Emergent Literacy Support in Early Childhood Education Essay

26 preschool teachers and 8 preschool administrators drawn from 8 preschools in Kasempa and Solwezi districts constituted the sample. A total 680 preschoolers were part of the classroom environments in which naturalistic observations were conducted. The data were collected through questionnaires for preschool teachers, designed to capture preschool teachers’ knowledge of emergent literacy and classroom practices. Questionnaires were also administered to preschool administrators and these were designed to capture the schools’ profile on their teachers, philosophy on literacy instruction and availability of teaching and learning materials. For the naturalistic observation of actual classroom sessions, data were gathered with the aid of a Classroom Literacy Checklist. Further data were collected using semi-structured follow-up interviews to fill in any gaps from questionnaires and observations. The findings were that all the preschools investigated had low literacy support as a result of limited language and literacy opportunities for the children and paucity of learning and play materials. Lack of the preschool teachers’ appreciation of emergent literacy rendered them unable to fully provide environments and practices that support emergent literacy. INTRODUCTION Background: The concept emergent literacy was introduced in 1966 by a New Zealand researcher Marie Clay in her doctoral thesis entitled Emergent Reading Behaviour but the term was coined by William Teale and Elizabeth Sulzby in 1986. The term was used to describe the behaviours seen in young children whereby they imitate adults’ reading and writing activities, even though the children cannot actually read and write in the conventional sense. The development of the emergent literacy perspective can be traced from the reading readiness perspective. In the four decades since Clay’s introduction of this term, an extensive body of research has expanded the understanding of emergent literacy. According to current research, children’s literacy development begins long before they start formal instruction in elementary school; it begins at birth and continues through the preschool years even though the activities of young children may not seem related to reading and writing. Early behaviours such as â€Å"reading† from pictures and â€Å"writing† with scribbles are examples of emergent literacy and are an important part of children’s literacy development. With the support of parents, caregivers, early childhood educators, and teachers, as well as exposure to a literacy-rich environment, children successfully progress from emergent to conventional literacy. In other words their growth from emergent to conventional literacy is influenced by their continuing literacy development, their understanding of literacy concepts, and the efforts of parents, caregivers, and teachers to promote literacy. It proceeds along a continuum, and children acquire literacy skills in a variety of ways and at different ages. Children’s skills in reading and writing develop at the same time and are interrelated rather than sequential. Educators can promote children’s understanding of reading and writing by helping them build literacy knowledge and skills through the use of engaged learning activities. As children are moving into conventional literacy, they pass through different periods of development in their efforts to become successful readers, just as they did at the emergent level. Over the past ten years, the concept of emergent literacy has gradually replaced the notion of reading readiness. Consequently, it has a significant impact on the way the teaching of literacy in early childhood programmes is approached. The theory of emergent literacy developed from research in the fields of child development, psychology, education, linguistics, anthropology, and sociology. It has virtually redefined the field of literacy and made educators, teachers, and parents aware that the term reading readiness no longer adequately describes what is happening in the literacy development of young children (Teale, 1986). Research conducted on emergent literacy indicates that support to children’s emergent literacy in early childhood education facilitates easy literacy development in children. Parents, caregivers, and teachers need to ensure that young children are exposed to literacy-rich environments and receive developmentally appropriate literacy instruction. Such environments and experiences have a profound effect on children’s literacy development by providing opportunities and encouragement for children to become successful readers. Thus a preschool should be an environment that supports the  continuation of emergent literacy. In order for a preschool to promote the continuous emergence of literacy, it must be an environment where there is a high variety of authentic literacy activities. It must also be an environment that affords learners opportunities to engage in purposeful literacy activities which are acknowledged as valid literacy behaviour. In the Zambian context emergent literacy is a fairly new phenomenon. Its practice is dependent on what teachers know and believe about it and this also is dependent upon the training that preschool teachers undergo. Against the background of emergent literacy, the concern of early childhood educators should be â€Å"valuing the knowledge children have than with replacing it by highly dubious and narrow models of what literacy is and how it functions† (Hall, 1989: viii). Little is known regarding literacy teaching in preschools in Zambia. This study, therefore, attempted to find out the extent to which classroom practices in preschools in Zambia, with special reference to Kasempa and Solwezi, support the continuation of emergent  literacy in children. Statement of the problem: Although the theory of emergent literacy has been in use for over four decades, it is not known to what extent emergent literacy is appreciated and supported in early childhood education in Zambia. While research has been conducted in other parts of the world, there has been no investigation into its practice in Zambia’s preschools. Thus the problem that was being investigated was that we do not know the extent to which classroom practices in Zambian preschools, and with particular reference to Kasempa and Solwezi, support the continuation of emergent literacy in children. Objectives: This study sought to achieve the following objectives: (i) To ascertain preschool teachers’ knowledge of emergent literacy in children. (ii) To establish the extent to which the classroom environment supports the continuation of emergent literacy. (iii) To establish what literacy instruction programme is in place and the extent to which it supports emergent literacy. (iv) To find out teaching and learning materials that are available in preschools and the extent to which they support emergent literacy. (v) To establish classroom literacy practices that obtain in preschools and the extent to which they support emergent literacy. Significance of the study: The significance of this study was premised on the fact that it focused on one critical area of education namely early childhood education. While a lot of research has been done on the basic and high school sectors of education in Zambia, very little has been done on preschool education. It is indisputable that good early childhood education is a precursor to the other levels of education. This study sought to investigate the extent to which classroom literacy practices in early childhood education in Zambia support the continuation of emergent literacy. Such a study has not been explored before in Zambia. This study, therefore, is significant in that it might provide valuable data on early childhood teachers’ knowledge of emergent literacy and the extent to which classroom practices support the continuation of emergent literacy. It is hoped that such data might be useful to policy makers such as the Ministry of Education and preschool curriculum des igners. In this way, it might provide data on which future curricula for early childhood educators’ training can be based. It is also hoped that the study will stimulate further research into emergent literacy practices in Zambian preschools, which is currently lacking. METHODOLOGY Research design: This study was qualitative as the researcher sought to interpret his observations and the respondents’ views to establish the extent to which practices in the target preschools support the continuation of emergent literacy. However, the study also employed some quantitative elements in the design. The study was also naturalistic because there was no systematic manipulation of any process during observation. Rather the researcher observed live classroom practices in the preschools as the teachers and learners went about with their activities. Sample size: The sample for the study was drawn from eight preschools in the  two study areas, namely Kasempa and Solwezi Districts in North-western Province. The sample size comprised 26 preschool teachers and 8 preschool administrators. 680 preschoolers were part of the classroom environments where the naturalistic observations took place. The sample structure for the preschool teachers is presented below as Table 1: Highest Qualification Males Female Total Untrained Certificate Diploma Primary Certificate Totals Teacher’s (Table 1): Sample Structure for Preschool Teachers in the Study Areas 5 Sampling techniques: Samples were chosen on a non-probability basis on the understanding that respondents would be available, easy to access and ready to participate in the study. As such and convenient and purposive samplings were used. This is because the researcher selected samples according to what was logistically convenient and feasible. Bearing in mind the period in which the study was to be undertaken, the preschools that were selected were those that were not in hard-to-reach areas. This was in line with Ghosh (2006) who says convenience sampling is used when the universe is not defined and when administrative limitations make it difficult for the researcher to randomly select samples. Since purposive sampling is used to target a group of subjects a researcher believes to be reliable for a study (Kombo and Tromp, 2006), in this study it was used to select the eight schools in the study area. The use of this sampling technique was aimed at ensuring that only well-established preschools were targeted. Data collection: Three instruments were used to collect data. The Classroom Literacy Checklist was used as a classroom observation instrument. It was used to check for classroom practices in terms of literacy-richness of the environment, reading practices, variety of literacy activities, authenticity of literacy activities and teachers’ usage of children’s knowledge of literacy. It was adapted from other literacy observation checklists such as the KS1 Format and the National Centre for Learning Disabilities 2004 Literacy Environment Checklist developed by Groover J. Whitehurst (Ph.D.). These observation instruments are designed to assess whether literacy environments in preschools provide a range of quality literacy experiences and a print-rich environment which are important factors in the facilitation and support of literacy learning. Two types of questionnaire were used, one for teachers and the other for administrators. The questionnaires for the teachers sought to elicit information on their training and knowledge of emergent literacy. The questionnaires for the administrators sought to elicit information on the school profile, instructional materials and the school’s ethos on literacy development. Questionnaires were given on the first day of research at each preschool. The idea was to give respondents three to five days of answering the questionnaire, based on findings from the pilot test. Interviews were conducted with teachers and administrators as follow-ups to help fill in gaps or clarify any matters from 6  questionnaires and observations. For the teachers these were done soon after each observation. For administrators these were conducted at least twice in each school, one of which was on the last day of the research at each particular preschool. Data analysis: Since this study was mainly qualitative, data analysis (particularly preprocessing) began during the data collection stage. During lesson observations the researcher made class profiles by recording the children’s level, age range and enrolment. The researcher was also doing a dairy on each lesson observed. Another thing the researcher did at this stage was to ensure that the data were internally consistent. For example, the researcher would make follow-ups with informants to clarify any contradictions and gaps in the questionnaires or interviews. Data preparation then followed and this included summarizing and organizing the data according to categories. At the final stage the  researcher sought to make interpretations of the questionnaire responses, obs ervations and interview responses. FINDINGS This study sought to find out the extent to which classroom practices in preschools support emergent literacy. The study relied mainly on naturalistic observations of live classroom sessions but this was complemented by questionnaires and follow-up interviews. Below is a discussion of the specific findings, divided into five sections, each discussing the findings in relation to each of the five objectives of the study. Preschool Teachers’ Knowledge of Emergent Literacy: The study has revealed that none of respondents had ever heard of the term ‘emergent literacy’. In spite of this, the findings have also revealed that all the respondents have noticed elements of emergent literacy in children when they just enter preschool. The study has further shown that respondents have high awareness levels of children’s emergent literacy behaviours. However, the study has also revealed that generally, the respondents’ appreciation of the children’s emergen t literacy was very poor. One area major area where this was evident was with regard to knowing how to reinforce children’s display of emergent literacy (for 7  example if a child got a book and began to turn pages or if a child stood up and began to ‘read’ around the room). This apparent disparity between the respondents’ high awareness of emergent literacy behaviours and their low appreciation of emergent literacy can be attributed to the respondents’ training. It was clear that preschool teachers are not taught about emergent literacy, hence the respondents did not regard emergent literacy behaviours as a developmental stage in literacy learning. Generally all the respondents tended to subscribe to the reading readiness perspective. In relation to the purpose of the study, these findings suggest that preschool teachers in the study areas cannot provide the necessary support to children’s emergent literacy if they are ignorant of emergent literacy as a developmental stage in children’s literacy learning. Preschool Classroom Environment: This study has revealed that the classroom environments in the study areas have low literacy support. It has also established that the most common aspects of literacy support were the alphabet frieze and month and day names. This effectively means that the environments were not print-rich. The study has further revealed that the preschool teachers had low knowledge levels of how a preschool environment ought to be. In cases where the respondents revealed high knowledge levels, there was a gap between this knowledge and what was obtaining in the classrooms. The findings established that this was due to paucity of resources and having proprietors/managers who were ignorant of preschool education. These findings suggest serious implications on children’s literacy development. First because preschool teachers and proprietors/managers tended to have low appreciation of what a preschool environment ought to be, they cannot provide the requisite envir onment that fully supports the continuation of emergent literacy. Secondly, because preschool children in the study areas have little exposure to a literacy-rich environment, they may not easily progress from emergent to conventional literacy. Preschool Curriculum: This study has revealed that the study areas do not seem to have any clear philosophy regarding literacy instruction. As such the preschools did not have clear literacy instruction programmes. The study has also established that there is no common syllabus for preschools in Zambia. Preschools were using whatever they could lay their hands on. These findings show that it is difficult to measure the schools literacy instruction success when issues of syllabi are vague. Literacy Instruction Materials: This study has revealed a paucity of teaching and learning materials in the study areas. The most commonly available instructional materials are flashcards, charts and building blocks. The study has established that there is a lack of a variety of reading books, workbooks, literacy objects for pretend play, and generally playthings. In view of the paucity of literacy instructional materials in the study areas, there is less support to children’s emergent literacy as children do not have sufficient interaction with a variety of literacy objects. The other implication is that with the paucity of play things, the children spend less time on play related activities and do more of formal learning. Classroom Literacy Practices: This study has revealed that using music is a practice widely employed in all the eight preschools. However, the study has also established that preschool children in the study areas have limited reading experiences. In almost all cases children seldom handle reading books as this is reserved for Reception or Grade 1 levels. This is because teachers do not see this as necessary since the children cannot read in the conventional sense. Further children are rarely read to and hardly engage in shared book reading. It has also been found that there are hardly any independent activities for c hildren not working with an adult. More formal learning as opposed play-related learning has been found to be a common practice. The implication of these findings is that preschool teachers in the study areas are not using developmentally appropriate activities to teach literacy to the preschoolers. CONCLUSION By analysing the classroom practices, preschool teachers’ knowledge of emergent literacy and the environments in the study areas, this study has established that the practices in the eight preschools do not provide sufficient support for the continuation of emergent literacy. A number of factors have militated against high support for emergent literacy. The first factor is the preschool teachers’ lack of knowledge/appreciation of emergent literacy. This has arisen from the nature of training that preschool teachers undergo in Zambia. Coupled with this is the fact that some of the preschool teachers currently serving in schools have not undergone formal training. In this study almost a third of them were untrained. The other factor is lack of resources to construct appropriate structures for  preschools and furnish them with requisite materials. This has been compounded by the fact that preschool education in Zambia is privately run and as such the Government has had n o stake in it. The third fact is the very fact that Government has had no stake in preschool education. This has led to lapses in the registration of preschools and lack of serious and constant monitoring of preschools. As such there is no quality assurance in the provision of preschool education. The results of this study are significant in two main ways: the results have indicated the need for capacity-building preschool teachers in the area of emergent literacy. The results have also demonstrated the need for Government’s keen participation in preschool education. As regards the need for capacity-building preschool teachers, the study has demonstrated that while preschool teachers may notice emergent literacy behaviours among preschool children, they cannot unwittingly provide the necessary scaffolding to emergent literacy if they do not have sound knowledge of the phenomenon. This, therefore, means that emergent literacy must be part of preschool teachers’ curriculum. The need for government’s keen participation in preschool education arises from the fact that most of the inadequacies noted are a result of lack of stringent regulation and monitoring of preschool education. Stringent regulation will ensure that only individuals/institutions meeting the minimum standards are allowed to run preschools. On the other hand, constant monitoring will ensure that high standards are maintained in preschools. Another key way Government needs to participate in preschool education is through provision of grants or instructional materials. It is commendable that preschools are now falling under the Ministry of Education which has expert personnel to oversee the running of education provision in general and preschool education in particular. There is, however, need to come up with a directorate responsible for preschool education. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to acknowledge the valuable contribution of the many people without whom the demands of this research would not have been met. First I pay tribute to my academic supervisor Dr John Simwinga who provided the much needed counsel, guidance and criticisms from the proposal stage right through the completion of this thesis. Thank you for your confidence in me and giving me latitude throughout this academic journey. May God continue to lift you in your academic pursuits. I also wish to thank Mr D.C. Nkosha for having inspired my interest in emergent literacy which led to my pursuing this study. I thank lecturers Mr G Tambulukani and Mr S.B. Hirst for making useful comments at various stages of the study; all lecturers on the NOMA (Norwegian Masters) Literacy Programme for sharpening my academic faculties. Special thanks go to all the participants in Kasempa and Solwezi districts who made it possible for me to undertake the study at no cost. I extend my thanks to all my colleagues on the course with whom I worked well. Notable among them are Ms Mary-Grace Musonda, Ms Georgina Njapau and Mr Benson Kamangala. My gratitude will be incomplete without expressing my indebtedness to my wife for tolerating my academic appetite and for her continued understanding, support and perseverance and remaining a pillar in our home during my long periods of absence. I remain grateful to the girls Tionge and Peggy for enduring my absence and remaining good children while I was away. I am grateful to my employers for granting me paid study leave yet again, without which it would have been impossible to pursue my master’s programme. I shall remain forever grateful for the NOMA scholarship granted to me through the University of Zambia. To God be the glory for the great and many things He has done for me. REFERENCES Barton, D., 2007. Literacy – An Introduction to the Ecology of Written Language. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Bergen, D., 2001. Pretend Play and Young Children’s Development. ERIC Digest, ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education  Bredekamp S. (ed.) 1987. Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth Through Age 8. Washington, DC: NAEYC. Freeman, E.B., and J.A. Hatch 1989. â€Å"Emergent Literacy: Reconceptualizing Kindergarten Practice.† Childhood Education, 66, 21-24. Ghosh B.N., 2006. Scientific Method and Social Research. New Delhi: Sterling Publishers. Gunn, B., D. Simmons and E. Kameenui, 1994. Emergent Literacy: Synthesis of Research. University of Oregon Hall, N., 1989. The Emergence of Literacy. London: Hodder and Stoughton Harste, J.C., V.A. Woodward and C.L. Burke 1984. Language Stories and Literacy Lessons. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann Educational Books. Hiebert, E. H., 1988. â€Å"The Role of Literacy Experiences in Early Childhood Programs.† The Elementary School Journal, 89 (2), 161-171. 12 Hiebert, E. H. and J.M. Papierz, 1990. â€Å"The Emergent Literacy Construct and Kindergarten and Readiness Books of Basal Reading Series.† Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 5 (3), 317-334. McMahon, R., 1996. â€Å"Introducing Infants to the Joy of Reading.† Dimensions of Early Childhood, 24 (3), 26-29 Morrow, L. M., 1990. â€Å"Preparing the Classroom Environment to Promote Literacy during Play.† Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 5, 537-554. Morrow, L.M. (ed.), 1995. Family Literacy: Connections in Schools and Communities. New Brunswick: International Reading Association Serpell, R., L. Baker and S. Sonnenschein, 2005. Becoming Literate in the City – The Baltimore Early Childhood Project. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Sonnenschein, S. L. Baker, R. Serpell, D. Scher, S. Fernandez-Fein and K. Munsterman, 1996. â€Å"Strands of Emergent Literacy and Their Antecedents in the Home: Urban Preschoolers’ Early Literacy Development.† National Reading Research Centre: Reading Research Report No. 48 Teale, W, and E. Sulzby, 1986. Emergent Literacy: Writing and Reading. Norwood, NJ: Ablex Publishing Corporation. Teale, W. H. and E. Sulzby, 1987. Literacy Acquisition in Early Childhood: The Roles of Access and Mediation in Storybook Reading. In D. A. Wagner (ed.), The Future of Literacy in a Changing World (pp. 111-130). New York: Pergamon Press. Van Kleeck, A., 1990. Emergent Literacy: Learning about Print before Learning to Read. Topics in Language Disorders, 10 (2), 25-45. Wilson, N and S. McLean, 1994. Questionnaire Design: A Practical Introduction. Newtown Abbey: University of Ulster Press.

