Senior Project & Research

The way senior year started with finding  articles for senior project right off the bat, kind of got me off guard. I like the fact that we're starting early though, as opposed to waiting closer to the due date. During the first research I found it hard to correlate my topic to the articles I was finding on google. I tried google scholar as well and nothing seemed to pop up. After our trip to the library, it's like I was opened up to a new world. I found two useful articles that closely related to my topic in under 15 minutes. It felt like a whole world of knowledge was hidden from me. I now know how to look for specifics and how to rule out articles that will not be beneficial to my research. I feel that now that I know how to properly use the library it will be easier to find the research I'm looking for.

Blog 4: Interview Preperation

1.Who do you plan to interview? Why?

I plan on interviewing Mrs. Day, a third grade teacher at my elementary school because I am focusing on how elementary school teachers prepare their students for testing and what are the methods that work. She also has a lot of experience because she was my elementary teacher and has been there before me. She knows different ways the test has ran and has a lot of experience in trying different methods in order to raise the scores.

2.You have to ask 5 questions. What additional questions to you plan to ask?

• What do you think is the best method to preparing students for the test?
• What's the hardest part in preparing the students?
• How is teaching affected by the standards that have to be learned by the end of the year?
• How to you include other lessons besides those of the California standards?
• In your opinion would a change in the testing be for the better? What parts should change? 
• How have you tried to transition into common core?

Blog 3: Topic Choice and Working EQ

1.  List your topic here: 

The topic I chose for my Senior Presentation is the academic performance of elementary students.

2.  Write a question that helps to focus your research this month.

What is the best way to heighten the scores of standardized testing among elementary school kids.

3.  Post the working bibliography (WB) on the right hand side of the blog and share it so anybody can view it.

Below is the link to my spreadsheet with my working bibliography. 

Working Bibliography

Blog 2: Summer Mentorship Component

Literal:  

1. (Know) Using Google doc (drive) link a log of specific hours and a description of your duties to your blog post.

Below is the link to my summer hours. 
 Mentorship Log

2. What is the contact name & number of where you volunteered?  

Ramiro Cisneros 

(909)730-2881

3. (Need to know) What questions were raised because of the 10 hours of experience?  List them. 

• Why do charges differ from person to person?
• Why are closed out files so important? 
• How long can a trial run?
• Why are minor cases confidential?    

Interpretive

4. What is the most important thing you gained from this experience? Why?

I think that I gained a lot of patience from working on a single case for 3 hours. I had to put files as big as 3 binders in an order as well as according to different sections. I also gained a lot of knowledge in the field of law and how much time and dedication it takes. Through the mentorship I also came to realize that I don't have a great passion for what the DAs do. 

Applied

5. What is your senior project topic going to be?  How did what you did help you choose a topic?  Please explain.

For my senior topic I will be doing something in the realm of teaching elementary kids, specifically 3rd or 4th grade. I came to this realization because I have worked with these grades volunteering recently and came to the conclusion that I have a greater passion for teaching than for law. Mentoring at a firm helped me realize this because I would be there and realized I wanted to be doing something else.