Are You Ready For Summer School

Are You Ready For Summer School Shannon, an experienced summer school teacher, shares her best tips for preparing for this teaching position. She also breaks down different types of summer schools, making it easier for you to know what to expect. Are you Ready for Summer School? The two words “summer school” can conjure up all kinds of images and emotions for both students and teachers. When I was a kid, I only heard of summer school as a threat of punishment, mostly on TV shows. “If you don’t get better grades, then you’ll have to go to summer school.” Today summer school comes in many different forms and addresses various student needs. If you are considering taking on some extra teaching duties this summer, do your homework before you commit. Find out what kind of program you will be implementing and the desired outcomes. Talk to colleagues who have taught summer school to see if it sounds like something you’d enjoy. Types of Summer School Programs Summer school programs generally feel much less structured than the regular school year. Summer sessions are shorter, lasting fewer days and usually fewer hours per day. Expect a much smaller student-to-teacher ratio. You won’t have as much time to get to know your students, but you will likely get more one-on-one time with each of them. Depending on the program, each student may be working on different assignments, also. Completion versus “Retake” Programs Many secondary summer programs are now designed for students to complete assignments for a class that they failed rather than retake the entire course. Often, the goal of their summer program is to finish the assignments that they didn’t turn in, or on which they received a failing grade. Regardless of the type of program, your daily encouragement and support are essential for your students. Remember that these students often have had negative experiences in school, may have low self-esteem, or may be dealing with health issues. Your positive attitude and consistent encouragement can go a long way with them. Show your students that you believe in them and celebrate as they accomplish each goal. Remedial Programs Some students may enroll in a summer program to practice or improve their skills in certain areas. I enrolled one of my children in such a program the summer after seventh grade. He needed a confidence boost in both language arts and math. At first, I was worried that he would see the summer program as punishment, but he actually enjoyed it. He was one of just a few students and received ample attention from the teacher. As a struggling student, he had often remained quiet in class, afraid to ask questions. With one-on-one attention, he could ask anything he wanted without fearing the reactions of classmates. After the first week, he told me how he liked the program and that it gave him “something to do” over the long summer break. Enrichment Programs Many summer school programs are geared toward students with specific interests or talents such as music, science, or technology. If you are teaching in one of these programs, avoid the mistake of being overconfident that your students all want to be there. Some may have a great desire to attend, but others may only be there as a result of a parental decision. You are still on the hook to keep the program engaging for your students. Learn Expectations A few years ago, I was hired to teach the second half of a summer school session. I missed the staff orientation because I was traveling with my family at the time. The principal kindly excused me and told me not to worry about it; they would get me up to speed when I arrived. Huge mistake! I was briefed on the basics the morning of my first day, but I had missed many important details regarding daily routines and procedures. I made at least one mistake per hour on that first day. A voice from the office kept interrupting me over the loudspeaker to tell me what I needed to do next time. Those errors caused me to lose credibility with many of my students. Learn the Curriculum Expectations The program you are teaching may be highly structured, or you may have tons of flexibility. The summer program that I taught was a beginning Spanish class for secondary students who had had little or no previous exposure to Spanish. I was handed a blank slate to teach anything I wanted. It was the perfect opportunity to bring in some music, art projects, and games to expose the students to basic Spanish vocabulary and introduce some culture. I also rewarded them with a sampling of foods and beverages. Learn About Your Students If you have access to academic records, take some time to learn a bit about your students. You can also start the first day with a survey to learn about your students’ interests and goals. Remember that you won’t have as many days to build relationships with your students. Expect the Unexpected Don’t expect summer school to feel like the regular school year. Your students have engaged in a full academic year of learning, and they are ready for a change. Your challenge is to keep them engaged. It needs to be different from a regular school day. For students of all ages, think about how you can use hands-on activities and games to teach the curriculum. If possible, take your students outside for physical activity or a break. Be sure to communicate your ideas with your supervisor since she/he may have specific expectations. Take Care of Yourself Hopefully, your entire summer isn't consumed with teaching and taking continuing education credits. Make sure that you are getting enough time to refresh and replenish yourself over the summer break.Have you taught summer school? Share with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Shannon Krzyzewski is a veteran educator with over twenty-five years of experience teaching Spanish, English/Language Arts, and Social Studies at both the middle and high school levels in the Seattle area. She is now a freelance writer, editor, and educational consultant residing in Montana’s Flathead Valley.

