November 14, 16, 18, 21, 23

For some reason my computer/internet server keeps having technical issues so it wouldn't publish my posts from last week! Now I can't remember the exact details from the week before Thanksgiving. But I do know that we pretty much did the same thing. I tutored the students in math and assisted the teacher in grading their papers. We then did grammar and reading followed by speech therapy with Mrs. M. During the next week the entire school was getting ready for Thanksgiving. The students were very excited and teacher played word games such as "Poisoned Apple" with them. They then did a new technique called the "Hula-Hula" dance. The teacher explained to me that the hula dances helps the students sort out the syllables for different words. I then observed the speech therapist's teaching before bidding them a Happy Thanksgiving.

Journal Entry 7 November 7 and November 9

After being sick for a week I finally got to go back to my service learning. I observed how the teacher had her students play a game called "Poisoned Apple." It involves using vocabulary words and if the player still has the "poisoned apple," then that player loses the game. I then when over some vocabulary words with the students before having them read aloud to me from a book. After class was over, I asked the teacher about the students' disabilities. She suggested that I observe a Special Education therapist. Upon her advice I went and saw the therapist. The therapist was teaching a student who happened to have dyslexia. I observed how the student uses colored marble blocks to help him with his reading. The therapist explained to me that the marble blocks represent different syllables as well as vowels and consonant sounds. Most students with dyslexia can only see words in picture formats rather than in individual letters. It is similar to the way most Asian languages use characters in their writing. I was thinking that perhaps if these students were in a different culture maybe they would have less difficulties in their grammar.

Journal Entry 6 October 26 and October 28

For this whole week I was out sick. I could only come to class on Thursday and Friday. Even so, I still did not go to Ashland Ranch Elementary School in fear that I might contaminate the students there and make them sick. As a result, I was not able to do my teacher's service learning program.