Blog #10 01/26/2012
My final thoughts on WLE are that it was a really good experience. I learned a lot about childcare and the working world. I might look into a career as a preschool teacher because I think it’s a fun age group to be around. However WLE also gave me a realistic view of the job and how hard it is. It takes a lot of planning and preparation. Preschool kids can be really difficult and after a while I think you might get really bored. The WLE I look for next year will be hands on because I liked that I was actually doing hands on stuff and not just filing or computer work. I’ll also look for something that I might be interesting in doing as a job in the future. That way I get to see if I really like it and get experience. Add Comment Blog #9 12/09/2011
On Tuesday at my internship I was in Ms. Dorothy’s class. I finished doing project prep for Ms. Dorothy’s Christmas projects and supervised the kids during free play. Then while they napped I wiped all the shelves and toys down with cleaner. When they woke up I got the playground ready and then spent the rest of the day playing with the kids outside. I’m a better intern now because I know how the school works and the schedule. I used to have to ask what I should be doing but now I can just figure out what needs to be done and do it. My workplace is great because I like spending time with the kids. I love when I get to play with them outside and when they are sweet and cuddly. My workplace is not so great because the kids don’t respect me as much as the teachers and sometimes they act out when I’m in charge. One of the boys bit me hard enough to leave a mark for a couple day but later he came and cuddled up to me and was being really cute. Sometimes working with kids is really nice and sometimes it just sucks. Blog#8 11/29/2011
In order to find my WLE and get hired, I went online and searched for businesses near my house. I wrote down the phone numbers of all the ones closest to me, which were mostly daycares. Then I called them during advisory. I didn’t really have to do an interview I just came in and talked a little and met the kids. I think the most effective way to get hired is to visit the place. If you come in and make a good impression, then when the company is hiring they will be more likely to choose you over a faceless job application. As a result of my WLE, I think being a professional adult in the work world means doing your job as best as you can. Both my mentors try to teach the kids and do meaningful things with them every day. To be responsible you need to come in and do what you’re supposed to. Blog#7 11/25/2011
During my WLE I have learned that I really enjoy working with preschool aged children and I think I’m pretty good at it. I also learned to trust myself with doing tasks that I was assigned. I enjoyed doing my project and helping the kids learn. Over the course of my WLE I had to become more assertive with the kids because they didn’t listen to me when I first started. This experience has made me to value people who work with young kids. It’s really hard work and very important to society but some people seem to look down on it as a profession. I got to be creative when doing art projects and decorating the classroom. My WLE affects kids in the community by helping them get ready for school. While I knew that being a preschool teacher wasn’t easy, I didn’t understand how much work goes into it. I thought the hardest part was dealing with the kids but there is a lot of planning, preparing, and cleaning that also go into the job. One skill I got to practice at my WLE was dealing with kids in a classroom setting. I have done a lot of babysitting but being in a classroom setting means you have to do things differently. I think maybe the most important thing I did at my WLE was just being a positive role model for the kids. My WLE has made me interested in preschool teaching as a career. Blog #6 11/16/2011
The leadership skill I use most often at my internship is probably complete projects efectivley. I use this skill when the teachers ask me to complete certain tasks. For example I used this skill yesterday when Ms. Dorothy asked me to cut different pictures out of magazines to prep for a project. I wanted to do a good job but I also wanted to finish quickly enough to go outside with the kids. I think I’m pretty good at this skill; I try to do a good job on everything and get it done quickly. One way I could improve on this skill is to find more of a balance between doing a really good job and getting the projects done quickly. I wanted to do a good job but I also wanted to finish quickly enough to go outside with the kids. Using this leadership skill helps me with my work because I’m able to finish projects in a timely way and still do a good job. I think my mentors use the leadership skill think critically the most. They have to come up with ways to teach the kids and keep them entertained at the same time. They also have to deal with any unexpected problems that come up throughout the day. Blog #5 11/11/2011
