Reflective Journal Reflection Paper

When I first decided to expand my education, it had been so long since I had been to school, and I was very hesitant. I talked at length about my decision with my husband and with his encouragement, decided to enroll but still was not quite sure which degree program to enroll in. I knew that this was something that I had always wanted to do since I obtained my Associates Degree in Nursing, but I did not have the courage, nor did I want to give up the time with my family and children. I second guessed my abilities and my knowledge because it had been so long since I had been in college. Now that my children are about to graduate high school and

I plan on working with children in pediatric outpatient setting. I hope to assist children with autism, learning disabilities, sensory processing disabilities, and others. The article is a great resource for collective information on the history, theory, approach, and limitations of sensory processing disorder. I will be able to use this evidence in my future practice. Furthermore, I will know to investigate deeper into evidence-based techniques related to this sector of practice. The processing of this peer-reviewed article led me to discovery of future continuing education in my

This journal reflection will discuss my expectations for the course, interests in learning, and how I plan to use the course to aid in my work in the adult education field.

The use of sensory diets aligns with the current educational policies and trends as the intervention is provided in children’s natural environments. In addition, sensory diets intend to facilitate children’s participation in school activities by improving their ability to process and organize sensory stimuli. Nearly twenty percent of the occupational therapists in the United States work in school-settings (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2015) and ninety percent of them use interventions based on the Sensory Integration theory to manage the manifestations of SPD in school settings (Ahn et al., 2004). Although sensory diets are widely used in school-based settings to manage manifestations of sensory processing issues, very few studies have investigated the effectiveness of sensory diets. Furthermore, the results of the studies that

For my observation on the indoor activity space, I was able to observe a classroom physically and view all areas in the indoor environment. I first observed if the surfaces where properly cleaned and I found that the floors all had clean surfaces not one dirty desk in sight. Next, I observed that all furniture was sturdy and safe all furniture was rounded and at the child level and size. In addition, I noticed that the classroom area was spacious and all areas had enough space separating the from each other to give children the room to explore without incident. The classroom consisted of many options for children to choose from like pretend play art, science, music, blocks, pretend play, manipulation, and a cozy area, and between those areas they all have the proper space for children to not be distracted from other areas.

The physical environment in this classroom was very well structured. Furniture is spaced and set to

Before my shift with the fire department, if an emergency arose, I would call 911 and watch as they cared for the individual and whisked them away. This time, however, I was part of the emergency response team and was able to observe their inner workings. My time at the fire department was eye-opening to the various roles that everyone fulfills and the multitude of equipment and protocols that they must know and perform. My day started with a tour of the facility and an overview of the equipment. I was also able to observe as they checked and restocked equipment and passed off from one shift to the next. They have multiple people in each unit that are cross-trained to

I overcame my challenge that I had discussed in last weeks Journal by getting more organized. I made a to-do list and stuck to it. I wrote down every assignment due date and every test day on a calendar, so I knew exactly what was due and when. I also made sure to incorporate all meetings for extracurricular activities into my calendar. I got a planner and filled it with all upcoming test dates, assignment due dates, and meetings as well. I also became better at prioritizing and adding flexibility to my daily schedule. I made sure that I prioritized equal study time for all my classes but also added down time into my daily schedule for leisurely activities as well. My grades began to improve after I got more organized and learned to manage

Classrooms need to be a place where students feel comfortable. Llewellyn believes that a classroom that is a safe environment “can contribute to less anxiety and more effective learning” (p. 156). There are ways to create the right classroom atmosphere. One of these ways is to clean up the clutter. A cluttered classroom can suggest a sense of disorder and confusion. Textbooks, papers, etc always need to have an assigned place so the classroom will stay neat and organized. To create energy in the classroom, teachers should use natural sunlight. Whenever possible, teachers should let the natural light shine through the window shades. It also helps to show flexibility to rearrange the students’ desks periodically. Science classrooms should be nature-friendly settings. This means science teachers should use plants, aquariums, or maybe a mini-waterfall to incorporate nature in their classrooms. The color of the room can also influence certain behaviors during class. For example, earth tone colors encourage calming emotions. When possible, ask if the walls may be repainted if the walls are white in the class. Also, Llewellyn believes “music has the power to calm the mind, body, and soul” (p. 157). Although these are very helpful ways to create the right atmosphere in the classroom, no one classroom setting fits all

