Today was my first day of my Practicum assignment, and I observe six students with Special Education needs (only three today) and follow them throughout their first four periods. These students have a Special Education teacher as well as a Teacher’s Assistant who also follow them, as the students are often in need of additional help as far as reading and writing and following directions (etc.) is concerned. Five of the six students have Autism (the other has speech problems), so it is very difficult for them to stay at the same pace as the other students, which is why they need that intervention. I observed four classes: Technology, Social Studies, Health, and AIS Math.
Technology, Social Studies and Health are all taught by male teachers, and, for the most part, they are not very interactive with the students; instead, they simply give directions and attempt to manage the classroom by asking students to do what they need to do, such as quiet down, for example. The one exception is the teacher who teaches Social Studies. He is not the “official” teacher of the class (that would be a woman), but he is a Student Teacher who is actually teaching the class currently. He, by integrating the topic, of course, makes conversation with the students.
Many of the students have books that appear to be of choice taken out from the library, and this makes me wonder if their English teachers are asking them to read books as an Outside Reading Book (ORB) assignment, or if the students simply like to read outside of school time. I also noticed that the teaching methods used are not very interdisciplinary, since the teachers really seem to make an effort to keep their content areas compartmentalized. In fact, one student in the Social Studies class tried to connect something to Science, and he/she was told that this was a Social Studies class.
In the Health class, the students read out loud in a method which can best be described as the “popcorn” method, which is when students read a paragraph or two and then call on another student to do the same, and then that keeps repeating. It is a “Round Robin” method of reading, which is probably best for the students with Autism, since most of them seem to have trouble reading to themselves. The teachers are very patient with the students, despite the students’ need for so much additional help, which is really good to see. I also don’t mean to pass judgment as far as there being a lack of interdisciplinarity is concerned, because that works for some and doesn’t for others and is still a debate up in the air. Ultimately, what I saw today is quite different from what I have observed in other schools. In other schools, the students tend not to be as respectful as most of these ones are, and the students are also incredibly animated and mentally energetic, even early in the morning.
Category Archives: Uncategorized
20th Birthday
Sorry I didn’t post this weekend but didn’t really have time, I was enjoying my 20th birthday!!! Didn’t get much work done either so probably going to be up to my ears in it but it was worth it (I think).
Gallim Dance Troupe
Last week on SUNY Oswego’s campus, the Gallim Dance Troupe (from New York City) made an appearance at the Waterman Theatre, something that has been highly anticipated for months. I remember being in my English Methods class last semester with Sharon Kane, and she strongly suggested that we go to the event.
The event was a little bit lengthy, especially for someone who doesn’t like to sit for very long periods of time, but at least there was an intermission. The first half of the performance was pretty chaotic, and the mix of music, from various nationalities/cultures, didn’t really go well with the dancers’ moves. The lighting was nothing that was expected, with only the dancers illuminated by spotlights with the remainder of the stage fairly dark.
Something that was impressive is that the dancers’ outfits changed, even before the Intermission. However, emotion was not really transmitted, and even though the “evolution of the human” theme was evident, the chaos made it a bit difficult to follow. Hardcore criticism and/or disrespect toward the troupe is not intended, as it is incredibly talented, but it could just be that their “thing” is not everyone’s “cup of tea,” as it is said.
Leadership Mentor Program
Last week I was accepted into the first ever Leadership Mentor Program here at Oswego. I got an email about the program and applied immediately. I never turn down an opportunity to build myself as a person and a leader so I jumped on this Opportunity immediately. Our first step was to take the Clifton Strengths Finder at www.strengthsquest.com. My top 5 signature themes were 1.Competition 2.Relator 3.Strategic 4.Achiever 5.Focus.
These are the definitions for my signature theme that the Clifton Strengths Finder provided.
Competition: Talents are valuable because through them you will influence and even push people in your group to achieve more than other groups. You bring energy to a group and can energize others to move to higher levels of excellence.
Relator: Talents are valuable to organizations, groups, and individuals because they foster interpersonal relationships that lead to productivity.
Strategic: Talents are available because they enable you to quickly reach goals be seeing the pros and cons of various alternatives. You carefully consider the whole picture and then generate the most effect set of actions or routes to take.