Composition About Film Essay

The film that I saw last week is about the dangerous art of extraction valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during sleep, when the mind is most vulnerable. The main character of the film called Cobb. He is a talented thief, the best of the best in his work. At the beginning of the film we see Cobb’s dream in which he with his wife lived in their town that they create alone in unexpected for me and I was surprising when I saw how in our dream we can see people who not existent in the reality. Then the point is that Cobb’s command received the proposition to change some events in the life of one of the richest company in the world. They had to do that this company fell down and other man who managing other company could be the first and control others. If Cobb, and his command do this he promise Cobb to help him with law, because as we know he was a thief and all police search him and that’s why he can’t returned home to his children. For this work he must to find a new architecture, because without him it will be not possible. Architect – a specialist defining illusory world for another dream. The purpose of the architect when extracting – designed sleep so sleep could not distinguish it from reality and create a sleeping most complex maze of sleep, from which the victim could not easily escape. The complexity of this work was that this dream consisted of three levels, that is to say they must to reach the deepest within of the subconscious to change what they want. Now their task – not to steal an idea, but to implement it. If they succeed, it will be the perfect crime. I realized they done this work in the best way. To my mind this film is very interesting and exciting, but it is necessary to understand . It is fantastical, but as for me it was interesting to see what we can do when we sleep.

