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Margaret Palmer - Olita Elementary School - TK classroom

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Margaret Palmer - Olita Elementary School - TK classroom

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My favorite memory this semester has been getting to watch my students grow and mature. One story that has really exemplified this was with my little 'Amie'. She is on the spectrum and has been working on being more flexible in certain situations. She has struggled in the library when another student chose a book first that she was hoping to check out. This has led to melt downs and we have really been working on being ok with making a second choice. This week, 'Amie' chose a book she was happy with but another student also wanted the book. 'Amie' became aware that the other student was sad about this and she went on her own to the other student and tried to soothe her. She then said "It's ok. You take this book and I will get my second choice." I was so proud of her and let her know. She was pleased that she was able to help another student.

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London Para- Sierra Preparatory Academy: Middle School Special Education

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London Para- Sierra Preparatory Academy: Middle School Special Education

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My favorite memory from this semester is just getting to see what it is like to be a middle school special education teacher. The one thing I will never forget is that on my last day of my internship the students came up to me asking if I was coming back and I just felt so in place with them and that really solidified that this is exactly what I want to do. Then the teacher on the last day gave me a card that said thank you ms. london and two different periods signed it. It just made my entire internship worth it. I will cherish this experience forever.

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Kelli Castillo - Brookhaven Elementary School - TK Classroom

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Kelli Castillo - Brookhaven Elementary School - TK Classroom

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My favorite memory from this semester in a TK Classroom at Brookhaven Elementary School was seeing how much these children grow in the span of 5 months. On the very first day of my internship, a lot of the kids did not know the routine, were acting out instead of focusing, and did not know how to write their names. Now, they are like little machines, as they know exactly how to act when they are in school and can control their behaviors, words, and feelings. One specific child that I have seen growth in is a little boy named "Toa". At the beginning of the school year, he was hardly able to follow a single direction as he was very easily distracted and had this idea in his head that he was not able to do anything himself. Now, that little boy is doing work all by himself, gets extremely proud of himself whenever he does something by himself, knows how to write his own name, and is making many friends!

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Fairmont Private School Pre-K (Alexandra Cabrera)

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Fairmont Private School Pre-K (Alexandra Cabrera)

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I can't say I have a fondest memory other than simply seeing all the children I work with grow and become their selves. The past almost 15 weeks with them flew by so quickly, I remember they were so shy and trying to find their voice. From shy little humans who needed help holding scissors to big kids who knew how to write their names with no help. Although I used my work as my job site, and I see the kids every day, I have spent selected times just to focus on them. On 12/09/24, I was working with a student who needed a little extra help focusing, and he read a frequency book all by himself. It amazed me how smart he has become. Despite possible learning curves that he might be facing, it has been shown that he has improved in his writing and recognizing words very much. However, working with that student has also taught me the importance of advocating for your students and their needs. Even though this is not the end of the road with them, I am very excited to see them grow into little kindergarteners by the end of the school year.

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I have a lot of good memories that I experienced with the preschool children I worked with. It’s hard to narrow it down to a favorite. I loved getting to know the kids and sitting and chatting with them at lunchtime. I loved all their stories of life at home, their way of looking at life, and getting to be silly with them at times. It was a joy for me at recess to show them how to catch, throw, kick a ball, and pump their legs on the swing to keep going. The smiles of pride when they could finally do those things themselves were satisfying. I loved listening to them pretend at recess and in the classroom to be a teacher, shopkeeper, mom & dad, and taking care of their baby. I also loved seeing them pretend to be veterinarians, chefs, and doctors, to name a few. It was fun to dig holes in the sandbox with them and pretend the holes were sharks’ mouths to feed them the woodchip “fish” together. Teaching them games like Red Light, Green Light, and Freeze Tag and all of us chasing bubbles from the bubble machine was also fun. I had many opportunities to lead the class in movement songs like ones with shaky eggs or freeze dances. Reading stories to them after naptime warmed my heart. One of my favorite days was when a student with autism came over as I was doing a name-recognition activity with another child. I asked if he’d like to do it next, and when he did, he was so focused on everything I was saying. He knew the first letter of his name but struggled to know what came next. When I started saying the sound of the next letter, that’s when it clicked for him, and he got them all right away after that. Later that day, after story time, a student started talking excitedly about something that was related to the story. On the spur of the moment, I told them to come up front and tell the class. After she finished her story, more and more kids wanted a turn in front of the class to tell something, which turned into an interesting and fun sharing experience.

