Final Summary & Evaluation

Final Summary (same as mid-term summary)

Four Major Strands of Work:

Communication:

· It made it easier to talk to my instructor when I did not understand an assignment.

· Being a student, I had to communicate with my instructor to understand her expectations of me.

· Being able to communicate with others is strength and saves a lot of time and frustrations.

· When I did not understand an assignment; the only way I could do was to communicate and let myself get help.

Research:

· Research takes time and patience.

· Being able to use the Internet helped me learn about other sites and that we could use that as a resource. Especially the children’s literature resources.

· Research is important because how could I be able to teach or explain if I don’t research a subject or a topic.

Technology:

· Being able to have use of the Internet saves time and searching. Articles are easier to find than manual searches.

· Being able to search new sites is amazing; there is always something new to learn.

· Using the Internet is wonderful, but it gets frustrating when it does not want to work.

· It’s bad to become too independent on technology because sometimes the services break down.

· Saving a hardcopy before using technology is a wise thing to do.

Collaboration:

· Being able to visit with my classmates helped by joining together to discuss what our lesson will be.

· My classmates helped me to understand something that I did not understand by asking them and being able to receive an answer.

Five Dimensions of Learning:

Confidence and Independence Knowledge Content:

· Being able to give presentations in front of my peers gave me confidence and independence. I usually feel shy and afraid, but I’ve enjoyed the poetry performances because I got to participate and no one told me I did a horrible job.

· Being a UNM student, I have to be confident and independent because I will be the one in charge of my classroom full of learners!

· Taking courses, assignments (practicum) leads to confidence and independence. In the course of my studies, I have learned about my weaknesses, abilities, talents and appreciation of my childhood. I feel that my childhood will be my strongest strength as I head into the world of teaching.

· I do have much to offer because of my background, being a minority, a mother and a grandmother.

Knowledge Content:

· Having to read lots of books, I have learned about genres. I did not understand what genre meant. I first heard of it when solving a crossword puzzle when the clue was “type of rock genre”. I looked it up, but still did not understand.

· I learned about what genre meant with children’s literature. It’s the type of stories that are written whether they are science fiction, historical fiction or informational. I knew there were different types of stories, but I did not know that there a word that described them. Now I know “the rest of the story”.

· Recently, I have learned that science, historical and realistic fiction has to be more than 32 pages long and there has to be a character that has to be built into the story from the beginning to the end of the story. I will not forget that.

· I feel more confident about understanding what a genre is pertaining to children’s literature and I appreciate knowing that.

Use of Prior and Emerging Experience:

· As a mother and grandmother, I had the advantage of my peers I had raised teen-agers as the students we worked with.

· Being raised on the Navajo reservation helps me with the modern world that I now live in. It helps me appreciate the conveniences that I now enjoy and have.

· I have worked with mid-school students before as a substitute teacher which helped a lot.

· My peers will understand how it is working with older students.

Reflectiveness (critical awareness):

· I feel that I am a weak learner because I am a slow learner. Some of my classmates do not have a difficult time understand an assignment. Sometimes I have to ask them for help and I am thankful for them. They have not been hesitant to assist them. This goes for the instructors that I’ve had.

· I feel that it is not difficult to criticize myself for the growth that I have not developed yet. This makes me feel frustrated and upset.

· I try to evaluate myself as a learner and as a teacher. I know where I could improve and where I need to ask questions.

· I am an analytical person; I analyze everything before making a decision; which sometimes hinders my growth. Sometimes it seems I take too long in making a choice, but I feel that I don’t want to have regrets.

· I need to do better on journal writing; I know it can help me see where I need to improve or cut back, etc.

· When being critical then comes growth and understanding.

Final Evaluation:

Reflections on semester’s learning experience:

· I appreciate taking this course in Children’s Literature; it has helped me become a reader and appreciate being able to read and enjoy the different genres.

· I’ve enjoyed reading more than I ever had before and it was for enjoyment and learning. This helps me think of what to read to future students. My daughter even got involved with trips to the library and obtaining a library and checking out some books.

Any suggestions for the professor for future classes

· The only I would suggest is to be more detailed about communicating about assignments and expectations. We are like some of the elementary students who do not understand and sometimes afraid to ask the teacher for clarification.

Estimated evaluation in terms of grade:

· I want an A for understanding genre and enjoying reading. Also for rekindling a new habit, which I pass on to my students. I will develop passion for reading in my students as you, Frances, have instilled that in me, which I greatly appreciate very much.

Final Summary Reflections

Four Major Strands of Work:

Communication

· Working with Tibbetts students this strand was very important because we had to communicate with the students what we expected from them by specifically telling them.

· From our literature circles, we had our own different understandings of our readings because we think and feel differently.

· The ice breakers were fun games to play, but we got to know the students better; this is form of communication informally.

