Jenna+Moyer

Peer Tutor Journal Pd 4 - Witman & Pd 6 - Powers

//Life Skills:// Working in the life skills class is always enjoyable. The kids are so much fun. During their period, it is math class for 3 of the students. I have worked with each of them, and each of them learns at different paces. I have seen that a particular student can get a bit out of hand when he doesn’t get what he wants, but I have watched how Mrs. Powers handles it and have learned how I can handle it if put in a situation like that. I always tell him that it’s okay to work with other people when he asks if I’m going to work with him. I feel that it is the right way to handle it because he always nods his head and says alright when he understands. //Child Care:// I always have something to do in Child Care. Whether it’s doing work for the class, Mrs. Witman, or being with the preschoolers, I always have a good time. The only issue raised in this class is during preschool when some of the kids don’t listen. During child care 2 and 3 I learned how to take care of it, but with new students I had to learn all over again for peer tutoring because every child is different. I feel good about how I’ve approached things so far in this class.
 * __August to October__**

//Life Skills:// This week I began to learn a little bit more about one of the students. I learned more about her disability and the equipment she uses to help her stand up to help her stretch her leg muscles. I have not seen her use it, but it was cool to see and hear Mrs. Powers demonstrate how to use it. Also, during math class, I helped another student with his subtraction when he got stuck on wording. He seems to pick things up right away and is easy to work with. //Child Care:// This week I assisted more with the students to figure out their lesson plans. I helped them come up with fun and educational ideas. Nothing was that different in preschool. This week was Halloween theme and the kids walked around the school singing their halloween song in their costumes. That was a lot of fun!
 * __10/24/11- 10/28/11__**

//Life Skills:// One of the students out because of a surgery came back! She did some PT during our class period, while I helped the other two with math cards and class budget. We also did StarMath. //Child Care:// Helped more of the students with their lesson plans, helped Mrs. Witman clean out/organize the preschool room, and was pretty much a normal week with the preschool students.
 * __10/31/11- 11/4/11__**

//Life Skills:// On Monday, we did things like we normally do, math-rings and coin counting. On Thursday we also worked on math-rings, but then Mrs. Brown came by to teach them about deposit slips from the bank/how to fill one out. It was interesting to watch the kids learn how to do something new. On Friday, we worked on our budget. I think I like doing this the most because I get to help the kids fill out their sheets, help them understand why we added "two bags" since we bought two, and get them to use the calculator. //Child Care:// On Monday, Rachel, Hunter, Mrs. Witman and I got together to discuss what we were going to do for preschool on Thursday--the 10th and 11th graders had career day so it was just us four. I actually liked it because I got to be very involved with the preschoolers. It really helped me so what it would be like to work in a preschool/kindergarten environment. It's something I could definitely see myself doing in the future. On Friday, I just had a normal day. Helping the students, making the board for preschool next week, and cleaning up the play-room and cabinets.
 * __11/7/11-11/11/11__**

//Life Skills:// One day this week we did another StarMath. I over-looked one of the students on that and helped him when he needed help. I like doing that because I get to see what they know and how I could help them in the future with some of the material, like explaining things. We also worked on our budget again, where I noticed the kids are getting a better handle on how to write down the products and use calculators more. //Child Care:// This week, Rachel and I helped the CC2 students with the bulletin board outside the classroom and also helped them with lesson plans. We also took care of the preschool room to organize the area to help Mrs. Witman.
 * __11/14-11/18__**

//Life Skills:// We only had two days this week (for Thanksgiving break). We are working more with how to count coins and knowing how to add different coins together. The trick I saw with one of the students is she still doesn't have a handle on which coin is which, so when I'm helping her I make sure before we try adding them together that she tries to recognize all the coins first, like Mrs. Powers has been showing them. I like to see that she seems to understand it a little more each day. //Child Care:// We only had two days this week (for Thanksgiving break). Rachel and I set up the board for this week and next week. It was a lot of fun during preschool because we played a lot of games with the kids, like: musical chairs and bingo. One of the preschoolers fell off their chair and hit his head and I took him over to another table to check him and out and make sure he was okay. I have learned in those situations that if you treat them like they were so brave and that they took the fall "like a champ" they seem to stop crying and feel better; that's a cool thing to watch.
 * __11/21 and 11/22__**