The Concept of American Dream in the Revolutionary Road

Over the years, many heroes and heroines especially from the West fought so hard in order to give people unlimited opportunities, freedom, material prosperity and individual happiness. The concept â€Å"American dream† as a national ideal is associated with independence and freedom as one individual fulfill his dream through fulfilling his innate passion and desires. This concept gives American citizens the expectations that their government should create a society that will reward drive and innovation or a society that will generate growth.But at the same time, one should be responsible for himself to develop as a full man and woman without the barriers of the older civilizations since this had already been slowly erected by the political leaders in the past. Initially the concept of American Dream considering its historical basis is described as a; â€Å"dream in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability o r achievement.It is a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth and position† (Garfinkle 206). In past years, American Dream is perceive as a promise that each human being has the freedom to make his own life according to his will or choices. This promise made the Americans dreamers, hopeful and independent wanting to take advantage of a freedom of self expression that not every culture has.But this established social structure has a profound influence over individual inner experiences. Contrary to the common impression of upward social mobility due to the â€Å"American Dream,† this mobility can lead to an inner struggle between socially and personally held values of the individuals. It is also inevitable to anticipate that upwar d social mobility will increase the likelihood of the experience of depression and frustration due to the resultant feelings of ambivalence.Due to the promises of American Dream, it is inevitable that American citizens will create mental expectations that if it fails they will have a feeling of depression and hopelessness. These feelings of hopelessness and depression due to unfulfilled passion and expectations are illustrated in the main characters of the film Revolutionary Road. The movie is an indictment of American life that focuses on how the unfulfilled hopes and aspirations of April and Frank Wheeler, main protagonists and married couple, affected them emotionally and psychologically.The seemingly unrealistic and romantic expectations of April Wheeler illustrate tattered remains of American Dream that not achieving it will cause inner death. Though the couple experienced financial security in the middle class suburban America, does that guarantee a meaningful life? Even thoug h they are living comfortably, both believe that they are not truly free. They want a satisfying life free from suburban paralysis whose kind of lifestyle seems routinary. Fulfillment of passion, dreams and hopes with total freedom and independence is what American Dream is for April Wheeler.But financial security and practical opportunities paralyses and hinders her husband to leave America, and so the conflict begins. April wants to escape financial practicalities, routines and her simple role only confined in domesticity and motherhood. Determine to escape the mediocrity and suburbanites that surround them, the couple decides to move in Europe to develop and practice their artistic sensibilities, free from the consumerist demands of capitalist America.But their relationship is thrown into jeopardy because of their frequent squabbling, misunderstanding and unnecessary anxieties from their American Dream. The film is set in the 1950’s in the ordinary suburbs of Connecticut w here every family and employee seems to have the same routines everyday. Frank and April Wheeler, the main characters, are afraid to be like anyone else in their community who seems content and who are afraid to explore outside their comfort zone of financial security.So they believe that they are untypical middle class family living in the suburbs as they still attach in their youthful passion and still believes in life’s adventure. They have promised never to be dragged into the monotonous world of the people around them. But despite their wits, talents and good looks, the couple suddenly find themselves slowly becoming the individuals they swore never to be; a plain, unhappy housewife who longs for fulfillment; a man with a boring job and an existence as dreary as the rest of the neighborhood.April, a failed aspiring theatrical actress starts the novel in a local theatrical group. This experience of April in the initial part of the novel is embarrassing and is a disaster t hat sows the seeds of her discontent. She soon realizes how dull her life is, a life that is far from what she imagines her life will be with Frank Wheeler. Frank, a naturally dreamer, lost his direction and works at Knox Business Machines as an ordinary office employee, while April becomes a typical housewife looking after her two kids.The novel depicts April as a housewife frustrated and emotionally conflicted after being trapped in the suburban life. This given reality is such a discouragement for both especially for April and so she devises a plan to reverse their fortunes and present fate. April discusses plans to escape and leave everything behind in their suburban life to live in Paris where she will fulfill her artistic talents in performance and Frank will find out what he really wants to do with his life. Paris for her will give them opportunities to fulfill what they really wanted in life; total freedom, adventure and happiness.At first though hesitant, Frank agreed as he also wants to achieve the promises of venturing the unpredictability of life in Paris. When Frank gets promoted though, their much awaited departure is being stalled, and they find their marriage crumbling. Frank knows that his promotion is only a lifetime opportunity and somehow he doesn’t want to take it as a risk in a life (Paris) that is no guarantee yet. The perpetual squabbling of the couple is due to April’s strong desire to break out from the prison of bourgeois family life.Apparently Wheelers miss the culture and intellectual quiver of their youth. So when not arguing passionately, they drink a lot and often hang out with their friends and neighbors, the Campbells. But April strongly believes that as a bright, beautiful and gifted couple, their future has strong possibility of greatness if only they will take the risk. April’s depression and apparent desperation to escape her present life eventually made them betray each other and their very true self. April is being corrupted by her strong desire to depart herself to her monotonous life in Connecticut.As noted, April and Frank are not the usual suburban types, but people who consider themselves better than the people in their neighborhood; they mock people as they feel like their living their life half sleep. One of their frequent outside activities is to visit with another couple, spending few hours complaining about how unproductive everyone else is. Frank hates his white collar job and April just stays home with the kids but since they believe that they have potentials and resources, they know they can change their lives for the better.But what do individuals do when they are intelligent and high willed enough not to be satisfied with the conformity and blandness of their surroundings, but lack the drive to ever escape mediocrity, because they are, fundamentally, much more a part of their environment than they imagine? Frank, after hesitating whether going to Paris is a reaso nable and practical thing to do especially after he was being promoted made him somehow like everybody else who is afraid to let go of financial security and assurance. Perhaps Frank and April are not extraordinary and different as they would want to think.But nonetheless their character reflects American Dream—a life far from mediocrity and a life where one creates his own individuality and sense of identity. Moreover, their characters reminds the viewers to come face to face to their own mediocrity, challenges them to be honest with themselves and tries sincerely to know whether their aspirations fit their potentials and capabilities. Sometimes one’s ambitions and hopes are unrealistic. The promises of American Dream inspire the character to hope so much in the future and so that when those hopes are being unfulfilled, the character experiences great depression.â€Å"The problem with the society isn't necessarily that it's hypocritical or conformist or mediocre, but that it produces people with such a horrible gap between aspiration and capacity – it gives them the leisure and intelligence to want a fuller life while robbing them of the backbone to get it† (Yates xxi).But one can approach April’s character in this novel positively as she seems to know herself. She is taking concrete steps in order to accomplish her desires. She is a woman who wants to explore and find herself through her given talents and skills.She is confident that given a chance, she can prove herself in the world of arts. April definitely knows that this is the only way to find her self again and to eventually feel that her existence has a purpose after all—not just confined to being a mother and being a wife. While Frank though he realizes his vague ambition to be someone other than an office worker did not seek any alternative self. Instead after being identified and flattered in his mundane job, their plans to go Paris became unnecessary for h im. When April conceives their third child, their plan to leave America crumbles.When April discovers that she is pregnant, she is demotivated while Frank feels thrilled, not just for having the baby itself in the future but this will be his scapegoat to refuse Paris. April decided to abort the baby because she knows that this will greatly interfere her plans to go in Paris but Frank dissuade her and so they embark on a marital duel. April’s desperation becomes self destructive which is apparent when the latter has bled to death after attempting to induce a miscarriage. Frank on the other hand lacks will and boldness for change.His dream for financial security and the affirmation he acquired from his company because of his sudden promotion made him set aside his wife’s dream to escape the monotonous and boring lifestyle in America. Basically American Dream in this novel specifically in April’s character means fulfilling one’s passion and desires through s kills and talents. But for Frank American Dream is somehow based on practicalities, that is financial security and opportunities â€Å"all I want is to get enough dough coming in to keep us solvent for the next year or so, till I can figure things out; meanwhile, I want to retain my own identity†.But apparently he sometimes excites himself to try something new as he is a man who naturally loves adventure and in trying something not routinary, he might find his true self and his true identity. Frank’s acquisition of a higher position that assure his family’s financial security and his acquisition of affirmation from his company hindered April to fulfill her American dream for freedom of artistic self expression. At the end, it can be said that it is Frank who wins.But when April dies in her effort to fight the forces keeping her in her suburban housewife lifestyle, Frank due to pain becomes absorbed by the work he had once despised, and â€Å"dies† an inwa rd death. At the end both of them is being failed by their American Dream.Work Cited: Garfinkle, Norton. The American Dream Vs. the Gospel of Wealth: The Fight for a Productive Middle-Class Economy. Connecticut USA Yale University Press, 2007 Yates, Richard. Revolutionary Road. New York USA Vintage Contemporaries, 2000

ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR AND DEVELOPMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR AND DEVELOPMENT - Essay Example Each theory has three important aspect of communication i.e. sender, receiver and message. According to Roberts (2007) â€Å"Change is a multifaceted phenomenon, yet regardless of the paradigm adopted, there is agreement among all writers about change: it is hard, and generally more complex than anyone first anticipates.† Managing change is directing resources to the direction of goals. It involves all the concerned people from the organisation. It is a calculative and structured process of dealing with known changes. Change management is the process requires proper communication and coordination with all the related departments. There are various issues involved in change management process. Change management is always a planned approach of an organisation. Change management process will be successful when there is maximum involvement of the collective effort of the people. The risk of failure of implementation is identified and strategy is developed to deal with the same. The human aspect of change is the primary aspect of the change management in the organisation. This is depended on the industrial psychology. There are various angles to the process like change management. The process should be multi-disciplinary. It should touch all the aspects of the organisation with a focus on the fundamental of the human resource management issues. The new procedures, policies and change in the organisation processes, process and strategic procedures have various risk of the resistance. People when work together form groups. These groups can be formal and informal. Groups have certain norms. The members of a group are likeminded in various issues and approaches. They have commitment for each other. The group communicate through some language to each other. The language becomes the basic tool of keeping the information regarding the norms and expectations of the

Corporate Governance Law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Corporate Governance Law - Assignment Example According to Turnbull (1999, p. 189), corporate governance is defined as executive procedures and structural organization that is used to manage and direct business towards ensuring financial stability and achievement of objectives. Corporate governance is concerned with the relationship among the Board of Directors, minority shareholders, controlling shareholders, and the management. The history of corporate governance dates back to the nineteenth century when there was increasing emergence of limited liability companies in Europe and America (Klapper and Love, 2003, p. 28). Since then, the system has increased in prominence in many countries across the world because it has proved to contribute to sustainable economic development and the performance of companies. Minow (2002, p. 16) notes that the principles of corporate governance provide the framework for the following: disclosure and transparency, the role of non- financial stakeholders, the Board of Directors responsibilities, r ights of shareholders and other stakeholders and their equal treatment. OECD (2005) states that corporate governance law is at the core of corporate governance and further argue that it provides basis for various aspects of corporate governance hence making it effective. Corporate governance law provides framework for intellectual property, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, and other vital decisions that relate to corporate governance (Minnow, 2002, p. 71). ... Importance of Corporate Governance Before comparing and contrasting Anglo- American model and European model of corporate governance, it is crucial to understand why corporate governance is important and relevant to countries and companies. According to Bhagat and Bolton (2008, p. 260), numerous studies have shown that corporate governance plays an important role in facilitating and guiding the development processes of countries and organizations towards achievement of their objectives. Klapper and Love (2003, p. 33) argue that even though corporate governance is important for all the countries regardless of their social and economic status, the concept is more crucial in achieving public policy objectives in emerging market countries. Good corporate governance is essential in reducing the vulnerability of emerging market to financial crises, contributes to capital market development, reduces cost of capital and transaction costs, and reinforces property rights (La Rocca, 2007, p. 31 2). Basically, corporate governance is critical in addressing the issue of integrity especially regarding how the management and board of companies are discharging their duties. Apart from that, corporate governance provides the basis for setting up regulatory entity; it allows an organization to introduce regulation and oversee the proper implementation of the regulation. Additionally, this concept is vital in enhancing the institutions’ remunerations and financial policies which enable institutions to make profits and prevent the institutions from effects of financial crises (OECD, 2005). According to Minow (2002, p. 30), strong corporate governance practices significantly increase productivity,

How Not Meeting The Assumptions Of The Hardy-Weinberg Principle Aid In Term Paper

How Not Meeting The Assumptions Of The Hardy-Weinberg Principle Aid In Evolution - Term Paper Example 298). The Hardy-Weinberg model is applicable to the context of populations of diploid, sexually reproducing individuals (Andrews 65). For a population to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, certain assumptions must be met. Andrews, Hartl and Clark and Hillis et al. comprehensively described and summarized the following assumptions, 1. Natural selection is not acting on the locus in question, indicating that there is no differential selection among genotypes. Individuals with different genotypes have equal probabilities of survival and equal rates of reproduction. 4. Population size is infinitely large, which means that genetic drift is not causing random changes in allele frequencies due to sampling error from one generation to the next. As all natural populations are finite and they are subject to drift. However the effects of drift are more pronounced in small than in large populations. where, p2, 2pq and q2 are the expected frequencies of genotypes AA, Aa and aa in zygotes of any generation, p and q are the allele frequencies of A and a in gametes of the previous generation of the population (Hartl and Clark 75). As there are only two alleles at a locus, p + q=1. â€Å"The Hardy-Weinberg genotype frequencies, p2 + 2pq + q2, represent the binomial expansion of (p + q) 2, and also sum to one†. (Andrews 65) â€Å"In case of loci with more than two alleles, it is possible to apply the Hardy-Weinberg theorem, in which case the expected genotype frequencies are given by the multinomial expansion for all k alleles segregating in the population: (p1 + p2 + p3 + . . . + pk)2†. (Andrews 65) Fig. 2- â€Å"Generation I of this population consists of migrants from several other populations, thus violating the Hardy-Weinberg assumption of no migration. Notably, the generation I has more homozygous individuals and fewer heterozygous individuals than would be expected under

