Fondest Practicum Memories-CAS 394-56 by Mrs. Palmer

Margaret Palmer - Olita Elementary School - TK classroom

mpalmer76 — 2024-12-07 05:52:54 UTC

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.

Kathryn Grago- Boys and Girls Club Brea- After School Program

2024-12-08 02:16:19 UTC

My Fondest Memory I had throughout my practicum course was helping a child understand and adapt knowledge to subjects she felt she wasn't good at. I remember walking into my facility and being told I could help children with homework in the learning center. As I walked over, I noticed a young girl staring at her homework with irritated eyes. I asked her if she needed help, and she claimed she didn't understand how the teacher could give her long division problems because she didn't know how to do them. I sat down next to her with a piece of paper and a pencil, and together, we worked one by one problem-solving on how to complete long divisions. At first, she seemed very irritated, but then I explained to her that her feelings were validated and that she should relax because once she understood, it would be easier for her to do. She watched me complete one problem after another as I explained each step. It took about 30 minutes, but she finally understood how to complete the long division successfully. Her eyes lit up, and she said, " Oh, it's not that hard. Let me try one myself." This was a moment when I felt like I was making a difference, and I could see that she was developing a love for learning and the value of knowledge.

Candace Garcia - Edmondson Elememtary - 1st grade

2024-12-08 03:48:39 UTC

My most fond memory during my time spent with the littles was when I entered their classroom one day, all of the students came running to me surrounding me with group hugs. It was so heart warming, and little did they know, I really needed those hugs that day. I love that I was able to build a bond with this classroom. I feel a lot had to do with the support I was able to provide and the activities we got to do together. I love that I was able to watch many of them grow academically over the semester. I am grateful that I was there to encourage and support their growth. This experience has had a positive impact on me and has taught me a lot through out the journey.

Hitomi Kuwayama - Irvine Early Childhood Learning Center - 3 to 5 years old

2024-12-09 01:17:13 UTC

My fondest memory that I had was when the supervisor helped me a lot by explaining what they do in the classroom and what they usually do in there routines in a way that I can easily understand. Whenever I had any additional question the supervisor would always answer it in the best way possible. My other fondest memory was when some students were able to trust and rely on me while I was there and that I was glad that I was able to assist the supervisor a lot. Also, to be able to build a very positive experience in my practicum. This practicum fieldwork was the most impact experience there was am glad that I was able to help the students education and learning.

Adrianna Enriquez- Kiddy Tyme Learning Center- Preschool

2024-12-09 07:46:32 UTC

My fondest memory I had during this practicum course is being given the opportunity to help children grow and succeed. I had to meet with children one-on-one to help them perform at their grade level expectation which helped several children get up to speed which I had enjoyed the most. Every time I help a child feel more confident in themselves makes me feel proud because they will stay motivated to succeed. This was the first time I worked with little children and I fell in love with it because they have so much character and I can't wait to see how they will achieve this job showed me different ways of teaching. For example, how to talk to smaller children and how to work at the same level as them. The teacher and supervisor who I worked under were amazing ladies and I'm happy I got to work with them they taught me so much. This group of children I will cherish forever because they opened up to me the very 1st day and were so excited to meet me. They gave me a chance and trusted me that is something I will hold forever. I can't wait to read everyones stories.

Jenna Freem- Rancho Canada TLC Program

2024-12-09 08:44:10 UTC

My fondest memory that I had was really getting to know these children and being able to make them laugh. It would absolutely make my day if I was able to make 1 child laugh or smile because I felt it was important to help these kids feel happy. Also, showing comfort to the children that needed it because some of these kids would be at school for almost 12 hours while their parents are at work and they sometimes just needed someone they felt they could rely on.