Aurthur Millers The Crucible and McCarthyism Essay

The message in which Miller writes teaches teenagers about what life was like in the centuries before their time, and what some of the themes in those times were; which are also parallel to what happened during Miller’s lifetime, in the era of McCarthyism, as it does in today’s social and political problems. All three of these eras have intolerance, hysteria, reputation, and empowerment woven throughout them. This is one of the reasons they are connected to each other. Teenagers learn many different things from The Crucible’s message, including the Puritans’ intolerance to anybody who did not follow their religion to a tee, or anybody who they considered â€Å"different† from themselves. It is because of this intolerance that the Puritans†¦show more content†¦Salem empowered a group of children by listening to them accuse many members of their community, and those accusations sentencing many innocent people to their deaths. Today’ s teenagers learn about the history during the Salem witch trials, and what it means to judge a person unfairly without knowing, or accepting all of the facts given. The men and women who were charged with witchcraft in seventeenth century Salem deserved the right to live, but many of them were executed because criminals t the time did not have the right to live, as there was not equality under the law for them. Also, the more money a family had, and the better their reputations were, the less likely the charge of witchcraft. This was because they were considered â€Å"more equal† than the poorer citizens and their families, as it was with slavery in the nineteenth century. Slaves were considered personal property, and therefore were inferior to their masters and everybody else. In Miller’s lifetime, McCarthyism was happening. The Red Scare in the 1950s made everyone in the United States afraid of what communists in the United States might do to them. This intolera nce between communists and non-communists caused distrust, suspicions, and mass hysteria during the Cold War in the United States, as it did in seventeenth century Salem. A person’s reputation during McCarthyism, however, could hurt them more then

The Reason For Personal Faith And Religion - 935 Words

Religion and faith are often used hand in hand, but the two are very separate things. They can work together, or may be used separately, if at all, by a person. Religion can be defined as being â€Å"tied or bound by obligations to whatever powers are believed to govern one s destiny.† While personal faith is something that one believes in, without proof or reason, but they are not bound by obligations. The major differences here that I will be discussing is that of written word, obligation, and practice. The first difference is in the reason for personal faith and religion. Most all religions have a reason or a moment in time where it became apparent what they were to do in order to please the governing entity that they worship. This often comes in the form of written or oral word that is passed on through the generations and held very sacred. In the case of personal faith, many find this on their own, with no revelations from a prophet, or by the word of their lord. In my experience, personal faith comes from within, a feeling indescribable to one who has not felt it as well. This feeling is what people call faith, and it often goes along with a religion such as â€Å"The Christian Faith† which just means that one believes, full-heartedly, in the stories of the Christian religion, and their mission. They do not need to see evidence to believe, or have any real proof (or lack of evidence) to believe because the feeling and pull within them is more than enough. The reason this isShow MoreRelatedDifference Between Personal Knowledge And Knowledge1484 Words   |  6 Pagesmust be able to distinguish the difference between personal knowledge and shared knowledge. The interaction between these invites me to reflect on the meaning of a specific shared knowledge claim in relation to the individual. 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Assessment of Grandmother’s Character in ” a Good Man Is Hard to Find” Free Essays

