Blog 11: Holiday Project Update

1. Over winter break, I read articles on child development, different teaching methods in a classroom, and autistic students who excel in art.

2.  The most important thing from what I've learned has to be the fact that teaching is more complex than us students see it to be. A classroom setting, along with teaching methods differs throughout every grade level, as well as subjects. For my topic specifically, pre-school special ed and traditional pre-school courses require different teaching methods as well as different curriculum.  I went to the Laverne Public Library and found several magazines that had articles that gave me a good insight on teaching as a whole.

3.  I would talk to my new mentor, William Harper, because he has several years of experience within a classroom and he has several years of experience in training new teachers as well. I know he could give me a new perspective on my senior topic and in education as a whole.

EQ

Content

1. I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.

An essential question must:

• Provide a framework for studies (It calls for breadth and depth of research, Is not a yes/no question)
• Take a stance (It allows you to argue some point, Cannot be a recitation of facts or a list)
•  Format (It is specific, The wording makes sense)

2.  Review the following EQs and

• Tell us if each meets the rule of three.
• Tell why they do or don't.

 a.  What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss?
Yes because it's specific and the most important factor can be debateable. The eq itself is not biased in any way, and it's worded easily to comprehend.

 b.  What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?
No because the structure and wording seems very broad and a bit confusing.

 c.  What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?
Yes, its extremely specific as well as clearly formatted. 

 d.  How can an anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?
No because that's kind of an open ended question. I think there could be different answers to that depending on who you talk to. it's not really specific.

3. What is the most significant factor in insuring the independence of a special ed student by the age of five?

Blog 8 - Research and Working EQ

1.  What is your working EQ?

What are the best ways to help preschool special ed students become independent by the age of 5?

2.  What is a possible answer to your working EQ? Please write the answer in thesis format. 

EQ:What are the best ways to help preschool special ed students become independent by the age of 5?

• To teach them effective ways to communicate with others
• To teach them a good foundation regarding communication skills as well as social and academic skills

3.  What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ?

I found a series called "Topics in Down Syndrome" and "Topics in Autism" that has answered any, and every question I've had so far regarding my topic.

4.  Who is your mentor, or where are you doing mentorship, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?

My mentor is Mrs. Blanca, at San Jose Elementary School and it directly helps my topic because I am volunteering in a special ed Preschool class and interacting with the children the whole time.

Blog 5: Mentorship Reflection

1. Mentorship question: I started volunteering with a special ed. class, my freshman year,at my old school, so I just asked the teacher I previously worked with if she could be my mentor, and she said yes.


2. Research Question: I honestly haven't found an article that has been extremely useful. Most of them say things i had known previously or they have information that only skims the surface of my topic. The most useful source I've had for my research so far has been the Topics in Down Syndrome  by:Libby Kumin

Blog 3: Topic Choice and Working EQ

1. Teaching Preschool Special Education

2. The question I feel helps focus my research is : What is special education?