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.