Daisy Echeverria Carver Elementary School- Afterschool Program

2024-12-09 17:05:38 UTC

My fondest memory that I had working with my first graders in the after-school program is watching my students grow throughout their educational journey and getting to part of their journey as their after-school teacher. The best memory is being to support students achieve their academic goals and watch them grow. For example I had one student who I had to support a lot when it came to doing their math homework sheet. I remember sitting down with that specific student finding helpful easy ways to do their math homework especially when it came to adding big numbers a helpful technique we found useful was using circles to add. I really saw this student grow academically because they ended up not needing my help anymore which made me happy to see that all the hard work they put in paid off. Working as after-school teacher has made an impact on me and hope to use what I learned working with students to make an impact on more students who come to the after-school program.

Michelle Tran-La Quinta High School

2024-12-09 18:18:49 UTC

My fondest memory was being able to bond and converse with some of my students during my observation hours. I loved hearing how they were able to gain clarification from my explanations and how they were comfortable enough to ask for me help as well. However, one memory that stood out the most with me was one of my students who I later in the semester realized that I had gone to school with her sister as well. She was honestly one of the most bubbly students I had and I was glad that I wasn't able to put the connection together with her sister to eliminate any bias emotions towards her; since her sister was actually my tennis captain back in the day. To be honest, in the beginning all this was truly stressful and a new experience, and although I only spent a semester with these students they truly did make it something I look forward to and will miss moving forward.

Joanna Garcia- Benito Juarez Elementary School: 3rd-5th grade

2024-12-09 18:22:38 UTC

Hi everyone. My fondest memory this semester was watching one of the students grow. This particular student used to easily get distracted. When I first started, he was able to do his work, but it was just a matter of redirecting him and limiting distractions. Now as I have approached my last few fieldwork hours, he is able to work for longer periods of time and does not get distracted, like he would at the start of my time there.

Marine Barret- Kiddie Academy: 1-year-old Classroom

2024-12-09 19:43:31 UTC

I conducted my practicum at my place of work, but I still made tons of new memories and learned so much. My fondest memory was when I received a new student in my class. This student, in particular, was adopted from India about a month before starting in my class. He spent the first 11 months of his life in an orphanage where he not only experienced neglect but abuse as well. Working with his family over the past few weeks to establish a positive, trusting relationship between him, his parents, and his teachers has been so rewarding. Also, walking with him through health issues that were from his orphanage was heartbreaking but also incredibly humbling. Working with his family to tackle those health issues taught me a great deal about child development and delays. When his mom told me about the good news regarding his health, I truly felt such relief and almost got emotional thinking back to how far he had come. This experience has truly changed me in the best way possible; I feel that I am a more empathetic and patient teacher because of it.

Karina Campos Seja - Whittier Christian Preschool (Whittier)

2024-12-10 01:21:53 UTC

My fondest memory throughout my practicum was drawing and coloring pictures with some of the children in the class. Almost every day, I would supervise the art table. Sometimes the children would ask me to color with them so I would. This day was different though. I had two boys (one age 5 and one age 3) sitting by my side. They were coloring some pictures. The 5-year-old asked me to help him with a drawing so I did. He began telling me what to draw and the colors to draw with. After the drawing was finished, he got to color it and added his own finishing touches. The 3-year-old then colored in a letter "C" drew me on it and gave it to me. I told him that I would place it in my office. The little boy was excited. Hearing this, the 5-year-old made me a butterfly and told me he wanted it to be in my office too. Now, I have those drawings (one in my workplace and one in my office) hanging where I can see them. Since that day, the little boys, especially the 5-year-old, have gotten closer to me and will not leave my side.

Natalie Salas-Carl Harvey Elementary-After school program

2024-12-10 03:26:14 UTC

My fondest memories throughout my practicum sight were building relationships with the students and helping them succeed in the classroom. In the classroom I would help out in, there were a lot of students that only spoke Spanish and struggled with reading and their homework. Seeing as how the classroom was busy and there was only two teachers, those students wouldn't always get the support they needed. As the other students would be finishing up their homework quickly, I would notice a few of the spanish speaking students staring off in the distance, having nothing but their name on their homework packets. Once I realized that they weren't doing the homework because they couldn't read, not because they just didn't want to, I devoted all my time to help them. It was very rewarding helping them master their english skills and better understand their homework. Now they know they can always ask me for help and they are far more confident in their english now! It makes me happy to make a positive impact on the lives of these students.