Leadership and Corporate Culture Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Leadership and Corporate Culture - Coursework Example Other activities that are involved include welcoming of tourists in the area, developing strategies that will expand tourism, operation of tourism promotion agencies, building of more facilities that are related to tourism and marketing of other events and activities that are designed to attract more tourists. The carrying out of the activities is expected to increase economic activities in the harbor through the provision of meals, selling of gifts and other items. The stakeholders that will be involved are the promoters, advertisers and those involved in selling of gifts and other items to the tourists (Ferrell, Fraedrich & Ferrell, 2004). Each and every applicant is expected to develop a project that will satisfy activities such as which increases tourism in the area through advertising, publication and distribution of information with the main aim of attracting more tourism (Moody, 2002). Other activities that are involved include welcoming of tourists in the area, developing strategies that will expand tourism, operation of tourism promotion agencies, building of more facilities that are related to tourism and marketing of other events and activities that are designed to attract more tourists that wil ensure that the harbor has economic benefit. Other proposals that can be made by the applicants are open as long as they can be well defined by the applicant. The applicants can wish to define alternative levels and activities for funding that they make as their first priority with the desired amount (Moody, 2002). The second priority should aim at the minimum amount that is acceptable. The applicants should include t he definition in the difference in the level of services that they are able to provide in the two priorities that they included. The establishment of alternative funding levels that are involved will allow some approving projects without the need of rejecting one or more of the projects due to a

Philosophy of Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Philosophy of Education - Essay Example The teacher develops a philosophy of education from both the theoretical sources of historical philosophies which discuss the idealism that underlies the teaching process and also from practical experience by testing these theories in classroom instructional practice. From philosophers such as Rousseau, Piaget, Thoreau, and Montessori, the teacher may learn about human nature and the stages of childhood development, as well as the goal of education. The teacher needs to build practical strategies for teaching on the foundation of the idealism of human nature, focusing on social skills growth, mental patterns of learning, physical training, and personality development. From the foundation of openness and the exchange of information through communication, the teacher must also implement a broader teaching structure in a Third Grade class that will lead to well-rounded development of students in all subjects of science, reading, writing, research, recreation, and physical growth. Becaus e of this, I have decided to adopt what is called an â€Å"essentialist† theory of education that believes that the teacher should prepare according to a path of gradual development of the childhood subject, where a wide variety of course materials and instruction leads to the broad development of minds and character through the classroom activities. (Phillips, 2008) 1. Curricular and Instructional Practice For curriculum development in the Third Grade, the teacher will be following a broad curriculum in general education focusing on the development of fundamental learning skills for further progression in education. This curriculum is based upon reading and writing most importantly at this stage, with also basic mathematics being important. The students should improve in reading skills across all subjects, as well as using their writing skills in all classes for essays, tests, note-taking, etc. Math is integrated into science and arithmetic classes to impart basic skills thr ough repetition of practice and homework. Oral communication will be an integral part of the students’ in-class responsibilities. The teacher will be implementing Ohio Teaching Standards and preparing students for the display of knowledge apprehension in standardized tests that will assess cumulative knowledge. The classroom will be on a â€Å"one-room† standard, with both male and female students mixed in the class, and uniforms will not be used as part of the dress codes. My teaching will take place in a Public School district, and as such there will be further responsibilities in the application of the teaching method with regard to keeping the parents as part of the process, engaged and informed in the child’s development, as well as satisfying administrative responsibilities at the local school and district levels. In this environment, the teacher must be well-rounded in knowledge, and prepared in advance for lessons in order to anticipate problems or issue s and have adequate response techniques available for implementation in the lesson. (Atherton, 2011) 2. Diversity of Learners Multiculturalism is the basis for the current paradigm in public education where the students come from a wide range of backgrounds both culturally and socio-economically. Part of the teacher’s responsibility is to provide the students with the basic of good citizenship, which includes tolerance for others, respect for views, openness, helpfulness, etc. Because of this the teacher should always make sure to maintain fairness in teaching methods, recognizing that girls and boys must be taught equally, and that the student’s must learn to understand and appreciate each other’s own cultural diversity and heritage. While the history classes allow for cultural dimensions to be discussed, holidays, class parties, special events, and seminars can be implemented by the teacher and organized in a way that they promote multiculturalism. The teacher should assist the students in building cultural identity and individual awareness within the

Concept of Cultural Imperialism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Concept of Cultural Imperialism - Essay Example As connoted by Sarmela, â€Å"Cultural imperialism is the economic, technological and cultural hegemony of the industrialized nations, which determines the direction of both economic and social progress, defines cultural values, and standardizes the civilization and cultural environment throughout the world† (Sarmela 13). Hence, considering the instability and struggle of the various nations to understand and thereby react resourcefully towards the accreditations as well as criticisms made by foreign cultures, it can be affirmed that the aspect of cultural imperialism indeed plays a vital role. Contextually, it can also be regarded that forethought to the criticality of the concept (i.e. cultural imperialism), has been argued by various experts associated with different professional dimensions as a means to elaborate homogeny within humankind (Hawksley, â€Å"Conceptualising Imperialism in the 21st Century†). A philosophical explanation to the aspect also encourages the arguments on behalf of cultural imperialism, describing it as a fundamental aspect to energize human communication, harmony and socio-economic progress (Gilbert, â€Å"Cultural Imperialism Revisited: Counselling and Globalisation†). However, rather than being well thought-out in every industrialized nation, the concept of cultural imperialism has been mostly related with the philosophies considered by the United States of America in relation to its socio-economic progressive initiatives. ... itiative of ‘Americanization’, especially when relating to the socio-economic relationship between the US and the Middle Eastern Islamic countries. This particular concern can be critically analyzed with concern to the study conducted by Rauschenberger (1-35). According to Rauschenberger, many industrialized nations today have been inevitably influenced by the technological developments as well as the philosophical aspirations of America and other developed western countries, which are somewhat impulsively re-shaping the cultural rudiments of those developing nations. The examples include China, Saudi Arabia, France, Iran and Iraq among others. The rudiments of the alterations happening within the national contexts in effect of cultural imperialism, which is also referred as ‘Americanization’ can be identified with reference to the rapid progression of American retail chains, film industry as well as the channelization of societal paradigms in the internatio nal podium. It is worth mentioning in this regard that not all the nations have been convivial with such alterations, disregarding their ancient heritage and cultural rudiments for the sake of cultural imperialism (Rauschenberger, â€Å"It’s Only a Movie – Right? Deconstructing Cultural Imperialism Examining the Mechanisms Behind U.S. Domination of the Global Cultural Trade†). It is in this context that Islamic nations have often been disparaged in the international context as a major adversary of the US. Even a few of the terrorist attacks on America have been deliberated by the groups as fundamentally motivated by the â€Å"perceived American cultural imperialism† (Rauschenberger, â€Å"It’s Only a Movie – Right? Deconstructing Cultural Imperialism Examining the Mechanisms Behind U.S. Domination of the

A Strategic report on The CrossChannel Transport Business and Essay

A Strategic report on The CrossChannel Transport Business and Eurotunnel (GET.SA) - Essay Example Choice affects outcomes and this is the nature of strategy. Whereas organizations can often function just fine in periods of stability, this is not appropriate for long-term success. Environmental turbulence and competition are sure to increase at some point, at which the company that was relying so heavily on the stability will be adversely affected. This is the very basis of the formation of strategic management. Whatever strategy a company decides to employ will be based on their unique organizational structure, their access to resources, their relationship with the environment, and their desired objective(s) (Wikipedia, 2008). Capacity on Cross-Channel traffic has grown with the opening of the tunnel in 1994, and with bigger modernized ferries, and fast hydrofoil services. Unlike low-cost airlines where lower prices have led to a growth in travel, demand for vehicle transit across the channel has not also grown rapidly, therefore and intensely competitive situation persists, especially away from holiday 'peaks'. It is easily notable here that while Eurotunnel is experience steadiness, they are not experiencing the growth they desire. People have other choices for travel, such as flying. When the price of airline travel goes down, Eurotunnel experiences less business. Road freight traffic grows steadily with economic growth in the EU; car traffic (especially from the UK) is largely dependent on shopping and vacation choices. Eurotunnel also has 'rail-user' customers 'Eurostar' and 'Rail-freight'; the former is growing rapidly, the latter has problems. According to the company information that is provided to the public on their corporate website, "Eurotunnel is the holder, until 2086, of the Concession to operate the cross-Channel Fixed Link made up of twin rail tunnels and a service tunnel below the bed of the Straits of Dover, of two terminals in Folkestone (Kent) and Coquelles (Pas-de-Calais) which provide access, as well as a fleet of 25 Shuttles which transport passenger vehicles or trucks. This impressive undersea structure, the longest in the world, also gives passage to passenger and freight carrying trains belonging to rail operators" (Eurotunnel, 2008). There are current and future key issues and trends that are likely to affect this market and GET.SA's strategy-making. One major issue is the abolishment of the Strategic Rail Authority in 2006, as it is yet to be determined how this will strategically affect the industry. The United Kingdom's growth rate largely determines the condition of the passenger and freight transport markets in the country. According to Bharat Book Review: "The present economic climate remains favourable for companies operating in the market, with economic growth steady, and both inflation and unemployment levels relatively low by historical standards. Rail passenger markets benefit from the fact that work-related trips, both the journey to work and trips undertaken as part of business activity, are likely to be relatively inelastic to short-term changes in the economic climate. Rail freight, which serves markets for the carriage of industrial materials, is likely to be relatively unaffected by any short-ter m fluctuations in consumer demand (2006). There are other customer concerns that are affecting this market. First of all, they are concerned about issues such as safety and security.

Discussion on developmental Democracy Research Paper

Discussion on developmental Democracy - Research Paper Example To better comprehend the strands of republican impression it is crucial to understand its origin in early liberal thought (Held, 2006). The concept of ‘social democratic’ politics has emerged from the beliefs and theories of developmental democracy but it actually fructified in the real politics and policies of the popular Keynesian and interventionist state only after the 2nd World War. The fast economic development after the 2nd World War helped finance a program of make-believe sort of greater welfare but the worldwide economic recession of the 1970s reduced the appeal of the welfare program for not serving the cause of common welfare by both the left and the right. Various stakeholders of the concept of greater social welfare such as politicians, trade unionists and industrialists could not hold the torch together any more but the concept of equality and justice for all cleared the path of a comprehensive program of state intervention in civil society. But no decisiv e limitations were stipulated for the state intervention, thus promoting paternalism, bureaucracy and hierarchy throughout the state politics, which had their own outcomes on the dynamics of democracy (Held, 2006). Developmental democracy is one of the classical models of democracy. It holds that people can bring about change for the better in society through participation in government and community matters for the common welfare of all. Developmental is a part of democracy that states the process used by people to inculcate human prowess to help in creating consciousness of their actions aimed at people themselves to take care of their overall welfare. Citizens play an active role in government and local administrative matters via voting and sharing their opinion with the elected representatives, and also with the government spokespersons. Democracy becomes a medium of educating people and increasing their self-welfare potential. Politics offers a platform to them to use their pow er of taking crucial decisions in other fields. The developmental model employs indirect representation just for the reason that direct involvement is not practically possible like participatory democracy. Developmental democracy offers the possibility of political and social equality. In general, the development model takes it for granted that people can gain civic traits and improve upon their human virtues by actively playing their part in democracy (Library, Think Quest). The purpose of electoral democracy is to promote social and political awareness but this notion inclines to provide greater attention to the ‘professionalization of public policy’ by laying increased focus on political parties and civil society ignoring the fact that democracy is not only of the people and by the people but for the people. Worldwide, a new inclination is being observed towards consumer democracy taking the place of citizen democracy with citizens playing various roles such as consu mers, customers, users, and observing of government offerings as products available in the reach of those only who have the resources to buy (Edigheji, 2005). Thus, negative trends can be observed in the form of sectarian disputes, parties divided on the distribution of private wealth, and disinterest of

