Marchella Baldwin Public Feed

Knocked Out

Posted by Marchella Baldwin in Storytelling - Chase on
I am glad I'm not the ONLY one still writing stories after the last day of classes. But I had to come back and do my last one. This one is an excuse for not doing yesterday. Simply I was tired. I completed Mr. Best's benchmark and helped Eddie out with his capstone by performing in the talent show. So when I came home around 7:30 I simply sat on my couch and fell asleep until 11:30 and then I got up and moved to my bed. Anywho, this daily story task has been fun. I gotta say I've been doing a lot better job of it this quarter. 

P.S - Probably not my last post. I kinda like doing this. 

Q4 Benchmark

Posted by Marchella Baldwin in Globalization - Laufenberg on
​Here is my benchmark. 

Benchmark Reflection

  • What did you find most challenging about this project?
    I found that the most challenging part of this project was to find a correlation between the topics we looked in globalization and what we see around us here in Philly. 
  • How did you go about collecting the images or selecting the images?
    Most of the images I collected with Jen when we were allowed to go out for images. There was some stuff i knew that I wanted to take pictures of because I already knew it would connect to one of themes. I also took pictures of stuff that I wasn't sure how it exactly connected but knew they could be interesting to talk about. 
  • Which image is your favorite? Why? Elaborate.
    My favorite image is of the massive amount of bikes we have in the stair well. it's my favorite because I think it shows that we leaders in more ways than one. A good amount of teachers bike to and from school and some students do too. 
  • How prevalent is the evidence of globalization in Philadelphia? Do you think it is more or less so (evident) than in other large cities in the US? Why Why not? I think there is a tremendous amount of evidence of globalization in Philadelphia but I also think other larger cities have more. For example gay marriage is a much bigger issue in San Francisco rather than here in Philadelphia. Overall, though I think a lot of themes are prevalent. This is a very historic city. 

    • I Feel...

    Posted by Marchella Baldwin in Storytelling - Chase on
    Like my previous post wasn't a story so here is another one...

    Ms. Hull: "Marchella, I saw your senior picture the other day and it was so pretty!" 
    Me "Ummmm...Thank you Ms. Hull!"

    Random complements when stressed make you feel pretty awesome. 

    Happy Tears

    Posted by Marchella Baldwin in Storytelling - Chase on
    I'm going to San Francisco! I'm one of six people going as entourage to root on Sinnea and the rest of Philly's Brave New Voices team. This is a tremendous opportunity and I'm extremely gracious that I'm going. Now we just need to fundraise money. Our fundraising goal is $20,000. We're off to a great start with almost $7,000 dollars raised. If anybody knows of anybody who can help please send them to pypm215.org. Any help is extremely appreciated. People who are social media savvy please tweet the link and put on you facebook walls! Thanks!

    Happy Tears

    Posted by Marchella Baldwin in Storytelling - Chase on
    I'm going to San Francisco! I'm one of six people going as entourage to root on Sinnea and the rest of Philly's Brave New Voices team. This is a tremendous opportunity and I'm extremely gracious that I'm going. Now we just need to fundraise money. Our fundraising goal is $20,000. We're off to a great start with almost $7,000 dollars raised. If anybody knows of anybody who can help please send them to pypm215.org. Any help is extremely appreciated. People who are social media savvy please tweet the link and put on you facebook walls! Thanks!

    Something I Heard

    Posted by Marchella Baldwin in Storytelling - Chase on
    I was talking to this 10th grader about college (she didn't want to go) and the conversation soon turned away from that topic and into our life stories. She said something that struck a cord with me. I notice that she is a very outspoken, happy individual and she told me that that's because "she feels like she has to be happy for every person that she knows who is sad." That a huge burden. But I guess not to her. 

    Are You Always Going to Have Authority Over Me?

    Posted by Marchella Baldwin in Storytelling - Chase on
     Here at SLA we learn to be leaders and today I was robbed of that chance. Every Monday and Thursday I give up my X band lunch to student teach freshman drama. This is part of capstone but I would do it even it wasn't. Today Mr. Kay was absent and I had a plan. But this plan went downhill the minute I walked in. Every word that came out of my mouth was undermined by the substitute that was present. Now I understand that the readers of this might be think well she is the adult figure in this classroom and your still a student. And this would be true for small situations; like if I told one person they can get a drink of water and the other that they can use the bathroom and you told them that only one of them can leave the room. I can understand that. But when you undermine my lesson plan you are basically implying that the authority I was given has no value in your eyes. I tell them to practice for their scenes. You tell them after less than two minutes to stop because they were too loud (trust me it's way louder in there before). I call on someone to give a shout-out and you cut them off and start to talk about your trip to the movies. I start to teach them an improv game you cut me off and make up your own scenario for them to do. And on top of all that my name apparently changed to Marissa. 

