Reflection Paper

Reflecting on the past two terms in school, I would constantly find myself preparing and delivering a lesson which I felt were missing something. I was constantly asking my mentor teachers how I could have better differentiated lessons, especially at senior level. I believe on completing this assignment I have discovered three extremely beneficial frameworks which will improve my lessons and I believe develop a flexible curriculum which allows differentiation for all students to develop their learning capacity and engage them throughout the lesson.

Every school has these four main academic subjects: English, Math, Science, History/Geography. The class I like the most in my eighth grade school year is History. This is because we get to learn about different time periods, different people, different religions, and so much more. We don't just sit in class and read out of a textbook. We get to do fun activities to help us understand more. While we work, we talk to our teacher and have funny and weird conversations. We make fun of each other and have a good laugh. I'm always excited to go to History class.

The sidewalk has two levels, a higher one that’s more prominent and utilized than the smaller, insignificant one. With my two halfs of my family they are like that sidewalk. The one I have grown up with is the prominent one. I have grown with them and they have influenced my life choices, maybe too much so. It was a rough break in my life when I realized that my opinion on many things did not matter. Religion was a big thing that I was not able to have my own viewpoint on. Growing up, my family was strongly christian. We always went to church services whenever it was held and we always would partake in any and all events that were held. As I grew older we started to participate less and less and I became familiar with a wider variety of religious practices that were previously unknown. As I learned about more religious practices from other cultures I began to come up with new ideas that I had never thought of before. After a long time of internal battles, I finally came to terms with what I decided to believe in however as soon as I had voiced what it was I believed, it I was immediately shut down and informed my opinion on that matter was

In 1994, my parents immigrated to Canada from Vietnam to seek better living conditions and a promising future for their soon-to-be children. However, to live in a free nation filled with opportunities, the two left everything behind. While living in rent, my father worked full-time at a factory while my mother had found a job as a cashier. Although they had a sustainable income, my father understood that raising a child would cost them more than they were currently making. In 1997, my father decided to study computer science at Langara in search for a better-paying job while working part-time as a security guard. Meanwhile, my mother took up housekeeping, working at two different hotels to earn more money for their coming child. Understandably, my parents had made their lives much harder immigrating to Canada, but their sacrifices - I can say - has paid off.

When I was younger, I read a quote that said, “The hardest challenges are given to the strongest people.” I know those weren’t the exact words, but they became very meaningful. It all started in May, 2013. I was having back pain, but I didn’t say anything at first. If only I had known it was so much more than back pain.

The collaborative inquiry project, "Using Triangulation of Learning and Assessment to Support Elementary English Language Learners," allowed us, as teachers, to reflect upon assessment at the elementary level. The Supporting English Language Learners (2008) document described how, "Through assessment, teachers gather information about their students' prior knowledge, language needs, and learning progress." Our project used the STEP: Steps to English Proficiency (2012) document to describe methods of planning and assessing for English Language Learners (ELL), and considered appropriate practices in doing so. The classroom teacher should use nontraditional strategies when working with ELL students, such as encouraging self-assessment, informally assessing students whenever they are reading in the classroom, and creating opportunities for students to feel comfortable to participate (Bailey, A. & Heritage, M., 2014). The following reflection will discuss how I will share this information with others, a reflection about myself as a learner, goals for the future, and a self-assessment of my learning.

Growing up, my vision appeared to get worse and worse every year. Until I was in first grade I never thought to told my mom, considering it never caused any problems. It was until I would find myself squinting at the board everyday did my teacher wonder if something was wrong. Shortly after, I found out I needed glasses. From first grade to tenth grade, I went through multiple pairs of glasses, and my vision continued to deplete. I never complained about having glasses because they rarely got in my way. That was until high school, when I started running. Trying to sprint with glasses on can be extremely challenging. It took me two years to finally get the courage to get contacts. As someone who struggled with getting contacts in everyday over the summer and struggles now, I want to help those who go through the same conflict.

I have never been more vulnerable than at the end of my Junior year of highschool. I was exhausted not because of my work load, but because my best friend was in love with me and I was, for the first time, in a class that openly talked about race. The English class, taught by a black woman, was predominantly white (as was my school) and not only discussed race, but specifically discussed whiteness. For the first few months of my year, I was closed off despite believing I was participating. While the year went on, I realized I had been cruel to my (white) best friend. I had been completely unaware of the harm I was causing until, in December she told me that I didn’t actually listen when people spoke to me. I apologized in January and her forgiveness was something I had never before experienced. Over the last semester of my Junior year, while she reminded me how deeply important love is, I begun to see myself as white. On the last day of my English class, I thought of how hard I had worked the past few months to accept and express love, how I had come to believe that love was the most important thing in the world to possess, and I wondered why I had never known this before. I realized, suddenly, that whiteness can, and has, prevented me from feeling and receiving real, unconditional, and unracialized love. I began to sob. As my whiteness became visible, so did my deficit of love. I realized the comfort I, a white person, felt in isolation, narcissism and apathy enabled me to

