EDUC 2300 Introduction to Education

Service Learning
Journal Entries

Markeyla Helton
 VISION FOR MY FUTURE

Here is what I want to accomplish this year:

Education: This year, I want to continue to work hard on raising my GPA, and getting the best
grades that I can in all of my classes. I want to learn everything that I can about being an
effective teacher through my service learning.

Career: With education being my future career, I want to learn all that I can to help me become
the best teacher I can be. I want to learn how to connect with my students and keep them
engaged.

Family and Friends: Family and friends have always been a very important part of my life.
They are the ones who supported me every step of the way when I decided to change my major
to teaching over a year ago. I hope to set a good example for them by letting them see that hard
work pays off. I also hope to make as much time as I can to spend with them before getting
married next year.

Involvement and Service to My Community: I strongly believe that giving back and helping
within the community is a huge part of becoming an educator. I hope to participate in more
fundraisers this year with my church, who is actively involved in fundraisers for schools and
needy children.

Personal Growth: There is always room for growth. I believe that you can continue to grow by
bettering yourself daily. This year I hope to become a better friend, family member, and co-
worker. I hope to always continue to grow as a person and as a future educator.

Other: I always want to learn new things, grow as an individual, work my hardest, and help as
many people as I can.
 Service Learning Project

Name: Markeyla Helton

Course Title: EDUC 2300-001 Introduction to Education
Date: April 8, 2017
Agency Name: Newport Grammar School

Agencys Mission Statement/ Grades Served/ Community Needs:

Our motto and mission is: With a standard of excellence spanning over 100 years, Newport Grammar
School works in collaboration with involved, caring parents and community members to Provide a
creative, personal, and challenging education for all students; Strive to create an environment
conducive to optimal achievement and fulfillment for both students and staff; Foster life-long
interest in learning; Inspire all to strive for individual excellence; and accept others' differences
and become contributing members of a global community. We currently serve grades PreK-8.

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?
This will be my second time doing service learning. The first time I completed
service learning I was at the Boys and Girls Club of Greene County where I
worked with children in the homework room. I am very excited about this service
learning experience because this will be my first time in an actual school system. I
have always had my mind set on teaching PreK or Kindergarten. This will give me
a chance to see how I like working with the first grade. I will be able to learn how
a classroom functions daily and all that goes into a full day of teaching. I hope to
be able to take what I have learned in class and apply it to my service learning. I do
not have any fears about this new experience.
 Journal Entry 1

3-15-17

12:00-2:00

First Agency Visit: (Overview of Events)

My first visit I met with the principal and my mentor teacher. During this visit, I
discussed why I was completing service learning. My mentor was pleased that I was being
placed in her classroom because she needed the extra help. I was placed in a first-grade
classroom. During the first part of my visit, I observed the children work on their math sheets. If
they were finished with all fifty addition problems within three minutes, and they were correct,
they would move up to the next number. The highest they went were their 9s. The students also
worked on using data from real graphs. They compared yellow and red circles on a graph of
fourteen squares. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday the students switch classrooms for
RTI. I could help the students participate in a game of ZAP. If you draw a zap card you lose a
turn, but if you draw a regular card and can pronounce the word correctly you get to keep the
card. Whoever has the most cards at the end wins. One of the girls playing came to me during the
middle of the game and told me I was lovable and that she wanted to be my friend. I thought it
was very sweet when she asked if I could come to her classroom. After RTI the students came
back to their original classrooms and continued working on their graphs.

ABCs of Reflections

Affect: I was excited to meet with the assistant principal and mentor teacher. I had
previously completed hours in the same classroom and was excited to be back. I had met the
assistant principal before, but never the principal. The principal was very pleased to have me
back. The students were very excited to see me again. They ran to me for hugs as soon as I
walked into the classroom. I had a great first day back.

Behavior: I was very pleased with my first day back. I enjoyed getting to see the same
students I had previously.

Cognition/Content: Going into this experience, I am not nervous. I am excited to be

back at Newport Grammar. I was hesitant with my previous hours because I didnt know if I
would enjoy working with first grade. I had a great day after coming back and getting
reacquainted with all the students again. Mrs. W. is an amazing teacher. She has one student who
came into her classroom not being able to read a single word. Now, that same student is reading
at almost the exact same level as her classmates. I am excited to continue learning from Mrs. W.
 Journal Entry 2

3-16-17, 3-17-17

8:00-12:45, 12:00-1:00

Thursday, & Friday: (Overview of Events)

The next two days, I continued to help the students with RTI. They practiced the first
parts of a word and how it makes different sounds. I helped do homework packets and had to put
each packet in the students mailbox so they could take it home. Mrs. W. had me grade the
students spelling work. I had graded their work one time previously but was still nervous. Even
though it was just simple spelling words I still felt as if that was a big responsibility to have. The
students also worked on singular and plural words and how to tell the difference. On Thursday, it
was St. Patricks Day and there were three boys absent, leaving only ten students. Mrs. W. had
the students work on leprechaun worksheets. They had to cut and paste the sentences in order on
the pot of gold and then bring them to me for checking. Mrs. W. had a teacher meeting at one so
the students worked on that and one other worksheet while she prepared for her meeting. During
RTI they read a story called Rox the Fox and had to answer questions on the story for
comprehension. After reading, the students worked on their accelerated reading tests. If they
receive a one hundred they are rewarded with a good behavior dollar. If they earn up to ten good
behavior dollars they can bring a toy of their choosing for the playroom. If they get up to forty
good behavior dollars they can bring a friend and eat in the classroom by their selves for lunch.

ABCs of Reflections

Affect: I was not nervous during this visit. I felt comfortable in the environment and had
already seen how the classroom ran. I felt very comfortable with the students. They wanted to
come to me to ask me questions, and when given the option always chose me to grade their work
they completed during class. I really enjoy helping the students. I also enjoy helping them learn
sounds and comprehension in RTI.

