1) At this point, I would say I'm at an AE/P, but if I were to choose one, I would say I lean more towards the P. The reason why is because so far, I believe I am doing what is required and a good job at it (as in good quality work and being consistent).
2) The one thing I think I have been doing well is on my research. So far, I have been receiving good grades (mostly AE's) on my research checks. I feel that I really work hard to find research that is not just on education or first graders, but on subjects closer to my essential question (which is about teaching methods). Thus, I have been trying to find reasearch that can help me gain new information towards teaching, to help me improve my knowledge for my Senior Project.
3) I would like to improve on the amount of communication I have with the teachers (or communication skills) I work with for my service learning, in order to gain more information that can help me with my Senior Project and in order to gain different perspectives on teaching methods and teaching first graders in general. I do communicate with them, but I believe that not enough.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Science Fair Proposal
1) If the first graders in Ms. Horwitz's class (from San Jose Elementary School) are exposed to a few words from the lists in the Read It! Read It! daily in a reading activity, then the first graders from her class will improve their average on how many lists they pass when they are tested every week.
2) The independent variable is the reading activity, the dependent variable is the student's average result in the Read it! Read it!, and the control variable is the Read it! Read it!.
3) My Senior Project has to do with certain teaching methods first grade teaches can use and how they affect their student's learning. It's about finding the best teaching method a first grade teacher can use. In my experiment I will be giving the first graders in one of the classes I work with a reading activity that contains about two words from a few of the lists from the Read it! Read it! (which tests the first graders' reading/pronounciation of words). Reading activities can go under as a teaching method or as part of a teaching method. This can be a good way to test out how activities, in general, works with the first graders and their learning.
4) I will have one control group, which will be one of the first grade classes I work with, and an experimental group, which will be the class that uses the reading activities. I will have one week or two where both classes run normally, without any working with the reading activites that I will input later on. Then, the next time I see one of the first grade classes, for example Ms. Horwitz on Friday, then me and her can come up with a reading activities for the rest of the week, until the students are tested again on Friday. That means Nacarra's students will not receive the reading activities the other class does. Then on Friday when I test them Mrs. Horwitz students, I will write down how many reading lists each student passes. However, since Ms. Horwitz only allows them to pass (or go up) up to five reading lists, then I will have Mrs. Nacarra (asking her first of course) do the same, making it equal. After a week or two of performing this experiment with Ms. Horwitz class, I will come up with the class average of number of lists passed for each week. Then, I will compare it to the control group or control class's average of number lists passed for each week.
For the equipment, I plan on using whatever may be necessary for the reading activities, such as: paper (if I want to print out a reading activity worksheet), computer or laptop (to organize the data and create some of the activities), children's books, and/or flashcards. Materials for the Read It! Read It! would already be provided.
5) I believe my science project will be listed under Behavioral Science.
2) The independent variable is the reading activity, the dependent variable is the student's average result in the Read it! Read it!, and the control variable is the Read it! Read it!.
3) My Senior Project has to do with certain teaching methods first grade teaches can use and how they affect their student's learning. It's about finding the best teaching method a first grade teacher can use. In my experiment I will be giving the first graders in one of the classes I work with a reading activity that contains about two words from a few of the lists from the Read it! Read it! (which tests the first graders' reading/pronounciation of words). Reading activities can go under as a teaching method or as part of a teaching method. This can be a good way to test out how activities, in general, works with the first graders and their learning.
4) I will have one control group, which will be one of the first grade classes I work with, and an experimental group, which will be the class that uses the reading activities. I will have one week or two where both classes run normally, without any working with the reading activites that I will input later on. Then, the next time I see one of the first grade classes, for example Ms. Horwitz on Friday, then me and her can come up with a reading activities for the rest of the week, until the students are tested again on Friday. That means Nacarra's students will not receive the reading activities the other class does. Then on Friday when I test them Mrs. Horwitz students, I will write down how many reading lists each student passes. However, since Ms. Horwitz only allows them to pass (or go up) up to five reading lists, then I will have Mrs. Nacarra (asking her first of course) do the same, making it equal. After a week or two of performing this experiment with Ms. Horwitz class, I will come up with the class average of number of lists passed for each week. Then, I will compare it to the control group or control class's average of number lists passed for each week.