    Capstone Blogs

    Posted by Marchella Baldwin in Capstone - Hirschfield on
    Introduction

    For my capstone I decided to do a series of blog post. These blog posts represent big themes I see throughout a freshman drama class. As I am student teaching and interacting with these students I write about big themes that I see happening and how these tools can be used outside the classroom. I decided to do this for my benchmark because drama has affected my life in a tremendous way and I know that a lot of budget cuts across the nation has lead to cuts in art programs such as drama. By blogging about what I see and the incredible growth I see in my students as a person and as a performer I hope to make people think twice about art programs and there significance to a student’s learning.

    Imagination

    I remember the very first drama class green stream had. Their first task was to imagine that they were eating an orange. Seems easy enough, right? But there’s more to it than that. You have to imagine the shape, how it feels to dig your nail in to it’s skin and start to peel it and even how you eat it. A lot of thought goes into this. A lot of imagination goes into this.

    I remember Mr. Kay saying to his class that we as a society have labeled imagination as a bad thing after a certain point. After a certain period in a child’s life making up new worlds and imagine things seem immature. But we tend to forget that everything that’s around us was once imagined. From the house you live in to plane in the sky before it was created it was imagined.
    As I am writing this I’m thinking about what imagination is. I can’t really define it though. When I looked it up on oxford dictionary “the faculty or action of forming new ideas, or images or concepts of external objects not present to the senses”. I agree with most of this definition. Except when it says that the new ideas, images and concepts are not present to the senses. Because every time I see my kids come up with new scenes and act them out on stage I can see what they’ve been imagining. See the detail that goes into it. I can see their creation.

    Voice

    I’m a pretty timid person. Over time though being up on stage has allowed my voice to flourish. I’ve noticed kids are pretty loud in drama class because of its looser format. Until they get on stage that is. Some people become quieter and some people use the same voice they would use to talk to one person.

    As we know in our society our voice is extremely important. If you don’t speak your mind when you should people will ignore you. And that goes for acting as well. If my eyes start to wonder away from an actor’s performance that means that they’re not doing a good job of keeping my attention. We want people to notice us, to listen and grasp what we are saying. And that’s where drama comes in. We show kids how to project there voice and add purposeful movements to it so they can be noticed on stage.

            For the first half of the semester the kids weren’t even allowed to use their voices. They had to learned how to engage their audience with purposeful movements. Once they were able to master the skills needed to keep their audience engage they were allowed to use their voices. At first it was hard for them to put everything together. But eventually they learned the art of storytelling. Which will help them throughout all their classes and make what they say more meaningful. Because sometimes we take our voices for granted; letting anything come out our mouths or we lock our voices up assuming what we say will not be important enough. I’ve seen the transformations with my own eyes. Someone who walks through those drama room doors and is super timid and has major stage fright hears the supportive claps of their peers and applies the knowledge that they’ve learned end up more outgoing. And I’m not saying that it’s a drastic change but it’s still great to see them come out of their shells.

    Overcoming Stage Fright

    This year I’ve learned that stage fright comes in all shapes and sizes. I thought that people who usually have stage fright are people who are timid. But this year I met a guy who is extremely outgoing and has a huge personality but has major stage fright. I wasn’t expecting him to say that he had stage fright when he first got up on stage and it was a huge shock to me. I was wondering how someone who has such a presence off the stage could be so scared to be on the stage. Then I realized that being on stage is a whole different ball game. Having people fixated on what your doing or saying can be nerve racking for anyone. Luckily though in this drama class we give constant encouragement. Mr. Kay makes a point of it to clap for whoever comes of stage and whenever they leave the stage. At the end of all performances students are asked if they want to give shout-outs to any of their peers. These techniques help give students confidence and praise. Once you realize that most people are rooting for you rather than judging you it easier to let stage fright fade away. So hopefully the skills we teach and the encouragement we give will kids concur stage fright on and off the stage.