Orthodox Jewish Wedding Essay Example for Free

Orthodox Jewish Wedding Essay Marriage is normally a ceremony done in churches, in government premises, or in modern ones like beaches and gardens. It is usually done as a sign of love between two people. Marriage used to be a very sacred ceremony as two people say their vows to each other. Different cultures do this in different manners. In this paper, we will discover how the Orthodox Jewish wedding is done. This would prove the diversity of cultures in the world and how the Jewish community carries out their traditions and belief. This is divided into three parts that include the preparations done before the wedding, the set up days before the wedding and the wedding proper. When two people fall in love, what they want to end up mostly is a bride and a groom or a husband and a wife. Although it is altered by some other reasons in the modern times, the idea of marriage is still considered sacred by most of us. Although socio-economic status, health, dynasty and other things affect the people’s view on marriage, we still cannot take away the fact that the people who get married always ask for a happy life. Whatever reason they may have, the bottom line is still that they are searching for contentment in any way. A Jewish wedding day, the same with all other religions, is something that they really celebrate. Different kinds of rituals happen weeks before and during this day, in consideration of their history and heritage. As soon as the couple gets engaged, rituals already take place. It includes breaking a plate to represent the temples in Jerusalem that were destructed. It is to signify that even if they are enjoying in the celebration of the wedding, they are still saddened with the fact that these temples were destroyed before. It is also usual for the parents to do the arrangement of the wedding, with the help of someone like a match-maker called Yenta. Although this is so, the groom is still required to ask the bride’s father for her hand in marriage and to pay a dowry in exchange of the bride (Retrieved on December 11, 2008 from http://www. bbc. co. uk/religion/religions/judaism/rites/weddings_1. shtml). Judaism sees this practice as sacred. They think that without a man and a woman, each of the sexes will never be complete. They complement each other and each compensates what the other loses. They also teach in their doctrines that any person without getting married doesn’t experience the absolute joy and contentment in this life. It means that being married gives satisfaction to people, especially when they are blessed by God. When referring to marriage, they usually use the term â€Å"sanctification† which usually refers to the spirituality of the bond that binds two people and of the commandment made by God. They also see it as something that has a purpose. They view marriage as a perquisite to reproduction and friendship. It is both procreation and companionship. In the bible, as they believe, â€Å"It is not good for a man to be alone†. It is also a practice of each person’s legal rights through a contractual agreement where they sign on. Although there were times when the Jews were dispersed all over the world, they are still successful in preserving this practice as they live. This is probably because they really believe in the practice, because through it, history proves that families stayed stable and happy when they underwent the same kind of marriage . Jewish weddings are almost the same. They are made easier by the Rabbis by asking for a very minimal requirement. The Rabbis is the one who makes the laws in this kind of ritual (Retrieved on December 11, 2008 from http://www. confetti. co. uk/article/view/5054-7598-0-). Marriage in the Orthodox Jewish is very much full of traditions that show practice and devotion. In planning their weddings, every detail is very important. They take the preparation as a challenge of their capacity and a challenge to celebrate the wedding successfully. They pay too much attention to all the needs of the ceremony that makes every wedding a perfect one. The Orthodox Jews are believed to be the strictest among the strands of the Jewish faith. Their wedding ceremony is done by combining the legal and religious aspects of marriage. In case one of the couple is non-Jewish, he or she is asked to convert to the same religion. They believe that happiness cannot be achieved if they don’t undergo marriage, which is a license to fulfillment in the world. Also, it is said that when they get married, they don’t just focus on material and temporal elements of the preparation, but they also assure that their doctrines are properly carried out and that their spiritual and moral preparedness is enveloped on the marriage itself. It just proves that although their marriage is after a good life on earth, they still put in more consideration the supernatural and their religion per se (Retrieved on December 11, 2008 from http://www. confetti. co. uk/article/view/5054-7598-0-). Planning an Orthodox Jewish wedding is very tedious. They must consider a lot of things for them to be able to come up with a successful one. Most of the Jewish couple provides a planner that would make it easier for them to see chronologically their plans and the specifics of the ceremony. Through that, they will be able to get organized and efficient in the planning of the main event. The date of the wedding is usually known after they already register with a synagogue and Rabbi at the Chief Rabbi’s office. The time of the day and the day itself are also given much attention to in planning a wedding. It is usual to marry in the afternoon or in the evening, but you can also marry anytime of the day according to what the couple desires. Most of them, however, choose to marry on days like Sunday and Tuesday. It is also not allowed to do the wedding three weeks between July and August and on the Sabbath of festival days (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover Shavuot, and Sukkoth). In case, they want to get married on a Saturday, they prohibit doing the ceremony earlier than two hours before the sun is down (Retrieved on December 11, 2008 from http://www. onfetti. co. uk/article/view/5054-7598-0-). In general, the first thing to do in planning it is to choose a date that they both want. They usually choose special days like the birth or the death of their rabbis to make a more meaningful celebration. Like other people getting married, they choose a date that means something to them or a date that is significant in their relationship. They also must specify a place or a venue which has enough space for dancing and a wide area where you can put a divider to separate men and women for modesty’s sake. They are very much particular with modesty which they can prove by separating people of different sexes during the wedding ceremony. They must also choose a rabbi to preside the wedding ceremony and a sofer or a Jewish scribe to take charge of the Ketuba or the marriage contract. After that, they must tell their relatives and friends about the wedding and invite them to attend on it. Attendees on this kind of practice matters a lot to the couple because the wedding would not mean anything at all without the presence of a specific number of people. Once they confirm their attendance, they can already inform the caterer about the approximate number of visitors. This is usually done to avoid hassles to both families of the groom and the bride and to assure that everyone eats enough as they celebrate that most important part of their couple life. After that, they must inform those people who are taking part in the wedding to dress accordingly. This is also a sign of respect to the practice. The female ones must use clothes covering the knees and the arms to the elbows, while the married ones must cover their air. Men must wear yarmulkes. The couple must make the wedding canopy from a cloth that is velvet or from a prayer shawl. This is to signify the clouds that helped Jews with everything when they were in the desert. They must make sure that they have the dress, rings without anything engraved in them, and the other things. The bride must make sure she has a veil thicker than the others’ to wear it on the wedding day. From that, they must find a schedule to do the veiling ritual prior the wedding ceremony. It is said that such a practice symbolizes the biblical story that happened between Jacob and Rachel, when they planned to get married. They must assign seven men to utter the words of blessings with a wine. Lastly, they must secure a room for the couple where they can spend on after the wedding proper. They are expected to stay there before they eat and spend time together alone for a certain period (Retrieved on December 11, 2008 from http://www. ehow. com/how_2077192_plan-orthodox-jewish-wedding. html). The wedding invitation is usually two sided and has an English translation at the right side. It does not ask for the person’s presence, instead it is asking people to â€Å"dance at† or â€Å"share in the joy of†. In this kind of ritual, visitors are very important, because they play a very vital role in the process. The copies of the invitation may be distributed and may be given by the couple or both of their parents. Sometimes, the invitation also includes biblical quotes to explain people why such thing is done or to further elaborate the importance of each part of the program (Retrieved on December 11, 2008 from http://www. weddingdetails. com/lore/jewish. cfm). All of the guests are provided with copy of the program for them to know exactly what part they are in during the wedding proper. It may also include some Ketuba texts, the vendors’ names, a note coming from the bridal couple and some explanations of the different elements of the ceremony. This is also done to avoid unnecessary noises when they ask others why a particular thing is done (Retrieved on December 11, 2008 from http://www. weddingdetails. com/lore/jewish. cfm). The Orthodox bride must prepare something white, while the groom must have a short white linen robe called a kittel. The bride is also expected to visit mikyah in the morning of her wedding. This is done to make sure that the bride undergoes a ritual bath that is believed to purify her and to make her a better woman as she gets married (Retrieved on December 11, 2008 from http://www. weddingdetails. com/lore/jewish. cfm). It is also a must, that in able for a couple to get married in the Orthodox Jewish tradition, it is a perquisite that their parents also married in the same manner. Usually, both of their parents underwent the same practice. If in case their parents did not undergo the practice, they must talk to the rabbi for clarification. The ceremony includes singing and reading from the psalms. The wedding usually takes an hour before it finally ends. The wedding can actually occur anywhere, depending on what the groom and the bride choose. Given a desired venue, the bride or the Kallah and the groom or the Chatan, must stand under a canopy. The venue as chosen by them is usually paid by the bride’s parents. The validity of the wedding depends on the number of males present. There must e ten of them, which in their tradition, is called minyan (Retrieved on December 11, 2008 from http://www. confetti. co. uk/article/view/5054-7598-0-). Prior to the ceremony, the groom may spend time with his friends as eat and drink together on a table, called chassans tisch. Brides, on the other hand, take three or seven times circling her groom which is also a practice based on their bible (Retrieved on December 11, 2008 from http://www. weddingdetails. com/lore/jewish. cfm). When the guests arrive on the wedding day, males go with the groom in a certain room, while the female ones go with the bride in another room where she sits on a throne-type chair. This is called â€Å"public beckoning† and may be spent with just family and other guests (Retrieved on December 11, 2008 from http://www. eddingdetails. com/lore/jewish. cfm). A service usually starts with the opening from the rabbi, followed by a bride being escorted to the canopy. It is then followed by a ritual of circling the groom by the bride. This also has a hidden meaning. The benedictions are read after and then the sharing of the cup of wine. The exchange of the rings is then done, followed by the reading of ketuba. Another cup of wine is offered which is shared by the groom and the bride. It was first blessed and told with a prayer for the companionship and joy of the newly wed. Later on, they are proclaimed as husband and wife and they are showered with rice and are greeted with a toast (Retrieved on December 11, 2008 from http://www. weddingdetails. com/lore/jewish. cfm). During the marriage proper, the groom is asked to read from the Torah. That ritual is called Aufruf. Further, it is like a way of congratulating the couple, and letting the public know that they are getting married soon. In the same practice, some brides throw candies and nuts as he finishes the recitation of the benedictions. Through that, they are able to ask for a sweet and fertile life. The groom gives his bride a ring that is a sign of love. It is put on the bride’s right index finger, up to the second knuckle. It is so, because they believe that such a finger points to the soul and that it is used in pointing when they are reading the Torah. On the contrary, she puts the ring on his left ring finger. As they are doing this, they are reciting a Hebrew statement called haray aht (Retrieved on December 11, 2008 from http://www. weddingdetails. com/lore/jewish. cfm). In summary, preparing for the Orthodox Jewish Wedding is no easy thing. It requires a lot of effort to come up with an acceptable wedding that takes in consideration both the earthly and the religious aspect of life. Through this paper, we can also picture that even if there are still more days before the wedding, the people are already busy planning the event and are already doing some practices for the benefit of the big day. The wedding proper shows that values of these people as they do the rituals associated with getting married. It is also very obvious that they are really trying hard to avoid getting away from the proper way of doing it. Before and after the wedding, they are very optimistic about their, because of their trust to the Almighty. Everyone is looking forward to a happy and a blessed life ahead as they undergo the blessing of God through marriage. Celebration of their wedding is really something that the Jewish community must really be proud of. It is full of traditions that only their group inhibits and practices as well. Their culture is very rich and admirable. This is only a proof that cultures vary from place to place and that each culture has its beauty that everyone can admire. It is the Jewish community’s pride to have this and definitely, there are not just proud, but happy about acquiring this kind of culture.

