EDUC 2300 Introduction to Education

Service Learning
Journal Entries

NAME: Sarah Villareal

 VISION FOR MY FUTURE

Here is what I want to accomplish this year:

Education: This year, I want to learn and grow in the field of education. I want to learn all that I
can about teaching, and about the work that goes into it. I also want to gain a better
understanding of technology in the classroom. I feel that I have only just begun learning and that
I have much more ahead of meI have already learned this year that I will never stop learning!

Career: My career choice is education, so I feel that it is necessary that I begin making choices
to think and act like a professional (although I am not yet a teacher). I feel that through service
learning I will gain a better understanding of how a professional teacher presents his/herself. In
my future career as a teacher, I want to be kind and fair to all of the impressionable students in
my classroom.

Family and Friends: I believe that family and friends are those relationships that will motivate
me to be the best that I canin my career, spiritual life, and otherwise. I believe that I have been
blessed with a wonderful group of family and friends who have stuck with me so far, and
continue to challenge me in being a better person. I would like to be the same for each and every
one of them.

Involvement and Service to My Community: I believe in doing my part in creating a positive

community. I hope this year to volunteer more and to make a difference. I believe it is my duty to
encourage others and help where I am able. I know that I have been presented with great
opportunities to help others, and this year I will strive to take those opportunities.

Personal Growth: As there are many things that I have to improve on, I know that it is
unrealistic to expect it all to change overnight. With the Lords help, I would like to become a
stronger individual. I hope to grow in courage and confidence in the abilities that I have. I hope
to be a strong role model for the future students I will have in my classroom.

Other: I want to love God, love others, and be an encouragement to all.

 Service Learning Project

Name: Sarah Villareal

Course Title: EDUC 2300-001 Introduction to Education
Date: March 6, 2017
Agency Name: Mt. Horeb Elementary School

Agencys Mission Statement/ Grades Served/ Community Needs:

Mt. Horeb Elementary will provide a safe, caring, and positive learning
environment- while fostering a culture of respect and responsibility. Students will
be inspired and challenged to meet their potential through high academic
expectations, teamwork, and lifelong learning. Mt. Horeb Elementary School in
Jefferson County serves grades Pre-K through fifth grade. The community needs
students who are excited to learn, and Mt. Horeb strives to invest in the students
attending in order to create an environment in which learning and knowledge are
celebrated.

Prologue: What do you expect to get from your service learning experience (i.e., how will this
experience help YOU develop)? How will it impact your learning and link to class materials? How
do you think the students and staff will perceive you? What goals do you have for the semesters
Service Learning experience? What fears do you have (if any) about service learning?
I hope to learn from this experience, as I hope to learn in all others. I would like to
gain a better understanding of how kindergarten classrooms function, as this is the
grade I would like to teach. I understand that there is much to learn, and I am
excited to discover more through this experience. I hope that I will find useful tools
in bettering my future class by learning from my supervising teacher. I would like
to learn classroom management skills, how to interact with young students
effectively, and how to organize a classroom of small children. I intend to leave
behind a positive impression on the teachers and staff at Mt. Horeb by the way I
present myself. I understand that I am also representing Walters State in this
experience, and I hope that they will jump at the opportunity to have any other
students from Walters State do their service learning hours at this facility. I am
excited about learning how a successful classroom functions.
 ABCs of Reflection

Affect In this section of your journal entry, you will identify

your feelings about the work you did and explain why you feel as
you do. Word choice should be specific: annoyed, aggravated,
shocked, disappointed, pleased, etc.

Behavior In this section of your journal entry, you should

discuss your actions during the service learning experience and
evaluate your behavior. State what you would do differently or
the same if you are ever confronted with a similar situation in the
future.

Cognition or Content In this section of your journal entry,

share your thoughts about the service learning you did in relation
to concepts being discussed in class. You may include a statement
of what you learned or note any observations that support or
contradict concepts taught in your education classes.

All three parts of your journal entry will be assessed for

completeness, organization, articulation and for correctness.
 Sample Journal Entry

First Agency Visit: (Overview of Events)

I first called the office and was referred to Principle Austin, who provided me with a
kindergarten teachers email address. We arranged a time for me to come in and meet with her
and I remember showing up fifteen minutes early because I was so excited! I met with the
principle once I first arrived who greeted me and expressed how excited she was to have me
there. I felt so relieved after she told me thatI had been excited but also very nervous! I then
was given a tour of the school and during the tour met with the teacher I would work with. She
was very kind and told me I was welcome to come to her classroom whenever I would like to
come.

ABCs of Reflections

Affect: I was nervous about going to the school, mostly because I have only done service
learning once before (it was at a different school and in a higher grade than I am interested in
teaching). I realized after my first visit that there was nothing to be nervous about. Everyone I
met was extremely kind and helpful. I am now excited to start my service learning, and I am
eager to learn from such amazing people!

