Blog #1: My Workplace: Tuesday, October 11th
My workplace is at a preschool and its like regular school just about 30 kids and its the simple learning of colors, objects, etc. It is a small buisness in Hayward, CA. It looks like a house but much bigger. There are about 7 teachers that work here. The kind of people that I work with are good with kids and have plenty of patience. Most of the people at my workplace have college degrees. My workplace serves children from 2 - 5 years of age (pre-k & kindergarten). My strengths at my workplace are having patience with the class I work with (pre-k, 3 yr olds). I also get comfortable quick with what I have to do. Some weaknesses are it sometimes be boring when I am not doing something I like. I know the more I go I will become used to it there.
Blog #2: My Mentors: Tuesday, October 18th
My mentors are Frances and Robin Kong. Frances is the owner and Robin is the director and is who I mostly work with. Robin's typical day is arriving at breakfast time cooking the kids their food, then she works throughout the pre school and assists anyone in need as well as doing computer work. Frances is a kindergarten teacher as well as working with the pre k children when needed. I'm not sure how they came interested in this field but I do know they enjoy what they do.
Blog #3: My Role: Tuesday, October 25th
My main responsibility at my internship is to follow a daily schedule and assist in the office. When I first arrive at 7:45 am I just watch the kids (2-4yrs old) while they play. At 8 o clock the kids get into "circle" , which is when one of the teachers read a teaching book to them while the interns and Robin (director/mentor) get the breakfast together and set up for the kids. After they eat their food they get into circle time and go over ABCs, numbers, the day of the month and year. They also go over flashcards of colors and different objects as well as a lesson plan.
Then the kids go outside for an hour and then we do art work and english or math. After they complete that we do lunch and then while they are eating I get their nap materials reading and they sleep from 12:30 to 2:30 I believe. Then I take lunch at 12:30 to 1:00. Then I do office work while they are sleep. After they wake up I help give them snack, then I read to them. Then it is about 4:00 pm when I get off.
Each week I am completing tasks such as teaching them how to do Art projects. I teach them their colors and numbers. I have to organize different packets for the kindergarten class. I also have to create an Art project that pre-k (2-3 yrs old) can follow. I also have to create a whole lesson plan by the end of the internship. Throughout this whole intern I have to maintain patience as well as being professional and maintaining a safe environment.
Blog #4: Project Brainstorm: Tuesday, November 1st
I am thinking about doing an Art project as my mini project and a whole lesson plan for my overall project. The Art project is to be done by pre-k and it has to do with the weekly letter and number as well as theme. For example this weeks letter is E, and number is 4. The theme is weather and seasons. My mentor actually came up with this idea but I liked it so I added in my ideas and went along with her. I am excited to do this project because I am looking forward to seeing if the kids can accomplish it. As well as learning how different people adapt to different things. I hope the kids understand and learn something. I think if I can create a project with leaves and fall colors and using the number and letter of the week it will be great. I would also like to throw in thanksgiving because it is in this month too!
Blog #5: Progress on my WLE project pt 1: Tuesday, November 8th
Today at my wle I completed an Art project and number project with my pre-k class. The
Art project went pretty smooth since I had everything planned ahead of time. This months theme
is weathers and seasons so I made a leaf and had the kids color it then we made hand turkeys to
recognize November. My mentor and I are going to speak about our project next Tuesday due to
other priorities. So far I have accomplished an outline and due dates for my project. I feel I am
behind in my project but am working on my mini projects that I do every tuesday that connects
with my big project overall.
Art project went pretty smooth since I had everything planned ahead of time. This months theme
is weathers and seasons so I made a leaf and had the kids color it then we made hand turkeys to
recognize November. My mentor and I are going to speak about our project next Tuesday due to
other priorities. So far I have accomplished an outline and due dates for my project. I feel I am
behind in my project but am working on my mini projects that I do every tuesday that connects
with my big project overall.
Blog #6: Leadership Skills: Tuesday, November 15th
The leadership skill I am using the most is collaborating productively. I have to work
together with my mentor and the teacher I am working with. We have to make sure we are on
the same page. I also work with a group of kids daily on their numbers, letters, and Art projects. I
think I am doing a great job at using this leadership skill because I am very comfortable where I
am and am great with helping out the kids and teachers and director. I could improve on working
the kids one on one because sometimes they don't understand and need more time, so I feel like
I am rushing and we only have so much time for each thing. This leadership skill helps me to
complete things faster and not do everything by myself. For example me and another intern
from my school work in the office together and do the assigned work we are given. The
leadership skill my mentor uses the most would probably me Think Critically or Communicate
powerfully. She does a lot of communicating through email and phone and through parents
because she is the director. She thinks critically as she plans her week and as she runs the
pre-school, as well as with her mothers help Mrs. Frances, which I think she is the owner.
