Senior Project

I often ask myself if this is how I imagine Senior Project. For the most part it has been exactly how I pictured it. It has been fun, exciting and the best part is that I get to observe someone in the profession I one day want to become. I always try to take in everything I learn from Senior Project and use it to better myself. This class overall has helped me improve in so many ways. In addition,  it has helped me value more educators. Overall,many of this teachers do a lot for their students. I want to one day resemble this wonderful teachers but most importantly impact the life of my future students.  In the future, I know this class will open many doors and offer great opportunities. It's about time Lindenwold did something good that will benefit students in life. For the future Juniors my advice is to take this class because it's just a wonderful experience and  you won't have any regrets about it.

"Staying In School"

When I look back when I first started school I was only four years old. I can remember how pre- school and kindergarden where the best years of school but then when I entered fifth grade things changed. School wasn't as fun because we were now doing hard challenging work,but now that I am a Senior I have realized that since my profecioion is to become a teaher. I will always maintain myself in school, waking up every day early in the morning.

In addition, I will feel what teachers go through every day. Also, I will have many important responsibilities around the school. Until, I retire I will make the best of my profecion and help change lives one by one.

"Bible Club Posters"

On Monday,March 23 I received the posters I have been waiting for a week. Before I had some ugly posters hanging on the wall for the bible club. Now with the help of Nate who is awesome at photo shop, he helped me come up with better improved posters. All this was possible with the help of Solid Rock Baptist Church which is our sponsor. Another goal for this year that I have is to get shirts for the club. Yesterday, Pastor Charlie informed the club we are getting our shirts next Monday. Getting t-shirts for the club has been one of my biggest goals for 2009. I am just happy on how the Lord has blessed the club and how things are going.
The Bible Club meets every Monday after-school in D201

Sra.Montanez

Yesterday, I had the honor to meet with Sra. Montanez. She is my second sponsor and a teacher at school four. Before meeting her, I felt very scared about her reactions towards me. As soon as I met her I just felt a good connections. She is a very elegant, fun and exciting to be with. Furthermore, before she entered her first classroom she told me how elementary students don't know how to speak Spanish yet in that level but opens their mind to a different world. Spanish in elementary is just to explore it and exposure them to the Language.

Our first day started with teaching kindergarten students numbers. She began by playing a video which the students could sing along the numbers. Then she read them a book where the students had to count the ducklings. The name of the book was "Donde Stan Mis Patitos". The children had a blast trying to count the ducklings and figuring out which one was missing.

What I realized about them is that to teach them and maintain them occupied the teacher has to have a lot of energy. If you stop even for a second they go crazy or start whining. In addition, they love to hear compliments from their teachers. Words like "good job" or your doing "fabulous" always means the world to them.

Finally, our day ended with first graders, they where a different type of crowd. This students already where in a different stage of Spanish. This students already knew how to count up to twenty. For this classroom she played the video again, but at a different level which was harder.

Then they worked on a worksheet together and Sra. Montanez called on different students to help her with the worksheet. The day ended with the students breaking up into four teams and competing on who could match more numbers in the computer. I believe that was the best part of their day. I can't wait to see them next Thursday.

"Second Sponsor"

Since the begging of last month I have tried to contact a Spanish teacher in school four.I talked to my mentor and I found out that her supervisor is the same as the teacher I had tried to contact. I knew that if I had a meeting with Mrs.Cavalo which is her supervisor, I would definitely grab her attention and be able to observe her classroom.Yesterday, Mrs. Cavalo gave me the exiting news that I could go and meet with Sandra Montanez and arrange a day where I can come and observe her classroom.
At the end of this journey I want to compare christian teaching vs public teaching.

History Presantation

This week for history, we have to present a power point on Kennedy's early years. I had to focus on the involvement of Kennedy in NASA and the Bay of Pigs. It's really hard to plan a lesson,But most importantly keep the students focus on the topic.I really give props to teachers when they plan their lessons. From my point of view it looks really easy but it's not. Moving on the most fun part about this project is that it allows me to practice speaking in front of a classroom. One of my biggest weakness is speaking in front of a big crowd. Mr. Abrams earlier in the year said that people would rather die than speaking out loud,that is definitely me.