Behavior: I feel that I was prepared for meeting the principle and teacher. I was nervous,
so I should have been a bit less anxious about that. I know that I brought all of the papers that I
needed to, and I feel that in contacting the teacher beforehand gave her a chance to tell me when
a good time of day was to come visit her classroom.

Cognition/Content: I feel that my supervising teacher is very knowledgeable and willing

to help me learn about teaching. She was very warm and inviting, and she told me that she is
excited to work with me. I am looking forward to applying what Ive learned from this class so
far, as well as seeing effective teaching firsthand.
Monday and Wednesday:

Monday, being my first day of service learning, was the most difficult. I was
learning names and the kids were getting to know me. Mrs. B gave me a station for
small groups to assist the children in the activity she had set out for them. I was
nervous, but Mrs. B gave me good instructions to follow. On Wednesday, I could
tell that the kids were warming up to me. I felt much more comfortable. I fell
easily into helping the children when they raised their hand. I felt that I helped
much more Wednesday than on Monday. Mrs. B explained to me how she
evaluates her students. She also explained the curriculum they use and what she
likes and dislikes about it.

ABCs of Reflection

Affect: Mrs. B really helped me understand how to apply what Id learned

about classroom management. She told me that I dont need to worry about the
children not liking me if I must tell them noshe said that theyll like me and
respect me if I let them know where their boundaries are. I feel that her explaining
that to me helped me get a better grasp on how I should apply the things Ive
learned from the class.

Behavior: At first I felt very frustrated with myself because I did not yet
know where I should jump in and assist. If I had to go back and redo day one, I
would have started walking around the classroom sooner and assisting where I
could. On Wednesday I feel like I had a much more productive day because I had
the confidence I lacked on Monday.

Cognition/Content: In class, we discussed ways that students would know

when to quiet down without the teacher having to yell or shout. We discussed a bell
in class, but Mrs. B did a call and response. She would say, Kindergarten! and
the students would reply, Yes, Maam! I also liked how involved students were
in their learning. Mrs. B did an activity using a book about an Irish man and his
huge potato. She read the book to the class, and then had them cut out and put in
order pictures of scenes from the book. I think that this is a good tool to have for
me as a future educator, as I hope to teach kindergarten. I know that it was
effective because the children told their teacher afterward that they really enjoyed
it, and asked if they could do more projects like that in the future.
 Thursday:

On Thursday I felt even more comfortable with the class, and they with me.
I got to help bag up snacks for the kids and teach part of a lesson. I enjoyed helping
during activities planned for the kids.

ABCs of Reflection

Affect: I was so excited to teach part of a lesson! I didnt teach much, but it
still was exciting to have that moment of being in front of the class. I enjoyed
helping students who needed it and encouraging them all.

Behavior: The reason that I had to teach the last part of the math lesson was
because a student was acting out. The teacher asked that I would continue with the
other students so that she could be one on one with the student who was being
disruptive. The other students, of course, being in kindergarten, wanted to stare at
the one who was being sent to the office for her bad choices. I said,
Kindergarten! and they replied, Yes, maam!. We continued with the lesson. It
was amazing how easy it was to refocus them once we did that call and response.

Cognition/ Content: I really feel that kindergarten is a grade that I would

love to teach. I have done service learning in a fifth-grade classroom before, and I
noticed a huge difference between fifth grade and kindergarten from service
learning. Kindergarten always has something going on. There is never a dull
moment. I am aware this means that I must be very disciplined and put into
practice the effective classroom management skills we have learned in class. One
thing that I liked was the clip program they had at Mt. Horeb. Everyone in the class
started out on green, which was titled, Surfs up!. There were different levels that
had their own color and surf-related title. If a student made a poor choice, the
teacher would have that student move their clip down. If the teacher caught them
making a good choice (sharing well, being encouraging, and so on) they would
move their clip up. At the end of the day, the teacher would write the color on their
binders calendar. For kindergarten, this system worked really well. I feel that my
supervising teacher taught me a lot about being firm, fair and kind. She had rules
clearly set out for her students, making them very aware of what was expected of
them. She always encouraged them to make good choices.
 Epilogue:

Reflect on your semesters service learning experience.

