Blog 24 : Last Presentation Reflection

1. Positive Statement 
• What are you most proud of in your block presentation and/or senior project? Why?
• I'm most proud of my whole presentation. I had a mini panic attack in the morning but it went away with all the help I got. I believe I did very good because when I was presenting I could see that the students were paying attention, meaning that they were into my topic. I also noticed that the students had a lot of fun during my activities.   
2. Questions to Consider
• What assessment would you give yourself on your block presentation? Use the component contract to defend that assessment.  AE P AP CR NC
• I would give myself an P, because I did everything that was asked on the contract. I guess I went above and beyond with timing because I went over my 30 minute talking time and my presentation ran through almost the whole block.
• What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project? Use the component contract to defend that assessment. AE P AP CR NC
• For my overall senior project I would give myself an AE, because I learned a lot through out the school year. I learned about things that I never knew existed or things that are very important in a classroom. I had a lot of fun learning at my mentorship and I know that I'm planning on doing something with special needs kids in my future. 
3.  What worked for you in your senior project?
• A lot worked very well with my senior project. There was always a lot of things to research and my mentor and mentorship were very helpful and kind to me. The interviews that I took from the staff helped me a lot with my three answers and the students were the ones that helped me the most during my project. 
4. (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your senior project?
• If I had a time machine, I would like to find a closer mentorship. It was a struggle to go down to my mentorship everyday. I wished I could've found a closer school so it would be a lot easier for me to go to. I know there are some schools in the area but since I was already well known at my brother's school, I just decided to go there because it was the easiest route. 
5. Finding Value 
• How has the senior project been helpful to you in the future endeavors? Be specific and use examples. 
• Like I mentioned above, after going through the whole process of senior project I fell in love with the idea of helping those in need. It felt great to be able to help someone learn something. I felt like a role model when I would help the students do a worksheet and so with this is mind, I have decided to continue with working with special needs in my future. I plan on either becoming a nurse that specially works with special needs children, or perhaps become a social worker, or even just become a special education teacher. I hope my project also helped other realize that theres others out there would need or help. Although they are different it, that doesn't mean that they aren't capable of doing things that we can do. 

Blog 23 : Exit Interview Prep

Graduation Day is almost here(:

Content:

1. What is your essential question, and what are your answers?  What is your best answer and why?
• EQ : What techniques can an elementary special education teacher use to ensure that each child is learning?
• Three Answers : 
• The best technique an elementary special education teacher can use to ensure that each child is learning is making sure that the he / she knows each disability that each student has. 
• The best technique that an elementary special education teacher can use to ensure that each child is learning is to have one teacher design and teach the, but then to also have more teachers that tour the classroom, providing support by answering questions, re-explaining key concepts, and assisting with behavior management.
• The best technique to ensure that each child is learning is to have good communication / contact with the student's parent.
• Best Answer : The best technique that an elementary special education teacher can use to ensure that each child is learning is to have one teacher design and teach the, but then to also have more teachers that tour the classroom, providing support by answering questions, re-explaining key concepts, and assisting with behavior management.
• This is my best answer because I was able to notice this when at my mentorship. I noticed how important it was to have so many adults in one classroom. Each student has a different disability and so it can be hard for one teacher to teach a lot of students that all learn differently. So with more people in a classroom each student is getting the same and correct amount of attention that he or she needs.
2. What process did you take to arrive at this answer?
• The process that took me to arrive to this answer took a while. I began to notice my answers when I would go to my mentorship. I began to notice that, the above, was my best answer because the teachers were always there to help and without them the students would be all over the place and wouldn't be learning. But since I was able to be one of those teachers that helps the students, I grew to notice that without me there the student wouldn't have learned anything, but since I was he did get to learn and understand the lesson.  
3. What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?
• At first I had a problem going to my mentorship. Since my mentorship is a school the students would leave at three o'clock. By the time my ride came and picked me up from school, and drove me all the way down to San Bernardino, the students would be ready to go home and so I wasn't able to be with them for very long. I resolved this problem by finally getting my license and car. Now I'm able to leave right after school and I get to spend time with the students. 
4. What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?
• One : Mentorship
• When I'm at my mentorship I get to do more hands- on things instead of reading it off of somewhere. Being with the students I can see how each student reacts to certain things and if I had a question or concern there was always another adult that I can ask and I would get the answer right away. I'm able to learn more from the students. 
• Two : Top 10 Resources for Special Education Teachers
• This website helped me a lot when it came to doing research. On this website I was able to find answers to any questions that I had. But since at first I didn't trust the cite I would ask the teacher the following day and it would always be very similar to the one I found on this website.
• However, my interviews with my mentor also helped me a lot with my answers. Since she has been working in special education for a really long time, I was able to trust and believe in her. Her responses to my questions were really reliable and she also gave me a lot of stories that she had with some students to give me an idea of whatever she was describing / teaching me. 