Vivian Ho - Waymakers Huntington Beach Youth Shelter

2024-12-11 05:50:30 UTC

My fondest memory during my time at Waymakers HBYS were the connections I made with the residents. When I first started out, I was ready to be met with difficulties in connecting with them. However, each teen that I met had this ray of light and determination for wanting self growth and to finish the program strongly. They were funny and just typical teens. It made my heart hurt knowing their stories and their struggles that led them to the shelter. One specific moment that I hold dear to my heart was when I was going home after a normal shift. One resident asked me where I was going, and when they figured out I was going home they put their hands to their head and said "No!". It showed me that they viewed me as a person they trusted and enjoyed being around, and that we had built a connection. Moments like these are when I feel bittersweet about the end of my internship experience here.

Audrey Ashley- Arroyo Vista Elementary School 1st/3rd grade

2024-12-11 19:32:41 UTC

I have had many incredible experiences this semester at Arroyo Vista Elementary, but one experience holds a special place in my heart. This semester, I was paired with a little girl named Kelly, who needed help with multiplication and math. When we first started working together, she expressed her hatred for math and how frustrated she was with her progress. She said she thinks she is just "bad" at the subject. I felt connected to her at that moment because I had the same feelings in elementary school. I struggled with math throughout elementary and middle school and always needed tutoring to meet expectations. I shared this with her and reassured her that she is smart and she can master multiplication with just a little bit of practice. By sharing my own experiences with Kelly, she became more comfortable with me, and we began creating new connections, and she started to understand the lessons being taught. When we started working together, she couldn't multiply ones, and now she has mastered her times tables up to eleven. My master teacher told me she now loves math and asks to do it every day. She has a new confidence and always pulls me aside to show what she has done. During my last class, she gave me a picture and said, "This is for you, Miss Ashley." She had drawn a picture of me helping her as a thank-you for our time together. I will always cherish the photo she drew me, which is now hanging on my fridge.

2024-12-11 20:37:39 UTC

My fondest memory throughout my internship was the relationships I built with the students and how I was able to positively impact their learning. One memory I have was when a student needed help buttoning up their flannel. Instead of just doing it for them, I walked them through how to use the buttons, and while it was hard, the student got the hang of it and we buttoned up the flannel together. Later in the day when transiting to nap time they needed to take the flannel off. Instead of asking for help, the student was able to take it off all my themselves. The master teacher noticed that the student was able to take the flannel all by themselves and told them they did a good job. It felt really good knowing that because I took the time to teach a student an important life skill they were able be more independent and use the skill all by themselves. -Taylor Haynes / Site: CSUF Children's Center

Audrey Jimenez - Sumner Danbury Elementary School - TK classroom

2024-12-11 21:46:19 UTC

My favorite memory this semester at my school was being able to help a child grow and learn how to do things that others know already because this is his very first time attending school! His name Wass Champ and I loved it because he was one especially at times when he was struggling. I think Champ grew a lot during this time I was able to intern and the teacher noticed it as well. He became one of the kids I worked with on a one on one level. The teacher realized how good I was able to do one-on-one so I had a handful of kids I would work with once a day.

Ashley Gonzalez- R.H. Dana Elementary

2024-12-12 00:36:15 UTC

My favorite part of my practicum was definitely building a strong relationship with my mentor teacher. She was so helpful, explaining the DRDP in a way that really clicked for me and always taking the time to answer my questions. I loved getting feedback from her as I worked with the kids, and the chance to lead activities and run centers was a blast. This experience has fueled my passion for teaching and given me the skills to be a great teacher. She pushed me to be more outgoing and confident in my abilities, and I'm very appreciative of these opportunities.