An Assessment of the Grandmother from â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† by Flannery O’Connor The grandmother who remains unnamed all throughout in the story is the protagonist and the central character of Flannery O’Connor’s â€Å"A Good Man is hard to Find, a tragic story of a family who decided to go on vacation but got killed randomly on the road by a criminal on the loose named â€Å"The Misfit†. She is endowed with a joyful spirit, a passion in life in spite of her age. She is a non-stereotypical woman whose old fashion clothing and beliefs contradict her strong, manipulative mind, an opposite trait of a passive and complacent woman in her time. We will write a custom essay sample on Assessment of Grandmother’s Character in † a Good Man Is Hard to Find† or any similar topic only for you Order Now The Grandmother is a smart woman who knows how to assert herself by trying to use all the available resources around her and manipulating them by appealing to their morality. From this information we say that the grandmother is a round and dynamic character as her character changes from being a manipulative mother to her son Bailey, to a quirky, playful grandmother who ignite her grandchildren’s imagination by her stories, and finally, to a humble human being who experiences â€Å"awakening† and acceptance of defeat in her moral battle and failed manipulation scheme with The Misfit. Right from the beginning of the story, we are introduced to a powerful trait of the grandmother—her strong and manipulative character. She did not want to go to Florida, as her son Bailey has planned for the family. Instead she wanted to go to Tennessee to visit her old friends and â€Å"she was seizing at every chance to change Bailey’s mind† (356). She would use everything around her to complete her scheme and set things her way. She picks up a newspaper and shows him the news about a criminal on the loose from the Federal Penitentiary who is headed towards Florida, and attacks his conscience and morals by saying, †I wouldn’t take my children in any direction with a criminal like that a loose in it. I couldn’t answer to my conscience if I did† (356). When her first attempt gets no response, she uses her grandchildren and hopes to convince Bailey’s mind this time by saying that the â€Å"children need to see the other parts of the world and be broad† (356). Finally, when she realizes defeat, the grandmother is the first one all set to go the next morning, an indication of the dynamism and flexibility of her character. This same manipulative character is so important in the development of the plot that it will set fire and conflict of the story. The grandmother persuades her son Bailey to make a detour and let the family see an old house off road. When Bailey says no, she again uses her grandchildren by telling them lies about the secret panel in the house where the old family that used to stay in that house hid their silver. The grandmother knows she ignites the children’s imagination and senses winning this time. This sends the children to a frantic tantrum and ultimately changes Bailey’s mind. The detour causes them an accident and their encounter with The Misfit. In her encounter with The Misfit, still high with power over her ability to changer her son’s mind, she does the same tactic to The Misfit, and hopes not to get killed by persuading The Misfit to change his ways. She evangelizes on his morality and flatters him by constantly telling him he is a good man and that he comes from a nice people (364). Her desperation is overwhelming as she desperately tries to reach out with The Misfit by calling him â€Å"one of her children† and touching him on his shoulders. This desperate action brings her to her death in the hands of The Misfit. Apparently, her manipulative scheme does not work with The Misfit, instead gets him more irritated and angry as he states, â€Å"She would have been a good woman†¦if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life† (368). Another indication of the grandmother’s unique personality is her clothing and style. The author presents her to us as being a prim and proper lady dressed in a navy blue suit with a matching navy blue sailor hat and white cotton gloves. What makes her clothing and style peculiar and interesting is its inappropriateness to the humid condition of her surroundings. The grandmother seems unmindful about it instead she focuses on her aristocratic and old-fashion views in life. She states, â€Å"In case of accident, anyone seeing her dead on the highway would know at once that she was a lady† (357). Instead of viewing the grandmother as hypocrite and superficial, we could look at her as a lost spirit in a lost time frame and space. Her old-fashioned clothing, ways and thinking indicate her imprisonment and nostalgia for the old days. This is shown through her constant recalling of the past, her yearning to reconnect with her old friends in Tennessee, and her nostalgia with the old house in the hill. These are important indications of a suppressed spirit trapped in the pain and joys of unresolved past. Tragically, this constant yearning of the past will take her and her family to doom and death. Compared to the other characters in the story, the grandmother’s character is the most dynamic and vibrant just like how her choice of clothing stands out. Her son, Bailey, is a cold-hearted and self-absorbed individual whose character is just as boring as his yellow parrot shirt. He consciously defies his mother’s control and hates her sunny