"I hate her"

Last week my freshman told me how she hates our freshman teacher. She was showing no respect for the teacher. The big question that came across my head is,what type of discipline do her parents give her? Also does she get any love from her parents? I believe sometimes parents expect the school to be the parents and discipline their children.
I know for a fact that many parents in Lindenwold High School think that way. The school needs to set up mandatory meetings with the parents. The school already has open house, but only those parents who's children are getting good grades arrive.
Basically parents that show care and respect will have children who echo those qualities.
This goes for any teacher out there. If one is having problem with a student who seems unmotivated or apathetic, the parents need to be contacted, and perhaps need assistance themselves.

Gas Laws

Last week for physics we picked a topic on which we would have to give a 10 minute presentation. I decided to do my lesson on Gas Laws, of course if was really boring doing research for Charles, Ideal and Boyle's law. I wonder sometimes what was going on Robert Boyle and Jacques Charles mind. They probably had a lot of time in their plate. I recently read a qoute that stated ""All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."-J.R.R. Tolkien

These scientist used their time usefully and had a great impacted on society.

Furthermore, the most fun part about this project was that I got to speak infront of the classroom. I felt this was a wonderful practice for the future, especially for my final test presentation in Senior Project.

If you want to know more about Gas Laws visit the website below.

http://www.shodor.org/UNChem/advanced/gas/

Giving thanks

I have realized that many people especially teenagers never really take the time to thank people around them. I'm talking about how we've lost sight of the power of common courtesy. The power of a simple thank you.For example, thanking teachers, principals, guardians,pastors,or mentors. From our side we probably don't know how much hard work and dedication they put to their job. I believe that if we wrote them a letter on how much we appreciate their hard work, or simply acknowledge them by telling them thank you. I know that would mean the world for them and make their day, but most importantly know that what they are doing is not in vain.

This week I have decided to appreciate the people that are around me by writing them a letter or simply saying thanks. I know that if I was a teacher and never got feedback from my students I would feel that as a teacher I was doing a bad job.

Go thank someone today! You'll feel good about it, and even better, they'll feel great about you.

Inspirational Quote

"The day someone quits school he is condemning himself to a future of poverty"Jaime Escalate


When I read this quote I think to myself that when a person stops caring for education their future is destine to having to live paycheck by paycheck. I understand that not everyone has the opportunity to get an education, but what about those that do. Why do they give up on school?

They let an amazing chance go down the drain. In addition some of this reasons why many students are dropping out of school is just stupid. As the years go by many students are getting lazier. From drugs to teen pregnancy are some of the reasons why teens keep dropping out. Teenagers need to stop trying to fit in the crowd because being cool has it's prize. If teenagers just put more effort into work all things would come easy to them. All we need is the courage and passion.

Oprah Winfrey

In January 2, 2007 Oprah Winfrey opened a school for disadvantaged girls, she also fulfilled her promised to Nelson Mandela. The 40 million school will help more than 152 girls. What is more touching is that this school helps families affected by AIDS; an estimated 5.5 million of South Africa's 48 million people are living with HIV, which hits women disproportionately hard. "Winfrey academy received 3,500 applications from across the country. A total of 152 girls ages 11 and 12 were accepted. To qualify, they had to show both academic and leadership potential and have a household income of no more than $787 a month. Plans call for the academy eventually to accommodate 450 girls." Moving on she plans for the future to open a school for boys and girls. My only advice for Oprah would be that for future reference she should not have children apply for her school but rather let as many as kids that want to get an education be welcome. She has so much power over people by her kidness that she should pursuide more famous artist to help her create more schools for children.

Research Paper

This year for Senior Project, our research paper is coming up very soon. Last week, I started researching for my thesis which is that two languages better equips students for their future. After reading many articles, I found many interesting facts about knowing two languages. For example, when a person knows more than one language, they are better at taking cognitive, standardized assessments of knowledge.

Another important aspect about knowing two languages is how it effects how one sees the world. This has been substantiated in recent studies. For example, the word bridge in spanish is masculine, and femine in German.
Furthermore, in a research by "Tel Aviv", bilinguality protects children's brain against the effects of ageing. Other good effects of knowing two languages are strengthening of the brain, new perspectives and angles of thought, and new realms of intellect.