Marlen Rafael Juarez - YMCA - Power source juniors

2024-12-12 06:33:49 UTC

My favorite memory during my internship was definitely connecting more with the littles, as I mainly work with the bigger kids during work. In particular, a specific memory I have was when a student was very upset he didn't receive a prize that day (Since the kids are given prizes daily depending on whether they earned them or not) So I comforted him by letting him know that our actions have consequences and it's not the end of the world if he didn't get a prize that day, since there's always the next day and the day after that. When the next day rolled around, I reminded him of our little talk the day before, and he indeed did receive a prize that day since he was on his best behavior, along with the days after that. I'm so proud of how far he has come :) and will definitely miss working with the littles.

Preslie Trejo - Hidden Trails Elementary School (Chino)

2024-12-12 16:14:29 UTC

My fondest memory during my time spent with the students was when I helped the new girl who joined the class mid school year. The site I went to had a lot of students who were still learning English, since it was not most of their first language. As much as there were a lot of good English speaking students, there were some who didn’t even know more than 5 words. This girl who joined didn’t know any English, she was scared and felt out of place. I would work with her in the back of the class, using flashcards to help her learn basic words and pronunciation. The whole class was about to go to science camp the following week as well, but she cried to me how she didn’t want to go because she didn’t feel comfortable. After a 2-3 days of working with her, she made some progress and began to feel more comfortable. She made some friends (ones that spoke her language, and helped me translate at times). Then, by the next week she came up to me, showing me that she changed her mind and is going on the trip. Overall, it was such a good experience and was very rewarding to help others and learn new things. My supervisor was super helper and gave me a lot of advice for when I get into this work field.

Jasmine Munoz- Richman Elementary TK Classroom

2024-12-13 00:30:21 UTC

One of my fondest memories this semester has been being able to really build rapport with the students in my classroom. Being able to connect with them and their learning allowed me to see how much I enjoy this career path and being able to connect with students, their lives, and their learning journey. One specific moment that stuck with me was after a few weeks of joining them in their class they were happy to see me and would tell me about their weekends during their free play and breakfast time. After school on my way out on of the students saw me and wanted a hug goodby which was so heartwarming for me. I was able to learn a lot through this experience while interacting with my students.

Magaly Garcia- John Marshall Elementary School

2024-12-13 00:48:36 UTC

Looking back at my observation experience, it is hard to pick a fondest memory. I'm so grateful to have had the chance to work with my student and her classmates. They made all of the time we spent together a breeze and made every day so much fun. The classroom staff and teacher were so knowledgeable and kind and made me feel comfortable asking questions. You could immediately tell how much love and passion the have for their students which was amazing to see. If I had to pick a fondest memory, it would be helping my student perform during their winter concert. I had attended music classes with her and her class every week, and though she liked going, she would quickly become discouraged and disinterested when it came time to bring out our instruments. The class had been learning simple songs on the Ukulele, which came easier to our class' GenEd peers but was a bit tough for our SpEd kiddos. My student would sing all day if she could but when in came to instruments, she was much more hesitant. The class aides and I tried our best to encourage her and modify according to her needs, but it was looking like we would have to sit the performance out with how upset my student would become. When the day of the performance came, she surprised us all and walked onto the stage with us and sang along to all of the songs while strumming her ukulele. It was so exciting to see her be brave and show her fun and loving personality on stage when she had previously shown us how nervous and hesitant she'd been. I was beaming behind her and we cheered her on through thee whole performance. Being a part of these seemingly small but significant wins for my student was so special and I feel super lucky to have gotten to get to know her before she moves on to middle school next year and leaves our school. I'll miss her hilarious laugh and sweet smile but will remember our time together fondly. :)

Alexa Jacobo: T1A Class

2024-12-13 03:59:26 UTC

It was an amazing experience getting to work with children. Granted it was at my job and with my same class. But there is a difference between the groups of students that I work with. I had to opportunity to work with the afternoon students and that was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. My best memory was celebrating one of the students birthdays he is typically a shy toddler and doesn’t really interact with the children. Then something changes in him when we all sang happy birthday, he didn’t cry he had such a huge smile on his face and clapped his hands. I feel that I witnessed something new in him and that made me feel good.