disposition,† The children’s mother put a dime in the machine and played ‘The Tennessee Waltz’, and the grandmother said that tune always made her want to dance. She asked Bailey if he would like to dance but he only glared at her†. Bailey’s wife on the other hand, is a passive character whose only obsession is to hold her baby day and night. To illustrate it more graphically, â€Å"the grandmother is a giant red rose in the midst of weathered weeds in a field†. It becomes more vibrant in her encounter with the antagonist of the story, The Misfit. The grandmother’s and The Misfit’s characters are both strong and contrast with each other and it is reflected in their opposing choice of clothing and differing views on morality. Reading between them is like watching the Battle of Endor in Star Wars-Return of the Jedi where the â€Å"good†Ã¢â‚¬â€Luke Skywalker battles with the â€Å"evil†Ã¢â‚¬â€Darth Vader. The encounter brings us to a hopeful anticipation whether the good will prevail evil and hopes that the grandmother will persuade The Misfit to spare her life and change his ways. But to no avail. The grandmother will be shot three times on her chest. The death of the grandmother in the hands of The Misfit will evoke us differing reactions. At first instance, we may feel vindictive for the grandmother, and that she only got what she deserved as payback for her selfishness and manipulative character. At the same time, we are also saddened of the evil’s triumph over goodness, a brush of reality that at times or most of the time, â€Å"guns are still mightier than words or even religion†. The story concludes with a life lesson that a man’s character and morality are so embedded in the individual that it cannot be changed overnight nor by the mere mention of God or religion. It has to be noted though that when the grandmother dies, the author describes her as â€Å"half sat and half lay in a puddle of blood with her legs crossed under her like a child’s and her face smiling up at the cloudless sky (368), as if full of peace and divine grace. This demonstrates O’Connor’s conviction on salvation through religion that everyone has the chance to be saved no matter how deceitful the individual’s actions may have been in the past. All throughout the story, our relationship with the grandmother fluctuates from hatred to love, anger to sadness. We love her for her playfulness, her sunny disposition, and nostalgia for the past, yet we hate her for resembling with our own grandmothers or mothers who never shut up at our homes and who seem to know everything in the world constantly asserting their power and dominance over us. This ability to evoke an ambivalent feeling and familiarity with reality is what makes this story worth reading all over again. References: O’ Connor, F. (1955). A Good Man Is Hard to Find. In G. Giola, J. Kennedy (Ed. ), Backpack Literature (pp. 355-368). USA: Pearson How to cite Assessment of Grandmother’s Character in † a Good Man Is Hard to Find†, Essay examples

The Relationship Between the Social Work Profession and Indigenous People Essay Example

The Relationship Between the Social Work Profession and Indigenous People Essay The relationship between the social work profession and Indigenous people has been a problematic one. Discuss with reference to Stolen Generations. Social work is a complex and broad field and the relationship between social workers and Indigenous Australians can be equally intricate and difficult to navigate. The theme of this paper will be; ‘understanding the relationship between the social work profession and Indigenous Australians’.A priority will be placed on analysing the historical relationship in reference to social work practice and related Government policy. Firstly, the history of social work and Indigenous policy will be discussed in relation to present work in the welfare sector. Historic Indigenous policy will be used to illustrate the paternal nature in which the Australian Government has related to Indigenous Australians. The experiences of the ‘Stolen Generation’ will then be outlined and the consequences detailed.It will be argued that the process of forcefully removing children from Indigenous families has resulted in distrust towards human service practitioners and institutions. Contemporary approaches to managing Indigenous disadvantage will be examined in reference to the Northern Territory Emergency Response. It will be argued that these latest efforts by the Australian Government continue in the punitive and strong-handed nature of previous strategies. In conclusion a summary of the findings of the paper will be provided.It is important to analyse the philosophical and ideological foundations of the Social Work profession when examining the role social workers have played in the implementation of the Protection Acts, the Stolen Generation, and the Northern Territory