Senior Project Reflection

(1) Positive Statement

I'm most proud of my material and how I connected it to the real life situations. I felt that it gave my presentation a little more because it wasn't something I just talk about it could be applied and used in the real world. It gave my content more depth because in a sense it wasn't just theoretical there was truth to it, my content was something that next time they see or hear anything having to do with tests hopefully they remember me and use the material I spoke about.

(2) Questions to Consider

a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your Block Presentation (self-assessment)?

  I would give myself a P.

b.     What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)?

Truthfully an   AP.

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?
My research I dedicated a lot of my time to just research. I wouldn't write them down or take notes but I would read a lot of different articles.

(4) (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would have you done differently to improve your senior project if you could go back in time?
I would go back and make sure that I did my blogs. I kept skipping them, not doing them or turning them in late. This I would change and in the end is why I think I would get an AP.

(5) Finding Value

How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples.
Specifically I think the research component has help me, especially when I start at Cal-Poly having done this component it will help me when I have to research and write a paper. The research was helpful in teaching me what sources are important and how to pick and choose information that would best help my presentation. In the end of the year, we end up with so much research we have to pick and choose what we need, so being able to choose is an important skill I believe will help me in the future.

Blog 21: Mentorship

Content:

LIA Response to blog:

    Literal

·    Mrs. Smith at Cortez Elementary

    Interpretive

    I have learned so many things that have helped through out this year. I have learned that students, especially younger students, are very unpredictable. For example two students might get into a heated argument over something as small as paper. I have also learned how to better control my frustrations around the students and to exercise much need patience when tutoring students with homework (more precisely math). I also learned how to better organize and create lessons plans and activities for the students to use on their free time.Perhaps the most important thing I have learned from my mentorship  is just how hard and stressful teaching kids really is. Before this I thought teaching middle school must be a pain in the butt ,but now I see that young children are challenging in their own way.  

   Applied

     How has what you’ve done helped you to answer your EQ?  Please explain.

What I have done has helped me really connect what I have been reading to real life. For example I had just finished reading an article about the Mozart affect and how music helps students recollect material better. I would then go back to class just to see that the students are being taught a lesson in math by making up song or learning how to spell through a song. My mentor would help me by talking to me about why she would do things most of the little pointers she would tell me would mostly come from her over 20 years experience, but sometimes she would refer me to an article or small book that would talk about mnemonic devices or tips for new teachers.  

Blog 19: Independent Component 2

Literal:

A) I Regina, affirm that I have completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.

B) Adelman, Howard S., and Linda Taylor. Rebuilding For Learning. New York: Schoolastic, 2008. Schoolastic. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. <http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/rebuild/RebuidlingV11RD28.pdf>.

D) I finally went back to Mentorship over Spring Break and I did different jobs for Mrs. Smith. The students had a presentation/project due during that time so I help the little kiddos with that.

Interpretive: I feel like some parts of it did help were as others really didn't help at all. The days that I just graded and did other odd jobs didn't help. That was no use to my senior project or my independent Component. I sometimes understand sometimes she is overwhelmed and needs help but other times I just couldn't get anything out of it.

Applied: How ever there were parts of the components that did help me. For example the kids had to do presentations on their project about geometric creatures. Basically explain their creatures what they are and what geometric shapes they used to create their monstrosities. When helping the students was when I discovered my 3rd answer which was about recollection. I started thinking what I could do to help these kids remember what they needed to say. So I research different method such as the Mozart effect.

Blog 20: Exit Interview

Content:

(1) What is your essential question and answers?  What is your best answer and why?

My Essential question is "what is the most effective way a 3rd grade teacher can help lower performing students on their districts tests." My answers are:

1. A 3rd grade teacher can help a lower performing student succeed is by using different methods of remembering so  that the information being taught in class can be recalled easier.
2. A 3rd grade teacher can help a student succeed by making lesson that play to the students strength.   My best answer is "Helping students relax before a test by providing a class environment that is calming." This is my best answer because I have taken the most time to research and explore. Also from this answer I found my other answers.

(2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?

I got this answer actually not from my research I got it from my mentor Mrs. Smith a 3rd grade teacher. She had once told me that she wished her students would relax and not worry about the test, so I decided to research why and how to reduce pre-test stress and anxiety.

(3) What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?

The biggest problem so far would be my blog and competeing blog assignments. I guess I haven't really resolved it but I am working on it.

(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?

My two most significant sources would be 1. A book written by a professor at San Diego State called "Addressing Test Anxiety" 2. "Statistics in Brief"  both books have helped my on different parts of my answer. 1. helped by showing symptoms and signs of anxiety in children and 2. helped by giving me stats and facts about students with test anxiety.

Blog 18: Third Answer

Content:

• "What is the most effective way a 3rd grade teacher can help a lower performing student score better on their districts test?"
• A 3rd grade teacher can help a lower performing student succeed is by using different methods of remembering so  that the information being taught in class can be recalled easier.

1. The Mozart effect which helps students by linking information being taught and music being played at the same time. For example playing music during a math lesson stimulates the brain so the information being presented is being used.
2. Use of mnemonic devices, making up a song or poem that is funny or clever so things are stay. For example when young kids learn directions North, East, South, West students are taught to remember Never Eat Soggy Watermelons.
3. Lastly the use of visual aids in the classroom, so when trying to remember  lesson students connect the visual to the lesson.  

