RESPOND TO THESE STUDENTS POST  Be constructive and professional in your responses.

Alisia post
 
Honestly when I think of a poem, I think of words that rhyme together to paint a picture, or make a statement. Poems are usually written with feeling and emotions to reach the heart of people. Poems can be written about anything but to be considered a poem it has to have the elements of a poem. A poem should look like a poem, meaning that the lines don’t run to margins,and some lines are not even sentences and this is what makes it different from prose. Prose has sentences arranged in paragraphs and poems is more freer-flowing and arranged into stanzas. I believe poetry is difficult for readers because it’s harder to understand , it has a whole lot of meaning in so little words. Poetry generally comes from someone’s heart or opinion. Poetry can sometime be misunderstood or taken in the wrong way. Since it’s not that simple a reader must be well acquainted with different kinds of poems. One way to understand poetry is by looking at its outward appearance or structure. What are some ways we can understand poetry better?

Sheena post
“Poems are short and also rich with language and emotion…” (Sellers 2017). When I’m reading a poem one of the first things I notice is that it doesn’t look like other forms of creative writing. For me, a poem usually tells a story with fewer words and most times I need to read them a couple of times before I fully understand it. Reading a book, for example, can have several hundred pages to help the reader visualize what it is the author is trying to get them to see and understand. However, someone writing a poem needs to get their message across in only a few sentences which can make it much more challenging for the readers and authors. With a prose and a poem, the one distinct difference is their form. A prose is usually in a block form with sentences and can be in one or sometimes two paragraphs. A poem is usually freer flowing and is structured with stanzas. To me, poems can be more difficult to write because each word you use needs to be impactful since you don’t have the same free space that you would in other creative writing formats.

Adetayo post
 
I definitely believe there in a mind-body relationship. It has been proven time and time again. There are a number of disorders that have been linked with disruptions in a person’s way of thinking that have a physical effect on their body. These disorders include ulcers, hyperthyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, essential hypertension, neurodermatitis (a skin disorder), colitis, and bronchial asthma. One of the disorders mentioned are ulcers, which are caused by the increased secretion of acid in the stomach, eventually eroding the stomach lining and producing sores. When a person is under a great deal of stress or overly anxious, ulcers are not an uncommon side-effect. Decreasing the stress levels also decreases the severity and occurrence of having an ulcer. I personally have bad anxiety and have in the past experienced trouble breathing and fainting spells due to it. For the past five or so years I have used meditation to calm my breathing and relax my muscles when I am in an uncomfortable situation and have had amazing results.
            I believe the mind and body are constantly working together to function to best of its abilities. There are times where the mind can repair the bodies broken parts on its own, such as through positive thinking or meditation to calm the over active parts of the body. But then there are moments when western medical treatments are needed. For instance, a broken bone or sever infection cannot be cured by simply thinking it away

Ramica post
 
The mind and body share a connection. I do believe that our feelings and thoughts can alter the body’s response. Our minds can have a major effect on our bodies. This philosophy has been identified many centuries ago amongst ancient greeks. Over time it was thought to be separate and now in the 20th century, it has begun to be identified as one again.  With each mental state we go through, whether conscious or unconscious, our bodies have a physical reaction to it.  For example, one experience anxiety, the physical response may be excessive sweating or shaking. My personal experience with the mind-body relationship was so weird to me at first but when brought to the attention of my doctor is was actually common. One month I had an irregular cycle and missed my period. After two weeks I was convinced that I was pregnant. I wanted to be pregnant, so in my mind, I was indeed now a pregnant woman. From that moment on I began to have morning sickness, certain cravings and my breast even began to get very sore.  Once I had spoken with the doctor I was then diagnosed with Pseudocyesis. Pseudocyesis is the belief (MENTAL State) they are pregnant which allows one to experience symptoms of pregnancy only to find out that there is no fetus. I was completely in shock as well as embarrassed because now I think that makes me look crazy. For treatment, I was offered to seek counseling for emotional support as that may help both the mind and body. The physician claimed that when I began to talk about what I want and the reality of my situation it will improve my “symptoms” and relieve me of the false pregnancy as well as eliminate any depression that may come along.

DISCUSSION 2
 
Respond to one learner. In your response, do one of the following:

Ask a probing question.
Offer a suggestion.
Elaborate on a particular point.
Provide an alternative opinion.

RON POST
 
Kiefer’s “Caring and fun: Fostering an adolescent-centered community within an interdisciplinary team” is a qualitative report that can assist professionals in an educational setting greatly in many ways.  First, and foremost, this report provides a great insight to reaching a learning audience in a greater appeal than on research done in the past.  The report concludes that by having an adolescent-centered community, the environment is cultivating to support children in their learning, and enhances the need for structure to provide a positive construct (Kiefer, S. M., & Ellerbrock, C. R. 2012).
I have two kids of my own; one in daycare, the other in kindergarten.  Reflecting on my own experiences with elementary school, there is a tremendous shift between how I was educated and how my children are being educated.  I personally believe that this new way of having a teacher connect on a personal level with the children is a fantastic advantage that encourages learning.  Addressing the results in an interesting fashion will excite other researchers to study this cultivating environment (Gall, M. D., Gall, J. P., & Borg, W. R. 2015).  I am amazed to see my children’s demonstration of knowledge and application of what they are learning more effectively and efficiently than I ever did.

Meghan post
 
Humans have a deep-down desire for community and human interaction. We often seek out relationships with others because of those humanly desires to be cared for and loved. For some, the first safe interactions with community, happens in our schooling years with peers and educators. For students, these are the fundamental years of their lives. These are the most valuable moments for teachers to build up and create lasting memories for students. 
 Kiefer and Ellerbrock detailed just how important it is to be fostering community for students. As detailed in the study, there’s a large need for educators to provide an environment for students that is both “full of care and fun.” (2012, p.14) By providing an environment that is interconnected with these two aspects, teachers are then able to better understand the needs of their students and build classroom relationships. 
     In the study, they found that educators were better able to understand the needs of their students when provided with opportunities to have common planning periods to create interdisciplinary lessons. (2012, p. 3) This not only sets the school days up for success, but also places purpose on what is being taught to students. Teachers feel motivated and prepared to create community with one another. Students feel cared for and supported by all of their instructors. As stated in the article, “Responsive organizational structures, in tandem with developmentally responsive teacher characteristics and practices, helped to cultivate an adolescent-centered community.” (2012, p. 15) The school environment quickly becomes a welcoming place for everyone. 
     After being in this type of community environment, students will have chances to take and replicate their experiences in real world scenarios. They will be the ones who create lasting impacts within their communities and future companies. A team that works well together, often stays together and builds one another up in the process.