Emergency Response. An acknowledgment must be made that the profession originates from a Judeo-Christian and European perspective, and rarely takes into consideration Indigenous customs and traditions (Chenoweth amp; McAuliffe 2008).The history of so cial work is also important because it may identify reoccurring social themes, and provide you with an understanding of how history has shaped contemporary human services (Chenoweth amp; McAuliffe 2008). Chenoweth amp; McAuliffe (2008, p. 27) state that ‘at a fundamental level, many social problems are not new although they have manifested in different forms throughout history’. Ife (2008, pp. 164-166) argues that ‘the study of history is important to social workers’, and outlines four reasons for this importance.Firstly, that a historic perceptive emphasises that things can and do change. The second reason is that ‘the study of history can be seen as the study of the struggle for human rights’ (p. 165). This is important in that without a historical understanding people can lack the commitment to exercise human rights for which previous generations fought, and sometimes died for. The third reason is that a study of history assists in deconstru cting the ‘western enlightenment tradition within which the human rights discourse was framed’ (p. 65), and finally that history extends human rights practice onto issues of intergenerational justice, in that the present generation is responsible for preventing future human rights abuses, and also addressing past abuses. In order to gain an understanding of the relationship between Indigenous Australians and social workers we must examine the forms of contact they have had since 1788. Before the development of the social work profession in the 1920’s Indigenous Australians had already been in contact with European colonisers for over 120 years (Gilbert 2005, Chenoweth amp; McAuliffe 2008).Australia started looking at its social policy around the time of Federation and Indigenous peoples has already suffered constant human rights abuses, had their children removed, been dispossessed of their lands, and moved to missions (Gilbert 2005). The protectionist approach a dopted by the Australian Government in the 19th and early 20th Century resulted in the establishment of missions, reserves and institutions in all states and territories, with the clear purpose of ‘controlling Aboriginal people and their movements’ (Gilbert 2005, p. 64, Commonwealth of Australia 2011).Policy then moved towards more assimilationist strategies in which attempts were made to convert Aboriginal Australians into ‘responsible citizens’ (Gilbert 2005, Haebich 2000). The protectionist and assimilationist policies share the core values that Aboriginal culture is inferior and on its way to an ‘evolutionary end’ (Gilbert 2005, p. 64). The predominately Anglo-Saxon values present in the welfare system have resulted in a lack of understanding of Indigenous disadvantage as well as cultural values and traditions (Chenoweth amp; McAuliffe 2008). Chenoweth and McAuliffe (2008, p. 8) state that Indigenous populations have handed down by word of mouth, rather than writing down, their own ways of addressing these notions of â€Å"helping†, and this has resulted in a lack of understanding or an reluctance by human services organisations to attempt to understand them. The historical relationship between indigenous Australians and social workers has a major effect on social work practice. History has the ability to feed life into contemporary social work through reflection on the past, through knowledge of where the profession came from, and through considering past mistakes (Chenoweth amp; McAuliffe 2008).An example of the importance of studying social work history can be shown through the ‘Forgotten Australians’ and ‘Stolen Generation’. These are survivors of the institutional care system in Australia up to the 1970’s, with many of them being Indigenous Australians. They experienced many forms of abuse such as; separation, abandonment, deception, neglect, sexual assault, brutality and m uch more, along with a lack of post-care support (Harrison 2008, Haebich 2000). The historic abuse of these rights is linked to present issues such as; mental health problems, substance abuse and family violence (Harrison 2008, HREOC 1997).There is also a direct correlation between the removal of Aboriginal children and a loss of connection to Indigenous culture. As Aboriginality has not been positively affirmed many children experienced contempt and denigration for their Aboriginality, and even developed a sense of self-contempt (HREOC 1997). Although many would consider that discriminatory laws are long gone, the act of removing Indigenous children from their family’s remains through the child welfare and juvenile justice system due to entrenched disadvantage (Pugh amp; Cheers 2010).The historic