Mariana Barrientos- California ilnspire Academy

2024-12-13 05:24:53 UTC

My fondest memory would have to be the days after I did my first social -emotional small group. I feel like this group was maybe the one I got attached to the most. Every day I came to class after the students finally realized I was going to be around the students would always come and hug me and one of the little boys would never leave my side when I was there and it continued like that until my last day. I felt like I made a strong connection with these students because we were not talking about math or english anymore during this time it was time for them to reflect on how they were feeling. I think something I will also take with me as one of my other favorite memories is how much trust my mentors gave me, I felt like by the end of my internship I was able to say I took much learning experience and good memories.

Hailey Chung- Buena Park High School

2024-12-13 07:24:58 UTC

This semester, during my practicum experience, I was an AVID tutor for high school students. My favorite memory from working at Buena Park High School was interacting with different grade levels, such as freshmen, juniors, and seniors. More specifically, one day in my freshman period, a group of my students called me over to their whiteboard to help them solve an algebraic equation. This was when it had only been my second week there, so a part of me panicked because it had felt like years since I had practiced my math skills since I was no longer taking those classes in college. I knew how to solve it. However, at first, I asked them to take out their notes and advised them to collaborate or at least attempt the problem first since I could tell they were trying to get me to give them the answer. We joked around, and then I came back around to their table to check in, and they were able to solve it all on their own. The reason that this was my fondest memory was because, in my first interaction, I felt like I was a valuable resource to my students, and they trusted me as the adult in the room. Even though I was a new addition to the class, the students were open to interacting with me, joking with me, and overall, making it a fun experience. Before starting this internship, I was super nervous that the kids would be mean or standoffish, as people like to stereotype teenagers as rowdy and rebellious, but to my surprise, they were very respectful with a whole lot of personality. A lot of what I have been learning in my CAS courses to optimize the development of adolescents, I was able to apply here. I also viewed them more positively, and my perspective became more positive. I viewed them as very capable individuals regardless of their age, which adults tend to overlook. Seeing them be self-sufficient enough to figure out difficult problems with their classmates revealed to me that teenagers really just need someone to motivate, encourage, and reaffirm to them that they are competent and autonomous. Although I knew they just wanted me to solve the problem for them, when they did get the correct answer on their own, and I checked their answer for correctness, their demeanor immediately changed from feeling unmotivated to feeling accomplished to take on more. I could tell that they were proud of themselves, and as an aspiring high school teacher, I look forward to finding more joy in small interactions like these ones, as I did with my students throughout this practicum.

Rosa Espinoza - Rolling Hills Elementary - SDC 3,4

2024-12-13 19:11:58 UTC

My most fond memory during the practicum course was being able to see the students grow. Being able to see the students reach goals they thought they would never reach was such an amazing experience. Being able to walk in the classroom and have 13 little kids show you love was very heart warming. One of the best experiences I had while in the classroom was working with an English Language Learner who didn’t know how to read. Everyday when I went in I would sit with him on the back of the classroom and practice reading first grade books. He slowly started to catch on and was trying to pronounce the words. It took about a month for him to learn the books we were reading and once he learned, he wanted to read a book to the class every morning. This was the moment where I felt that I was making a difference in this little boys life.

Jennifer Castro-Rancho Heritage School 2yrs-5yrs

2024-12-13 21:37:13 UTC

My fondest moment during this experience was the hands-on learning I gained, not just from the incredible mentors, but also from the strong leaders I had the privilege to work alongside. The real reward came from the connections I made with the kids. Many of these children arrive as early as 7 a.m. and don’t leave until 5:30 p.m., making the school or after-school program feel like their second home. Knowing that I played a part in creating an environment where they felt safe, comfortable, and supported was truly fulfilling.