For the equipment, I plan on using whatever may be necessary for the reading activities, such as: paper (if I want to print out a reading activity worksheet), computer or laptop (to organize the data and create some of the activities), children's books, and/or flashcards. Materials for the Read It! Read It! would already be provided.
5) I believe my science project will be listed under Behavioral Science.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
What I've Learned So Far
1) I've learned how to encourage first graders or at least an important quality that is needed when encouraging them in order for them to be motivated to learn and work, which is enthusiasm. I need to have good energy when tutoring, teaching, or helping the children in order for them to do their work with the same energy. A teacher must show their first grader that they want to work with them and when a teacher has that mentality and enthusiasm, it will be easier for both the teacher and the student to enjoy the process.
2)
The way it helped me was in how it made me realize an important element on encouragement, which was the motivation and love behind the encouragement. In the articl, it said "It seems reasonable to hypothesize that teachers who possess more favorable literacy altitudes and behaviors will be more effective in encouraging studetns to read and in teaching them to read." It may have been for reading, but I believe it qualifies for everything one teaches.
2)
3) The research that helped me perform this way with the first graders was the article: "TEACHERS' LEISURE READING HABITS AND KNOWLEDGE OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS: DO THEY RELATE TO THE TEACHING PRACTICES OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS?." BURGESS, STEPHEN R., STEPHAN SARGENT, and MELINDA SMITH. Reading Improvement 48.2 (2011): 88-102. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 9 Sept. 2011.
The way it helped me was in how it made me realize an important element on encouragement, which was the motivation and love behind the encouragement. In the articl, it said "It seems reasonable to hypothesize that teachers who possess more favorable literacy altitudes and behaviors will be more effective in encouraging studetns to read and in teaching them to read." It may have been for reading, but I believe it qualifies for everything one teaches.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Independent Component 1 Plan Approval
1) For my independent component I plan on observing a Kindergarten class probably twice a week, the same time I go to volunteer with the first grade teachers. Where I would volunteer is the same elementary school I already volunteer at.
2) I believe that if I go twice a week to observe the Kindergarten class for at least an hour or so, I'd be able to have the hourse finished by the given due date. If I start noticing within the first week that I may not be able to achieve the full hours required, then I will stay after school to help the kindergarten teacher I decide to do my independent component with or maybe another kindergarten teacher who may need more assistance.
3) My essential question is "What is the best teaching method a first grade teacher can use?" and my independent study is observing kindergarten classes, which allows me to observe the teaching methods they use then, and how they compare to the ones the first grade teachers use. I'd be able to notice which methods are similar and hopefully discover why that is.
2) I believe that if I go twice a week to observe the Kindergarten class for at least an hour or so, I'd be able to have the hourse finished by the given due date. If I start noticing within the first week that I may not be able to achieve the full hours required, then I will stay after school to help the kindergarten teacher I decide to do my independent component with or maybe another kindergarten teacher who may need more assistance.
3) My essential question is "What is the best teaching method a first grade teacher can use?" and my independent study is observing kindergarten classes, which allows me to observe the teaching methods they use then, and how they compare to the ones the first grade teachers use. I'd be able to notice which methods are similar and hopefully discover why that is.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Defining the Essential Question
1) What is the best teaching method a first grade teacher can use?
2) Best: better than other options available and tried, better because it was the choice that came out with the most satisfying results according to the subject who tried the choices, it can be bases upon facts or personal opinion depending the person/people. Teaching Method: A specific form of teaching used to teach a certain subject(s), a certain technique used to accomplish one's objective.
3) A possible answer I know of so far is teaching through activities that allow children to interact with what was taught. Two other possible answers are teaching through approved eduactional videos, such as the Magic School Bus and teaching directly from the book (orally explaining what's in the book and how to work the activities/problems inside).
4) What has been my most important source is the encyclopedia article "Teacher Education" by Encyclopedia Britannica (unkown author). It has been the most important source because it helped me decide on what my essential question should be. Before school began, I had a few ideas on what my essential question should be, and the one I have in number one was among them. In the encyclopedia article, it made me raise the question what is the most important/effective teaching method a first grade teacher/general teacher has used (and still does)?