treatment of Indigenous groups was not to pursue values that might lead to self-determination or independence, but to assimilate them into mainstream society (Gross 2003, cited in P ugh amp; Cheers 2010, p. 60). Haebich (2000) states that ‘Aboriginal child removal emerges as constituent with the processes of dispossession, depopulation and destruction of Aboriginal societies and cultures’. The Alliance for Forgotten Australians (Harrison 2008, p. 13) states that ‘involving Forgotten Australians and their families in the design of programs aimed at assisting them will show respect, reassure and not re-victimise them’.It’s important that social workers acknowledge how prior events influence present issues and understand that members of the ‘Stolen Generation’ may be apprehensive about connecting with welfare services (Harrison 2002). There may be fear of being institutionalised once again. Even if a worker/services approach is ‘pleasant or friendly’ the memory of their powerlessness and abuse is likely to provoke resistance and fear (Harrison 2008, p. 14). Social workers must work with them and their fami lies to deal with their fears, remain attentive to their history and needs, and involve them in decision making processes (Harrison 2008).Contemporary policy regarding the management of Indigenous disadvantage exhibits a similar approach in which the Government attempts to control Indigenous Australians lives, and assimilate them into mainstream society. Following the Little Children are Sacred Report to the Northern Territory (NT) Government in 2007, the Australian Government implemented a policy in response to evidence of the abuse and neglect of children in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory (Northern Territory Gov. 2007, FaHCSIA 2009).This was the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) policy, often referred to as the NT Intervention. To intervene in these issues the Federal Government implemented a range of measures to, ‘protect children and make communities safe’, and ‘create a better future for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory ’ (FaHCSIA 2009). These measures include but are not limited to changes to law and order such as more Police presence and the ban of alcohol and pornography in designated areas, as well as changes to Indigenous land rights. Increased support for families through additional services and welfare workers.Welfare reform including compulsory income management of half of peoples welfare payments, as well of measures to improve health and enhance education (FaHCSIA 2009). People from many backgrounds, including Indigenous representatives agreed that an emergency response was necessary in the NT (ANTaR 2010), however The NTER has been criticised in two main areas. Firstly, that there was a lack of engagement with Indigenous peoples in the development and implementation of the policy, and secondly that there are distinctly discriminatory aspects to the policy (Anaya 2010, ANTaR 2010).Government action to address the situation in NT communities may certainly be needed, but those critic al of the NTER argue that it was implemented without negotiations with the Aboriginal people it affected, and that the voice of Aboriginal people had not been heard (ANTaR 2010, Mazel 2009). It is argued that to ensure racial equality, the protection of human rights and any possibility of a sustainable community development strategy, the Government must prioritise the inclusion of Indigenous peoples in the development and control of these policy outcomes (ANTaR 2010, Mazel 2009, Phillips, Franklin amp; Viswanathan 2011).ANTaR claim that the NTER ‘has created additional barriers to self-determination for Aboriginal people and organisations’ (ANTaR 2010, p. 6). This separation of Indigenous people from the policy development and implementation processes links with a history of systemic exclusion dating back to the time that ‘white people’ settled in Australia (Anderson amp; Perrin 2006, Attwood 1992). There can be no doubt of the way in which our history has and continues to influence Australians identities of ‘self’ and ‘other’, as well as the relationships between the two (Coates 2004). Mazel (2009, p. ) describes ‘the way in which the dynamic of difference, or the understanding of difference as otherness which lies at the heart of colonialism, continues to prevail in Indigenous affairs and underlies the latest efforts of the Australian government in the Northern Territory’. United Nation reports found that the NTER legislation; ‘limits the capacity of indigenous individuals and communities to control or participate in decisions affecting their own lives, property and cultural development, and it does so in a way that in effect discriminates on the basis of race, thereby raising serious human rights concerns’ (Anaya 2010, p. ). The fact that the Racial