Blog 23: Senior Project Reflection

(1) Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your block presentation and/or your senior project? Why?
I am most proud of my presentation and my exit interview. This is because I thought my presentation was very well prepared for with a clean PowerPoint and fun, interactive activities for the classroom that got everyone awake and interested. I am also proud of my exit interview because I believe that I answered all the questions thoroughly and brought in the aspect of connecting my family life with my senior project.

(2) Questions to Consider

a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your block presentation (self-assessment)?

     P    

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

P

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?
What worked for me in my senior project was that although it was difficult at times that there was a lot of research available for me to read. Even if the information wasn't directly related to special education it helped me to see that there are examples of special education in everyday life.
(4) (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your senior project if you could go back in time?

I would've asked for a different time to present because many people were falling asleep due to the fact that it was so close to lunch time.

(5) Finding Value

How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples. 

I feel that my senior project helped me to respect my topic more and to see that even though I may not be interested in something at first that I can still enjoy learning about it.

Blog 21: Exit Interview

1.)  My essential question is, "In what way can a special education advisor best help her students complete their academic goals?" The three answers that I have come to are for the special education advisor to have a knowledgable understanding of the student's file, to encourage parent involvement, and to have a passion for their job. My best answer to the essential question would be for the advisor to have a knowledgable understanding of the student's file because without knowing the student and their history you cannot set a stable foundation. Without a foundation of respect an advisor can't further assess the student's struggles and needs.

2.) The process that I went about to arrive at this answer would be my mentors hip at Montclair High School and through the researching of articles.

3.) Problems that I faced throughout this project were that I wasn't able to attend meetings between the advisors and the students. I overcame this by talking with the students about how they felt about the special education program they were in.

4.) Two of the most significant sources for my senior project was my mentor Ms. Vela at Montclair High School and my personal research of articles. These have been my best sources of information because they provide me with the facts and the real life experiences to support the facts given.

Blog 18: Fourth Interview Questions

1. Who do think the special education process begins with?
2. What kind of role do you think parents play in this process?
3. How important do you think special education advisors are in students completing their IEP goals?
4. Why do you think students struggle to complete their IEP goals?
5. Who at the end of the day do you think is responsible if a students does not meet their IEP goals?
6. What information should a special education advisor keep in mind when writing an IEP for a student?
7. Who, in your opinion, supports a student the most throughout their special education academic life?
8. What do you think is the best way to help students reach their IEP goals?
9. If you could do so right now, how would you better the rate of students meeting their goals?
10. Why do you think research puts so much pressure on schools during the special education process?
11. What do you think is the most important thing about being a special education advisor?
12. How can students themselves improve their chances of completing their IEP goals?
13. Why is it important for IEP goals to be documented and reviewed constantly?
14. How do you think not completing their IEP goals now would affect a student later in life?
15. Do you think that the emotions are an important part of the special education system?
16. How can a special education advisors emotions affect a students progress?
17. What can be done to create a safe and carefree workspace for students?
18. What do you think causes special education advisors to loose motivation in their work?
19. Why is it important for special education advisors to maintain a passion for their work?
20. How and why do you think foundational information about a student is so important when it comes to special education?

Interview 3

During my third interview, Ms. Sanchez helped me to realize my second answer to my essential question. My essential question is "In what way can a special education advisor best help her students achieve their academic goals?" My first answer was to have a clear understanding of the students personal and academic files. My second answer  is to encourage parent involvement with each student. Through my research parent involvement was mentioned and encouraged because the parents play such an influential role in the kids lives. Ms. Sanchez also brought this up to me because she noticed that many of the students within the special education program at Montclair High School lack motivation to achieve their goals. Special education advisors are the ones that make these IEPs but there's only so much that they can do. Parents are the ones who can push their students to achieve more and continually encourage them to keep progressing in life.

Blog 15:Independent component 2 Approval

1) I plan on just doing more mentorship hours but with someone at a college level for my independent component 2.

2) I plan on interviewing the person that I do my Mentorship hours with and possible other advisors as well.

3) This component will help me with my project because I have been covering the whole spectrum of special education so working at the college level with help me understand the last level of education. 

Blog 14: independent component 1

• LITERAL
  (a) Write: “I, Alondra Bernardino, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”
  (b) The person who helped me most was Mrs. Bee from Serrano Middle School.
  (c) Update your hours in your Senior Project Hours link. Make sure it is clearly labeled with hours for individual sessions as well as total hours.
• (d) Through my mentorship hours at Serrano Middle School I did not complete much physical evidence aside just from my notes and things that I wrote down comparing middle school and high school.  INTERPRETIVE 

• APPLIED
• This project helped me to set the foundation for my topic because I was able to see the transition from middle school to high school. It gave me more of an understanding about how things works and what kind of things that the students are  actually prepared for.