    Stress Reliever

            SLA is not your average high school. We don’t have AP classes because every class we have is already at an AP level. We have what is called “Benchmark Season” which is when every student is working on 4 benchmarks for there 4 four major classes. These projects are usually worth at least 20% of your grade and need to show what you’ve learned over the course of the quarter. Needless to say it can get pretty stressful around here. So when kids come to drama they leave their stressors at the door. We play various improv games and let them make up their own scenes with few requirements attached to them. Because in the end we know that this is the place for them to have fun, relax a little but still learn a lot. When talking to my students about what they’ve learned throughout the year and how it has affected them I sensed a feeling of relief from them. A feeling of relief that at least they have these classes like drama, art and music that aren’t about straight up learning facts and figures but teach you just as much anyway. Because the truth is what we learn in our Math, Science, History and English classes is great and interesting and it’s great to show what we’ve learned but it’s also great to take a step back and just learn great skill as well. Sometimes in the mist of it all we forget to laugh, to have fun. And here at SLA we do a great job of balancing the two.

    Cuteness Ends at Age 19

    Posted by Marchella Baldwin in Storytelling - Chase on
    Growing up I've always been referred to as cute or adorable or any other synonyms that pop into your head. My smile is my best asset. Even at age 10 I still could get anything I want by flashing it. But now at age 19 I don't want to be referred to as adorable. I don't mind letting my smile get me through the door but I want my intelligence to keep me inside it. 

    A Change of Pace

    Posted by Marchella Baldwin in Storytelling - Chase on
    I don't like bragging about myself. I'm really not that kind of person. But last Saturday in poetry workshop (here at SLA) our prompt was to write a poem full of hyperboles. And it was fun. I got to say crazy stuff like my voice stops a newborn's crying. And blow stuff out of proportion. Like people usually say I have a great smile but I said that it would make people run 10 miles just to get me what I want. I'm going to stop describing the poem now and just let you read it for yourself. Enjoy!

                                                   Hyperbole Poem

     

     

    I’m sorry to crush your dreams today

    But I have to inform you

    That you will never meet anybody more awesome than me

    When you look up kind in the dictionary

    My name will be its definition

    I save people from burning buildings on a weekly basis

    And the sound of my angelic voice silences a newborn’s crying

    My voice is smooth and soft during conversation

    But when I get up on stage

    To recite a poem

    The fiery string of words that spill out my mouth

    Triggers the fire station’s alarm system

    My laugh is literally infectious

    There is no way around it

    If I laugh you WILL be laughing with me

    Most of the time at my own jokes

    Because I’m just that funny

    And please don’t get me started on my smile

    The minute I fold my mouth up

    Part my lips

    And show the most glorious arrangement of teeth you’ve ever seen

    You will run 10 miles

    Just to get me what I want

    And most of all my writing is fantastic

    The spectacular way I string words together

    Makes you believe anything I’m saying

    And as you can tell from reading this right now

    I’m pretty magnificent

    And you will never ever meet anybody more awesome than me

    New Poem

    Posted by Marchella Baldwin in Storytelling - Chase on
    I've gotten into the habit of posting new poems up here. My latest poem is in the perspective of a middle aged resident who has stop caring about the progression of their neighborhood or the people within it (particularly young people). This is a performance piece so I am talking to an audience of young people and then it broadens. Hope you enjoy. :)

    You right there in the second row show me why I should care

    Show me why I should fight for you

    Show me what I lose every time

    I decide to give up

    Decide to stop fighting

    For you

    Show me what I have already lost

    What I have already given up

    Because maybe then I’ll stop giving ya’ll up so easily

     

    The makeshift memorial under their bedroom windows

    Isn’t enough for me to feel guilty

    The 3 minute segment on the news

    Doesn’t pull my heart strings hard enough

     

    Make me feel guilt

    Make me feel guilty

    That I’ve let drug dealers become our block captains

    And crack houses become our community head quarters

    Make me feel guilty

    That I’ve stopped caring about this community

    And the people within it

     

    I complain about teens going rampant

    Yet have stopped advocating for recreational places

    I shake my head at the trash that riddles the street

    But have yet to pick up a broom and sweep in front of my own front door

    I’ve turned this into a hopeless place

    Because I have given up my own dreams for it

     

    So show me her

    Show me him

    Show me his homerun that won the game

    His MVP trophy overtop the fireplace

    Show me her favorite princess dress

    And her prancing around in it

    Show me the father who never got to see his daughter get married

    And the mother who never got to see her kids graduate

    Because I know I’ve turned this to a dreamless place

    Where kids have no allies

    And everybody has stopped caring

    Where kids think all they can do is deal and steal

    Because hope is passed on from generation to generation

    And I have passed on none

     