Note to Self : Be prepared with evidence and specific examples to support any response. It is also significant to cite sources as you explain. Please be advised.  The senior team will not conduct any exit interview in which the student has not turned in a passing notebook count and completed this blog.  In addition, you are expected to dress as you would for a job interview.

Blog 22 : Independent Component 2

Content:  

LITERAL

• (a) Include this statement: “I, PAULINE MIRAMONTES, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 46 hours of work.”
• (b) Cite your source regarding who or what article or book helped you complete the independent component.
• My mentorship and mentor helped me complete this independent component. 

• (c) Update your Independent Component 2 Log (which should be under your Senior Project Hours link)
• Up on Senior Project Hours link. 

• (d) Explain what you completed.    
• What I did for this independent component was help in creating the Anderson Special Olympics. I helped with coming up ideas for obstacles, I over looked students practice the Olympic oath, and I helped set up and take down anything that was set up during the Olympics. I also helped students complete the obstacles!

• (e) Defend your work and explain the component's significance and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work. Provide evidence (photos, transcript, art work, videos, etc) of the 30 hours of work.   
• The component shows more than 30 hours of work because at some points I was working with the students and seeing how they do certain things. I also helped with brainstorming and setting up and I was also one of the adults to help the students do obstacles that they couldn't do on their own. There were a couple of days where I didn't spend my whole time working on the Olympics and so I went and helped to any classroom that they needed help in.
• Photos down below for evidence. 

• (f) How did the component help you answer your EQ? Please include specific examples to illustrate how it helped.
• This component helped answer my EQ because I saw how each student did things and how the change in atmosphere can change the way of thinking. Each disability is different and seeing how the students do things with other students is always different. Some students did better outside than doing things inside a classroom. Others were just too tired and didn't want to participate. Even the students who were handicapped had games and obstacles to do, and thats always fun to see them get happy that they can participate too. 

• (e) Evidence! 
• In the pictures the adults with the black t-shirts were the ones in charge and the students were the ones with the green t-shirts. 

This is the classroom and students that I was assigned to. These were the students that I had helped if they needed any help with any obstacles. 

First Game! 4x4 Relay! Each classroom raced with another classroom in a relay race. 

In this picture we waited for the rest of the school to come out before giving out the schedule of the day and any announcements. 

Second Game! Ball Pass! The students had to pass balls from the front of the line to the end of the line and then pass them all back again. 

Seventh and Final Game! Obstacle Course! The adults had set up an obstacle course inside the gym and had the students go thru it. However, most students needed help in this and so adults were assigned to section to help the students pass by.  

After doing the Olympic Oath, a representative from each classroom was sent to do the torch relay. 

First Game! 4x4 Relay! The students in wheelchairs being pushed to win the relays.  

Third Game! Yoga/ Stretch/ Cool Down! This section the students were told to do "yoga" stretches. As you can tell in this picture not all students participate.  