High And Low Involvement Product

High And Low Involvement Product Intel Corporation is founded by Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore in year 1968, and allocated at United States, and slowly grow to be the leader of the market of microprocessor market. Microprocessor is one of the part of the computer and most of the people called it as the brain of the computer, it actually help to transfer data from the computer to the other data storage and respond to the hardware for an example show the word we type on monitor and others. From year 1968, Intel Corporation start to introduce several famous series of microprocessor like MCS-40 family, Pentium series, Atom series, Core 2 Duo series, i3 series,i5 series and the latest i7 series. For this assignment that brand or series of microprocessor introduced by Intel will be Intel Core i7 series which as know as the best microprocessor for the time. High and Low involvement decision making For Intel microprocessor product such as i7, it actually could be categorized in to both level of involvement. For the consumer who wanted to have a very good performance and long lasting processor they will do lots of research on the certain products and for the consumer who always purchase the Intel processor are also a high level of brand loyalty due to their purchase history in processor is just Intel, most of them will have a feeling that they only want Intel as the processor but not others like AMD, beside that Intel Core I7 also consider as a high price product compare to the other microprocessor. So in this case, Intel i7 is a high involvement products but at the same time due to the risk taken by the consumer to purchases it actually it just a low involvement product. Consumer decision making process Consumer decision making process is a cognitive process which start when a awareness of needs of the consumers and it ends when the consumer have dispose that particular product or service. In consumer decision making process, there are numerous different model but in this assignment the model that we will go through deeply will be the 5 stages of consumer decision making process. http://www.web-books.com/eLibrary/Books/B0/B64/IMG/fwk-tanner-fig03_002.jpg The Five Stages of Consumer Decision Making Process The five of the consumer decision making process will be, need recognition, search for product information, product evaluation, product choice and purchase, postpurchase use and evaluation of product, disposal of the product. Need recognition In this stage, consumer will concerned about what they want. For an example, a consumer actually found out that they need a better computer to play games or to do work, then they will start determine that what kind of processor they actually need, a better performance microprocessor come with a high graphic support for gaming or just a normal microprocessor for normal usage. Search for Product Information When the customer recognized what they want, they will look for information about microprocessor. For an example, there is a customer who realizes that he need a high performance of microprocessor for gaming then he will started to look for information of the existed product no matter from Intel or AMD. Product Evaluation When the customer finished on looking information in the microprocessor market, they might start to compare several product deeply to ensure which one will be the best for him to purchase. For gaming usage, the customer might choose Intel Core I7 and AMD Opteron as the choices available due to the performance that the product that can supply, and they might choose other product like Intel Core 2Duo or AMD Turion for their choice just because of the cheaper price and durability for normal usage. Product Choice and Purchase When the customer finish compare the featured between the microprocessor they choose, they will come to this stage to choose the product which they think is the best and purchase it mean the customer might purchase Intel Core I7 because after comparison they found out this microprocessor can provide a better performance and the reputation of this product is also good compare to the other microprocessor after the research made. Post purchase uses and Evaluation of the Product After consumes of Intel Core I7, the customer will come to this stage to evaluate whether Intel Core I7 meet their expectation or it did not. The features that the consumer will evaluate might the performance of the microprocessor whether is it fast enough or smooth enough when they playing game and how long is the microprocessor last for, few months or few years. These attribute will be the features that the consumer will evaluate after they consumer or used the product. Psychological Core Attention From this advertisement, it actually attracts attention of the people while people saw it. This advertisement actually mentions that there is a series of new microprocessor being introduced to the market by Intel through the sentence stated in the advertisement. From this advertisement, it also mentions that the brand new series of the Intel microprocessor will also be faster and even smarter compare to the old series of the microprocessor. And this kind of attention we called it as selective attention. Intel also created a very popular stimulus attention to most of the consumer which is a start up sound of the Intel computer, and this unique sound have been memorized by most of the Intel user and they will know that while this unique sound started up when the people on their computer, their microprocessor must be Intel. Perception The brochure above is one of the products from Intel Core I7 series with the information. When there is a consumer going to a PC Fair and he received this brochure and he does not having any interest on getting a microprocessor, he will know the exists of this product but will not go deeply on it and this is one of the perceptual stage that we called exposure stage. For attention stage, that customer who in the PC Fair when he get this brochure and he having a intention of getting a good microprocessor for gaming or any other usage they will read this deeply and do the research of this product and compare to the other product and at the end they might create a certain sense to this product which might be fastest processor that he can be founded and when the sense is created, it will be another perceptual stage which we call interpretation stage. Motivation Motivation is a inner force which able to drive us to reach the target or goal set to achieve, the inner force might be desires or wishes. For motivation there actually 2 famous theories which able to apply to product and services which is: Maslows Hierachy of Needs W. J. McGuire psychological motives W. J. McGuire psychological motives W. J. McGuire had list out 16 different needs of motive and from this advertisement we know that this actually attract 2 of the needs that have been listed. Needs of stimulus is the first needs that created by this advertisement, this need actually mention that the consumer will always seeking for change due to the boringness or some other reason. So while consumer have been fed up with the old computer which giving a very slow performance. And they will start to look for the information and might adopt Intel Core I7 to fulfill their needs. Teleological need is the second needs created by the advertisement while the consumer always think that their microprocessor should be able to support their computer to run the game fast and smooth but at the end it actually unable to do so. So they will try to look for a new item which able to fulfill their ideal situation, the microprocessor will able to make the game fast and smooth so when they saw the sentence fastest processor on planet, this will attract them and they might try to adopt it to fulfill their need. Learning A consumer might be learns about the featured of the processor due to the performance and durability while the people around him purchase a different microprocessor. So while there is a reward and a punishment given through the evaluation of product from the consumer, he might adopt Intel Core I7 because it might get a better evaluation from the others Memory For consumer who not so interested on purchasing a processor, they would not pay much attention on the attributes of Intel Core i7, so the memory toward the featured of the product is just a short memory while there is a consumer who being very motivated to search for a ideal processor, he will go and do lots of research and comparison between Intel Core i7 and the other processor while he keep doing comparison and research, the memory against the product will slightly change to be a long term memory due to the time he went through it. Attitude Attitude is the feeling on what we feel on certain thing that we can see, touch or heard through our sensory organ and this will be a part of long term memory in our brain and the long term memory will slowly be a belief. While we use Intel processor and we actually satisfy with the product through the durability and the performance, so through the experience we will create a certain belief in Intel that the quality of product is the best and this is a long term belief in our heart and brain. While this belief is stay strong in our mind, other competitors like AMD is very unlikely to convince them to purchase AMD processors. In year 2006, Intel runs a marketing strategy which consists 3 basic strategies that used to change the attitude. The 3 basic include will be change belief, shift importance and changing ideal point. The marketing strategy actually is running a campaign named Sponsor of Tomorrow. In this campaign, Intel trying to change the belief of customer which think that they are just a business organization by telling them the company is not only a business organization but also a company which trying to create a better future through technology and they also trying to tell the consumer that the money is not so important while customer paying a higher price for Intel microprocessor, they also giving a fund to Intel as a sponsor of creating a better tomorrow. Besides that, Intel also trying to changing a ideal point of consumer towards a microprocessor when they are purchasing a Intel microprocessor, they are not obtaining a best processor but also helping Intel to build a better tomorrow. Culture Culture is a ways of life which including but not limited to, language, art, science, thought, spirituality, social activity and interaction. Culture actually is words that represent the entire element mentioned and it would always change due to the different environment that we stay and we born. Nowadays as a modern world, among the teenagers around 7 years old to 20 years old there is a new culture, which called gaming culture. Gaming culture is a culture that the people would enjoy on playing video or computer games and this actually lead to increase of demand of the service of cyber cafà ©, due to the increment of demand. To satisfy the needs and wants from the teenagers cyber cafà © will always need to upgrade their facilities which consists of ram, processor, sound card and the monitor. Intel Core i7 as the latest and the fastest processor will be one of the first choice for those cyber cafà © because it able to provide better performance and the better performance will able to increase the reputation and the sales of the shop. So due this kind of situation, the gaming culture actually increases the awareness of Intel Core i7 among the cyber cafà © to improve their facilities and business. Subculture Subculture is a segment of a culture which having a different social status, history background and belief. For gaming culture, there also a numerous subcultures, such as online gaming culture, Local Area Network (LAN) gaming culture and single playing game culture. For online gaming and single playing game culture, those gamer will most likely to play the game at home but not like the Local Area Network gamers who prefer to play at cyber cafà © to enjoy the group gaming, they would like to upgrade their own computer at home to enjoy the games, so they will pay attention the Intel Core i7 which have a better performance compare to the others and do certain research and purchase it to enjoy their games. Society Society formed by a group of people decided to work together to reach same target or goal. The goal might be form by entertainment, profession, religious or some other factors. For an example, there a group of teenagers who like to play games and have decide to come together just to form a society to enjoy the fun of the game while they started to enjoy game together, they will started to compare the function of the processor due to the performance given when they playing game. Intel Core i7 as the fastest processor will be aware by those people in sense of good performance and able to maximize the satisfaction on gaming. Life cycle stage Life cycle stage consists of 4 different stages which represent our life and started with the day we born. The stages in our life cycle will be child, teenager, adult and aged. Child is the stage while we had born and before 12 years old, teenager will start from 12 years old to 30 years old people, adult will be stage around 30 years old to 50 years old, and the aged will be the people who is exceed 50 years old. For different life cycle stages, people will have different needs and wants with different purchasing power due to the ability they have. For child, they would not have a high purchasing power so they cannot afford a luxury thing and they might not even know what the use of luxury goods, they would just simply like candy which adult and the aged would not adopt. For the segmentation of Intel, Intel Core i7 actually is targeting the teenagers which would like to play game with a good processor and this product is actually affordable for people who around 22 years old once th ey start working. Group The reference group that will help Intel to influence other will be the associative reference group. While there are a group of teenager are using Intel Core i7 for gaming, the new member who not using that product will feel uncomfortable while they talking about the performance of the computer, this lead to the awareness of that member on Intel Core i7 to do research or purchase it Segementation, Positiong and Target Market Intel Core i7 TM Intel Pro 2 Core Intel Core i3 AMD Phenom MCS-40 family Intel Core i5 AMD Opteron Intel Xeon Low Performance Less Innovative High Performance Performance Innovative Asus AMD Turion AMD Athlon Intel Pentium Series AMD K7 series Graph 1: Perceptual mapping against microprocessor available in market (without a support from a statistic data) Segmentation Segmentation is a marketing strategy that used to pick a small group of people from the entire market by different attributes like ageing, height, weight and others. http://www.statistics.gov.my/portal/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=54%3Apopulation-updated-31072009catid=35%3Akey-statisticsItemid=53lang=en Demographic Demographic is one of the best information to segment the market through the ageing, for Intel, they actually targeting the segmentation of the age of 15 to 30, because for this ageing area, most of the citizen will interested to have a better performance of processor for gaming so this actually categorise as Intel Core i7 targeted market. Target Market For Intel Core i7 targeted market will be the consumer is age of 15 to 30, due to the favourable on getting a high performance processor for gaming and following the trend of innovative. Because of this reason, Intel would not like to target the age which is below 15 or above 30 is because of the purchasing power of peopl below 15 is unable to afford that processor and people who above 30 will not interested on the innovative item and the performance of the processor for gaming as well. Positioning In most of the consumer perceptual mapping, Intel Core i7 actually is the lastest and its also the best product due to the confident tag line it having fastest processor on planet and lead to a trend that they think that this is the best product compare to other product like AMD Opteran, Intel i3 and i5 from the speed performance of processor and the graphic supply as well. Product Repositioning For every product, consumer will have a different perceptual mapping against them and their competitors, to reinforce the perceptual level of consumer against their product, most of the company will choose to use different packaging, advertisement slogan and others factors which is useful. For an example, Intel Core i7 advertisement will be one of the product repositioning, due to the sentence wrote in the advertisement fastest processor on the planet this actually did reinforce the perceptual level of the consumer against Intel Core i7 due to the performance level and innovative level because this product is the fastest processor in the planet nowadays, if without this sentence, the perceptual level of consumer will definitely drop. Product Mix Strategy Product Intel Core I7 processor having a better performance and better durability and high graphic support which able to attract the attention of the gamer in the market at the range of age between 20 to 30 years old. Price The cheapest Intel Core I7 processor in Malaysia will cost around RM800.00 which could be consider as a expensive product compare to the other competitors or other Intel product. Intel Core I7 consider as a valuable purchase even those the price is slightly expensive compare to the other due to the performance and the durability given by the product and the licensed operating system Window will also given free while consumer purchase a Intel processor. Place Intel Core I7 processor is a very common processor that able to be found in any IT retailer shop. Except IT retailer shop, Intel Core I7 also can be found in most of the laptop or desktop retailer shop like Dell, Hp Compaq, Acer and Logitech. Promotion In Malaysia, Intel did not do much of the promotion, there just a little advertisement of Intel in Malaysia which mostly appear in Astro TV at ESPN channel, even those not every citizen will aware of Intel Advertisement but there still will be a grow of awareness increase from the advertisement.