Today I spent most of my time doing projects around the classroom for my mentor. First I made paper crowns for the kids to wear on their birthdays. Then I helped my mentor put up a new birthday calendar and changed the clock in the office. Next I started working on a sample book about opposites for the kids to look at. I colored in pictures of opposites and put them in plastic sleeves. Then I ate lunch with the kids and talked to my mentor. Then while the kids were napping, Ms. B came and we had our meeting and talked about my project. After she left and I came back from lunch I cleaned the classroom and spent the rest of the day working on my sample book. My mentor and I talked about the different ways I could do my project and what supplies I would need. She said she wanted me to write up a lesson plan to go with the project. We decided I should work with a small group instead of all the kids at once. I haven’t started working on my project yet but I will soon. Blog #4 11/02/2011
My WLE project is for me to do a project with the kids that reinforces what they have learned about the number five and shapes. I’m going to cut five different shapes from construction paper and have the kids put them on contact paper. My mentor asked me to do a project with the kids as part of interning at the school and I thought I could make it my WLE project as well. She asked me to organize a project for the kids that involved the number five and carry it out by myself. We talked about different ideas and I liked the idea of using contact paper so I won’t have to deal with messy glue. To complete this project I will need to gather the supplies and cut the shapes out. I should also make ask my mentors for tips on how to run a project by myself and keep the kids engaged. Blog #3 10/25/2011
My main responsibility is to help out the teacher in whichever class I’m in that day. I do a variety of things such as preparing and serving meals, watching the kids, and cleaning. I don’t really have a tittle but all the kids call me Ms. Sophia, which is funny. Usually I arrive when the kids are eating breakfast so I just sit and talk with my mentors for a while. After breakfast the kids have circle time and then they go to their class. I rotate between the classes each week. Today I was in Ms. Dorothy’s class. The first thing I did was help her get ready for her thanksgiving lesson plan. I made copies of different papers and organized them into piles of fifteen. I also cut things out of construction paper for a project. That took me most of the morning but on other days I would have helped the kids do their classwork or help with snack. After snack the kids have free play outside and I play with them. After free play its lunch time. There were only eight kids today so Ms. Dorothy assigned four kids to me. I prepared and served their lunches and sat with them while they ate. After lunch the kids go potty and take naps. Today I was responsible for taking my four kids to the bathroom, setting up their beds, and getting them settled into bed. While the kids nap we usually clean up and does paperwork type stuff. Today I wiped down all the surfaces and toys with disinfectant. Then I go on lunch. When I get back I work on whatever the teacher wants me to do. Today I stapled packets to go home, hung up the kids work on the wall and put the newsletter into their cubbies. When the kids wake up I help take them to the bathroom and get snack ready. Then we get to go to the playground and I help serve snack. After snack time the kids get to play on the playground. I sit by the playground and watch them. It’s my favorite part of the day because the kids are so cute and funny. After that it’s time for me to go home. Blog #2 10/17/2011
My mentor’s names are Ms. Joan and Ms. Dorothy; they are preschool teachers and the owners of R Skool preschool. The school opens at 6am and closes at 5pm, but they have to get there earlier than that. Ms. Dorothy teaches the 2-3 year olds and Ms. Joan teaches the 4-5 year olds. They run their own classrooms and do things like free play, learning about letters and numbers, and watching movies. Ms. Dorothy said she worked in an old folk’s home and then decided to switch to preschool. They had to get their early childhood development degrees to become preschool teachers. I think she said you have to get 18 units to get the degree. Blog #1 10/17/2011
My WLE is at preschool called R Skool preschool. It is a small business owned by the two teachers that work there. It is located in Hayward behind the grace Lutheran church on B Street. Right now only the two owners work there, but they had six other teachers at one point. They employ preschool teachers and maybe classroom assistants. The teachers have two year degrees in early childhood development. My workplace serves working parents of kids ages 2-5. Some strength of my workplace is that they have been in business for 15 years and the teachers are really dedicated and experienced. One weakness is that because of the economy they only don’t have as many kids as before and had to let go of their other teachers this year. | AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesJanuary 2012 Categories |
RSS Feed