Fourth Game! Soccer Hurdles! The students had to walk over tubes that got taller each time. In this picture I'm holding onto my brother as he walks over the tubes.  

Fifth Game! Soccer! Again I'm kicking the soccer ball back and forth with my brother before the other students came. 

Celebration Ceremony! In this picture, is the class and I standing in front of the school as other volunteers pass out the medals. 

Sixth Game! Ball Toss! The students were to throw the ball into a net and were to take a step back every time they made it. 

Grading Criteria 

• Log on a digital spreadsheet under Senior Project Hours
• Evidence of 30 hours of work 
• Blog explaining and defending significance of component

Blog 21 : Interview 4 Reflection

1. What is the most important thing I learned from the interview?  
• The most important thing that I learned from the interview was how the behaviors can affect the students' way of thinking and the way they learn. Also I learned how the teachers really try hard to make sure that each child is learning and to have lots of patience because each student learns differently and at different paces. 
2. How will what I learned affect my final lesson?
• The information that I learned will affect my final lesson because the information that I got from my mentor would really help when explaining my first and second answer. 

Blog 20 : Fourth Interview Questions

1. Who do you plan to interview? What is this person's area of expertise?
• I plan on interviewing my mentor, Jenna Baumann. She's an expert because she has worked with special needs children for many years. She has been my brother's teacher for the last two years and the improvement in him is astonishing. Therefore, I knew Mrs. Jenna would be a great person for my interview four, because of the impact she has on her students. I also love my interviews with her because she gives me so much information and I learn a lot from her. 
2. Post 20 open-ended questions you want to ask an expert in the field concerning your senior project. Your focus should be finding answers to your EQ.
1. How is a decision made about a child's eligibility for special education?
2. What happens if a child is not eligible for services?
3. What should parents do before a IEP meeting?
4. Can a child's IEP be changed?
5. How do I know if a classroom can accommodate a student with special needs?
6. How do you regularly assess the progress of the students?
7. What are schools legally required to do when it comes to special education programs?
8. How do you teach and encourage socially acceptable behavior from the students? 
9. Are there any suggestions you made that implemented in the special education field?
10. How do you manage a very disruptive student?
11. How do you collaborate general education teachers to benefit the students?
12. What special education strategies and techniques have you used to help with the students?
13. What methods do you use to encourage students to explore learning opportunities?
14. How do you motivate the students to persevere with challenging assignments and tasks?
15. How do you teach and encourage socially acceptable behavior from the students? 
16. What role do advocates play in implementing special education programs?
17. How have you encouraged parental involvement in student learning?
18. Should students with special needs be mainstreamed as far as possible?
19. How do you stay current with special education best practices?
20. How have you managed to keep up with the paperwork required of a special education teacher?
21. How have you ensured that each student receives the right type of support?
22. Can a student's placement in a special education program be challenged?

*Note*The interview itself is not due until Friday, April 15th to turnitin.com. However, we want to give you as much time as possible, so we are asking you to complete the blog now. Remember that in addition to turning in the interview to turnitin.com, you also need to turn in the verification sheet to your House teacher and post an audio excerpt of no less than 5 minutes on your senior project blog.

