SENIOR PROJECT SELF-EVALUATION Directions: Utilize this worksheet to help evaluate yourself and your project.

Be as complete and descriptive as possible. This self-evaluation should give the scoring team a clear picture of what you accomplished in your project. You may recreate these forms on your own computer or download them from the Class Homepage. Be sure to give a typed clear description and account for all twelve items on the self-evaluation.

Name

____Kelsey Terry____ Project Start Date

______February 2nd 2014 _______

Title of Project __Twice Exceptional Education___ Project Completion Date _____March 20th 2014____ 1. In 40 words or more describe your project and the steps you performed to complete it. What did you produce or perform? My senior project consisted of several different presentations and discussions with members of the education community in Virginia Beach that have influence in the education of twice exceptional students. My first step included inviting members of the school board, special education community advisory committee, and the gifted education community advisory committee to meet with me. After several email correspondences, the next step was to secure dates and times. Unfortunately, my original plan did not fold out, but I was still able to present in front of the individuals, just not all at the same time. I then started to create my presentation as well as lining up exactly what I wanted to say with my visual presentation. Once that was completed, I practiced continuously in front of my parents along with my consultant. I even practiced during the two weeks of my presentation. After those two presentations were completed, my next step was to present in front of the school board. In addition to getting feedback from some members of my audience, including Dr. Hedrick, who was the director of gifted education in Virginia Beach for several years and is now the Principal of the Old Donation Center for the Gifted and Talented. I spent an afternoon in an interview with her discussing gifted education and its future.

2. In at least 40 words explain how the project challenged you, and what sort of time challenges and resource problems did you encounter? This project challenged me by making address childhood hardships that I never talked about to my peers or in public about my learning disability. Only my closest friend and family members knew about my learning disability and my giftedness. I had to explain what a twice exceptional student is and what being a twice exceptional student means for me. Not only did I have to explain my struggles in education, but I also had to change peoples predetermined mindsets on special education. The project challenged me to become more comfortable with my struggles in education and challenged me to change the status quo about twice exceptional students. I did not experience any time challenges or resource problems within the realms of my project. I have put my project first in all areas of my life and in school within reason. My project was more than a class assignment to me, so I spent as much time as possible on my project.

3. List and then describe 5-8 fundamental ideas/concepts/skills of your project, which you learned during your project. Ideas/Concepts/Skills Presentation Skills How I learned I refined my presentation skills by constantly practicing my presentations with my consultant after school. I also practiced on my way home from school as I was driving and at home in front of my parents. I had to learn how to use visual aids in my presentations and how to make them flow with what I was saying. I did this by making my visual aid first and constantly editing it when I realized I did not include what I wanted to say. I had to type several professional emails to every single person who I presented in front of. I had to learn the proper format and learn how to construct an email that was personal because it was an invitation but also professional because I was inviting professionals. I made several drafts of my emails and had my consultant help me revise them along with my teacher. For my school board presentation I was restricted to three minutes which caused me to have to learn how to convey everything I wished to say to the members in a short amount of time. I learned how to choose exactly what information would be effective and what I wanted these members to do as a result of my speech. I had to learn how to speak about my struggles in education. I never spoke about being identified as twice exceptional because my journey to where I am today was not easy. Speaking about my experience as a twice exceptional student evoked memories of extreme frustration, anger, and sadness. I had to change these emotions into fuel to keep speaking because if I didnt then hundreds of other students like myself would have to feel those same as I did as a child and as a teenager. I have always been a long winded person especially when I am explaining. Because of this, I had to learn how to consolidate my answers when asked questions. I learned this skill through my practice of my presentation which included a question and answering session.

Visual aids

Professional Emails

Short Effective Speech

Speaking about topic that make me uncomfortable

Answering questions concisely

4. List and describe 5-8 problems you encountered in your project, and briefly describe how you solved each. Problem Explanation I was not getting responses from individuals in a I solved this problem by finding the school timely manner. address for the individual and sending a copy of my invitation to her through the school mailing system. I was not taken seriously when I called the school I kept myself composed and explained to the board to speak. Clerk of the board that this wasnt simply just and assignment and that I was serious about what I was wishing to speak on. Weather conditions cancelled my first I solved this problem by planning ahead and made appointment to speak in front of the school board. sure that there was a second date that I could still present and be in the time frame of my project. I ended up presenting two weeks later which was my back up plan to begin with. During times of stress my jaw clenches with more Unfortunately, I experienced this the week of my pressure than normal which causes extreme jaw two presentations. I overcame this obstacle with pain. pain medicine and not speaking unless absolutely necessary.