Mentorship

I feel that through my mentorship at Montclair High School I have been able to add a new level of depth to my research. Being able to observe my mentor work with students each time that I go in really helps because I notice the way she speaks to them and how she works with them. I am also able to see the way she communicates with everyone around her. In my research I have found that constant communication between the advisor and a student's team is crucial. Through my mentor I see the real life application and different scenarios in which communicates with the student's parents and teachers. Without my mentorship I don't think that I would understand the role of a Special Education Advisor or the IEP process fully. I would understand the basics of how everything works but I would definitely not be able to understand the way the IEP process is different for each child.

Lesson 2 Reflection

1) I am most proud of my activity for my Lesson 2.

2) I would give myself an AP because I don't feel like I presented as well as I could have by taking my time and slowing down.

3) What worked for me in my presentation was that I was really prepared with all my papers and materials so I was able to just walk in and get started.

4) If I could go back in time I would rehearse my presentation a few more time and make sure that I slowed down and explained things more.

5) I think that my answer 2 would be something about how a special education advisor needs to have the proper degree and certificates to best help her students.

Blog 10:EQ

I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.

A) No, because it isn't a question that requires much thinking or in depth research. It doesn't have enough framework.

B) Yes, because it meets all three requirements. It's not just a simple answer that the audience can google. When you think about it you consider all factors that could go wrong so you don't know the answer right away.

C) Yes, because it's clear and makes sense but also makes you wonder what the answer might be. Specifically for this question because every customer is different so you just can't answer this question in one way.

D) No, because I feel that it doesn't take a stance or that once you find the answer that you can see both sides of.

In what way can a special education advisor best help her students complete their academic goals?

Blog 9: Lesson 1 Reflection

1.) What are you most proud of in your Lesson 1 Presentation and why?

I would have to say that I am most proud of my closing statement because it was something different, I posed a question, and I gave the audience something to think about.

2.) 

     a) What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 1 Presentation(self-assessment)?

I would give myself an AP for my presentation.

    b.) Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 1 Presentation (self-assessment)?

I would give myself that grade because I don't feel  that I met the P requirements, and I could have been better prepared for my presentation.

3.) What worked for you in your Lesson 1? 

What worked in my presentation was that I had good information and I feel like I explained everything as best I could with relatable examples.

4.) (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 1?

What didn't work in my presentation was my hook activity because the audience didn't seem to respond to it well and I would've rehearsed more if given a chance to go back.

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

1. For my independent component I plan to more hours of mentorship but instead of doing these hours with a high school I will be doing them at an elementary school. I plan to help with the students and observe the different teaching techniques and compare them to those at the high school.

2. To show my evidence of 30 hours I plan to take pictures of me working with the children working if possible and also by keeping a journal. The journal would be used to write down different notes and log what I've experienced in a different way.

3.I think that by doing this Independent Component I will be able to see a variety of teaching styles when it comes to students with Special Needs. Also I will be able to observe the transitioning styles that will prepare the students for middle and high school. So in a way I will see the effects of a proper Special Education and be able to note the differences and growth.

Is this for me?

Before I started doing my mentorship hours, I still didn't know if Special Education Advisory was the best topic for me. I constantly asked myself,"Is this something I could see myself doing?" I had thought about choosing a career in education a few times over the years but it never really stuck. At first, I was nervous and I didn't feel comfortable in the classroom. Though as I started going more frequently I found myself more comfortable and I was able to communicate with the students better.They were able to open up to me and let me help them with their homework or if they just needed to talk to someone their age.
Just the other day I asked myself again,"Is this something I could see myself doing?" The answer was yes. I didn't even hesitate to answer this time because I knew that it was true. I enjoy talking to people, and helping them understand what they don't, and just being there to make their life (education life) easier. I like the idea of being a coordinator, a teacher, and somewhat of a motivator all at once. I feel that with a career in Special Education Advisory I could not only bring happiness to myself but to those of my students as well. I still don't know if I would only want to focus on High School students the way I have been for my mentorship hours. Though I do know that I took a chance on this topic and I'm finding that good things come out of taking chances.

Blog 6: Second Interview Preperation

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

 My mentor is Sylvia Valenzuela and she works as a Special Education Advisor at Montclair High School.