Blog 19 : Third Answer

• EQ 
• What techniques can an elementary special education teacher use to ensure that each child is learning?
• Answer #3 (Write in a complete sentence like a thesis statement)*
• The best technique an elementary special education teacher can use to ensure that each child is learning is making sure that the he / she knows each disability that each student has. 
• 3 details to support the answer
• If a student has difficulty learning by listening then the teacher should teach difficult vocabulary before the lesson, provide study guides / worksheets, teach them by making the student use their imagination, and provide written and oral directions. 
• If a student has difficulty expressing him or herself then the teacher should teach with graphs, photos, or other alternate forms of information sharing. Also the teachers should wait for the student to answer questions themselves instead of calling them out, provide classroom rules, and give them plenty of time to think and reflect about the lesson. 
• If a student has difficulty reading and writing then the teacher should help the student learn by accepting visuals reports, not provide long writing assignments, and allow more oral responses. Also give them the opportunity of using true or false, matching, or multiple choice worksheets, and teach the students directly and not with just worksheets. 
• Main key is to be very patient and be willing to give lots of time to a lesson and to each student to respond in their own way, rather it takes five minutes or three days.  
• The research source(s) to support your details and answer
• http://www.readingrockets.org/article/how-adapt-your-teaching-strategies-student-needs
• http://www.educationoasis.com/resources/Articles/adapting_materials.htm
• http://www.ldonline.org/article/370/
• http://education.msu.edu/te/secondary/pdf/Designing-Lessons-for-Diverse-Learners.pdf
• Concluding Sentence
• I picked this as one of my answers because it is very important that every teacher knows what type of disability he or she is about to deal with. Each disability is different and each needs different kinds of attention and ways to teach. If a teacher doesn't know how to take care of a disability then the student wouldn't be learning and then the whole teaching process is pointless. 

Blog 18 : Answer 2

Are We Done Yet With Senior Project?

1. What is your EQ?
• What techniques can an elementary special education teacher use to ensure that each child is learning?
2.  What is your first answer? (In complete thesis statement format)
• The best technique that an elementary special education teacher can use to ensure that each child is learning is to have one teacher design and teach the, but then to also have more teachers that tour the classroom, providing support by answering questions, re-explaining key concepts, and assisting with behavior management.
3. What is your second answer? (In complete thesis statement format)
• The best technique to ensure that each child is learning is to have good communication / contact with the student's parent.
4.  List three reasons your answer is true with a real-world application for each.
• Without talking to the student's parents the parents wouldn't know what is going on with their child at school.
• At my mentorship we had a class party and each student brought in something except for one student, because the parent didn't know we were having a party. 
• Sending out updated classroom handouts to parents. 
• Each parent should know how the classroom, that their child, is in is going. There should be updated schedule and important dates so the parents are up to date with everything that is happening.
•  My classroom sends out a handout to the parents every Monday to let the parent know what is going to happen in the class that week. 
• Talking to the Parents face-to-face. Conference meetings
• Each parent should come and speak with the teacher at least once a week. Each student have different needs and because of this each student needs different type of care. 
• Student in my class has a teacher aid with him 24/7 and at the end of the day the aid writes down what the student did throughout the day. The parent should always read what the aid said because the parents should help their child at home too when the teachers aren't around to help.
• Parents should know how to take care and help their children when they are at home so the student won't forget what they are learning and keep the same behavior at home and school. 
5. What printed sources best supports your answer?
• http://www.specialeducationguide.com/pre-k-12/the-parent-teacher-partnership/making-a-smooth-transition-to-school/
• http://www.specialeducationguide.com/pre-k-12/the-parent-teacher-partnership/where-to-turn-when-you-have-concerns/
• http://www.specialeducationguide.com/pre-k-12/the-parent-teacher-partnership/consistency-between-the-classroom-and-home/
• http://theparentacademy.dadeschools.net/pdfs/Effective_Communication.pdf
• http://center.serve.org/tt/Comm_SpecialNeeds.pdf
6. What other source supports your answer?
• Another source that really helps my answer is my mentorship. I see a lot of interaction with the parents and teachers. I'm also one of the people who create the week schedule, prints them out, and makes sure each student has one in his or her backpack. 
7. Tie this together with a concluding thought.
• This answer is an important to my EQ because without communication between a teacher and parent there is no way the student is doing better with his or her need. The student shouldn't be learning just at school, the learning should continue at home or else the student will only behave at school and not home. There should always be repetition so the student understands a concept and it can only work if the parents repeat the concept at home too. 

*note to self*

On Friday, 2/26 for Advisory, you will be presenting what you have from this blog.  The presentation is more like a share-out and should not last longer than 2 minutes. You don't need a visual, and you should not read what you have written.