This book examines literacy in the public school system. It also investigates and gives perspective to the politics, sensitivity, and a true look at the state of education and literacy through the eyes of a parent and teacher without the weight of political correctness. This book says what many are afraid too for fear of being mislabeled.
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love2teach.bl Joined: Sep-01-2010 |
Born and raised in the Los Angeles area of California, Blair is the only girl of her three sibling brothers. She soared academically. At a young age her academic talents were recognized and appreciated. She had been salutatorian of her kindergarten and preschool class as well as preschool, earning her the opportunity to matriculate directly to the second grade. Blair had received a formal private school education up until the seventh grade. Upon entering the seventh grade, Blair was then enrolled into Edwin Markham Middle School of Watts, California. This institution seemed to be ideal in that it was a medical magnet middle school. From early on it had been her desire to one day become a doctor. Although the specialty changed from time to time, the field of medicine, itself has remained unaltered. She aspired to become a Pediatrician, as most do, an obstetrician gynecologist, an anesthesiologist, and a Forensic Psychiatrist, which has held her heart to this very day.
Having been a product of Edwin Markham Middle School awarded her opportunity after opportunity. Blair was able to become a part of the University of Southern California Medical Curriculum program (USC Med-Cor). The program prepared her and her peers for the Medical field. It was there that she was first provided with practice M-Cat Exams from previous years, medical terminology tests which made her a fluent speaker in the language of medicine, and she was also given additional support in the areas of Math and science. The USC Med-Cor program often invited speakers to share and offer as much information as possible in related fields.
Since being enrolled in school, Blair had never missed a day of school, rain or shine, sick or well. Blair has been on the principal’s Honor Roll in her entire academic career through High School. Upon completion of middle school, she transitioned to King/Drew Medical Magnet High School of Medicine and Science. King/Drew Provided her with an invaluable experience which few schools, if any would have been able to do. She was allowed to work at Martin Luther King Hospital. She worked in Anesthesiology, Labor and Delivery, as well as a division of toxicology. Blair worked with young women and children who were dependent on alcohol and narcotics. She worked to get them ready for the working world. She tested the babies and young children making sure they were mentally competent and up to speed. Blair worked at Eden Medical Center of Los Angeles, California, as well as Ella Fitzgerald Child Care for inner city children. Blair worked in Blair received additional support in her endeavors to become that doctor. She was now to become a member of the Young Black Scholars One Hundred Black Men (YBS). Blair was acknowledged as one of the recipients of the Who’s Who of America Program. She has participated in many spelling Bee’s, Math Olympics, Oratorical Contests, and Speech Meets. Blair is also a Member of a financial organization, TOPS, Taking Our Place in Society.
It was Blair’s senior year in High school when she discovered she also had a passion for the field of education. Blair worked as an after school mentor and Tutor at Ninety-Sixth Street Elementary School.
She was accepted into many four year institutions. Majority of the University of California Schools, the California State University Schools, the University of La Verne, Chaminade University, and Loyola Marymount.She ultimately chose the University of La Verne.
She worked in a literacy program in Ontario, California with second through sixth graders. The program was called HOSTS (Helping Our Students to Succeed) at Levy Dicky Elementary School. She tests the students and works to get them reading at grade level. Blair decided to take the California Basic Education Skills Tests, (CBEST). Passing the exam made her eligible to work at Sylvan Learning Center in Gardena California.
Blair went on to complete her Bachelors degree at the University of La Verne. She graduated with a degree in Education and a minor is Biology for the Medical Field. Blair discovered that her sincere passion truly was education. She went on to take and pass the California Subject Examinations Test (CSET) and the NCLB (No Child Left Behind) certification. Blair did/does many of her fieldwork hours in the Rialto Unified School District and a few in Claremont Unified School District). She has also successfully completed the requirements for the RICA (Reading Instruction Competency Assessment).
She graduated from the University of La Verne receiving her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and Masters of Education degree. She is employed by the San Bernardino County Superintendant of Schools and a substitute classroom aide and Sylvan Learning Center as an instructor in Rialto, California.She works as a substitute teacher for the Rialto Unified School District and Leading Edge Learning Center. It is her goal to write a book for the field of Education with a focus on literacy as it relates to the classroom and home.