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Being part of the Higher Ground team was a great experience overall. I was able to meet many CSUF current students, as well as alumni. I was also able to get to know many of the children who attended the program. I was assigned to 4th graders for the entirety of my internship. I honestly had the best time getting to know each and everyone of them. There was a specific time where I had a great laugh with one of the students. I think it was Halloween week and I wore some leather pants, needless to say I don't think I will be wearing them again, or maybe I will just remember that moment every time I wear them. One of the students had asked why I was wearing those pants, as a joke, I said "are they not in style anymore?" I think that's when I knew she was going to "roast" my pants. She said they reminded her of her leather couch, every since then she has reminded me of those pants and how they look like a couch. Overall, the class I was a part of showed so much growth compared to the first day I was with them. They each have their own personality and I will definitely miss them all.

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Valerie Mora Romero- La punte high school special education 

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Valerie Mora Romero- La punte high school special education 

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My favorite memory in my intership with working with high school is the time when a student asked me about my high school days and if high school was and did i know what i wanted to do with my future. Now this student i notice has trouble turning in work a lot and does like coming to school. But he’s a senior. I told him high school was a struggle for me but if there wasn’t something i didn't understand i would speak with the teacher and get the help i needed. I had no idea what i wanted to do i really didn't. I didn't know until i got to college and told him look i used to be in your shoes i used to struggle like you do. But you can keep going and if you need help i am here i know its scary but your capable and whatever you do in your life do what you feel if right and true to yourself. Once you get out of high school you have so much possibilities it crazy. He looked at me and said but “miss i am dumb and i am taking theses dumb classes”. I told him no your not and no they are not your smart and your capable. Just keep going you’re going to make it trust me. If you need help i can help you. You just have to believe in yourself and really want it. I couldn’t tell if anything got to his head of what i was saying but he stood quite and was working. But i do know that he did ask me for help once i came back and was actually working to get his work in.

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Audrie Lozano- Robert Heideman Elementary school- 3rd grade classroom

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Audrie Lozano- Robert Heideman Elementary school- 3rd grade classroom

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One of my favorite memories of this semester during my internship would have to be the last day I was there. As sad as it was leaving the kids I built relationships with, we had such a fun day to celebrate my last day! I brought everyone donuts and we had a donut party and celebrated the last day of my internship. I was able to say goodbye to all the students I worked with this past semester and it was very heartwarming. We also had a coloring contest and played lots of games in the classroom to have fun. Once it was time to leave many kids began to cry and I felt so bad since I loved my time that I spent with them. Many students didn't want me to leave and this just proved to me that I created a big impact on these students lives in such a short period of time. This definitely re assured me that I am on the right path for my future career and I promised the kids I would be back soon!

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Bela Cruz- Fondest Memory at No Limits Special Needs Center

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Bela Cruz- Fondest Memory at No Limits Special Needs Center

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One of my fondest memories from my internship hours this semester was when one of the students came up to me and the other supervisors with their phone playing an 80’s version of Happy Birthday to my coworker. The student remembered her birthday and made it a point to make her feel special. He has Down Syndrome, and it was clear to me that birthdays are very important to him. He said he played that song because she liked the 80s. He was so kind and loving with us supervisors and told us that when it was his birthday, we would all be invited to his birthday party and he wanted to have ice cream together. It really warms my heart how this short amount of time with these students can be meaningful to them and relationships grow quickly. I hope to maintain a relationship with my internship site and plan to visit as much as I can. I feel so grateful to have spent time with this population and I feel so motivated to work with students like the friends I’ve made in this program.

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Heather Reynolds-Truman Benedict Elementary School- 5th Grade

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Heather Reynolds-Truman Benedict Elementary School- 5th Grade

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My favorite memory from interning at the Elementary school was when the class went to the science lab and learned how to build Native American homes. Everyone had to build the houses out of the materials provided by the science lab, and it was cool to see their creativity in building them, their teamwork, and their encouragement of each other. I remember that afterward, they asked me to come over and look at what they had built and were so excited to share what they had created.

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Maddison Brown- Titan Afterschool(Buena Park)

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Maddison Brown- Titan Afterschool(Buena Park)

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My fondest memory of being at Titan Afterschool was being around all of the great kids. I was in the classroom that had Tk and Kindergarten. I was really able to create bonds with each child in such a short amount of time! I loved being able to be apart of their learning journey with reading, sight words, and doing their homework. Also, all of the staff there were so inviting and incredibly helpful with anything I needed. They basically asked me to make a couple of lesson plans that were quick and correlate it to a craft for them to take home or we would hang it up in the class. You can tell all of the staff there cared deeply about each child because if a child needed something or they noticed that certain things calm them down they would get it for them, or if they noticed that they were into something they would incorporate it into the day or buy them a little thing. I was originally going to go somewhere else, but I am glad it didn’t work out because I enjoyed being there. Also, there was this little boy who grew attached to me in such a short amount of time, and it really took me back because it showed me that I knew I was studying to be in the right field. I loved being able the idea of seeing how kids grow academically and physically, and also growing bonds with my future students. This internship was incredible for me, and opened my eyes up to a lot more than I already knew. I am excited to become an elementary school teacher!