One of my main goals was to earn their trust, and it was incredibly rewarding when the kids began to open up, thank me for my help, and even get attached. Those moments, when I saw the positive impact I had on their lives—whether it was helping them grasp a difficult concept, offering encouragement, or just being a friendly, reliable presence—felt like a true accomplishment. It wasn’t just about teaching them; it was about creating a space where they felt valued and understood, and where they could thrive both academically and emotionally.

Gina Aparicio - Meadow Green Elementary - Mild/Mod Pre-K

2024-12-13 22:57:05 UTC

I truly enjoy working with the littles. Pre-K always had something exciting happening and it was something new every day. The fondest memory I had was when one of the Aide's had a birthday and during snack time, the teacher brought out a cake to her while we played the Happy Birthday song on the tv. The kids were all curious about the cake and one of the students couldn't help himself and walked right up to the cake before we even finished singing and stuck his finger right in it. He then smiled and leaned over to take a sniff and said, "Mmmm, it smells good." He then leaned over and took a quick bite out of the cake before anybody could stop him and he was so happy. He is a young boy with sensory issues and has a hard time in social situations, and very rarely smiles so to see his face light up from the cake made all of our days.

Daniela silva - Boys & Girls Club of Fullerton

2024-12-14 00:22:25 UTC

One of my favorite memories from my practicum experience this semester was having the chance to practice lesson planning for 5th and 6th graders. Creating lessons for older students pushed me to think more about how to keep them interested while still teaching important skills. I enjoyed coming up with fun and educational activities that kept students engaged. I had to think about different ways students learn, what interests them, and how to make lessons interactive. Seeing the students participate and understand the lessons was really rewarding. This experience taught me how to create lessons that work for different learning styles and age groups, which will be very useful in my future teaching career. I also got helpful feedback from my mentor teacher that made me feel more confident in my teaching skills.

Jessica Galindo- Solidarity

2024-12-14 00:54:22 UTC

My fondest memory was building relationships with students and also learning tools that can help them. I worked with a particular student who some had learning disabilities. When I first started working with him he would not want to do certain parts of his homework and would react by tearing up or raising his voice. I had to try to find ways to motivate him to complete this section of homework. At first I would have little erasers that I would give him when he completed it, and he would do it but would still get distracted. Once he become more comfortable doing the homework than before I gave him the idea of doing the section that caused the most reaction first so it would be out of the way. At first he was reluctant to try this way so I would let him choose how he would start his homework. Over time he became comfortable with starting with the section he didn't like first but would only do it if i asked him if he wanted to. On my last day of the internship I got to help him with his homework and he took initiative to tell me he will start with this section first so he can get it out of the way right away. I was so happy when he said that because he took a piece of advice from me that I knew helped him because when he started with the difficult section first he would have less behavior problems doing homework.

Alondra Gonzalez - Heroes Elementary: 4th/5th grade class

2024-12-14 03:23:49 UTC

My fondest memory from my practicum was Thursday morning P.E. lessons with the students. I worked with a class that was a mix of 4th and 5th graders, and every Thursday morning, when I would get there, we would immediately go downstairs to the playground/blacktop area and do P.E. for about 40 minutes. Initially, it was a bit awkward for me as I was just getting to know the students, and they were barely getting to know me. As time went on and throughout my weeks of being there, I began to interact with the students more and would participate in their P.E. lessons with them. We often played dodgeball, soccer, switch, basketball, and various other physical activities. This was a good experience as I got to know the students on a more personal level through activities such as these and they would even argue about who’s team I was going to be on during the games. I felt as though I was able to bond with the students through this and even gain their trust; when they didn’t understand something in class, they would often go up to ask me. I really do believe it was because I was able to build that bond through playing sports with them and actively being involved in what they thought was fun. After all, I think they noticed I cared to try to get along with them. Another fond memory I have from my practicum would be helping students one-on-one, the students would come up to me when they didn’t understand something or needed extra clarification, and it always made me happy to see them walk away smiling because they finally understood their math problems after I explained it to them step by step. The students, in general, made me feel very welcome in their classroom and always asked me about school and how I was doing.