Achiever: Talents are valuable because they help you to remain motivated to reach your goals. You will not rest until you reach your most highly desired goals, but they must be your goals.
Focus: Is valuable because it enables you to form very close, supportive relationships in which you help and encourage others.
We had to complete the assessment before the program on Friday. I walked in on Friday and it was a very interesting couple of hours in the Auditorium. We listened to some inspirational stories and speeches before we did some ice breaker activities. The first thing we did was walk around the room and speak to 5 different people who had the same qualities as you and then 5 people who had different qualities from you. It was very interesting to see how and why people with the same signature theme (competition, focus, etc) can have a completely different idea and viewpoint on how their theme relates to them. It’s amazing how two people can see the same word and have completely different stories to tell. These different viewpoints are a perfect example of how diversity is becoming more and more important in business and everyday activities.
We did some more activities before we met our mentors and got to know our mentee groups. I am in a group full of accounting majors and I believe I am the only human resource management major in the program. How unique!
It’s the start to a beautiful beginning and I cannot wait until we meet again. I believe it was about 39 students who were there. I expected more people to be there but I guess the program will grow with time. I encourage you all to join.
For the love of Organization
College has taught me a few very important things about myself. One is that that I am love with being organized. For example – my favorite part of a new year is buying a new planner.I love looking on the shelves to find that planner perfect for me. It needs to have lots of space to hot down homework, meetings, reminders to myself, ect. It also needs to have a monthly calendar to I can go through in advance and write down all of the due dates from my syllabi. I love the rush you get from color coding all the the assignments, classes, and meetings! It also needs to have tabs for easy flipping for month to month. Mmmm….I love planners.
My second area of organization is Google (mail,docs, calendar, ect). I’m so happy the University decided to begin to use g-mail and Lakerapps for our school mail system. It makes it to easy to be organized and share information very easily. Especially being involved with student organizations or group projects. You can customize sharing and editing privileges as well as track changes in documents. You can also share calendars with as many or as few people as you want. This is so helpful for organizations. I like to color cold my google calendar to match my planner!
This is my color coded Google calendar that also snycs with my Droid so I can always have reminders of what I need to do!
My third step of planning/organization is POST-ITS. They are probably the best and most useful product ever invented. I use POST-ITS in my planner, text books, notebooks, and especially on my walls. I know…what a random place to stick them but, I’ve come up with a way to remember to do my work as well as motivate me to do it. After I sync my planner and calendar to my droid and set up reminders…I write each assignment on a POST-IT and stick it to my wall. (I know this isn’t green friendly-But, it is GPA friendly). One I write them all down I stick them on my wall. This way when i’m slacking off on my work watching The Jersey Shore…I’ll look at my wall and be reminded of what I have to do. Then when Jersey Shore is over and I finally finish my work….there is no greater feeling that watching the blob of POST-ITS come down one by one-showing how much I have accomplished!!
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Its About That Time
“I’m such a gentleman, you should give it up for me …look at how I am placing all my napkins and my cutlery”.
With BSU’s 41st Annual Dinner right around the corner I decided words are cool, but videos better!
Are You Ready?
We are officially ONE day away. If your not ready well then F.U *. I’m not even going to lie to you , I snuck into the last practice. Poles,Girls on tables, the dances…oh the dances! This show is really coming together nice.I still consider myself to be new even though I’ve been here for a semester now ; but in talking to everyone involved in the scenes and the few who watched last practice. This year might be the best one yet so I’m hyped.
I still have to experience it for self to really answer and reveal but to me what Variety Show represents , is a time were we are being festive and fun. Although we do put our best foot forward at the dinners and we enjoy those fully. I still feel a connection to this show because it allows for the opportunity for talent to be showcased, for peoples fashion sense to be recognized and for people to have a good reason to dress up and look their best, despite Oswego’s best attempt to have us look ugly on the daily with this weather(snow ugh). It truly is a time to express yourself , take that deep breath and let it all out. Everyone has been going hard from the Rose in the Concrete to the last program w/ASO “Minority Report”. We made it baby! Black History Month has been recognized and celebrated to the FULLEST since Jan 31st midnight till the “electric slide” plays at the BSU dinner (tumbo you better play that ).