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Jocelyn Rosillo - Rio Hondo Elementary School

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Jocelyn Rosillo - Rio Hondo Elementary School

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My favorite memory this year has been a memory I shared with one of the students I rarely worked with during volunteering. A lot of the time I had small groups with students who were struggling in Math and/or English. However, there is one time in particular that a student I had once taken to the office due to nausea came up to me and told me, "When are you coming back?" and I replied, "As soon as I can!". He smiled and said, "Hopefully tomorrow, I like it when you're here. You make things more fun." This warmed my heart because even though I do not work with him directly, I still made a different in the classroom environment. 😊

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Daniel Martinez - Santa Fe High School Algebra/Geometry Class

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Daniel Martinez - Santa Fe High School Algebra/Geometry Class

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My favorite memory from my practicum has been watching the growth and progress the students have made over the course of this semester. I have seen the students come into the class being confused, as if they were learning a new language, to reviewing for their final exam and knowing 3 months worth of material like the back of their hands. It was especially awesome to see the students that I spent the most time with studying and doing the one-on-one tutoring understanding the material and seeing it all come together. During final review they weren't the first to answer the question, they still took their time and look a little longer to get a response, but they did it. When they finally lifted their whiteboard and showed their answer and it was correct, that was so rewarding and exciting to see. There were 2 girls in particular that I spent almost every assignment with and they really struggled. They took a lot of extra time and explaining, but they are now prepped and ready for the final exam and it's awesome to see. This was an amazing experience and loved every second. It opened my eyes to a view I didn't have before, maybe high school level education is a path that I would be interested in pursuing some time after elementary.

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Cheryl Bordelon - Buena Park Elementary School - ASES program

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Cheryl Bordelon - Buena Park Elementary School - ASES program

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My site was at an elementary school with an after school program; the program is call Titans After School, (formerly ASES). FYI, as a CSUF student or graduate you'd have a foot in the door for a paid position or internship. Anyways, my favorite memory was a during my second week. There were a handful of children that were abnormally shy, and one was able to talk although wouldn't outside of the home. He had two staff members that he would quietly and briefly communicate his needs, but otherwise was left to be self-sufficient while being monitored. He'd wonder around alone, seemingly content to be left to his own devices. By my third visit to the school I began to notice him swinging on a pole close by to where I was standing and monitoring the lunch tables. I looked over to attempt eye contact and hopefully plant the seed for him to warm up to me. He was already looking at me, studying my appearance, (this happens often with children as I have tattoos, piercings, bright hair, and huge glasses- I probably look like a cartoon character to them. So, he quickly looked away when I smiled and began to swing away from me. I noticed that his shoe was untied so I called after him to let him know, and he stopped, looked at me, looked at his shoe, kneeled down and tied it, and when he stood back up he smiled at me. I will always carry that with me- that I AM capable to getting through to a child if I try.

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Emilie Pena - Towngate elementary school- 3rd grade

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Emilie Pena - Towngate elementary school- 3rd grade

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One of my favorite memories from my practicum experience this semester was watching the students practice for their winter performance. Seeing them rehearse and get excited about their roles was so cute. They were so eager to include me in everything they did, and it really made me feel like a special part of their classroom. Another memorable moment was when some students used their ClassDojo points to have lunch with me. It was such a thoughtful gesture, and I loved spending that time with them. It allowed me to connect with the students in a more relaxed setting and learn more about their personalities.

What has been especially rewarding is seeing the students grow throughout the semester. Watching them learn and develop new skills has been so fulfilling. I’m grateful to have been a part of their journey and to witness their progress firsthand. Moments like these remind me why I want to be a teacher.

Fun Fridays have also been a memorable part of this experience. These days allowed the students to enjoy themselves while still learning, and I loved watching them interact with each other during the activities. It’s been such a joy to be part of these experiences with them. These experiences have excited me even more about my future as an educator. I’m so thankful for my time at Towngate Elementary School and look forward to more opportunities to watch the students continue to grow next semester. I promised the kids I’d be back soon, and I’m excited to keep being a part of their journey!