Advantages of integrating arts into the curriculum

Advantages of integrating arts into the curriculum The purpose of this paper is to investigate the advantages of integrating arts into the curriculum. Looking closely at students with communication disorders, the immeasurable possibilities to aid them with verbal communication aids are never-ending. It is important for educators to acknowledge the success that has been demonstrated when students involve themselves in their learning as well as in their ability to communicate. Arts integration is an educational approach that creates a level of personal connection, as well as an appreciation for different learning styles. An emphasis on the process of discovery with the arts allows for unexpected outcomes. Teachers help students to develop more complex thinking skills, and add depth in the classroom through a creative analysis of the work created. The work is looked at for its meaning rather than its visual appeal. Using the arts can assist students in verbal understanding, focusing and concentration. Ranging from speech disorders to de velopmental disorders, the idea of art as therapy is never looked at as an alternative within the school system. I will be using the utilization of art integration in the school system as a way to analyze the success of students with speech therapy issues. With the increase in the number of students that need help with speech issues, the variety of methods that teachers are able to use should also expand. By using various strategies teachers demonstrate how the arts ignite creativity and enhance learning. Arts integration as a form of speech therapy in the Elementary Schools has a positive impact on the oral language and overall comprehension in elementary age children. The art as a method for assisting verbal communication in learning-disabled students combines articulation and language skills. Incorporating professional speech pathology strategies, the use of the arts looks at things that might assist the children in not only speaking but also progressing in creating their own communication. The events created are built on a foundation of methods, enhanced by current research, and techniques that have been successful in many experiences. (Estrella, 2005) Can we think beyond the developmental stages in art that we have taken for granted for so long and that have implicitly limited the possibilities of experiences and materials that we have offered children? (Mason 2006) It is important that all educators acknowledge the success that has been demonstrated when students involve themselves in their learning. Arts integration is an educational approach that creates a level of personal connection, as well as an appreciation for different learning styles, for both professor and student. Before finding the answer to questions regarding art in relation to communication it is necessary to understand the background, history, and importance of what Art Therapy is. Although similarly different, Art Integration and Art Therapy are similar notions but different practices. With a general concentration on combining art into the curriculum, Art Integration is a general education tool. While art therapy focuses solely on the use of art in relation to verbal exercises. Art Therapy by definition is a form of psychotherapy; in psychotherapy there is an exploration of feelings and concerns in nonverbal and verbal exercises that use simple visual art materials. Art therap y focuses on the creative processes possible for a person instead of what they are able to produce. Perplexing and difficult feelings are able to be expressed through using Art Therapy because it is presented in a non-threatening manner. It is used to encourage insight, self-awareness, and independence of the patient. Teachers help students to develop more complex thinking skills, and add depth in the classroom through a creative analysis. Those who utilize Art Therapy often feel they are able to communicate and gain understanding within various communicational aspects through it. Art Therapy is said to help in a creative process that a person goes through in which they can find inner guidance and find self-healing at a conscious level.(Ulman, 1975) Art Therapy can be expressed through storytelling, poetry, music, dance, visual arts, painting, sculpture, and any other type of creativity activity.(Ulman, 1975) Many Art Therapists believe that there is growing a stronger connection be tween art and healing and believe that Art Therapy is significant to a persons health. In an article entitled Expressive Therapy: An Integrated Arts Approach expressive  therapist Estrella, discusses expressive  arts  therapy, integrative  arts  therapy, and therapy as an all-purpose treatment for children with communicative as well as learning disabilities. Her idea of interrelatedness of the arts takes an integrated approach to the use of the arts as a tool for psychotherapy. Also referred to as expressive arts therapy, integrative arts therapy, multimodal expressive therapy, or intermodal expressive therapy, according to the author this represents a discipline rooted in philosophical, cultural/historical, and clinical models that each support the unique contributions that an interdisciplinary approach to the arts affords. (Estrella 2005) Using the arts can assist students in understanding, focusing and concentrating. Arts integration in the Elementary Schools has a positive impact on the language, oral as well as overall comprehension in elementary age children. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the advantages of integrating and effectively using the arts in the curriculum as a therapy tool, for students with language as well as communication disorders. Furthermore, this paper will evaluate the arts as an integration tool to encourage mainstreaming of LD (Learning Disabled) students into the classroom. By using these various strategies teachers demonstrate how the arts ignite creativity and enhance learning. There is a growing recognition of the arts as intrinsically interdisciplinary.(Estrella, 2005) Recent research tends to stress the negative impact of knowledge on drawing, the extent to which what children know about an object prevents them from drawing what they see. (Giles 2004) The arts too many educators are viewed as leisure activity, non-academic, and irrelevant to the employment world. An integrative approach to teaching, for example, connects visualization with reading comprehension, contextualizes math, or brings an experiential context to the science or social studies classroom.(Estrella 2005) Funding for art education in many schools both public and private has significantly reduced or completely been cut. Government officials at state or city levels feel the need for art education is not as significant as the need for more academic based programs like mathematics, history, science and social studies. Studies proposed to make a cut of 35.6 million dollars in art education (FY 2006 Ed Budget Summary, 2005). Officials see art education as something that is impeding on their students academic careers, rather than helping them. Using the arts can assist students in understanding and applying skills to standardized exams. Focus and concentration can be d eveloped through an appreciation and appliance of different learning styles, such as linguistic, visual or kinesthetic thinking.(Estrella 2005) Through the integration of insight into cognition (thinking) and expression (acting) students perform at a higher level. Although art therapy has been used in some fashion beginning in the first half of the twentieth century, its range of helpful effects is still only partially explored today. (Appel 2006) Therapists constantly invent new ways to use the arts to assist people with a variety of disabilities and psychological problems. However, it was not until about one hundred years ago that doctors began to record descriptions of spontaneous artwork done by their patients. (Appel 2006) The emotional development of children, fostered through encouragement of spontaneous creative expression and self-motivated learning, should take precedence over the traditional intellectual approach to the teaching of standardized curriculum(Appel 2006). Not only does it encompass less threatening, non-verbal techniques with patients that have profound difficulty verbalizing their feelings and though ts; it can be used to open and expand verbal communication, as well.(Geist 2008) Art therapy, is meant to function as a way of supporting ego functioning by enhancing a sense of identity and self-esteem and in the process, fostering maturation in the patient.(Ulman 2005) In other words, Art therapy complements or supports psychotherapy but does not replace it. An entity of its own, psychotherapy, although an effective therapy method, would be used with art therapy rather than by itself. From the earliest days of psychoanalysis, the making of art was viewed according to the analysts theoretical stance.  By examining the patients conscious mind art therapy is still engaged in this fashion as an attachment to logical treatment. This concept has also had a considerable impact on the broader field. (Strand 2006) There are many fields of study that focus on children and their needs whether it may be mental, social or physical, one of these fields of study is child psychology. Child psychology is a form of study that allows understanding the developmental stages of children and what should be expected of them during their different stages. But art therapy permits us to understand children at a different level, a more intimate level, allowing us to view more in-depth the mind of a child. By understanding the developmental and behavioral stages of children, therapists can better identify what is hindering the child from proper and age appropriate communication. The theory that encompasses ideas to increase aid for students with developmental disorders touched upon by theorist Lev Vygotsky, who states that culture gives the child the cognitive tools needed for development.  Vygotskys zone of proximal development is one of his best-known concepts. The overall role of the speech-language patholog ist is the integration of fluency-shaping and stuttering modification approaches. The author goes in detail about how well children represent events seeming in their world in relation to speech. The authors concept in relation to Vygotsky and his theory of Scaffolding which argues that students can, with help from adults or children who are more advanced, master concepts and ideas that they cannot understand on their own, connects directly through a process of using what the students already know, to develop the things they need help with. Those who argue against funding arts education need to take a closer look at what art education does for a child. With the constant need for extracurricular activities resources in the schools are limited, with too much emphasis on instruction time; students lose the opportunity to express themselves as individuals. As displayed in the graph above, a 2003 study of a Minneapolis Elementary school system showed the overall amount of students that had integration in schooling had an impactful increase in the amount on their reading score. The pink line representing the English Language Learners showed a valuable increase in the total reading scores increased in relation to the amount of integration incorporated. Likewise, the amount of students qualifying for free lunch had a measurable increase due to an increase of arts integration. Researchers have found that enriched arts education bridges gaps created by socioeconomic and language barriers because art is a shared language and skill that all children understand. Likewise, research has shown through the graph that Low-SES students involved in music programs outscored low-SES no-music students on the referenced mathematics assessment. Low-SES students who were more involved in drama activities had greater reading proficiency and a more positive self-concept, and the gaps widened over time, as compared to low-SES students with little or no involvement. With the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act, some states and districts have dramatically cut back their arts programs as well as decreased funding for arts education; the number of art, music, and drama teachers; and the time chosen in schools for art related activities. But in many instances there is a lack of knowledge about art and its therapeutic forms, among caregivers as well as among those who could benefit from it. As Ulman points out, the term Art Therapy is used to refer to a variety of practices with many different aims, noting that there are numerous different kinds of qualifications. What all art therapy has in common, however, is that engaging in an art practice is used in some attempt to assist integration or reintegration of personalities.(Ulman 2005) Similarly, an interview from the mother of a now, 11 year old son states that when he was 5- 8 years old he participated in art/play therapy and states that, It (art therapy) has helped him to accept himself the way he is.   He had difficulty feeling like he was different from other children and the play/art therapy has helped him understand to accept the differences as positive aspects of his life. (N. Gidney, personal communication, February 14, 2010) In a 2010 article about funding in schools, Holly Lambert, a teacher at Morgan School in uptown Charlotte, is reaching out to the ASC (Arts Science Council) for up to $60,000 through a web site that raises money and matches donations to go towards the arts education across the United States (DonorsChoose.org). Lambert and many of her colleagues are submitting requests for musical instruments, art supplies and other materials on a special page:  donorschoose.org/asc. The ASC will match up to $30,000. The need for resources is ever growing and will continue to increase as funding decreases. (Brown, 2010)    Teachers often find themselves in a field without formal recognized certification; working within schools art teachers or classroom teachers, often have to teach in their own art field, because a standard art inclusion curriculum isnt provided. Meanwhile, boards of education, principals, and state legislatures are pressing for reading, mathematics, science, and social studies achievement, placing the arts in schools at risk. In this graph it displays a fifth grade classroom, focusing on males. This shows, likewise to the other graph, a significant increase in the reading scores in relation to the amount of integration. The more integration allowed, the better the students scores ended up, especially in males. Students performing below the standard or nearly meeting the standard, require educational opportunities that partner their learning styles (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal) with their areas of weakness (verbal linguistic, logical/mathematical). (Wadeson 1980) Q: Do the arts transform the environment for learning? Language for the students should strive at all times to develop an atmosphere that encourages verbal communication. In this, interviewer N. Gidney states that her sons communication skills have increased through play therapy.   