll likely put up statues of people in hospital scrubs. We’ll have parades in their honor. Their names will go on bridges, highways and memorial walls. Maybe they’ll get their own national holiday. Right now, though, our nurses and doctors are busy fighting for our lives. Some of them are dying.” 

However, just south of the boarder this couldn’t be further from the truth they’re nurses that fear for their lives daily. According to an article from The Yucatan Times.   “They[nurses] can no longer be going out to work in uniform from home or walk around [without fear] of attacks from citizens.” the attacks range from the discriminatory action of not allowing them to use public transportation and being kicked out of convenience stores to being attacked with bleach nurses have to wait until they arrive at the hospital to change into uniform and change back into civilian cloths once there shift ends to reduce the risk of being attacked. 

Perspective is very important especially in times of uncertainty such as these; we have to remember that those who risk there lives to serve ours aren’t always celebrated.