Friday, January 27, 2012

Last Week



1. Describe what you are most thankful for in your internship experience—what experiences, what people, and so on? What new appreciations have you gained through internship and how did you develop these?
What I am most thankful for throughout this magnificent experience in internship has been the fact that I got to be around children the whole time and that for me was the best. Being around these students had made me realize how much I really liked my internship and never wanted for each day to end. I always felt very welcome into their learning space and I also felt part of their learning as well, since I was helping them academically. I am also very thankful that these certain types of children were the ones who accepted me as I came in and started not only being a friend they can count on but also someone who was going to show them the right way towards their education. For example when they would ask me questions that were school related for me I always answered to them with "school is always important for your future, and that's why you should pay attention." This was something I would tell them when they weren't paying attention to the teacher or weren't following directions, it was a goal I had set for myself to always make them feel that whatever they did in the future always started with how they did in school. So, being on the other side now as somewhat of a teacher to them, it made me realize that I myself had to accomplish everything that I have a plan for or at least challenge myself to do the best possible in every way that I can. I have to also be thankful to my mentor who guided me throughout this whole process which I really needed and I appreciate everything that I learned from her. She had a big part in this as well considering that she opened her doors to her classroom to me whom she didn't quite know and didn't have a problem when I helped out the students, she definitely knew that I was here to help her out and never did she abuse her power and give me a load of work for me to do, so I really appreciate that. She also made me feel more comfortable talking to her students because she would introduce why I was here and how they should respect me like they did for her. Coming out of this experience with a mind full of things to get done before the semester is over, even though it hasn't even started, has been a moment of realization for me since I know what I want to do in the future and I now have a glance at what I am going to be expecting for this career.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Week 3


5. Who benefits from the qork that you do at internship? How and/or why?
From the work that I have been doing during internship the people that benefit the most from it are the children that are most behind in their work. For example, last week I was working with two five year old boys, Andrew and David, whom started kindergarden when they were barely four and they weren't prepared to take in all the work for their first year in school. I worked to get them on the same level as the rest of the class so they won't stay behind for much longer. Having one on one time with them helped them imensly catch up with learning their numbers as well as knowing how to pronounce their vowels and words for the week. During this time I felt like I was making them progress more and my help benefit them as well as the teacher who was always busy and didn't have the time during class to go over each subject slowly to them like I did. Now, as I have moved to first grade I am currently working with a little boy named Adrian, whom has trouble catching up with the class considering that he has hearing problems as well as having trouble with his sight.


3. You are half-way through your project. How is it going? What challenges have you faced? What have you learned? What are you doing to ensure a successful completion of your internship project.
Yes, I am half-way through internship and I don't want to leave yet! It has been going really well ever since I started internship, I feel comfortable with the kids and they actually really like me. I have enjoyed every second of my time spending it with the kids and helping them out when they need it. I also have noticed that they actually listen to me when I ask them to do something and that makes me feel like I am a real role model to them seeing me as someone they can look up to. Unfortunately there has only been one challenge that I have faced during internship which is having to schedule a time when my mentor isn't busy and I could interview her for my assignment that is due this friday. I will try my best this week to schedule the best time possible to get an interview with her. Some things that I have learned throughout my time being in internship is that being a teacher has it's ups and downs. What I'm talking about is the kind of work that I have to think of while working on my project which is to come up with my own lesson to do with them next week. I have been struggling trying to see the easy ways that I can make the kids understand the kind of activities that I will try to make them work on while they learn something new. But the better part has been seeing the kids everyday with a smile on their face ready to learn a new thing everyday, it just feels like they are absorbing all the knowledge they can from whatever you teach them. My project is going to show how much I learned form them and how much they can learn from me. What I am doing now in the process of completing my project is asking the kids if they have any ideas of what kind of activities they like to do.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Internship Week 2


2. What is the biggest challenge face at your internship?
A semi big challenge that I have faced during internship already has been trying to be more patient with the children and understanding them when they can't do their work or they don't know how to do it. This is where I come in and try my best to explain what they have to do in a calm reasoning way, that way they don't get confused on what I'm trying to say or make them do. For example when I have talked to them in the past I use my regular language that I would speak to my other peers, but as I try talking to them in the same way its hard for them to understand me and do what I ask them to do. Now I have learned that I need to have more patience with them while explaining the anything they need help in and try to use less complicated words that don't make everything not fit into place fore them.


6. How do you see your roll at your internship?
I see myself as a role model in the roll of helping the teacher out with the children. For me it seems that the children have needed that extra support of someone to look is after them on a one on one daily bases. This has benefited me with my communications skills and patience, since it is required to have while trying to break the ice between me and them being having confidence in each other as well.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

First Week of Internship!

3. Describe the project you'll do at internship, including the skills and technology you need to do it and what you hope your project looks like as a final product.
The project that I will be accomplishing during my stay in internship will be to assist a group of low level kids who aren't quite on the same level as the others in their grade level. I will be working with the kindergartens as well as the first graders. Some of the skills that I will apply will be communicating with them on a level that they understand what I am trying to help them with and be try to be patient when they don't understand what I am trying to teach them. Some of the materials that I will also be using is the computers and books that they have around the class. I hope to accomplish this project and make everything worth it so that not I do I help the teachers with the students, but I also help the students get to the right level that they are supposed to be in.

6. Describe the company culture at your internship, including how people interact, communicate and work together.
In King Chavez Academy Prep there is a rich culture of Latinos and many others as well that help each other out to make the school have positive outcome to all the students that attend there. There is a variety of programs that consist of helping the Spanish speaking families understand what is going on around the school which also helps communicate with the teachers and build a trustworthy relationship among each other. I really like this and also helps me benfit form the students that can talk to me weather they know English or not. The students interact really well with each other because they all help themselves out whenever they need any help, and this has become one of the things that will help the school progress much more.