Portfolio Assignment #2: Personal Cultural Artifacts

For this assignment, I'm going to define myself through the lenses of Mormon culture, feminist culture, female culture, personal family culture, American culture, and white culture:

Salt Lake City Temple: In Mormon culture, everything
we do revolves around the Temple and the work that takes
place there.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/fa/b6/8e/fab68e6f20d995dabd6e535451792ecb.jpg

Funeral Potatoes: Mormon culture and my personal family culture, funeral potatoes symbolize
the importance of  homemade comfort foods at gatherings, celebrations, in grieving, and in socializing .
http://www.trmckenzie.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Funeral-Potatoes-recipes.jpg

"The Feminine Mystique": Within the culture of feminism,
this book reinvigorated the women's right's movement in the 1960s--resulting
in what we know as feminism today.
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/21HH85PDoBL._AC_UL320_SR184,320_.jpg

Wedding Bands: In my family culture and Mormon culture, wedding rings not only
symbolize marriage, but also dedication and love for one another.
https://apis.xogrp.com/media-api/images/b3d41b57-14f1-4353-b4e1-c11d1f0e34c1

iPhones/Smart Phones: In White culture, having a smart phone rather than a flip
or slide phone can serve as a symbol of status, white collar work, and wealth.
https://support.apple.com/library/content/dam/edam/applecare/images/en_US/iphone/iphone-6splus-colors.jpg

Uncle Sam: In American culture, Uncle Sam serves as a symbol
of  American greatness, bravery, and the ideal belief of our
dedication to freedom.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Unclesamwantyou.jpg

Covered Wagons: In Mormon culture, pioneer wagons symbolize the strength of early-saints
and promotes feelings of pride in our pioneer ancestors; in American and white culture,
pioneer wagons symbolize our conquering of the land, the spirit of the West, and the
fortitude of our ancestors.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/04/e4/c1/04e4c11f177e2eea94cf7c0836eddfbe.jpg

College Education/Degree: Getting a college education is a sign of intelligence
and status in American culture.
https://cpms.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/byu-medallion1.jpg

Birth Control: In feminist culture, birth control symbolizes advancements

 with reproductive rights; in female culture, birth control symbolizes the

practically universal experience of pregnancy and menstruation
http://www.waynewomensclinic.com/wp-content/uploads/istock_000001141281medium_wide-5ef5cf4c139044596c667f818762bbdb5dcf15f9.jpg

The "Melting Pot": The (ideal) American belief
 America is a country of diversity.
https://classracegender.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/melting_pot.jpg

Inclusion of "God" in American Culture: American culture assumes a national
Christian identity and references it in our national anthem, in our currency, and
in other aspects of national interest.
http://cdn.thedailybeast.com/content/dailybeast/articles/2016/01/24/dear-atheists-don-t-fear-in-god-we-trust/jcr:content/image.img.2000.jpg/1456961003481.cached.jpg

Football: Football as a sport is experienced almost religiously within American 

culture. Men are typically it's biggest fans and the professional athletes who

play football are exclusively men as well. Often seen as the epitome of  "masculinity".
http://www.drodd.com/images14/football12.jpg

Vogue Magazine: In American and White culture, it promotes fashion and
beauty standards.
https://jackarbizu.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/20120430-164904.jpg

"The Family: A Proclamation to the World": In Mormon culture, the family
proclamation outlines what we believe is God's standard in order to have an
"eternal family".
http://rationalfaiths.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/proclamation.jpg

The Statue of Liberty: In American culture, the statue of liberty
represents the American belief that everyone is welcome in America.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdCLAAsWoAEEP16.jpg

Disney Movies: Most American watch these movies and relate to them.
They teach children about the importance of never giving up and that happy
endings are a reality.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7435/12529754163_0202b7ca6d_b.jpg

"The Book of Mormon": In Mormon culture, The Book of Mormon is used
for missionary work and is heavily studied. It is treated as the "most true" book on the earth
https://smilingldsgirl.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/book-of-mormon.jpg

Reading Books to Children: Within my family culture, white culture, and American culture
parents read stories to their children to excite them about learning how to read, to bond
with them, and to put them to sleep at night.
http://images.wisegeek.com/dad-reading-with-two-children.jpg

Apple Pie: There's a saying that goes: "There's nothing more American than
apple pie". In white and American culture, apple pie is often served during
Thanksgiving and Christmas and is referenced as a source of American herritage/
what it means to be an American.
http://images-gmi-pmc.edge-generalmills.com/36452ba2-648c-4c67-90f7-3a1fc36cf6f4.jpg

Sewing Machine/Sewing: In my family, women bond over sewing projects together
or showcasing their projects to each other. For example: Homemade gifts of blankets or
 burp cloths are expected at baby showers and are seen as more desirable too.
http://demandware.edgesuite.net/aamm_prd/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-joann-product-catalog/default/dwb6c5bdd4/images/hi-res/14/14028245.jpg

Portfolio Assignment #1- Imagined Classroom

1. Five images (you can take them or they can come from the Internet [provide proper credit]). These images should reflect, in some way, what you imagine your classroom will look like once you are a teacher. Please annotate your images by providing a description of the image and how it relates to your future classroom.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b4/1a/58/b41a58f5d01b2c484daa01ad0479a44e.jpg

I want to decorate the walls of my classroom with projects about my students and by my students so that they feel represented and so that I can get to know them better as individuals.

I still want to incorporate this aspect into my classroom since I feel like it will allow me to represent my students and their cultural backgrounds.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/19/04/ed/1904ed06ec7bbe18c79eaed17b3ad4e1.jpg

I want my classroom to be colorful and inviting. I also want to have areas where I can showcase student's work like in this photo. I think it would be cool to display homework assignments or artwork that they're really proud of.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/46/33/b4/4633b45b8d0331d62756b9a0e62d803c.jpg

I originally mentioned that I wanted to have a colorfully decorated classroom, but I think now it's more important to me that I have a culturally representative classroom for my students. I think the above picture might be a little cliche, but I like the general idea of exhibiting that I am proud of the diversity of my students so that they can be proud of their cultures as well. 

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOhr4eTZhEOwxbc2cUdGmlFPcdCHNCzP0bNeQM3ohTaO9m6S8YF3T-0PFm03q2LcXjb5DR2SlHH-Md2w0SUFCXkuDN5LsudcyCLTWK7OTQmSU6ajViME5GX1vSp037t012AI5TF69A6AT/s1600/IMG_1663.JPG

I want to have a reading corner in my classroom where students can read when they finish their work along with a class library too. I think it's really important for students to have a space to relax in the classroom and to have quick access to books.

http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/80068/file-21727482-jpg/images/ipad-art-wide-tablets-in-classrooms-420x0.jpg

I still want to include this in my classroom becaue I feel like it is accessible to all students for the most part. However, I think it might be important to have a technology center for children who are emerging bilinguals or who are blind and who cannot simply sit down and read a book. 

http://f.tqn.com/y/k6educators/1/W/h/F/200285309-002.jpg

This seems like a pretty standard setup for a classroom and I imagine mine will look something like this too. Windows, desks across the room, and a whiteboard/blackboard at the front of the room too. I also like that this classroom has color in it and is organized as well.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/ca/ac/c3/caacc38ffa3dd4e662d67a35687ad7f6.jpg

I really want to create a classroom environment that is safe for all the students who walk in and that also promotes personal responsibility in the students. I like the idea of having the students make a class promise like this and the rules for the class and then putting it on the wall where they can see. I also want to put motivational posters up that encourage and empower the students.