Through the play therapy we have learned new ways to communicate with each other. I have learned a lot about the way he communicates and it has helped my son to feel more comfortable talking to me about subjects he may not have if it was not for the therapy. (N. Gidney, personal communication, February 14, 2010) Likewise, there must be times of quiet during the school day for individualized instruction, but in integrating art into the curriculum it encourages and helps develop independent working skills. In providing enriching language activities more can be made of group activities. The idea of social exchange is evident when looking at the things that encourage students to speak to each other rather than think independently. The development of language skills is important for successful interpersonal communication. Geist argues in an article entitled Integrating Music Therapy Services and Speech-Language Therapy Services for Children with Severe Communication Impairments: A Co-Treatment Model, how preschool children with speech-language disorders demonstrated social communication skills in basic group music activities with their non-disabled peers. This text connects directly to BF Skinners behaviorism theory stating that learning is a function of change in overt behavior. Changes in behav ior are the result of an individuals response to events (stimuli) that occur in the environment. The effectiveness of arts activities relating to the overall goals of a special needs students as well as the overall goals of the academic curriculum. Perceptual training through the arts is emphasized, and teachers guides to problems related to slow learners as well. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Although researchers involved with child art have long insisted that art is far more tightly interwoven in the fabric of human learning than contemporary Western culture tends to admit, the complex socio cultural and historical reasons for the peripheral position of art in North American schools and preschools remain to be fully explicated, widely understood, and revised in action. (Geist 2008) By using and integrating art into lessons, techniques to broaden language experiences using activities that are divergent from the traditional instructional processes, bombard the child with experiences and specific uses of language, exposing them to a variety of modes of expression, encouraging listening skills, thinking skills, and opportunities for talking. Often times the language distorted child feels self-conscious in speaking before others. The child is often misunderstood, resulting in a reluctance to attempt further verbal communication, resulting in looking for ways of dealing with this hesitancy to talk. With the integration of various art forms, these students with communication disorders or an inability to verbalize become responsible for expressing themselves to other children through a range of media. Drawings are believed to reflect the subjects mental representations and conceptual knowledge about the objects they draw. Drawings become more accurate and detailed as childrens mental models of the world become more extensive and differentiated. (Gardner 2006) Certain forms of arts instruction enhance and complement basic reading instruction aimed at helping children break the phonetic code that unlocks written language by associating letters, words and phrases with sounds, sentences and meanings. Since we do not read reading but rather texts of various kinds in search of meaning, it is important that forms of arts instruction promote both basic reading skills and the achievement motivation that engages young learners in the reading experience. Children develop the ability to write, read, speak, listen, and think by having real experiences with motor activities, reading, speaking, writing, listening, and thinking, and by getting support from experienced learners. Integrating the arts means that the elements of creativity are developed and taught with a set of common experiences. (Gardner 2006) There are many advantages to integrating the arts in relation to speech therapy. Children learn all aspects of language by using language in purposeful situations as well as in situations they enjoy. By integrating the arts into therapy methods, we put children in situations that match the way in which they naturally learn and use language. By integrating the arts for children with communication delays, children develop better critical thinking abilities. A treatment for many kids with speech and or language disorders refers to a problem with the actual production of sounds, where a language disorder refers to a difficulty understanding or putting words together to communicate ideas. As defined, a speech or communication disorder is characterized by the following: Articulation disorders include difficulties producing sounds in syllables or saying words incorrectly to the point that other people cant understand whats being said. Fluency disorders include problems such as  stuttering, the condition in which the flow of speech is interrupted by abnormal stoppages, repetitions (st-st-stuttering), or prolonging sounds and syllables (ssssstuttering). Resonance or voice disorders include problems with the pitch, volume, or quality of the voice that distract listeners from whats being said. These types of disorders may also cause pain or discomfort for the child when speaking. Dysphasia/oral feeding disorders, including difficulties with eating and swallowing. (Sutton 24) Because language disorders can be either passionate or significant, therapy should focus on children who have difficulties understanding language as well as those who difficulty putting words together, limited vocabulary, or inability to use language in a socially appropriate way. Including art, books, objects as well as constant events, these aid in the stimulation of language development. Repetition as well as exercises to build speech and language skills help with articulation or sound production. With the variety of reasons why children need speech therapy, the arts in collaboration relates to cognitive (intellectual thinking) or other developmental delays and motor problems. Certain music instruction, including inclusive instruction that includes spatial training, develops spatial reasoning and spatial-temporal reasoning skills, which are fundamental to understanding and using mathematical ideas and concepts. Learning in individual art forms as well as in multi-arts experiences engages and strengthens fundamental capacities as spatial reasoning, including organizing and sequences, conditional reasoning, theory and consequences, problem solving, and creative thinking. Those officials that are not fighting the budget cuts made towards music education are becoming a part of the reason that current youth will suffer a loss in education. The attitude that math and science are the most valuable subjects to learn is carried over in the budget debate. It has made the whole idea of publicly funded fine arts projects seem wasteful and frivolous. Students who were achieving at academic expectation scored high on all rhythmic tasks, while many of those who scored lower on the rhythmic test achieved below academic expectation. If music education keeps being disregarded, America will suffer by losing a unique opportunity to educate children and keep them in school. Creative thinking skills are improved, by using the side of their brains that dont get used in math and science. Geist argues that music therapy can be integrated with speech therapy and service as an effective method for children with communication delays. This argument is that with the integration of communication arts through music effective speech-language services are set. Through mutual models with procedures, experiences, and communication outcomes demonstrate how preschool children with speech-language disorders demonstrated social communication skills in basic group music activities with their non-disabled peers. However, many professionals are working carefully to improve procedures to address the varied and sometimes complex communication and educational needs of children with disabilities (Geist 2008). Sublimation is a topic that is notorious in art therapy, where some art therapists support the concept and others dismiss it. According to Ulman, author of Art Therapy, only on the basis of sublimation can the function of art and full potential of art therapy be adequately understood (8). While some art therapists believe that the therapeutic value of art therapy can only be achieved through sublimation, many others have witnessed the positive effects art therapy can have in individuals who do not achieve sublimation. This text relates directly to my topic in that through the theorist Freud and his Artistic Sublimation theory. Which states Sublimation is the transformation of unwanted impulses into something less harmful. This can simply be a distracting release or may be a constructive and valuable piece of work, in relation to art. Sublimation channels this energy away from destructive acts and into something that is socially acceptable and/or creatively effective. Typically, an Art Therapy assessment involves the therapists giving the client a series of five or six art tasks, using a variety of media. These tasks relate to the students perception of self, his or her family, and school, or other aspects of their environment. These drawings and the students behavior while approaching this task are then evaluated along with developmental, family, and academic history. It is important to note that childrens progress in drawing differs significantly across the cultural spectrum. A person who uses art as an assessment tool needs to be familiar with the art children are exposed to and the culture they are from, before making an evaluation. Ulman describes sublimation as instinctual behavior is replaced by a social act in such a manner that this change is experienced as a victory over the ego (balance between reality, primitive drives, morals) (p. 8). According to Ulman, Artistic sublimation consists in the creation of visual images for the purpose of communicating to a group very complex material which would not be available for communication in any other formà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Every work of art contains a core of conflicting drives which give it life and determine form and content to a large degree Fine arts educations were not seen as important or even minimally essential, music should be used to help students overcome racial and cultural stereotyping, bias, and insensitivity. Studies have shown the number of years of instrumental music instruction and academic achievement in math, science and language arts are significantly connected. This practice emphasizes the adaptive components that can be put into music integration. Focusing but not limiting to autistic students, Geist claims that when paired with music, speech contributes to feelings that need to be expressed. What students are able to learn, as well as retain through the arts is demonstrated in a variety of mediums. Young children who engage in dramatic enactments of stories and text improve their reading comprehension, story understanding and ability to read new materials they have not seen before. The effects are even more significant for children from economically disadvantaged circumstances and those with reading difficulties in the early and middle grades. In looking at dance integration researchers suggest it encourages pro-social behaviors as well as self-control. The ability to express oneself through dance shows a significant decrease in the frequency of negative behaviors. These techniques were introduced using movement, childrenrsquos stories and discussion. Using dance in the classroom, results have shown that teachers noticed a significant decrease in violent behavior in their students. Including fights, failing to pacify, being frustrated as well as not being able to control their emotions. The children reported significant decreases of these behaviors both seen and experienced: someone is doing something wrong, and someone throwing something. Significant changes in the students perceptions and feelings about experiencing or seeing aggression were noted in their not feeling happy. The use of dance in the classroom allows students to handle themselves and responding to certain situations. Research in dance showed an increase of ldquofeeling happy,rdquo and a decrease in ldquofeeling scared.rdquo (Wadeson 1980) Cognitive psychologists continue to undertake studies related to childrens art experiences, operating within an established consensus regarding the nature of age related changes in childrens drawings observes persistent interest among his colleagues in childrens passage from intellectual to visual realism. (Purnell 2004) Art therapy is a therapy technique that did not position its existence until the 1940s (Sutton 12).  Originally techniques used in art therapy were used in other form of therapy such psychoanalysis or the method of understanding mental life. In which a person would illustrate spontaneously and use free-association.     Art therapy gives children both verbal and nonverbal outlets.  Ã‚  In art therapy the whole creative of art is recognized: form, content, and individual meaning. Art therapy helps in reconciling emotional conflicts as well as promoting self-awareness and personal growth. (Mishook 2006) The process of creating art is rather simple, while the field of art therapy is complex.  Creating art in a therapeutic setting the child goes through a process.  Ã‚  Focusing on a feeling or an event; creating an image that represents the feeling or even; and discussing the significance of the created image (Kramer 1971).  Ã‚  In the creation of an image the client is given a choice of various mediums whether it is drawing, painting, modeling, or construction.  Ã‚   A more structured technique in art therapy is that of the Human Figure Drawing Test by Elizabeth Koppitz.  Ã‚  This technique is used to measure a childs emotional and mental development.  Various depictions of figures have meanings.  Ã‚  According to Koppitz, if child were to draw small figures these would be interpreted as meaning being timid, while large figures would represent aggression. Likewise some of these drawings reveal the relationships between the members of the childs family. According to (Gullant 2008) the Best Practice for Arts Integrated 21st century Learning include the idea that the products created reflect students responsibility for identifying problems and issues, conducting research, examining values, and making reflective decisions within an arts infused curriculum. This also includes active involvement in developmentally appropriate activities results in high-quality works that are a fusion of arts and non-arts disciplines. Gardner refers to the ages between 5 and 7 as the golden age of drawing, and the research teams have devoted considerable attention to the apparent demise of artistry in the middle to late childhood and its unreliable resurgence in adolescence. (Geist 2004) Developmental aspects of childrens drawings    In 1947 Victor Lowenfeld published the book Creative and Mental Growth that was used to connect intellectual growth, psychosocial stages of development, and six stages of development in childrens drawings. Kellogg Foundation (1970) also supported the conclusion that children progress in drawing through different stages, fall into predictable age groups. The Scribble Stage, which appears at about eighteen months to two years of age is said to not just be aimless motion created at random by the child, but demonstrates an awareness of pattern and growing hand-eye coordination. (Silk Thomas, 1990; Lowenfeld Brittain, 1987) Soon after children start scribbling, they will start to name what it was they drew after they have finished drawing it. Around two years of age, children will sometimes label their drawing before they have started working on it, but if the drawing looks like something else to them, they may just change the label. Their scribbles progressively become more recognizable and separate shapes appear on the same page. At around three and a half years, children begin incorporating details like fingers on hands. (Silk Thomas, 1990; Lowenfeld Brittain, 1987) The following stages from ages four to nine consist of two drawing stages, The Pre-Schematic Stage and the Schematic Stage. Both identified by Lowenfeld, the Pre- Schematic stage is when children can draw a human figure with a circle and two dangling lines for legs, sometimes as Lowenfeld states include a