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

What kind of qualifications did you need for your position?
What do you think is the hardest part of your job?
How did you decide that this was what you wanted to do?
How have you seen this program grow since your employment here?
Do you think that there is a different way to improve the Special Education System here at Montclair High School?

Blog 5: Mentorship and Research Reflection

1. Mentorship question: Describe your experience in how you found your mentorship?  If you haven't found one yet, describe your experience so far in the search of a mentor.

It was actually really easy for me to find a mentor for my Senior Project because my mentor just so happens to be my aunt. Growing up I always knew that she was a teacher at Montclair High School but I never really knew anything more than that. She's always been interested in the things that I would tell her about Ipoly concerning the groups,projects and homework. So when the time came to do my 10 hours of mentorship for the summer I started talking to her about it. I explained all the details to her and that's when she suggested that I do my hours with her. At first I was worried because I didn't know what she actually did but after completing my mentorship hours, I think that pursuing a career in Special Education Advisory is something I would enjoy doing. It is definitely something that I had never considered before but am now looking into.

2. Research question: What has been your most important article you have read so far and why?

I think that the most important article that I've read so far is an article called "Special Education Teacher Career Facts and Working Environment." by the Career Education Advisor. It has helped me the most out of all my other articles because it provides more detail and description. The article not only tells me the general idea of this job but always goes in depth and gives examples.

Senior Project Research

I think that it is extremely beneficial to us to be able to start our senior project research before school even begins. The ten hours of mentorship required over the summer give us a just a taste of what life in our topic consists of.  Research checks allow us to take our time to understand all the information that we are looking at. Starting our research so early in the year really helps us to grow and see what our chosen senior topic is all about. Taking our time with the research will help us with our final product which would be our 2 hour presentation at the end of the year. As presenters, it is very important to understand the information you are talking about. It is also important to be able to explain everything you talk about. Not having to rush and try to comprehend all of our research within one semester or even a few months is really great. I truly appreciate the senior team for having us start our research now because I know that my deep understanding of it will reflect in my final presentation. 

Blog 4: Interview Preparation

Content:

1.  Who do you plan to interview?  Why?
I plan on interviewing my mentor for my first interview. Mostly because I think that she will be able to answer my questions clearly and help me better understand what her career really entitles.
2. What is the most appealing thing about your job?
    What techniques do you use to encourage your students?
     How did you decide that this was what you wanted to do?
     If you could better one thing about your job what would it be? Why?

Blog 3:Topic Choice and Working EQ

1.  List your topic here: 
My chosen Senior topic is Special Education Advisory.

2.  Write a question that helps to focus your research this month.
What is the best way to motivate students with special needs to have a better academic performance?

3.  Post the working bibliography (WB) on the right hand side of the blog and share it so anybody can view it.

Blog 2: Summer Mentorship Component

1.) Mentorship Log
2.) Silvia Valenzuela (909)621-6781 ext 2421
3.) Some questions raised through my 10 hours of mentorship were:
What is your everyday schedule like?
What kind of qualifications did you need for your position?
Why did you choose this career?
What kind of techniques do you use to help your students?
What do you think is the hardest part of your job?
4.) The most important thing that I've gained from this is that when you are doing this job, you need to push your students to continue on. If you don't do this then they will eventually give up on the class or on themselves like they have before.
5.) My Senior Project is going to be on Special Education Advisory. What I did during my summer mentorship helped me choose this topic because I got to fully understand a career that before I could never see myself doing. Though after completing my hours I saw that there was more than meets the eye with a career like this.

Blog 1: 2 hour presentation

1.  What presentations did you see?
I saw about 20 different presentations but only a few stood out the most for me. One presentation that really grasped my attention was the karate one because she had set up the room like a real karate dojo. Another one that stood out to me was the occupational therapy where she really presented us with facts.
2.   What questions do you have that haven't been answered about the senior project? This can be about the senior project in general, any components or about a presentation topic you saw or what they said. 
I don't have many questions about the senior project but I would like to know how the rubric or grading scale works. 
3. What has the most important part of the senior project based on what you are seeing in the 2-hour presentations?
I think that the most important part of the 2 hour presentation is the hook activity or opening statements because if you can't get the attention of your audience then you're not presenting to anyone but yourself.4. What topic are you considering doing and why?
I am still undecided about what topic I am choosing for my presentation.5. What are you doing for your summer mentorship?
I can't decide on my mentorship until I decide on my topic.