2) Best: better than other options available and tried, better because it was the choice that came out with the most satisfying results according to the subject who tried the choices, it can be bases upon facts or personal opinion depending the person/people. Teaching Method: A specific form of teaching used to teach a certain subject(s), a certain technique used to accomplish one's objective.
3) A possible answer I know of so far is teaching through activities that allow children to interact with what was taught. Two other possible answers are teaching through approved eduactional videos, such as the Magic School Bus and teaching directly from the book (orally explaining what's in the book and how to work the activities/problems inside).
4) What has been my most important source is the encyclopedia article "Teacher Education" by Encyclopedia Britannica (unkown author). It has been the most important source because it helped me decide on what my essential question should be. Before school began, I had a few ideas on what my essential question should be, and the one I have in number one was among them. In the encyclopedia article, it made me raise the question what is the most important/effective teaching method a first grade teacher/general teacher has used (and still does)?
Monday, October 3, 2011
Second Interview Questions
I will be interviewing one of the first grade teachers I do service learning with, Mrs. Nacarra.
1) Where did you go to school to get what you needed in order to become a teacher? How long did your schooling take?
2) What did you major in when you were in school?
3) Where did you begin working once you graduated college/university? Why?
4) How long have you been working within the teaching profession, and what fraction of that was working with first graders? What can you tell me about your experience?
5) How long have you been working in San Jose Elementary School? What do you like most about working there?
6) Was teaching always your main career goal? Why or why not? If not, what was?
7) What accomplishment are you most proud of during the time you have been teaching? Why?
1) Where did you go to school to get what you needed in order to become a teacher? How long did your schooling take?
2) What did you major in when you were in school?
3) Where did you begin working once you graduated college/university? Why?
4) How long have you been working within the teaching profession, and what fraction of that was working with first graders? What can you tell me about your experience?
5) How long have you been working in San Jose Elementary School? What do you like most about working there?
6) Was teaching always your main career goal? Why or why not? If not, what was?
7) What accomplishment are you most proud of during the time you have been teaching? Why?
Monday, September 26, 2011
Presentation Reflection
1) In what way did the first interview affect your presentation? Please explain, be specific and use an example.
My presentation was based on the information I received from my first interview with the first grade teacher I do service learning with. I covered a small part of the information from the interview that I found interesting and related to some of the information I found in the research I’ve done. The basis of what I presented out came from the additional question from my first interview, which was what do you find most difficult about teaching first graders? My interviewee had answered that encouraging her students to read and make learning exciting was one of the most difficult parts, but important. That’s the information I based most of my presentation on.
2) What you say stood out about your presentation performance and why?
I say that what stood out about my presentation performance was my enthusiasm. I felt like as if I was telling my friends about the interesting things I learned through my interview, research, and service learning. In addition, I gave an example of teacher doing a poor job in encouraging his/her students to read by expressing the lack of enthusiasm while he/she tells a story, which was an important part of my presentation.
3) What was the most challenging to do and why?
The most challenging was to keep my presentation under five minutes. I felt like I had so much information to present and a lot to cover in such little time. When I went over my outline, it seemed like I wouldn’t be able to present everything I wanted, such as the example of the activity the first grade teachers I work with do and also, iinformation towards children being active in reading activities. I did end up cutting a few parts out, however, and ended up working well for me when it came to time.
My presentation was based on the information I received from my first interview with the first grade teacher I do service learning with. I covered a small part of the information from the interview that I found interesting and related to some of the information I found in the research I’ve done. The basis of what I presented out came from the additional question from my first interview, which was what do you find most difficult about teaching first graders? My interviewee had answered that encouraging her students to read and make learning exciting was one of the most difficult parts, but important. That’s the information I based most of my presentation on.
2) What you say stood out about your presentation performance and why?
I say that what stood out about my presentation performance was my enthusiasm. I felt like as if I was telling my friends about the interesting things I learned through my interview, research, and service learning. In addition, I gave an example of teacher doing a poor job in encouraging his/her students to read by expressing the lack of enthusiasm while he/she tells a story, which was an important part of my presentation.
3) What was the most challenging to do and why?
