Answer 2

1.  What is your EQ?

• How can a kindergarten teacher create a positive learning environment?

2.  What is your first answer? (In complete thesis statement format)

• The physical classroom set up is what promotes a positive atmosphere in the classroom.

3.  What is your second answer? (In complete thesis statement format)

• A positive learning environment can be created by using a reward system to reinforce good behavior.

4.  List three reasons your answer is true with a real-world application for each.

• The rewards help students remember the classroom rules and commonsense manners.
• This can be seen when a teacher praises a kid for saying and thank you. then other kids want to follow that example to get praised also.
• By using rewards, we encourage the students to put aside some of their home problems and find a reason to apply themselves in school.
• One of my students was homeless, and on the last day that he attended Berlyn I gave him a shout out, and honestly I think that made him really happy and excited to show it to his mom. 
• The formal reward and acknowledgement systems use tangible items or social recognition to reward positive behaviors which shows the student what is expected.
• The kids have a motto at school that inspires persistence, responsibility, and respect. This is what is expected from them and the positive rewards help my kindergartners understand that. The kids earn points on this class website called ClassDojo, and that motivates them. 

5.  What printed source best supports your answer?

• "Classroom Rewards Reap Dividends for Teachers and Students."Education World. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. <http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr300.shtml>.

6.  What other source supports your answer?

• "Using Reward Systems in the Classroom." Using Reward Systems in the Classroom. N.p., 2016. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. <https://www.kaplanco.com/ii/using-reward-systems-in-the-classroom>.

• Linson, Michael. "How To Praise Students And Influence Behavior." Smart Classroom Management. N.p., 27 Nov. 2010. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. <http://www.smartclassroommanagement.com/2010/11/27/how-to-praise-students-and-influence-behavior/>.

7.  Tie this together with a  concluding thought.

• I've seen how using a reward system motivates the kids at my mentorship. This motivation simultaneously teaches the kids right from wrong and gives them a positive goal. 

Interview 3 Reflection

1. What is the most important thing I learned from the interview?  

I learned about the importance of having reward system to motivate your students, not only though academic achievement, but also through social play and interactions.

2.  How has your approach to interviewing changed over the course of your senior project?

I'm a lot more relaxed and comfortable with the interviewee than before which alow me to remember certain comments during the interview and follow up with other questions.

Link: https://soundcloud.com/miriam-leon-9/interview-3

Blog 16: Independent Component 2 Approval

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

My mentor is letting me have my very own group of students to teach. I've already began teaching them at 1:45pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The students I work with are Diana, Itzel, Julio, Andrea, and Eric come work with me on math. 

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

I've already began working with the kids and I can take pictures of them working or take pictures of the worksheets that we do together to show as evidence. I will definitely have worked with them for over 30 hours by the time this second independent component is due.

3.  Explain how this component will help you explore your topic in more depth.

This helps me explore my topic more in depth because it is hands on experience. Teaching this small group teaches me skills necessary to keep kids engaged during the lesson and lets me practice being able to make students of different tempers and personalities work together. 

4.  Post a log in your Senior Project Hours link and label it "Independent Component 2" log.

SPH Link  

Independent Component 1

Content:   

• LITERAL
  (a) Write: “I, Miriam Leon, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 32.5
  (b) Cite your source regarding who or what article or book helped you complete the independent component. 

My source was basically my mentor, Jessica Sosa. 

• (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.

Updated Link 

• (d) Explain what you completed.    

I continued going to mentorship and got to be more involved in helping the kids instead of just doing lesson prep. 

• INTERPRETIVE 
  Defend your work and explain its significance to your project and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work.   Provide evidence (photos, transcript, art work, videos, etc) of the 30 hours of work. 

I really got to spend time in the class actually helping out all the kids and getting to know each ones personalities and needs. 

Family Unit

Tis the season

Kids painted Jack o lanterns

I taught a lesson on floating and sinking

"Harvest of the month"

• APPLIED
  How did the component help you understand the foundation of your topic better?  Please include specific examples to illustrate this.

I got to get a look into what teaching is all about. Just by being in that environment I saw all the challenges that a teacher faces when trying to keep a positive learning environment. These little ones need constant attention and you can't catch a break. they aren't afraid to ask for help which is good, but also very tiring. This independent component has been a very good learning experience, and for my second independent component I am going to be working regularly with a certain group of students. This first independent component is what has prepared me to move onto my second one. 

Lesson 2 Reflection

1.What are you most proud of in your Lesson 2 Presentation and why?


I am most proud of how my activity worked out, because everyone participated and had a lot more fun with it than I expected. The people in my advisory house were so happy with their drawings, it was adorable.

2. a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 2 Presentation (self-assessment)?

       AE       P          AP       CR       NC


     b.     Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 2 component contract.

I am pretty sure I met all the requirements necessary to be considered for a P right off the bat. That's 

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 2?

I felt that my presentation was well organized, so that helped me reach the time requirement. Having notecards to help me keep track of giving my information also worked, and the activity worked well.

4. What didn't work? If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 2?

One thing that I would change if I could re-do this presentation is maybe sign up to go earlier in the day, or the week, because by the time I presented everyone was looking dead. 

5. What do you think your answer #2 is going to be?

I think my answer numero dos is going to have to do with classroom management strategies uch as reward systems, and positive reinforcement to motivate kids.