    So show me the innocent little girl

    Who still thinks life is as sweet as can be

    Make me realize that she is worth saving

    Make me believe she can stopped this hopeless cycle

    Help me to accept that she will show us

    What happens if we work hard

    That you may not reach your dreams

    But that you’ll go pretty far

     

    Because her bright light is infectious

    I believe anything is possible

    When I look into her honey brown eyes

    But eventually this “everything is possible” phase

    Goes Away

    And that is when you have to nourish it

    Because once you nurture a living thing

    You believe you can do anything

    And that it’s worth doing anything

     

    It’s worth creating a blank slate with are streets

    Because every piece of trash was just a hope that people thought would never come true

    It’s worth painting a visual picture of hope in our community

    With green grass and various colored flowers

    Because hope is recognized by how we carry ourselves also

    It’s worth telling our young ones to strive for the best

    Because we’ve realized ourselves they could possibly succeed

     

    Because eventually I want to stop feeling guilty

    Not because I’ve stopped caring

    But because I realized I have done everything I could

    I want to stop flipping on the news and seeing a misguided teen I knew

    But never said a word to

    And instead see a kid that I know who did something great or didn’t

    Because I know I did everything to help that kid

    So hopefully there will be no need for me to feel guilty

     

     

     

    I know what it feels like to be a teacher now

    Posted by Marchella Baldwin in Storytelling - Chase on
    Mr. Kay was absent from his freshman drama class today. And instead of making it a free period for them I decided to make a productive and fun day. I actually taught the class and they actually listened. They finished their scenes and played an improv game or did work they had to do. It was unexpected of me to walk in there today and actually have to "play" the role of a teacher. But it was fun and it was productive and they didn't walk all over me. I feel accomplished. 


    Thanks Mean Green for being so awesome!

    Reflection Post

    Posted by Marchella Baldwin in Storytelling - Chase on
    My character has started her twitter. She really not in to the whole social media business. But she in love and what's to be able tell all her friends at the same time. She doesn't put many updates because she doesn't own a computer and usually does this at her public library. 
    Creating this character in real time has been hard. I know she not the social media type so it's hard to "make" her that type. As I'm going along I'm still trying to figure out how to stretch this story out. It's kind of like I have to slowly evolve into this character to make this seem real. Hopefully, I'll be able to do that. 

    I Don't Envy the Grading Aspect of Teaching

    Posted by Marchella Baldwin in Storytelling - Chase on
    I'm a student teacher for freshman drama and I find it really rewarding. Being in the audience and watching magic happen on stage is just priceless to me. But when Mr. Kay actually asked me to grade there scenes it became slightly less fun. It was still fun and completely enjoyable but it's still hard to type in that 7 or 8 in the grade book for a kid you just adore. But you know deep down they didn't do their best or just completely half assed their scene. But I guess I have to put my personal feelings aside and think "It's just business" because I can't live with myself giving them the same grade as someone who worked hard for it vs. you who just went through the motions. It's a very fine line that seems hard not to cross sometimes. I'm very happy and willing to teach them what I know and help them grow; that's what I love about teaching. But the grading aspect I don't envy at all. 

    I'm not sad, I'm not happy, I'm just *sigh*

    Posted by Marchella Baldwin in Storytelling - Chase on
    Have you ever had one of those days where your not happy but you aren't sad your just ok? Well, today was that day for me. Nothing great happened and nothing pissed me off. I felt "eh". I know that's not word but that's the only way I can describe it. But there are always moments unexpected moments to be exact that take you out of that funk. From a cute baby looking at you in awe to having a good laugh in drama class. So today was *sigh* day but I know where to go to let that *sigh* dissipate at least for a little while. :)

    Why do we make it seem like high school is the end of the world?

    Posted by Marchella Baldwin in Storytelling - Chase on


    Why are putting High School on a pedestal?

    Letting this "bitch stole my man" drama cloud your judgment

    When truth be told this boy isn't even worth one drop of the perspiration rolling down your forehead

     

    Why are putting High School on a pedestal?

    Letting these childish labels like jock and nerd mess with your head

    When you know they don't control your future

    Knowing that one day you might see Johnny begging you for a dollar

    And your thinking "Dang, I thought he was gonna be a baller."

     

    Why are putting High School on a pedestal?

    Your following the head cheerleader so you can get a status boost

    While everybody knows in the real world that

    Coattail riders have little self worth

     

    So why are you putting High School on a pedestal?

