Camarena elementary
My internship is with Ms. Marcial at Camarena Elementary in Chula Vista. I am excited to work with children, because I don't think that it is in my nature to communicate with them fluently at all. I really look forward to working at this elementary school with professional teachers, as I expect to learn a lot from them.
I really hope that I can use what I observe from people like my teachers so that I can grow from as many aspects as possible in this internship.
I really hope that I can use what I observe from people like my teachers so that I can grow from as many aspects as possible in this internship.
Photo essay
My first day was definitely not was I was expecting it to be. First off, I was assigned my mentor the morning of, and it turned out mentor wasn't there that day. I was then assigned to Ms. Romanelli's kindergarten class. That change of plans was enough to energize me and prepare me for my month there at my new internship.
|
This was my first day with my mentor that I was assigned to. I felt really welcome the moment that I walked into class. Here, the kids are learning about engineers, meteorologists, and geologists. I loved my first day, since I was given the opportunity to observe the class and become familiar with the environment.
|
This was my workspace throughout my days at Camarena Elementary. I will say that one of the challenges I had at first was keeping my workspace clean. I realized that part of being professional is keeping your work area clean and neat, and this was definitely a habit that became stronger at my internship.
|
To be completely honest, It was very challenging for me at first to really have a solid idea as to what my internship project would be. When that was finally decided, I realized that making a lesson plan for the kids was a very very difficult task. I would be lying if I said that I made the lesson plan all on my own without any inspiration.
|
The image on the left here is the reference worksheet that I made for the kids to go along with my lesson. One of the most challenging aspects of making a plan for the kids is to adapt what you've already learned and make it so that 3rd graders could understand. I realized that making the lesson as engaging as possible was very important, which is why I decided to make something graphic and captivating like my worksheet on the left.
|
On the right is another example of a worksheet that I had to go with my lesson plan, only this one was interactive and required input from the students. This image represents the way that I delivered the lesson to the kids. I feel like one thing that I lacked, was the ability to make the whole thing engaging enough so that the children wouldn't have been so bored(like some of the kids told me they were).
|
At the end of the lesson, I handed out a blank piece of paper to each of the students. I instructed them to choose one of the energy sources that they learned about and draw something that represents it, and then label what they had drawn. The purpose was so that I could look back and asses what the kids had learned, and in turn asses myself in how I had delivered and taught what I had to them.
|
By the end of internship, I had already accepted the routine there as if it had become my own thing I've been doing for years. I had become familiar walking down the halls as if the school was my school. The image here on the right was the hall I went down through every morning to go to Ms. Marcial's class.
|
One thing that I am already missing from internship is pushing myself to better my interactions with the kids. I remember how challenging it was for me to act as a role model for the children, but every day that I went to internship, I was getting better and better. Although I believe that internship could've gone better for me, it was an enjoyable experience.
|