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Jaqlyn Tran - Richman Elementary School - TK classroom 

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Jaqlyn Tran - Richman Elementary School - TK classroom 

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It is hard to pick a favorite memory I had while interning since I had a lot of good moments working with the students. I enjoyed watching the students grow and become more independent. Although I was in the classroom twice a week it still surprised me each week how much the students have grown. A particular moment that comes to mind was when I was walking towards where the students line up in the morning and they came and hugged me and said "good morning Ms. Jaqlyn." This is a fond memory for me because I realized the students have become comfortable with me. It was also touching and sweet to be greeted by the students so warmly. I felt like I had built a good rapport with the students!

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Angelica Ceja- CSUF Center for Healthy Neighborhoods

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Angelica Ceja- CSUF Center for Healthy Neighborhoods

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My favorite memory this semester has been getting to see the progress the students have made from the first tutoring session to the last tutoring session. In my time with my students I observed their increased understanding of concepts, improved problem-solving skills, better test scores, greater confidence in the subjects they struggled with, more effective questioning techniques, and a growing ability to apply knowledge to new situations. Overall building strong relationships with each student helped create a safe environment for them to be themselves. In this last week with them it was so emotional and hard to say goodbye. I will always remember my time at this center because it was my first hands-on experience working with children.

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Ashley Quinones - SPED K-4th - Mariposa Elementary 

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Ashley Quinones - SPED K-4th - Mariposa Elementary 

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The class is such a wonderful bunch, but what really meant a lot to me was when the connections I build with students finally was worth while. I sat back and observed in the beginning to understand the children and their triggers. One specific student, Enzo, is a tough cookie. He needs constant redirection but he is very sweet and smart. He constantly needs more than one aid to help support him to make the right decisions in the classroom. One day, we all walked to the library. We all knew he was going to have trouble walking without redirection. It can be distraction, running away, touching friends, etc. That specific day he looked back at me and asked me to hold his hand. Then as we held hands I instantly knew our connection was worth the build. He followed directions and had a great day. It made me so happy that with consistency and being authentic with this little boy that he was able to connect and want to make the best choices.

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Rebecca Munoz-Russell Elementary 1st grade.

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Rebecca Munoz-Russell Elementary 1st grade.

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Although I have been with this school for a year and a half, seeing how the students of this school year have progressed since the beginning is one of the things I love to see when I’m working. From the beginning of the school year of learning to read with more fluency to some students not needing help with sounding out words is the biggest reward. Overall, I enjoy very much what I do, which is a factor on why I want to be become a future educator.

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Valerie Acosta - ABA Therapist/ Supervisor Assistant 

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Valerie Acosta - ABA Therapist/ Supervisor Assistant 

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I have loved my practicum placement and how much it has stretched me in my current place of employment. Although my favorite part of my practicum will always be the client I worked with and how much progress he, his family, and the new hires I trained made, I now have a newfound love for the report and process of building programming for clients. I have enjoyed assisting my supervisor more in-depth and seeing the changes in programming in real-time as I then work with the client one-on-one. My favorite part was a change we made to open up different conversational programs and introduce other family members to help interact with the client. Now, the client is now able to better communicate with his cousin and overall family. This practicum has been such a fun and rewarding experience that I am very grateful for it.

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My fondest memory was seeing how happy the kids where to see me everyday while getting my artwork ready for the day, while being ask many times what i'm doing. Hearing the kids comment how cold the paint is on their fingers with their laughter. While doing playdough Ella commented on how she made a snowman.

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Diane Zamora - Commonwealth Elementary School

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Diane Zamora - Commonwealth Elementary School

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One of my favorite memories at Commonwealth Elementary was working with the 6th-grade students. Which is the same grade I want to teach. Every time I was there, it was so much fun to watch them learn. I loved seeing their reactions to new things whether they were excited, surprised, or a little confused. They would also ask some really funny or unexpected questions that always made me smile. One student kimberly stands out to me. She was very shy, but I worked with her to help her get out of her comfort zone. It was great to see her gain more confidence and start participating more. These moments really made me excited about teaching at this grade level.

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Watching my students grow in character development and academic and intellectual skills this semester is a great blessing. I've noticed positive progress in their speech and vocalization skills, which reflects their ability to communicate effectively. They are eager to learn and grow during conflict resolution and academics, approaching these experiences with greater patience and endurance. I have seen students who are usually quiet become more outspoken and confident in themselves as they gain more contentment and security with the classroom environment. My favorite memory is when I ended the day with a "continue the song" game, with the whole class singing Christmas songs with great joy. The atmosphere was electric as everyone moved to the rhythm, their voices blending into a joyous chorus. Faces lit up with excitement, eyes shining as they enthusiastically sang. Nodding their heads as their bodies swayed to the beat, creating a lively scene filled with movement, energy, and togetherness.