Extra Blog Post: December

For this month I haven't been to mentorship. The only reason is because model assembly took of a lot of my time for the first two weeks of the month. Also, because I go to a school they got out for vacation at the same we do. I know these are just excuses but... that's all I got. Sorry. Anyways I have had a good vacation so far. I have nothing to complain about I have mostly gone to the park and back almost everyday with my little sisters. My little sister was assigned homework and I have been helping her with that. Also with her multiplication tables since she has been struggling. That's the closest I have done for my project these past two weeks since her class is were I do my mentorship at. Well guess I'm done here until next month. Well actually until Blog 10 is due. Either way peace out!

EQ

1. I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.
2.  Review the following EQs and

• Tell us if it meets the rule of 3 criteria.
• Tell why it does or why it doesn't

 a.  What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss?
-Yes, because the person studying this topic can study and use what is not healthy weight loss and compare it to what is healthy which gives it depth.
 b.  What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?
-No, needs a little more direction to many ways the question could split off.
 c.  What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?
-No needs better wording it's confusing.
 d.  How can an Anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?
-No, because the question it's self is to vague and how can you determine what the best treatment is?

3.  Based on your review of the rule of 3 and your experience with assessing four EQs, please write another draft EQ for your senior project. 

-What is the best way to teach struggling students and raise test scores?

Research and Working EQ

1.  What is your working EQ?

What makes an effective teacher?

2.  What is a possible answer to your working EQ? Please write the answer in thesis format. 

The ability for the teacher to be able to reach any child and teach them in a way that makes more sense to them. Weather it be through the use of visuals and props or textbooks and workbooks.

3.  What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ? 

The most important piece of research that I have had so far is the Philosphy of Education by Nel Noddings. The book has helped me answer the Eq because it is based on the different thinking styles that teachers can show there children as well as what from in the opinion of the author would work better in a modern classroom. The book covers everything from logic and reasoning to morality and ethics.

4.  Who is your mentor, or where are you volunteering, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?

My mentor is Ms. Smith at Cortez Elementary School, what I doing relates to my Eq because I can observe how she conducts her class room and when I help kids who need it I get to try out different methods that I have been reading about.

Independent Component 1Approval

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

What I plan to for my independent component I am planning to tutors 3rd graders at Cortez Magnet School and see how the students respond to my teaching methods. Also I would want to prepare maybe a mock lesson to see how much work and creativity is required to have a successful lesson.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

What I plan to do to show evidence is take pictures of me and the classroom. Also I will have to ask permission but take take pictures of the students and their work.

3.  And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

This will help see how the students respond to me as a tutor. Also it will allow me to try different teaching techniques that I have read about. With trying different teaching methods I can see which ones the students would respond better to and obtain the information better.

Additional Post

So far things have gone alright with my project. I have gotten past my first problem of finding good research that would help me form my EQ and under stand my topic more. Now that we have gone to Cal-Poly Library and relearned how to use their database to our advantage. The book that I am reading right now for research check ("Philosophy of Teaching" by Noddings Nel) has really helped me understand how many different approaches their is for teaching from a philosophical stand. It also shows the strong points and the weak points for each technique. Me using the databases from home have really helped a lot as well, after I'm finished with this book I have two more books that I am waiting to read.

This is my favorite quote that I keep running into!

Show all the different things that go into teaching.

Second Interview Questions

1.  Who is your mentor and where do they work?

• Helen Estrada Merritt at Cortez Elementary School.

2.  What five questions will ask them about their background?

• Where did you go to school?
• How long have you been teaching?
• What other Schools have you taught at?
• Have you taught any other grade besides 3rd grade?
• What other schooling have you had to take to be a teacher?

Blog 5: Project Reflection and Working EQ

Using what you have done so far, answer the following 5 questions (be specific and use examples).

The Pentagon: 
(1) Positive Statement: What positive thing happen as a result of what you have completed so far?

    The positive thing that has happened as a result from my project so far is learning how to talk to people I have never met. I found that confidence is key, If I can't get over the nervous feeling then I wouldn't do anything. That is not good when it comes to trying to find an interviewee before the deadline. Also I have found out that people are going to say "No" and that fear should keep me from trying again.


(2) EQ Content:  Pick a piece of research or your interview.  How has it helped you improve your understanding of your topic?
     The pieces of research that have helped me understand my topic a little more are the articles "Stacking the Deck in your favor of Your Students by Using the Four of Effective Teaching" and "Building a Better Teacher" by Elizabeth Green. The first article helped get an over better understanding of my subject by giving examples of effective teaching methods. The only thing was that it quoted to much for many different books and articles that there was little to no original text in it. The first article lead me to find the second article in the NY Times. That article  that actually talked about the effects of "good" teachers on certain schools test scores and compares the teachers teaching methods and how they positively or negatively effect students retention of knowledge. 
 