· I wished some of the students asked what they did not understand.

· Being able to use the Internet with e-mails is a valuable tool to keep in touch.

· The Tibbetts teacher had access to students’ account on their computer for assignments.

Research

· Learning more about Anne Frank on the Internet was very valuable. There were some sites that expounded on her life and the people that saved her diary.

· Being able to find additional information is gratifying.

Technology

· Sending e-mails to classmates and instructor made life easier to have a question or a concern answered.

· Being able to use e-mail to the Tibbetts teacher saved time and frustrations, especially for assignments.

Collaboration

· The students saw how we worked together as a team and how we helped each other.

· Students saw UNM students work with them.

· Students wanted us to meet with them twice a week!

· Meeting with students help me understand what I will be doing in my own class.

· Being able to collaborate with a younger age was a change.

Five Dimensions of Learning:

Confidence and Independence

· Being able to work with mid-school students helped me to be more confident and sure of myself by talking to them and asking them questions even when I felt shy inside.

· Being able to lead students in a discussion gave me more confidence.

Knowledge Content

· Reading Anne Frank along with students gave new understanding and it became knowledge.

· Asking students what their thoughts and feelings on their readings became weekly questions.

· Listening to students’ thoughts and feelings reflected on what they have read.

· We compared our thoughts and feelings with the students, which made it more interesting for both sides.

Skills and Strategies

· Being able to work with the students, I witnessed some students connect with the book that we read. It made it more special when students could relate to the story. One student commented that she appreciates the life that she has. We read Anne Frank together as our literature circle.

· I, too, connected with Anne and gave me encouragement as if she was writing to me. Towards the end, Anne gained more confidence as she truly grew up.

· We assigned students to write in their journals and made an entry as if they were in Anne’s situation. Some of the responses were very profound and I did not think to write those thoughts myself.

· As a teacher, I will look for connections that students make as we read a book or as they read their library books.

Use of Prior and Emerging Experience

· Being able to listen to students having prior experiences gave me more knowledge about the students.

· Watching and listening to students was an experience as students do not usually open up with their feelings being afraid that others might make fun of them.

· Some students connected with the story and this what we wanted as coaches.

Reflectiveness (critical awareness)

· Some students did not try to open up about their inner feelings and thoughts when we were in literature circles.

· I am sure some of the students were critical of themselves. We had one girl that connected with the story and she became more aware of herself.

· Being critical of yourself brings awareness which leads to open-mindedness.

Final Evaluation:

Reflections on semester’s learning experience:

· I enjoyed working with Tibbetts students and seeing how they reacted to reading. I know one boy slacked off too much because he would only write one sentence not related to the subject given. I know I will have students like him. This practicum has given me experience to be more aware of students and their abilities as learners.

· I appreciate my classmates that I worked with and the time they took to come up with ideas (games). I appreciated their support when we worked with the students.

Any suggestions for the professor for future classes:

· Just more explanation of what’s required for future literature circles.

Estimated evaluation in terms of grade:

· I enjoyed the time I spent at Tibbetts and learning about new students rather than my classmates. I saw how students act and how they don’t want to participate until they feel comfortable. For the grade, I would enjoy an A for all the efforts that I put in.

Five Dimensions of Learning:

Confidence and Independence

· Being able to work with mid-school students helped me to be more confident and sure of myself by talking to them and asking them questions even when I felt shy inside.

· Being able to lead students in a discussion gave me more confidence.

Knowledge Content

· Reading Anne Frank along with students gave new understanding and it became knowledge.

· Asking students what their thoughts and feelings on their readings became weekly questions.

· Listening to students’ thoughts and feelings reflected on what they have read.

· We compared our thoughts and feelings with the students, which made it more interesting for both sides.

Skills and Strategies

· I, too, connected with Anne and gave me encouragement as if she was writing to me. Towards the end, Anne gained more confidence as she truly grew up.

· As a teacher, I will look for connections that students make as we read a book or as they read their library books.

Use of Prior and Emerging Experience

· Being able to listen to students having prior experiences gave me more knowledge about the students.

· Watching and listening to students was an experience as students do not usually open up with their feelings being afraid that others might make fun of them.

· Some students connected with the story and this what we wanted as coaches.

Reflectiveness (critical awareness)

· Some students did not try to open up about their inner feelings and thoughts when we were in literature circles.

· I am sure some of the students were critical of themselves. We had one girl that connected with the story and she became more aware of herself.

· Being critical of yourself brings awareness which leads to open-mindedness.

Final Evaluation:

Reflections on semester’s learning experience:

· I appreciate my classmates that I worked with and the time they took to come up with ideas (games). I appreciated their support when we worked with the students.

Any suggestions for the professor for future classes:

· Just more explanation of what’s required for future literature circles.

Estimated evaluation in terms of grade: