III. Reflection questions: 1) What did the students learn during the Upward Bound course?

The students have been part of the Upward Bound course to enhance their knowledge of college learning and to gain experiences that they might not have access to otherwise. Students in the composition course in particular have learned how to create personal essays which are commonly requested as part of the college application process. These essays can be adapted for scholarship usage as well. Students went through various brainstorming exercises which helped them identify several things that they could write about. This then progressed to the writing, revisions, and editing processes. Many of the students learned how to critique each others essays and provide feedb ack. Many of these students have very interesting stories to tell, and have written amazing stories. Through their stories, I have begun to learn more about them. 2) What did you learn about teaching your content area and/or the content area of the course? a. Content area reading- I have learned that text should have a purpose when being assigned, and that its meanings or themes must be shown to students in order for them to understand it. By having a deeper discussion on readings that were assigned, students might have found outlets in which to develop their chosen story or another that they might have wanted to write. Also when using questions for comprehension, additional thought needs to taken so that a deeper level or understanding is happening for students, rather than recall. b. Content area writing The usage of several types of graphic organizers gave students the ability to choose which worked better for them for writing their personal essays. This was beneficial for me to see how students responded to the graphic organizers, and that it helped them process their information better than just giving them the assignment, then expecting a draft in the first two weeks. The writing prompts (free writing) used by the teacher were beneficial for students to explore themselves in different lights but without being too formal. c. Content area oral language- This is one that each class will be dependent upon and a good behavior management plan is essential. I will have to work on it, but using different management styles to ensure students listen to each other is important. I hope to learn more management tips through my education courses. Discussions will always be a must as we continue to expect students to develop opinions and support them. Through discussions students will be able to consider other points of view to either support, adopt, or disagree with, but in an intellectual manner. d. Content area numeracy- Numeracy was something that was hardly used in composition, besides for document spacing.Students were required to use the double spacing, and computer determined tab of half an inch. Something else

the teacher used was the how many of you question? to gather information (on that topic or gain perspective in terms of, is it that common?). 3) What did you learn about teaching literacy in your content area and/or the content area of the course? Literacy is not just a process about reading things, but it is about how you read things and interpret those items. We often teach students put their letters together to get words, give them some vocabulary, and then expect them to do most of the rest. However, we do need to teach our secondary students about inflection, tones, and structure so that they can understand the text they are assigned. As a teacher, we can also change up some of the texts that we use, rather than focusing on the textbook given to us from the school, so that we can expose our secondary students to a variety of texts which they will experience in their post secondary schooling. I have also learned through the KATS lesson plans that you can use a text for a variety of lessons, rather than read, answer questions, and move on. I am excited that I can create an interactive learning experience that requires students to question history. Very similar to the those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it thought, that if we dont understand our history (nationally, ethnically, or spiritually) we have the possibility of recreating its mistakes or making worse ones. 4) What did you learn about the needs of high school students? Through the composition class, there is a difference in the actions of students in regards to the core class I helped at and the elective classes. The elective courses such as had less of a rigid structure and were very organic in their method. There was a beginning and an end product that needed to be done. The path that took them there was winding and shifting, but never straight. This helped students not resist against learning how to do music. This helped me understand that students in my content area need to have creativity melded to the lesson, and the importance of doing interactive learning which keeps them engaged rather than bored out of their mind doing reading, answering questions, then take a test. 5) What did you learn about preparing first-generation college students for college? (This is a focus of the Common Core Standards.) It is important to help encourage students to give them options. Discipline is also important because you dont want to hold their hand through everythin g because if you do, you are setting them up for failure for when they enter college and the professor says you either do it or you dont, its your choice. Especially in a program like Upward Bound, you want to encourage them to do their best so that they can create a life that is different from their parents, grandparents, or even their own upbringing. Providing them with as many tools to help them and know when to use them in their lives will help them succeed.