//ABSENT// //Life Skills:// So far, throughout this first semester, I have not encountered any major problems with the students. I have seen a few outbursts/breakdowns however. Things like yelling and crying (attitude) but nothing so big that couldn't be handled. It's interesting to me to see how Mrs. Powers handles these outbursts, and how she gets them to calm down. I understand in this class that you have to take things slowly and explain in specific detail with the students; especially in math class. I do not necessarily find anything puzzling or difficult because the kids make me very comfortable. Mrs. Powers has been the biggest help in peer tutoring this class. She and I have a lot of similar opinions and she helps me understand when I don't 100% get something. So far, I feel like I have been doing well in my class. //Child Care:// Throughout the first semester in this class I have not encountered any big problems that could not be handled. If I had any problems at all it would have been with preschoolers not listening. I understand how to deal with things like that since I've taken all the child care classes. In everyday classes (M,W,F) I help with the child care students and their lesson plans, or help Mrs. Witman with classroom chores; like: daily newsletters, clean-ups, preschool lessons, etc. Mrs. Witman has been the biggest help in peer tutoring this class. She and I have a lot of the same outlooks on issues. So far, I love what I do in my class.
 * __11/2 - 12/2__**
 * __December__**

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 * __1/3/12-1/6/12__**

__**1/9/12- 1/13/12**__ //Life Skills:// This week was the same as the week before: math notecards, working independently with the students on their money worksheets or all together on the classroom budget. On Friday, a college student came in to observe the classroom. It was neat to show her what we did on a normal basis with the students and how they got around. This class keeps me motivated to get things done and it puts my day in a better mood! //Child Care:// This week was the preschoolers last week until February. The other peer tutor and I got to help the students come up with a fun art activity for the kids. We made a snowman out of milk bottles, with puff balls for the buttons, cloth for the scarf, etc. It was sad to see the preschoolers leave, but we'll see them again next semester with a new student! I learned the first semester with the preschoolers that you have to be very patient since there are a lot of young kids. I feel that I approach the kids in a very professional and fun way!

//Life Skills:// Working in life skills always puts me in a great mood! Cathy, Leandra, and Kyle are always so welcoming and wonderful to talk to. They mostly do a lot with adding and counting coins. And sometimes we take little "field trips" to change the laundry, but they are always in good moods. I still have not arised with any problems in this class. Rarely ever do we have an attitude problem, but when there is, it's resolved in two minutes. I try to help just by cheering up the kids and making them laugh! //Child Care:// The preschoolers are back and we have a new student. He's very shy but really sweet. There are a lot of students in this semesters child care 3 class so most of the time I don't get to work with the preschoolers as much, but when I do it's always a lot of fun! I help out Mrs. Witman as much as I can with class work, the preschool room and other students. I always have a good time. We had themes like: caring and manners, friendship, and Dr. Suess. I love when Rachel and I get to decorate the board for Mrs. Witman. I still have not had any problems come up in this class. Everyone is so cheery and nice!
 * __February__**

__**March**__ //Life Skills:// I still always enjoy working in the life skills classroom. Lea, Cathy, and Kyle are always great to be around. They always get really excited when they work their way through a math card and reach their goal and can get a free math period. I still have not encountered any problems in this class. I always try to make the kids feel comfortable and laugh if there ever is a problem! I try to help Mrs. Powers as much as I can. //Child Care:// I continue to help Mrs. Witman in class with helping the child care students with their lesson plans. I also still enjoy being with the preschoolers. I have not encountered any problems with this period. This month we had themes in preschool like St. Patrick's Day and Jungle. I also help Mrs. Witman out with news letters. Rachel and I still decorate and organize the preschool room as much as we can. I love peer tutoring for this class!

//Life Skills:// The kids are still so great! We had the life skills dance which was so much fun. It was cool to spend time with all of them and get to see more kids from the area. Math time with Lea, Cathy, and Kyle is still awesome! They always make my day. I still have not encountered any problems with the them, other than the fact if I work with one girl, then the other girl gets a little upset. But I just remind them that that only means I get to work with them the next day and everything's better. They make me feel so loved! I still try and help Mrs. Powers as often as I can: if she's in the middle of a conversation with another adult, I will keep the kids on track. //Child Care:// This month we went to Jordan Bank for a field trip. It was so much fun! It always surprises me to see how well behaved the kindergarteners are compared to the preschoolers. We got to help the kids in Early Intervention and Head Start, as well. It's definitely something I could see myself doing when I'm older! They are always so much fun. I still help the child care III students with lesson plans and class work when they need it, and help Mrs. Witman when necessary. I have not encountered any problems in this class.
 * __April__**

//Life Skills:// Earlier this month we went to Special Olympics and it was so much fun! I got to hang out with a lot of the kids I don't normally see on a regular basis, and it was a really nice day! It's definitely something I can see myself getting into and volunteering at when I get out of high school. I still work with the 3 kids during their math period. We just finished up learning how to write a check to someone and Mrs. Powers had a neat activity at the end to get the kids involved together to trade checks and then they each had their own clues and puzzle at the end. I even got one too! I still have not encountered any problems. I still enjoy going to this class every single day! //Child Care:// Everything is still the same in this class. Helping the students, helping Mrs. Witman, and spending time with the preschoolers. I have not encountered any problems these few weeks and if I did it may have been from the preschoolers but I have learned how to deal with it, and they all have definitely improved from the beginning of the year. I still enjoy going to this class every single day
 * __5/1/12- 5/18/12__**