This past year has been a learning experience that has led me to where I am today, attending Citrus. I graduated from Glendora High School in May of two-thousand sixteen with the intention of moving away to school and attending the University of Arizona; however, within the week post-graduation I decided it would be in my best interest to take some time away from the books. I love education and every ounce of learning. My school work, grades, and attendance have always been a top priority, but I began to feel as if I was a car running out of gas, I knew that if I went into my freshman year at a university with the mindset I had and the drive I was lacking, I probably would not be very successful nor would I get very far. For me to figure out myself and where I desire to be a break was needed from not only school, but also this town. Unfortunately, my gap year wasn’t filled with any crazy stories of finding myself while lost backpacking or traveling, but it was filled with personal growth amidst new coworkers, a newer environment, and a boyfriend as well as some family. I moved to Arizona anyhow and that is where I did most of my recent growth. Now you’re probably wondering how I landed myself back in Glendora, a question I now have the confidence to answer. Arizona was great, I love it, and it holds such a large part of my heart however I could not muster up an ounce of motivation to go back to school. I felt too comfortable with what I had and feared going back with

Writing is like a fine wine, it only improves with age. Through this semester I have meticulously learned the art and appreciations of writing. Over the long semester, I have improved through long sleepless nights. Which in fact were worth it in the very end, upon receiving my grade through the last 3 essays. My last essays that have enhanced my knowledge of writing of summarizing an article, defending a claim, and an op-ed piece. I’ve ultimately used my writing to not only learn, but also to critique and analyze my works, and use them to successfully thrive in this class.

Life represents a culmination of unforeseen events that eventually lead to success, and in the minds of the majority college symbolically defines the first major obstacle one must overcome to continue that journey. Every year, high school students across the nation eagerly anticipate the coming of their senior year and the rapidly approaching adventure to follow, but for many it simply reminds them of the heartache that is soon to come. My own personal experience began with the blinding influence hope cast over my judgement as inner levels of excitement exponentially increased and my emotions became steadily influenced by the people surrounding me. However, little was I aware that my future had already been decided and no external force would have the necessary impact to reconfigure my current course. In a sense, my ship had already sailed and was leading me in ironclad chains to foreign lands of which my presence was to be forced. College, to me, would soon become an indescribable burden where reality would suddenly become brutally clear and all hopes for a productive future existed upon the fate of an unstable pendulum.

In my opinion, Intro to Non-Profits (PS203) was an extremely valuable class. Over the summer, I interned with a local non-profit called Shop Local Raleigh. From this internship, I had gained a basic understanding of the inner workings of a non-profit but, the course greatly expanded my knowledge on the subject. Shop Local Raleigh was understaffed and the workload for the executive director was excessive. As an intern, I took on the responsibility of many jobs and found that the organization faced some difficulties when retaining resources and funding. After taking this course, some of my unanswered questions from my summer internship were explained.

Every student deserves the best chance at getting the highest level of education they can, however, some students need a little extra support that others may not. A student, Axel, who is currently in my classroom has had a hard time keeping his focus and is often avoidant when it comes to his work. It has become clear that his avoidance becomes a distraction to the whole class. His behaviors currently include but are not limited to: rolling around on the floor during rug lessons, yelling across the room, walking around the room talking to friends, sharpening his pencil five or more times throughout the day, asking to go to the bathroom at inappropriate times, spending fifteen to twenty minutes in the

As a college student, I go through many obstacles. Whether it’s a relationship, family, or school, I manage to surpass any issues that are brought upon me. Although I have managed to live freely with merely any problems, one issue that recently has encountered my life is my job. I work for Sprint as a retail consultant where I deal with customers everyday regarding phone issues or account issues. It’s a pretty good paying job and my manager works around my schedule. Sounds great right? So what can possibly be the issue? Well the job feels forced, meaning that I have to sell products with rules and regulations set by the company. I’m unable to sell it the way I want. I have to accommodate by their sale needs and requirements. It makes me feel that my skills are worthless and unhonest to my clients. It also seems like most of my co-workers have the freedom to sell how they want. Dealing with this issue would increase the positivity in my life drastically. I wouldn’t have to come home everyday exhausted and guilty from being dishonest and untrue to myself. It would influence who I am as a person by giving me the freedom I deserve. It would ensure a brighter future and a better working environment, but more importantly, it will ensure who I am. The four agreements presented by Don Miguel Ruiz has broadened my perspective on life and my on-going issues as well. Adapting to the four agreements will give me a chance to live my life with more freedom, peace, and happiness.

Since 2011, I devoted my life to God, this happened when I get convert and be baptized to the church of Jesus Christ. I was still a babe spiritually. I learned many things in the Gospel and I felt the Love of my heavenly Father. I couldn't speak English back then when I joined the church, but through reading the scriptures daily, the Lord help me learn and understand the scriptures. Today, I can testify to you that I have read the bible many times from the start to the end. And most importantly, I teach the Gospel in English.