together with my mentor and the teacher I am working with. We have to make sure we are on
the same page. I also work with a group of kids daily on their numbers, letters, and Art projects. I
think I am doing a great job at using this leadership skill because I am very comfortable where I
am and am great with helping out the kids and teachers and director. I could improve on working
the kids one on one because sometimes they don't understand and need more time, so I feel like
I am rushing and we only have so much time for each thing. This leadership skill helps me to
complete things faster and not do everything by myself. For example me and another intern
from my school work in the office together and do the assigned work we are given. The
leadership skill my mentor uses the most would probably me Think Critically or Communicate
powerfully. She does a lot of communicating through email and phone and through parents
because she is the director. She thinks critically as she plans her week and as she runs the
pre-school, as well as with her mothers help Mrs. Frances, which I think she is the owner.
Blog #7: What I learned, Reflection: Tuesday, November 22nd
I have learned that I am a quick learner and I get along with adults and younger kids than people my own age. I have also learned I can adapt to a different place easy. Creativity was put in this my WLE because I am working with younger aged kids and I have to be creative with everything because they have a short attention spand. So you have to do something they will be able to do. I learned that in being professional you don't always have to wear dressy clothes. They can be casual and you can still take on a professional role. I have learned many things in my WLE and they wil help me in the future so I can be able to raise good smart kids as well as being able to teach them certain things before school.
Blog #8: Professionalism: Tuesday, November 29th
In order to find a WLE I had to be professional. That consist of me smiling, greeting, dressing
up, and being early. As well as talking professional and not saying “umm”. The most effective
way of looking for a job is to have a plan and back up plan and to have multiple places to go as
well as being early and asking questions and to know what your talking about. At my WLE I thnk
being professional means to greet all the parents and kids. Also to be early and dress casual
when needed to. I also think you shouldn’t be on you phone and do all things you are told to do.
Being professional will get you farther in the world.
up, and being early. As well as talking professional and not saying “umm”. The most effective
way of looking for a job is to have a plan and back up plan and to have multiple places to go as
well as being early and asking questions and to know what your talking about. At my WLE I thnk
being professional means to greet all the parents and kids. Also to be early and dress casual
when needed to. I also think you shouldn’t be on you phone and do all things you are told to do.
Being professional will get you farther in the world.
Blog #9: Life At my WLE: Tuesday, December 6th
Today at my WLE i assisted teachers as they do their daily activities with the kids. I also
helped do office work and organize files for my mentor. I also presented my WLE presentation to
my mentor and my advisor which I did not past for whatever reasons. I feel I have improves as
an intern by not being as lazy. I try to keep myself busy and do all work that I am assigned. I feel
like I have gained more patience with the kids. When they are acting out I have patience to work
with them. What I like about my workplace is that there is multiple kinds of races and ethnicity. I
feel that is a great thing about this workplace so you can see it is not hard to communicate
among different nationalities. There isn't much that I don't like about my workplace so I will say
that it is so small. If it were bigger they could have things more spread out and have more
classes.
helped do office work and organize files for my mentor. I also presented my WLE presentation to
my mentor and my advisor which I did not past for whatever reasons. I feel I have improves as
an intern by not being as lazy. I try to keep myself busy and do all work that I am assigned. I feel
like I have gained more patience with the kids. When they are acting out I have patience to work
with them. What I like about my workplace is that there is multiple kinds of races and ethnicity. I
feel that is a great thing about this workplace so you can see it is not hard to communicate
among different nationalities. There isn't much that I don't like about my workplace so I will say
that it is so small. If it were bigger they could have things more spread out and have more
classes.
Blog #10: The End: Tuesday, December 13th
I am going to miss the kids and them running up to me saying "Hi Ms. Erika". I will also
miss not going to school on Tuesdays but going to work at my internship. Final thoughts I have
about my workplace is that it was nice working with them and I had a great experience with the
kids. Working at my WLE will help me for what I look for next year because I would like to work
with kids again. The only thing I would want to change is the hours. I would like to come in at 9
and leave at 5. I would also like an hour lunch instead of 30 min. because it was always rushed.
Next year if I have the same workplace then I will have lots of suggestion and wonders for them
to make this an even better experience.
miss not going to school on Tuesdays but going to work at my internship. Final thoughts I have
about my workplace is that it was nice working with them and I had a great experience with the
kids. Working at my WLE will help me for what I look for next year because I would like to work
with kids again. The only thing I would want to change is the hours. I would like to come in at 9
and leave at 5. I would also like an hour lunch instead of 30 min. because it was always rushed.
Next year if I have the same workplace then I will have lots of suggestion and wonders for them
to make this an even better experience.