5. Outline the process hours spent in completing the project. A. Estimated total hours spent on project: 40 hours plus class time

B. Estimated total steps involved in your project: 14 steps

Modify number of steps to fit your project

Steps Step One: Construct sending emails

Hours and 2

Dates February 2nd 2014

Step two: Confirming date and time Step Three: Outline of Schedule Step Four: Call the School Board Step Five: Writing the Speech I will give to the School Board Step 6: Completing Visual Step 7:Completed Verbal Presentation Step 8: Practice Visual and Verbal with my Consultant Step 9: Practice Presentation and then present in front of the special education community advisory committee. Step 10: Adapt my presentation to a change of audience. Step 11: Practice and present my presentation in front of community members. Step 12: Practice my speech for the school board and present in front of the school board. Step 13: Prepare for my meeting with Dr. Hedrick Step 14: Meet with Dr. Hedrick

1 1 1 2 2 3 4 8

February 3rd 2014 February 3rd 2014 February 4th 2014 February 5th 2014 February 19th 2014 March 2nd 2014 March 5th and 6th 2014 March 10th 2014

1 9

March 11th 2014 March 12th 2014 March 18th 2014 March 19th 2014 March 20th 2014

1 1

6. List materials used. The materials I used included power point along with a media clicker for both presentations. On my presentation for education community members I used my Kureg and other coffee supplies including cups. I also used a table cloth, cookies, vegetable tray, and water. I also handed out copies of my power point, evaluations, and stations from my paper to both groups of individuals.

7. List all people who helped you on the project and briefly describe the help given. Mrs. Spagnolo (My Mrs. Spagnolo encouraged me in every way and helped me with the mechanical Consultant) parts of my project like my spelling and format for my visual. She also helped me by listening to me practice over and over the same presentation and by helping me develop concise answers. Mrs. Van Schenck Mrs. Van Schenck helped me by allowing me to practice my presentation in front of her classes on several occasions. Bhakti Raval Bhakti helped me by directing people to the courtroom during my presentation in front of the education community members. Brittany Williams Brittany helped set up the refreshments before my meeting with education

community members. She also helped direct people to the courtroom before my presentation

8. How does your completed project compare to the picture you had in mind when you started the project? My completed project now is different from what I first envisioned my project to be because I originally planned to meet with members of the special education advisory committee, the Gifted education community advisory committee, General Education teachers, and administration all in one meeting. However, when I contacted the Special Education Community Advisory Committee chair, they actually invited me to present to their whole committee during their meeting on March 10th 2014. This change resulted in more work for me; however, I think my project was better because of it. Presenting in front of the whole committee allowed me to reach significantly more people in the education community than I originally planned. Everything else went exactly as planned except for a few changes in dates.

9. If given the opportunity, what would you do differently now that you speak from experience? Looking back I would try to contact more people in the education community because although I reached a good amount of professionals, there is always more.

10. Now that the project is completed, explain/describe the stretch or challenge you encountered/experienced. I stretched mostly in two areas. The first was that I stretched in my presentation skills. Being a debater, I am used to debating but not presenting. I had to learn how to turn off debate and turn on presentation skills. I had keep reminding myself that what I am doing is not an argument but a persuasive discussion. I needed to learn how to lead discussion based on what I was saying in my meeting with Education community members and then how to leave a lasting impression on the members of the Special Education Community advisory committee. The other area that I stretched was my ability to speak about subjects that are difficult for me. This process has brought about past emotions that I dealt with and at times didnt deal with when I was younger. I never spoke about being twice exceptional openly because I was afraid of judgment from my peers and that they would see me in a different light. I thought that if I hid my differences that I would not be defined by them. What I realized through this project is that my differences are a part of who I am but do not define me. I can use what made me different to help other students who are different as well. This is what kept me going in the long hours of my project was knowing that what I am doing, speaking about my story and my research will help students in Virginia Beach through their schools and teachers.

11. Beyond the project itself, what did you learn about yourself? I learned that no matter what, community is important. I have helped and attended projects of close friends and classmates, and it reminds me that we all play an important role in our high school career. Each of us have the power to make a difference and each of us has throughout projects. We may not all get along all of the time; some of us are best friends, and others are mere acquaintances, but as a community no matter how small I may think something is the impact could change lives learned that who I spend time with will affect me and that who I am around I can effect as well for the positive.

12. What grade would you give yourself on the project? Justify the evaluation of your grade in at least 25 words.

Grade: __95____

Justification: I dont believe in perfection in achievement. Because I am human I will never do something 100% correct, and that is why I dont deserve a 100. I put in large amounts of effort, time, and tears into what I have done. This stopped becoming a project the day of February 2nd. This wasnt a project but is a part of my life. I worked hard and stretched myself personally and professionally. But because 100% means perfection, cannot honestly give myself that great. I stumbled on my presentations and over obsessed on some areas so by no means was what I did perfect.