Behavior: I am satisfied with how I have thrown myself out there during this service
learning experience. When asked to help with RTI I thought that maybe I wouldnt know what I
was doing, but when I started it came to me naturally. I didnt feel nervous speaking in front of
the students at all. Mrs. W. was always willing to answer any questions I had and made me feel
very comfortable from the beginning.

Cognition/Content: In class, we have discussed different classroom management

strategies. One strategy that Mrs. W. used was the good behavior dollars and color cards. The
students are rewarded with a good behavior dollar when they have completed a task successfully
or if Mrs. W. was pleased with one of their actions. The color cards seemed very effective. Each
one had a different meaning. When you got to black that meant your parents had to be called.
None of the students wanted to risk having to change their colors because they knew that meant
they had to give up their good behavior dollar or sit out for a set amount of time when they went
to the playroom. I learned that children learn in many ways and forms and that it is important to
accommodate every child in your classroom due to his/her needs. Mrs. W. did this by having the
Tier 2 and 3 students who struggled with reading and comprehension come to the back table and
read their stories aloud to her. This gave them a chance to work one on one and move forward
with the rest of the classroom.

Journal Entry 3

4/4/17, 4/5/17, 4/6/17

8:00-10:50, 11:30-2:00, 8:00-1:00

Tuesday, Wednesday, &Thursday: (Overview of Events)

By my last week of service learning, I was extremely comfortable in the classroom. I

continued to help grade papers and assist the students in RTI. It was the week before spring break
so the students in Mrs. W.s classroom were practicing their final production. They were putting
on the play Lady and the Tramp. I absolutely loved getting to see each of the students practice
their parts. It amazed me how they had all of their lines memorized, along with a couple of songs
and nursery rhymes. The next couple of days all they worked on was their final production and
taking an AR test before the week was over. After being with them for two service learning
experiences I was so proud to see them working hard and really putting in the effort. It made me
think about how excited I am to have my own classroom one day and how I cant wait to do
those things with my own set of students.
 ABCs of Reflections

Affect: I was excited for the opportunity to learn everything that I could from Mrs. W.
She showed me websites she used to get some of her teaching materials from, how to grade, what
activities work the best for her, etc. I was very sad to see my time at Newport Grammar end. I
became very close with each of the students and enjoyed getting to know each of their unique
personalities.

Behavior: I am happy with all that I have accomplished during this experience. I really
put myself out there and learned a lot along the way. I can now say that I would love to teach first
grade if given the opportunity.

Cognition/Content: I was very surprised at how much I would love first grade at the end
of this. I might even feel comfortable teaching a higher grade in the future. I would like to
incorporate some of the strategies Mrs. W. used in my own classroom. I really liked the idea of
good behavior dollars. This gives the students motivation to complete their work and be on their
best behavior. I also like how she encouraged the students to help each other out. If one student
didnt know the answer or how to do something she would have another student work with them.

Epilogue:

Reflect on your semesters service learning experience.

This was such a great experience! I learned how to incorporate fun activities in my classroom,
strategies to help them stay motivated, and how to help with RTI. The students were amazing and so
excited to have someone new helping in the classroom. I am really going to miss seeing their faces
every day and watching them progress within the classroom. I am very excited for my future service
learning adventures!
Revisit the prologue. Have your expectations been met?
My expectations have been met! I wasnt sure if I would like the first grade or not but I ended up
loving it. I took so much away from this experience and was able to see exactly how a classroom
functions daily. I learned many different techniques and strategies that I will be able to apply in my
future classrooms. This was a great experience!

How have you been surprised, delighted, or dismayed by the experience? Give specific examples.
I have been both surprised and delighted by the experience. I have been surprised because I honestly
did not think I would enjoy being in a first-grade classroom. My heart has always been set on
teaching kindergarten, but I really enjoyed it. I have been delighted by getting to spend so much time
with such amazing student. They were all so sweet and energetic. I was very happy to be placed with
a teacher that I was able to learn so much from and who was so involved with her students.

How could this experience be improved?

This has been such an amazing service learning experience. All of my expectations were met and
then some! I wouldnt change anything about this experience.
 VISION FOR MY FUTURE

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

Education: In the next five years, I want to have graduated college with a Bachelors degree in
Early Childhood Education. I hope to be working at a school that I loved as much as Newport
Grammar.

Career: I hope to have a job teaching kindergarten or first at a school I love. I see myself having
a classroom that is fun and very active. I hope to have a great relationship with each of my
students and coworkers.

Family and Friends: I hope to have continued relationships with all my closest friends and
family. I want my friends to accomplish their dreams and be doing what they love. I also hope to
start a family of my own.

Involvement and Service to My Community: I hope to always make time to give back to
those in the community by helping with fundraisers and activities in and outside of work.

Personal Growth: In my personal life, I hope to be exactly where I want in life. I hope to feel
accomplished and be happy.

Other: In five years, I hope to have accomplished everything that I have set out to do so far.
 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 how to implement time for students who are Tier 2 and 3 in the classroom. I have
learned how to incorporate activities that the students will enjoy and that are educational. I have
also learned that I really enjoy first grade.

Here is how this Service Learning project ties in with my

EDUC 2300 Introduction to Education class:
I have learned different strategies to help students develop. I have learned that it is important to
have the classroom set up to accommodate each of the students needs. It is important to help the
children feel a sense of security in the classroom. They need to feel a sense of trust and that they
can accomplish anything they set their mind to.

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. I do like first grade.
2. It is important to incorporate strategies to motivate the students.
3. Students who struggle can benefit greatly from one on one instruction.
4. Students always need to feel comfortable and confident.