Building Sensory friendly Classrooms, by Rebecca Moyes, is an essential read for all educators in today’s classrooms. Sensory processing disorders (SPD) are one of the most prevalent conditions affecting students with disabilities. In order to ensure optimal learning for all students, educators and professionals need to be educated in how to identify students that are affected by this disorder and how to implement effective and individualized strategies and coping techniques to help students accommodate and manage their SPD. Moyes’s book provides educators with examples and data driven strategies that should be incorporated in your classrooms.

When I first entered the classroom the atmosphere was very inviting and comfortable unlike most classrooms I enter for my own classes. There was a large skylight in the center of the ceiling as well as several windows that let in natural light. There are also green plants in a couple corners of the room. Each student has their own cubbies to put

A challenge is an obstacle that one must defeat with validity that it has been overcome, while fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that something is harmful. No life-changing challenge worth conquering comes without a dash of fear. In my life, I’ve faced what I thought was a lot of challenges. From having a dad that left to be the first in my family to go to college directly after high school, I’ve confronted a lot of obstacles that have generated fear. However, nothing could prepare me to the fear that I faced at my first SEARCH retreat.

One evening, I was studying for my final exams with my friends in the library. We were there for almost the whole day, and most of us got a most of our assignments and studying done. As I meandered down to the printers to print my philosophy paper, I could not help but discern that some of the students around us were also getting their assignments done, albeit rather languidly. A closer look as to what they were doing showed that some students were checking their social media and watching Netflix, while others were online shopping. In other words, they were procrastinating. I knew that our studying period was brief; in fact, we had two or three days until our first finals started. I had a few compelling speculations on why people procrastinate, from that they know everything (unlikely), to they do not know what to study (more likely), or the fact that they are just lazy (very likely). Though I am also a victim of procrastinating, I try to focus on my studies, especially if it is exam season. My insights turned to reality when I asked my friend about something that we were supposed to study for the calculus exam. It turns out that he was watching a football game on his laptop, but he muted it to answer my question and to show me how to do a problem. He proclaimed that he will study it later, even though our exam was in less than forty-eight hours. He knew what and how to study, but he told me he wasn’t up for it. I observed that this is a familiar episode – every time a

Looking back on my life experiences, I can’t help but smile in response to every memory of struggle, success, and change for each experience has served as a page in a larger, unfinished story. Growing up my identity has been strongly tied to my upbringing in a traditional Italian household with my father, mother, and brother. My upbringing has thus included an emphasis on food, family and friends, and culture. The backyard of my childhood home in San Mateo, California was complete with slowly growing key ingredients in a variety of Italian dishes. Considering my father’s parents emigrated from Liguria, a region in Italy most famously known as the birthplace of pesto, growing basil allowed us to maintain a connection with our heritage. As a child I remember playing in my backyard with my brother, careful to not roll the ball in the dirt where the basil was growing. That would ruin the fun of picking it with my dad and making it with my mom. Yet, the truly satisfying aspect of this tradition was sitting down as a family, which often included my maternal grandparents, and sharing a meal complete with numerous anecdotes.

Interpretation of Literature has given me an excellent opportunity to not only work on my analysis of novels, but improve my adroitness in creating an argumentative and interpretative paper and thesis. I developed a different mindset on how to go about starting and finishing a strong paper after dissecting each novel we read every class period. By taking a look at each one individually and picking out main points, I started to take notes on what we talked about for ideas on future papers. It took me a while to get ahold of everything, and I don’t think I’m anywhere near perfect yet, but with determination I have gradually learned the basics to the different parts of each interpretive paper. I’d say my weakest points that have slowly grown stronger are my abilities to write a thesis, and give good supporting evidence and statements to back it up.