Discrimination Act was suspended to allow this legislation to pass shows that discrimination was occurring (Anaya 2010, Phillips, Fra nklin amp; Viswanathan 2011). The Federal Governments own review in 2008 found that ‘experiences of racial discrimination and humiliation’ were common and should be of ‘great concern’ (Australian Government 2008). Whilst analysing the discourse and implementation process surrounding the NTER, it can be seen that the paternal and punitive nature of the policy can be understood as continuing the historically Anglo-Saxon ideals of the Australian system of welfare.It can be argued that forcing these ideals upon indigenous communities will perpetuate the existing relationship of apprehension, doubt and mistrust between Indigenous Australians and Social Workers, as well as Indigenous Communities and the Federal Government (Anaya 2010). Indigenous people have expressed their concern that the heavy-handed Government response in the NT may result in another generation of children being removed from their families and communities (Dodson 2007). Dodson (2007, p. 5) ar gues that these fears of a new ‘stolen generation’ are legitimate ‘especially for those people who live and survive as members of the stolen generation’. This paper has explored the relationship between the social work profession and Indigenous Australians. The philosophical and ideological foundations of the Social Work profession have been examined and it was found that the Judeo-Christian and European perspective of the profession have left little room for Indigenous customs and traditions.It has been argued that reflecting on the historical approaches of welfare services and Government policy increases the likelihood of making informed and ethical choices in a contemporary context. A brief summary of historic Indigenous policy has been used to illustrate the heavy-handed and paternal nature in which the Australian Government relates to Indigenous Australians. The experiences of the ‘Stolen Generation’ have been outlined and the consequences detailed.It was found that the ‘Stolen Generation’ were subject to a range of human rights abuses that have had negative consequences both for the victims, as well as on the relationship between Indigenous Australians, social workers, welfare services, and Government institutions. Due to the experiences of the ‘Stolen Generation’ Aboriginal people are likely to be resistant and fearful towards welfare services and Government institutions.The NTER has been used to demonstrate that contemporary policy shares similar values to historical Indigenous policy. In that, Aboriginal culture is inferior to mainstream society and it is the role of Government to intervene, and control in an attempt to make improvements based upon Government set benchmarks. It has been argued that the Governments approach in the NT perpetuates the distrust between Indigenous people and social work practitioners.In the hope of successful outcomes, and improved relationships social worker s must be considerate of Indigenous peoples’ history and needs, work with them and their families to deal with their fears, and involve them in decision making processes. References Anaya, J 2010, Observations on the Northern Territory Emergency Response in Australia, United Nations, viewed online 4 April 2012, lt;http://www. un. org. au/files/files/United%20Nations%20Special%20Rapporteur%20-%20Feb%202010. pdfgt;| Anderson, K amp; Perrin, C 2006,

Reagent Definition and Examples

Reagent Definition and Examples A reagent is a compound or mixture added to a system to cause a chemical reaction or test if a reaction occurs. A reagent may be used to tell whether or not a specific chemical substance is present by causing a reaction to occur with it. Reagent Examples Reagents may be compounds or mixtures. In organic chemistry, most are small organic molecules or inorganic compounds. Examples of reagents include Grignard reagent, Tollens reagent, Fehlings reagent, Collins reagent, and Fentons reagent. However, a substance may be used as a reagent without having the word in its name. Reagent Versus Reactant The term reagent is often used in place of reactant, but a reagent may not necessarily be consumed in a reaction like a reactant. For example, a catalyst is a reagent  but is not consumed in the reaction. A solvent often is involved in a chemical reaction - it is considered a reagent, but not a reactant. What Reagent-Grade Means When purchasing chemicals, you may see them identified as reagent-grade. What this means is that the substance is sufficiently pure that it may be used for physical testing, chemical analysis, or for chemical reactions that require pure chemicals. The standards required for a chemical to meet reagent-grade quality are determined by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and ASTM International, among others.