• Evans, Thomas Leonard. "Does Systematic Exposure to Classical Music in a Learning Environment Improve Standardized Test Scores of Young Adolescents? an Empirical Test of the "Mozart Effect"." 1407177 Southern Connecticut State University, 2001. Ann Arbor: ProQuest. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.
• These methods focus more on the retention of info which is a key part of taking tests.

Advisory Meeting #2

Content:

What i the most effective way a 3rd grade teacher can help lower performing students on their districts test?

A 3rd grade teacher can help a student succeed by making lesson that play to the students strength.

1. Teaching lessons with more visuals, For example a math lesson taught on an overhead so students see.
2. Taking a small pretest that asses the students strengths (intelligence) then presenting activities or project that would correspond with most common strength in the class.
3. Giving students options on how they want to do a project. For example the students could write an essay, do a PowerPoint presentation, record a video or create a visual art all about what ever they are learning.

Peters, Laura C. "Teachers Help Students Succeed by Using Multiple Intelligences Theory in the Classroom." Virginia Commonwealth University Training and Technical Assistance Center Newsletter.

Deangelis, Tori. "Helping At-risk Students Succeed." Http://www.apa.org. American Pyschological Assiciation

This will help students grasp material easier because it is learned in a way that mostly makes sense to the child.

Blog 15: Independent Component 2 approval

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

• For my next Independent Component I would like to stay with my mentor and continue to observe her and the class. I would also like to see how she teachers students with learning disabilities. I would also like to learn the signs when a student is doing poor in class because they are not understanding the material or if it is something more like Dyslexia or another disorder. 

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

• I plan to take as many pictures as possible. This is because I don't know how else to show proof of the 30 hours.

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

• Up to this point I have only researched things that a common student would have trouble with. I would like to research now different learning disabilities that students might have and how to teach and help these students.

4.  Post a log on the right hand side of your blog near your other logs and call it the independent component 2 log.

Blog 14: Independent Component 1

• LITERAL
  (a) Statement saying: “I, student name, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.” I only have 20 hours
  (b) Cite your source regarding who or what article or book helped you complete the independent component
• MY Mentor is Mrs. Smith at Cortez Elementary School
  (c) Provide a digital spreadsheet (aka log of the 30 hours).   Post it next to your mentorship log. 
• What I have completed is helping around the 
• INTERPRETIVE 
  Defend your work and explain how the significant parts of your component and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work.   Provide evidence (photos, transcript, art work, videos, etc) of the 30 hours of work.  
  
• When I worked with the kids I found that certain students had different ways of learning.  When I say worked with them, I mean when I would help them with their class work or homework. For example I would tutor this boy with his homework and any time their was a short story to read he would get distracted.So that was when my EQ changed from finding out  what would make a teacher a good teacher to my EQ now which is more about helping the students more than gauging a teachers greatness.
• APPLIED
  How did the component help you understand the foundation of your topic better?  Please include specific examples to illustrate how it helped. 
• It has helped me understand that teaching especially little kids isn't easy. Watching my mentor I now see how much patience is truly put into her job. When I researched I would find articles about concrete methods that would help students "learn" better but from Mrs. Smith I learned that because every kid is different those methods are not so concrete, and sometimes have to be tweaked to fit the class. 

Lesson 2 Reflection

Content:

1. Positive Statement
   I actually had a good time while I was presenting.
What are you most proud of in your Lesson 2 Presentation and why?
I'm most proud of my content. Only because I wasn't sure if my content was going to bore people, but after few people walked up and told me that I had done a good job.

2. Questions to Consider
       a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 2 Presentation (self-assessment)?
                P  
       b.     Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 2 component contract.
I deserve a P because I met all the requirements, I made talking time and I had adequate Professionalism, Organization and Creativity, Justification of Answer, and Audience involvement.

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 2?
 What worked for me was just pacing myself with my content, not tying to blast through it but not going super slow either.


4.  (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 2?
I would try and make my activity more fun or change my activity all together.


5. Finding Value
What do you think your answer #2 is going to be?  
Something along the lines of "Teaching students the right test taking strategies."  

Blog 11: Mentorship 10 hour check

1.   Where are you doing your mentorship?
-Cortez Magnet School
2.   Who is your contact?
-Mrs. Smith
3.   How many total hours have you done (total hours should be reflected in your mentorship log located on the right hand side of your blog like your WB)? 
-10 hrs   
4.   Summarize the 10 hours of service you did.
-I did whatever tasks she needed. That was stapling packets printing/copying worksheets and homework, graded multiplication test and vocabulary quizzes.

Senior Project, The Holiday

1.What did you over the break with your senior project?

- Over break I couldn't go to mentorship because they were on break as well. So I couldn't really do much. 

2.  What was the most important thing you learned from what you did and why?  What was the source of what you learned?
-I don't know what to put for this question since over break I really didn't do much. The only thing I did was I tutored my sister over the break so she could pass her reading test. Also, I tested her in multiplication because she has had trouble passing the 4's test. This is basically what I do at my mentorship anyways.

3.  If you were going to do a 10 question interview on questions related to answers of your EQ, who would you talk to and why?

-I would talk to another teacher at the school, only because they have experience in what my senior project is about.

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.