    Knowing that it’s just a 4 year phase

    An obstacle in your way of

    Living up to your full potential

     

    So dry your tears

    Dust yourself off

    Stop being a puppet

    And just be yourself

     

    And realize that everything is gonna be ok

    As long as you realize that High School doesn’t last forever

    That statuses fade away

    And remember to keep High School off that pedestal

    Because it’s not even worth looking up to

     

     

     

     

     

    Valentine's Day is Just Another Day

    Posted by Marchella Baldwin in Storytelling - Chase on
    For some people Valentine's Day isn't special it seems like it happens everyday...    

    Valentine’s day is just another day

    Another day to read “Good morning babe. I love you with all my heart.”

    On a sticky note

    Stuck to the refrigerator door

    Another day to receive a kiss on my forehead after every hug

    Another day to receive my daily dose of chocolate

    That I can’t live without

    Another day to have my side tickled as we lay on the couch

    My head resting on his shoulder

    Letting all my stresses disappear



    Valentine’s Day is just another day

    To laugh at his stupid jokes

    To smile until my face hurts

    To hug him and contemplate

    Never letting go



    Valentine’s Day is just another day

    To wonder how I became so lucky

    To wish that forever really meant forever

    To live every moment with him to the fullest



    Valentine’s Day is just another day

    To follow our everyday routine

    Loving each other unconditionally

    Like every day is Valentine’s Day

    Freshman? No Senior.

    Posted by Marchella Baldwin in Storytelling - Chase on

    The freshman in Mr. Kay's drama class had just received an assignment. They were to get into pairs and tell each other about something embarrassing that has happened to them and act out each other's embarrassing moments on stage. I sat and watched them excitedly start to tell their partners their stories, bursts of laughter soon started to fill the room and it was fun to see them so excited. As I continued to watch them I hear somebody sit down and say

    "So what's your story?" I turn around and saw a familiar face. 

    I had seen this girl around school but didn't know her personally. I gave her a confused look. 

    "So what's your story?" she said again 

    "Oh, I'm not in this class. I'm a senior. I student teach here." I said

    The look of shock and sorrow on her face made me burst out into laughter. She had come in to say hi to Mr. Kay and had thought I was sitting alone missing out on all the fun. Too many times to count I have been asked or it has been assumed that I am a freshman. I feel bad that she felt so bad about it. Because it happens so often all I do is just laugh about it every time it does. 

    Itunes Story - Are you ready for love?

    Posted by Marchella Baldwin in Storytelling - Chase on
    Hey There Delilah

    Don’t Stop Believing

    Keep Holding On

     

    Don’t Rain on My Parade

    My Life Would Suck Without You

    Just the Way You Are

     

    Without Love

    It’s All Over

    Right From the Start

     

    So

    Are You Ready for Love?




    Screen shot 2011-02-08 at 10.23.50 PM
    Screen shot 2011-02-08 at 10.23.50 PM

    How Becoming Carnivores Changed the Evolution of Humans

    Posted by Marchella Baldwin in Science and Society - Best on

    How did meat eating begin?

    Meat eating has been said to go as far back as 2.5 million years for humans. Fossils of tools used to butcher meat are found to have gone back that far. It is believed that we started eating meat because of the competition for food between other species. Craig B. Stanford points to an example of this in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. This forest is the only forest where mountain gorillas and chimps live together. Chimps eat meat while Gorillas don’t meaning that they can coexist together because they have two different diets.

     How meat eating affected the evolution of humans

    Long ago when humans started to eat meat it triggered tons of evolutionary changes. For one thing, our jaws have gotten smaller so we can chew meat better. And because of our diets being chocked full of meat we have evolved to have an improved ability to process cholesterol and fat.  Also, scientist say that eating meat helped our brains to grow bigger and our figure slimmer. All these positives from meat though did not happen until we started cooking meat. To get the caloric energy you get from meat you have to cook it. So we really didn’t start reaping the benefits of meat until we discovered fire.

    Being a meat eater isn't all positive

    But everything that has evolved from meat eating was not good. Because our jaws are downsized are teeth cannot fit inside. So it’s rare to find someone who has perfectly straight teeth that did not have any dental work on them. Also us evolving to cooking and using forks and knives has made out big teeth useless because our food is so soft. 

    Sources:

    Mayell, H. (2005, February 18). "evolving to eat mush": how meat changed our bodies. Retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/02/0218_050218_human_diet.htm

    Joyce, C. (Producer). (2010, August 2). Food for thought: meat-based diet made us smarter [Audio Podcast]. NPR Series: The Human Edge. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128849908

    This picture from left is of castings of teeth from a chimpanzee, Australopithecus afarensis and a modern human

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