Courtesy Donations of $2 for students and $4 for general public are accepted. (and “encouraged”my words…its like $2 that’s something out the vending machine. I mean…). Hopefully I see everyone their ready to turn it up in the Oz for the weekend. Then after is the annual and highly anticipated dinner the next day with the keynote speaker J.Ivey . Tickets are still on sale but I wouldn’t know. I copped mine .
~If you cant get with it then #F.U**
*What does the “F.U” stand for!?! does anyone know yet?
Ugh Another Morning
I truly do. I am tempted to just stay in my warm bed and just lay there. But its only February and that’s way to early to have an absence in a class AND its a class in my major so that’s self defeating. That still doesn’t mean I don’t think about it at least once a week.
Am I the only the realizes that the best sleeps are not on the weekend or when you know there is no school. When that happens you never get that “I just wanna stay in bed all day feel” smh. Anyway time for class
-plight of a college student
New SUNY Oswego Welcome Video
Have you seen the new video to welcome students to SUNY Oswego? I think it’s pretty awesome and the company the school worked with did a phenomenal job. I’m in there quite a few times…can you spot me?
The Way to a Man’s Heart
….is through his stomach.
It’s an age-old saying, but it still rings true today. I have yet to meet a guy who can’t be won over with a delicious home-cooked meal, or at least a meal that he enjoys. I’m not sure the home-cooked factor is even an important ingredient in this recipe.
So what’s a girl to do for Valentine’s Day, the holiday of hearts and mushy-gushy romance? Cook, of course!
Dustin is usually the cook in our relationship, which I am eternally grateful for. I have the capabilities of cooking, but I don’t enjoy doing it one bit, especially after a long 12-hour work day. It should also be known that Dustin and I don’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day that much. He’s a guy, so he believes it’s a stupid holiday that was invented by girls, whereas I believe it was a silly holiday invented by Hallmark. As a result, we just make sure we’re hanging out on that day and do something relatively low-key.
Because Dustin is the main cook, I decided it would be a nice change of pace for him if I donned the chef’s hat. So for the entire weekend, I prepared us two delicious meals, then surprised him with a third on Monday.
Friday kicked off my venture to win over Dustin’s heart by cooking up some delicious chicken. Chicken can be bland or extremely tasty, plus it’s cheap. After all, I am still a college student! Also, it’s important to note that I’m training for a half-marathon, so I can’t eat anything too ridiculously unhealthy. So I headed to FITNESS magazine’s website and whipped up this recipe for terragon chicken. There were a few substitutions, but we stuck to the recipe pretty closely and ended up with a delicious thyme (not terragon) chicken with lots o’ veggies on the side.
On Saturday, Dustin pulled out the stops for a date night and took me out to Ruby Tuesday’s, where we had our first date over two years ago. I had the Parmesan Shrimp Pasta and it was so good, I was tempted to lick my bowl clean.
I took over the cooking duties again on Sunday, this time going Mexican with some chicken tacos! I also found this recipe on FITNESS’ website and my, oh, my, was it delicious! First, I seasoned cut up chicken with salt and pepper and let it cook in a tablespoon of canola oil.
Then I tossed in a bunch of tomatoes, white onion, a jalapeno pepper, a clove of garlic, scallions, lime juice and cilantro to season it up quite nicely.
After everything was mixed in together, I portioned the food on small corn tortillas and dug in! The ingredients gave the chicken a perfect amount of spice and the variety of flavors really gave my taste buds a treat. However, the corn tortillas I bought at Price Chopper were not up to par and kept ripping apart, so Dustin and I ended up feasting on this dish without the wraps. Next time we’re going to give it a go with Tostitos chips and make it a taco salad.
Dustin thought that my cooking duties were over by the time actual Valentine’s Day rolled around, but he was happily mistaken. He works late on Monday nights though, so instead of cooking, I made sure he had one of his favorite foods for dinner….pizza! I was able to order a heart-shaped pepperoni pizza from Cam’s to celebrate the day and Dustin was a happy camper.
Like I said, the way to a man’s heart is definitely through his stomach! I’ll tally this Valentine’s Day in the success column!
What fun things did you do for Valentine’s Day?