Alanna Ayala - Boys and Girls Club (elementary school)

2024-12-14 04:02:25 UTC

My fondest memory from my practicum was when I held a mental health check in activity for the students. At first I thought that the students would not be engaged in the activity as some younger children may not take it seriously. However, the students we really interested in learning about ways they can handle certain feelings. It was especially memorable when one of the students started to write done notes to herself for when she feels sad without me telling her to. This student is in 2nd grade and started to write things down like "you are beautiful" and "you are smart". She told me that she would remember to read them out loud to herself anytime she felt like she needed to hear the words.

Miranda Weiss - Del Cerro Elementary School - K-2 Classroom

2024-12-14 04:07:48 UTC

My fondest memory this semester has been getting to watch my students grow. I started this semester quitting the only job I have ever had and looking for a job that aligned with more of what I see myself doing in the future. I was thankfully able to find a position as and IBI Instruction Assistant. I was also able to use this new job for my practicum requirement and could not be more grateful. The students I work with are mostly nonverbal with intense behavioral needs. I have loved learning how different each student is regardless of having similar diagnoses. In the short months of being around these students daily, I have found myself so proud of the progress they have accomplished. I was assigned as a one-on-one aid and the student I work with has began talking more and more each day. He relied heavily on his AAC device when I started working with him and now only uses it when he is feeling overwhelmed or dysregulated. He has found his joy in working with me and I have found my joy in working with him. I have felt nothing but intense pride while working with him and the other nine students in this class.

Jasmine Martinez - Kids and Krayons Learning Center

2024-12-14 04:45:06 UTC

One of my favorite memories from my practicum was building bonds with the children and honestly being greeted by them every time I walked through the door. I would mainly be with the preschool classroom, but due to work and school, I would usually only attend my practicum site about 2-3 times per week however, I feel like I was able to build bonds with each of the students to the point where they would even start asking the other teachers why I wasn't there certain days. When they would play outside, I would supervise them but I would also interact with them by playing soccer or following their imaginary play. There was a specific child in the class who was always really shy and majority of the time would just play by himself in the corner of the playground area however I would always go and play with him by bring a soccer ball to him and either kicking the ball with him or simply playing catch with the ball. At the time I didn't know how much impact that interaction had however after that moment he would always come up to me with a ball and say "Ms.Jasmine let's play". Having those types of interactions just made this experience even better for me because those interactions are the reason why I chose to be apart of this field. Right from my first day there the kids made me feel so welcomed and the teachers would constantly be there to support me and help me in anything that I needed. I'm sad that the semester is ending because of this specific reason but I truly did learn alot and will always be greatful for this experience.

Diana Perez - Wilkerson School (1st Grade)

2024-12-14 07:40:56 UTC

As the semester comes to an end, this CAS 394 practicum has pushed me to become a better teacher in the future. I’ve gained so much knowledge from my supervisor Mrs. Ortiz. The children in the classroom that I was placed in, taught me more than they thought. I have a handful of memories that will always have a special place in my heart. One of my fondest memories is when I returned from Thanksgiving break. I walked through the classroom door and the children all screamed “Ms. Perez! Ms. Perez! We missed you!” This truly warmed my heart and made me feel appreciated. The connections I built with each child are the most valuable aspects of this practicum experience. Through these connections, I was able to get to know each child’s learning needs and guide them to become better readers. There was a child in particular who hadn’t been doing schooling for a while because he suffered an injury. During his first days back at school, he struggled with phonological awareness, independent reading skills, and writing his name. I was able to provide one-on-one support to help him in his 1st-grade journey. At first, he was very uninterested in learning and engaging with the activities I had planned. As the school year progressed, I built a connection understanding how he learned best, believing in him, and incorporating his interests in the lessons. He began progressing in his reading skills, recalling sounds letters make and understanding blends. One day when I called him over to practice his eyes lit up with excitement as he showed me how to write his first and last name. Experiences like these remind me how important it is for children to have someone who understands them and supports them. It’s through these experiences that my “why” is reinforced in my teaching journey. I will always be grateful for the experience and opportunities I received with this practicum/ internship.