This service learning experience has been eye-opening. I have learned so much from my supervising
teacher. Many of the things that we have discussed in class about classroom management were being
practiced in her classroom. I think that seeing those things in action has helped me in understanding
what I will be doing in my own classroom. In class, we discussed how showing an ounce of
weakness is all that it takes for students to run over their teacher. In kindergarten, I think that this is
especially true. My supervising teacher was great at reminding students of the classroom rules. She
was also great at encouraging her students to be good friends. I will put into practice many of the
things that I have learned from service learning when I have a classroom of my own.
Revisit the prologue. Have your expectations been met?
I expected to become more knowledgeable and gain a better understanding of what a professional
teacher acts like. I have learned how a professional teacher puts into practice classroom management
skills. While I did not learn as much about technology in the classroom, I have learned some. My
supervising teacher would use a blast-off timer for center timeshe would set it for six to seven
minutes and at the end, a rocket would fly around the screen. The kids loved it! She would also play
yoga videos for kids (one was Frozen themed, telling the story of the movie through different yoga
poses). I think that my expectations were met. I learned how a professional teacher presents herself in
the classroom, I learned about effective classroom management in the kindergarten classroom, and I
learned about classroom technology.
How have you been surprised, delighted, or dismayed by the experience? Give specific examples.
I was surprised by how different kindergarten was from the fifth-grade classroom I did my last
service learning experience in. In fifth-grade, the teacher would tell the students to read the first few
pages of a new chapter and the students would do so. In kindergarten, there were students crying
during morning work because they couldnt remember what letter makes a sss sound. I think that
as a future educator, being able to have that experience in an older grade before doing service
learning in a kindergarten class helped me get a better understanding of the challenges that I will face
teaching younger students. While older students are able to go to the bathroom on their own, read on
their own, have discussions on a chapter book, and solve problems on their own it is not so for a
young class. Kindergarteners are learning how to count to one-hundred, say their ABCs, recognize
their sight words, and wash their hands, play well with their peers, walk in a straight line, hold a
pencil, as well as other things they will need in their education. It was surprising, but also affirming. I
definitely want to teach kindergarteners as a teacher.

How could this experience be improved?

I cant think of any way that this could have been improved. I had a great experience at Mt. Horeb
and I am grateful for the opportunity I had to complete my service learning hours there.
 VISION FOR MY FUTURE

Here is what I want to accomplish in the next five years:

Education: In the next five years, I hope to have completed my Associates at Walters State,
have moved on to Carson-Newman for my Bachelors degree, and possibly working on my
Masters. I hope to still be passionate about learning all that I can about the field of education. I
know that I will never be bored while on this career path!

Career: By the time I graduate from Carson-Newman, I hope to have started my first teaching
job. I would like to teach at Cornerstone Academy in Morristown, as I am a sub there already and
have gotten to know many of the students and teachers there. If I am not at Cornerstone, I pray
that God opens up doors at other schools so that I can have my own classroom.

Family and Friends: In the next five years, I hope that my husband and I are financially able to
buy a house. I hope that my family will remain close and make one another a priority. I hope that
I will live close enough to my nephew that once my husband and I have children that they can
grow up together and learn the importance of family.

Involvement and Service to My Community: I hope that in the next five years I can grow in
my knowledge of children and youth ministry. I hope that I can increase the number of hours that
I put into those community services, as that has been my passion for as long as I can remember.
Community service is so important in not only my career as a teacher but in my spiritual walk
with the Lord.

Personal Growth: I know that I will continue to grow as long as Im living, but I do hope that
the growth over the next five years will be extraordinary. I hope that I am able to stop worrying
so much about things, and instead increase productivity in school, my career, my spiritual walk,
and in my relationships with my husband and my family.

REFLECTIONS
Here are the Knowledge and Skills that I have acquired as a direct result of taking part in this
Service Learning project:
I have learned that tricks for classroom management are worth remembering. Things like the
teaching tools Mrs. Smith talks about in class are what will make my classroom happy and
successful. I have also learned that technology in the classroom is the futureI might as well
embrace it and learn all that I can while in school.

Here is how this Service Learning project ties in with my

EDUC 2300 Introduction to Education class:
In class, we have learned what makes a good teacher. I believe that through this service learning
project I was able to get a glimpse of what a good teacher looks like in real life, real time, and in
a real classroom. My supervising teacher took on several different roles as an educator. She wore
many different hats so her students would get the best education that they could. Through the
temper tantrums, moments of craziness from all of her students, attitudes, emotional issues, and
so on, my supervising teacher engaged her students in their education. I could tell that her
students looked up to her. In class, we had discussed how a teachers words to her students have
an extremely high impact. I truly could see that in my supervising teachers classroom. She had
effective classroom management techniques that were astonishingly helpful in refocusing her
students. She constantly had activities going for her students so that there never was a dull
moment. As a future educator, I will take the things that I learned from this class and from this
service learning experience and apply them in my own classroom.

My Contribution to the Community

I have devoted 18 hours to my Service Learning project. Here are four lasting experiences that
are an outcome of my Service Learning project:
1. Classroom management skills are essential in running an efficient classroom.
2. My life is not my life anymore. I must be aware that I will be held to a higher
standard by society as a teacher.
3. The way that I present myself is important not only now, but especially later. I
must be positive, have a good attitude, be a helping hand for my community,
and set the example for the students who will be under my care.
4. Technology is advancing in the classroom of America. I must be responsible for
keeping up with it as to better my future students and their education.