(3) What has worked for you so far in the senior project?
   
     What has worked so far for me is finding a place to mentor at I just have to complete the Volunteer application process. The place I'm potentially going to volunteer at is my little sisters elementary school, Cortez Magnet School. Also, the person I plan to interview is the principle of the school and my former 5th grade teacher.


(4) What hasn't worked so far?  
   
    What hasn't worked so far me is finding research for my topic. I think it's because it's to broad of a topic but I don't know if I should narrow my subject down to a specific grade or class subject.


(5) Finding Value:  

My working EQ is "What makes a good Teacher"

What I plan to do for my mentorship is volunteer at my local elementary school. First, I have to follow some steps to to become a volunteer, for example I have to pass a background check and get clearance on a TB test.

Blog 4: Interview Preparation

Content:

1.  Who do you plan to interview?  Why?

I plan to interview my old 5th grade teacher Mr. Ruiz. I plan on interviewing him because he was one of my favorite teachers and I remember having fun in his class but also learning a lot. 

2.  You have to ask 5 questions.  What additional questions do you plan to ask?

What made you begin teaching?
Why did you chose to teach elementary school?
What did you find most rewarding about teaching?
What was the hardest thing you had to deal with?
What do you think makes a teacher a good teacher?

Blog 3: Topic Choice and Semester 1 ESLR Goals

1. List your topic here: Teaching
2. What I plan to do to show growth in the ESLRs.

IPoly Citizen:

• This year I plan to take show more responsibility in me, and to prove to myself that I could be reliable and other people can depend on me to get a job done. This year I want to make it an incredible Senior year for not just myself but for everyone in my Class. Since I am Senior Class President I can't bale out on things or promise to deliver something I know I can''t.

Effective Learner:

•  I plan on showing growth as an Effective learner this year by asking more questions. I plan to stay on top of my assignments in class, as well as take care of my responsibilities outside of class. For example with my senior project I don't want to do what has happened in the past and not turn in something small. I want to complete each task and turn them in on time so it doesn't come around and bite me later on.

Effective User of Technology:

• To Become an Effective user of Technology I want to continue to learn how to use technology better. For Example with research to not just use google (google is good and fine) but to find a better way to find research example look through databases, research journals. Also with the blog I want to learn different and better ways to use the blog to help organize thing better in it.

Effective Communicator:

• I plan to be an effective communicator by listening to other and showing respect when others are speaking or presenting something without criticizing them. For example the committees I have to listen to peoples suggestions and know that it's not all ways going to be my way. Sometimes other people have good ideas and it would be the best way to prevent arguments and would overall improve a groups dynamic. 

Summer Mentorship Component

1. Link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ApaNTpWA3P38dExCZFBzQ2I1U0NfNVNYakowTWViUlE#gid=0

2.Maria Jimenez  (909) 579-1515

3. What sort of Questions we should be asking?
    Do we have to stay with this topic?

4.I have learned that it is important to keep up, be ready for anything and pay attention. Especially for this job when a deal needs to be done on time and according to what the clients need. This is important because they are handling other peoples money and they have to make sure that no mistakes are made in the process of closing a deal. If a mistake is made by you a person could lose the home they are trying to buy.

5. I really don't know what my topic would be for my senior project. Although I did enjoy my day at Ticor and Company Escrow. I don't know, or I don't think this would be a good Senior Project Topic.
   

2013 2-Hour Presentation Reflections

1) The Presentations I saw:
Taryn - Domestic Violence
Jazmin - Disease Prevention
Jamilex - Singing Professionally
Alfonso - Producing Talk Radio
Deanna - Animation Voice overs
Isaiah - Recreation Centers
Jesse - Alternative Vehicle Competition
Danielle - Theatrical Performance
Marissa - Suicidal Youth
Yesenia - Short Films
Sydney - Wedding Planning
Jared - Law Enforcement
Damaris - Play Therapy
Yareli - Immigration Law

2) Honestly I only have 1 question and that is what is an "Individual Component"? I heard it in about every presentation I saw, but no one really explained what it was.

3)The most important part of Senior project I would say is the research. Every time someone presented new information they backed it up by citing their research or quoting a mentor, so you know they were not pulling stuff out of thin air.

4) I was thinking of doing Social Work, but I haven't really thought of a specific topic yet. I decided on this because my dad used to be a social worker helping people get on welfare or SSI etc. and still has friends and connections so I could get a mentorship.

Summer mentorship Component