Brianna Arango- first Interview to be a CCLS student volunteer

2024-12-14 07:50:00 UTC

My favorite memory of this semester was actually being able to interview with a certified child life specialist. Others may of chosen doing their hands on experience, but for some reason, being interviewed by the director who was in charge of all the other CCLS felt surreal. Like I was actually interviewing for the job itself, and luckily I had enough practice to answer every one of her questions with ease. She was very kind and understanding, sensing that I was a bit nervous and complimented on how well I did, and once I started volunteering under her, my nervousness from talking to others would be gone in a blink of an eye.

Rachal Nungaray - Higher Ground Youth and Family Services

2024-12-15 00:55:24 UTC

Hello everyone! My fondest memory from my experience with Higher Ground this semester was one of the first days that I did my internship there. I was working with 4th grade students and there was a little girl who walked up to me during their time on the playground. She walked up pulled my name tag off my shirt and dropped it in the grass. At first I was very confused why she did that, but I showed no reaction just went to pick it up and told her please do not do that again it isn't very nice. When we were walking back to the classroom for homework help I asked her what her name was and she said Alexa, I said cool my middle name is Alexandria, they are almost the same! After that she asked me to sit with her and help her with her homework which I did. Then we went outside to play water balloon toss and she asked me to be her partner. She kept giving me hugs and was being so sweet. It reminded me when my daughter was younger and how some kids just want to test limits, but really just need someone who will be fair but firm with them.

Sophia Aguilar CSUF Children’s Center

2024-12-16 00:46:21 UTC

I worked in the two and three year-old classroom at the California State University of Fullerton’s Children center. My overall experience there was extremely informative, and I really learned how to interact with supervisors and children and understand a little bit better of how a child’s development is being shown firsthand. One of the biggest milestones that I think I remember from over this whole semester is that the youngest two-year-olds were not talking very much or they weren’t saying complete words or even sentences, And now a lot of them are speaking so much more clearly, and they are learning so much within a short amount of time.

Sharlene Martinez-Solidarity

2024-12-22 07:57:52 UTC

My fondest memory throughout my practicum was creating bonds with my students individually and helping them better understand a subject they were previously struggling with. When I first started my internship, there were already a couple of interns who had been there for a couple of weeks, so some of the students were kind of skeptical of going to someone new for help. When I was assigned to the fourth-grade group I noticed a lot of the students were struggling with their math homework and that was the one they would seek help on first. They would resort to a calculator to do simple multiplication problems such as "4x5" or they would look at their times' table chart. When I mentioned this to my supervisor he said that many of the students do not really know their simple multiplication because many of the teachers are not focusing on enforcing memorization of multiplication of the first 12 digits how we grew up. I then made it my mission to help students memorize some of their simple multiplication and some tricks when multiplying by 9s, in the short time I had with them. Soon enough my students started doing their multiplications all on their own and would ask me just to double-check their answers. As the semester progressed I slowly saw them get more excited for math homework. One of my students got so excited after learning the multiplication trick for her 9s that she came in the next week saying, "Sharlene I did all my multiplication for my 9s with the trick you told me." Seeing the students use what I taught them to make learning easier and more fun was very rewarding, she even started telling other students in the program, "Hey do you want to know a little trick Ms.Sharlene taught me." I was able to create meaningful connections with every student I had the opportunity to work with. I am proud to say that I have seen them grow academically and personally as well.