The most challenging was to keep my presentation under five minutes. I felt like I had so much information to present and a lot to cover in such little time. When I went over my outline, it seemed like I wouldn’t be able to present everything I wanted, such as the example of the activity the first grade teachers I work with do and also, iinformation towards children being active in reading activities. I did end up cutting a few parts out, however, and ended up working well for me when it came to time.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Senior Project Presentation 1
Objective:
- Students will learn about the importance/difficulty of making the learning process exciting and the importance/difficulty on encouraging students to read.
- Ask Questions towards a student's (or students') past experience in school.
- Who loves to read? (Should be answered by raise of hands)
- Who loved to read since first grade? (Should be answered by raise of hands)
- Someone tell me why? (volunteer/choose at random)
- Motivation teachers must have to keep the encouragement going and at a high level.
- Ms. Horwitz love for teaching and how that affects her enthusiasm and ideas towards creating activities and keeping old fashion ones interesting (example the Read it! Read it!)
- The importance of involving the students in reading activities and recommending them not just any book, but good books (as explained in an article).
- Colorful poster of a teacher holding up an open book, demonstrating the front and back cover with writing that says "Read to Succeed". or A mini- version of an activity that is used at the school I volunteer at. It helps students advance in their reading/pronounciation skills.
- Children's book that talks about following the rules.
- Ask one or two questions to see if the class was following along, such as: What did Ms. Horwitz, teacher I do service learning with, say was a difficulty when it came to teaching first graders? What is a quality a first grade teacher must have in order to encourage his/her students to not just read, but learn overall and make it exciting?
- I will conclude with repeating the importance of making learning and reading exciting when teaching first graders, since they still are children who love to play and interact. Also, how it requires a teacher to be motivated and requires a teacher to love their job in order to project that enthusiasm/encouragement strongly.
- Poster
- A Children's book
- Candy (it's not for sure, though)
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Interview Check
1) For my first interview, I decided to ask Mrs. Horwitz, who is the first grade teacher I am working with for service learning hours at San Jose Elementary School. I decided to interview her first because she was my first choice, since I had already started my volunteering with her and so, wouldn't require much trouble to get the interview. Also, it ended up being a good way to start communicating with her, especially towards my Senior Project topic.
2) Additional questions that I will ask her, other than the five required, are: What made you go into teaching? Why first graders? What is the most difficult aspect on teaching first graders? and What do you like most about your career as a first grade teacher?
2) Additional questions that I will ask her, other than the five required, are: What made you go into teaching? Why first graders? What is the most difficult aspect on teaching first graders? and What do you like most about your career as a first grade teacher?
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Blog 1: Senior Project Topic
What is your topic?
My Senior Project topic is Teaching First Graders.
Why?
I wanted my project to do with children, since I like to help out children with their homework or reading like I did this summer at the Pomona Public Library. It makes me feel good about myself and useful. Moreover, a possible career choice I have is Pediatrics, which involves children. However, I didn't want to do Pediatrics for my topic because I wanted to try something more creative for my project and something that included more interaction with people. Another reason why I chose this topic is because there is an elementary school close by my house, and I think it is going to be a great experience volunteering at the school I used to attend. It will also be interesting to observe teaching from another perspective.
What do you hope to accomplish after studying this topic all year?
My Senior Project topic is Teaching First Graders.
Why?
I wanted my project to do with children, since I like to help out children with their homework or reading like I did this summer at the Pomona Public Library. It makes me feel good about myself and useful. Moreover, a possible career choice I have is Pediatrics, which involves children. However, I didn't want to do Pediatrics for my topic because I wanted to try something more creative for my project and something that included more interaction with people. Another reason why I chose this topic is because there is an elementary school close by my house, and I think it is going to be a great experience volunteering at the school I used to attend. It will also be interesting to observe teaching from another perspective.
What do you hope to accomplish after studying this topic all year?
I hope to improve my communication skills by delivering my thoughts more clearly and with more confidence. I also hope to improve my social skills by interacting with the children and teachers I will work with. I feel like it will be an enlightening experience, observing the ways of teaching. Especially in the future when I have children, I hope to apply my knowledge from the experience of the project towards them and wherever else I may have the chance to.
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