Rationale Reflection

Artifacts: Young Adolescent Advocacy Project (YAAP), Young

Adolescent Cultural Inquiry Project
Topic/Title: Cyberbullying, Young Adolescents at Johnson County
Middle School
Medium: Website, PowerPoint
Technology Used: Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Internet research,
Weebly.com
I chose my Young Adolescent Advocacy Project (YAAP) and my
Young Adolescent Cultural Inquiry Project (YACIP) to demonstrate my
competency in the area of Standard One: Young Adolescent
Development. With both of these projects, I was responsible for
researching young adolescents and determining important factors in
their lives.
While completing the YAAP, I was required to chose a group of
students for whom I would advocate. I made a website that addresses
victims of cyberbullying, cyberbullies, parents of both types of
students, students, and teachers. The resources I present allow any
person to look at my website and feel like they are being addressed in
some way. The biggest way my project addresses Standard 1 is that it
helps establish mutually respectful relationships with young
adolescents, which supports their intellectual, ethical, and social
growth and acts as an advocate for individuals and groups of students.
Fostering adult relationships is a huge part of overcoming
cyberbullying, and often times a student will feel like they do not have
an adult advocate. The resources I present teachers will allow them to

develop students trust and respect in them. Students will understand

that teachers are coming from a place of caring, and will be more likely
to confide in them if they are dealing with something like
cyberbullying. I am also proficient in using developmentally responsive
instructional strategies. The lesson I use as an example for teachers
gives teachers the opportunity to present bullying in a more direct and
effective way. Letting students take a quiz that informs them of their
online behavior and then leading a discussion will make learning more
personal for students and let them take more away from the topic. The
information I provided students with about cyberbullying engages
young adolescents in activities related to their interpersonal,
community and societal responsibilities. I encourage students to take
preventative messages for cyberbullying into their own hands by
discussing possible school-wide anti-bullying programs with their
principal. I also present students with state laws and policies about
bullying and harassing, and try to engage them in their community by
brainstorming if the preventative measures in place are currently
working, and if they arent, trying to find a solution. My website
collaborates with other teachers, families and community partners for
the benefit of young adolescents by asking anyone who witnesses,
hears about or experiences cyberbullying to stand up for what is right.
This encourages young adolescents to trust the adults around them for
help when they are dealing with something challenging. My website

efficiently applied to Standard 1 of the Middle Grades Teaching

Preparation Standards.
I chose my Young Adolescent Cultural Inquiry Project because it
allowed me to understand my school culture more and discover new
things about my students that will help me better teach them. One
thing in Standard 1 that my group focused on was evaluating the effect
of societal changes, including the portrayal of young adolescents in
medial, which impact healthy development of young adolescents. The
survey we gave our students asked questions about what they did
outside of school, including things they read, watch or listen too. The
responses were very widespread and there were no trends in that
some students had access to TV and Internet outside of school so they
did not have access to anything other than what their friends do. This
leaves some students more adapted to popular culture and knowing
what happens in the real world, while other students are left behind.
This creates a very wide gap between social groups, and tension
between the groups. This knowledge would help me try to blend my
classroom together better by trying to reach all students, and realizing
that some students may not know about popular movies, songs, or TV
shows. This would also help me create learning opportunities that
reflect the understanding of the development of young adolescent
learners where differences are respected and supported and individual
potential is encouraged.

Both the YAAP and YACIP display my proficiency within Standard

One in a number of ways. While completing my YAAP, I researched a
topic that is highly relevant to young adolescents who are increasingly
becoming involved in a digital age. This project helped me discover
different ways to address all parties involved in cyberbullying. With the
YACIP, I was able to discern the way growing up in a rural Tennessee
town affected my students. This allowed me to adapt my curriculum
and instruction for those students, so my lessons were more relevant
and engaging.