Geography of River Deltas - Formation and Importance

Geography of River Deltas - Formation and Importance A river delta is a low-lying plain or landform that occurs at the mouth of a river near where it flows into an ocean or another larger body of water. Deltas greatest importance to human activities, fish and wildlife lay in their characteristic highly fertile soil and dense, diverse vegetation. In order to fully appreciate the role deltas play in our larger ecosystem, it is first important to understand rivers. Rivers are defined as bodies of fresh water generally flowing from high elevations toward an ocean, a lake or another river; sometimes, even back into the ground. Most rivers begin at high elevations where snow, rain, and other precipitation run downhill into creeks and small streams. These small waterways flow ever farther downhill, eventually meeting to form rivers. Rivers flow toward oceans or other larger bodies of water, oftentimes combining with other rivers. Deltas exist as the lowest part of these rivers. It is in these deltas where a rivers flow slows and spreads out to create sediment-rich dry areas and biodiverse wetlands. Formation of River Deltas The formation of a river delta is a slow process. As rivers flow toward their outlets from higher elevations, they deposit mud, silt, sand, and gravel particles at the mouths where rivers and larger, more sedentary bodies of water meet. Over time these particles (called sediment or alluvium) build up at the mouth, extending into the ocean or lake. As these areas continue to grow the water becomes shallower and eventually, landforms begin to rise above the surface of the water, typically elevating to just above sea level. As rivers drop enough sediment to create these landforms or areas of raised elevation, the remaining flowing water with the most power sometimes cuts across the land, forming different branches called distributaries. Once formed, deltas are typically made up of three parts: the upper delta plain, the lower delta plain, and the subaqueous delta. The upper delta plain makes up the area nearest to land. It is usually the area with the least water and highest elevation. The lower delta plain is the middle of the delta. It is a transition zone between the dry upper delta and the wet subaqueous delta. The subaqueous delta is the portion of the delta closest to the sea or body of water into which the river flows. This area is usually past the shoreline and it is below water level. Types of River Deltas Despite the generally universal processes by which river deltas are formed and organized, it is important to note that the worlds deltas vary dramatically in structure, composition, and size due to factors such as origin, climate, geology, and tidal processes. These external factors contribute to an impressive diversity of deltas around the world. A deltas characteristics are classified based upon the specific factors contributing to its rivers deposition of sediment typically the river itself, waves or tides. The main types of deltas are wave-dominated deltas, tide-dominated deltas, Gilbert deltas, inland deltas, and estuaries. As its name would imply, a wave-dominated delta such as the Mississippi River Delta is created by wave erosion controlling where and how much river sediment remains in a delta once it has been dropped. These deltas are usually shaped like the Greek symbol, delta (∆). Tide-dominated deltas such as the Ganges River Delta are formed by tides. Such deltas are characterized by a dendritic structure (branched, like a tree) due to newly-formed distributaries during times of high water. Gilbert deltas are steeper and formed by deposition of coarse material. While it is possible for them to form in ocean areas, their formations are more commonly seen in mountainous areas where mountain rivers deposit sediment into lakes. Inland deltas are deltas formed in inland areas or valleys where rivers may divide into many branches and rejoin farther downstream. Inland deltas, also called inverted river deltas, normally form on former lake beds. Finally, when a river is located near coasts characterized by large tidal variations, they do not always form a traditional delta. Tidal variation often results in estuaries  or a river that meets the sea, such as Saint Lawrence River in Ontario, Quebec, and New York. Humans and River Deltas River deltas have been important to humans for thousands of years because of their extremely fertile soils. Major ancient civilizations grew along deltas such as those of the Nile and the Tigris-Euphrates rivers, with the inhabitants of these civilizations learning how to live with their natural flooding cycles. Many people believe that the ancient Greek historian Herodotus first coined the term delta nearly 2,500 years ago as many deltas are shaped like the Greek delta (∆) symbol. Deltas remain important to humans even today as, among many other things, a source of sand and gravel. Used in highway, building and infrastructure construction, these highly valuable materials quite literally build our world. Delta land is also important in agricultural use. Witness the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in California. One of the most agriculturally diverse and productive areas in the state, the region successfully supports numerous crops from kiwi to alfalfa to tangerines. Biodiversity and Importance of River Deltas In addition to (or perhaps in defiance of) these human uses, river deltas boast some of the most biodiverse systems on the planet. As such, it is essential that these unique and beautiful havens of biodiversity remain as healthy habitat for the many species of plants, animals, insects, and fish some rare, threatened or endangered which call them home. In addition to their biodiversity, deltas and wetlands provide a buffer for hurricanes, as open land often stands to weaken the impact of storms as they travel toward larger, more populated areas. The Mississippi River Delta, for example, buffers the impact of potentially strong hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico.