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Ashlyn Cummings
Prof. Montague
EPFB 210-500
27 April, 2015
Practicum Experience

Over the past semester I have been given several opportunities to expand my

horizons and experience not only different cultures, but also helping those in need.

My first practicum experience was at the Chinese New Year celebration in Rudder

Tower. This experience was very eye opening to me, by showing me how hard it is to

sit and listen especially when you are unaware of what exactly they are saying. I say

this, because the whole celebration was mostly in Chinese and had barely any

translations. We had to sit and take in everything, making us more aware of our

surroundings and the gestures, facial expressions the actors and performers made.

The whole celebration demonstrated different arts that are close to the Chinese

culture from singing, acting, dancing, to even a traditional mock wedding. It was

amazing to see just how much their culture meant to them. It demonstrated to me

how frustrating it can be for so many students who are coming from another

culture, who do not speak the language. I was lucky enough to sit by someone who

speaks Chinese, but so many students come into the classrooms with no one to

really help them understand. This experience taught me how hard it is for families

who are from another country to come and speak to someone over in the United

States. They have no one to help them communicate, and even if they did they are

not always able to be there for them. This experience showed how I must be willing

and able to help work with these families, and try to make it as easy as possible for

them. This experience in its entirety was definitely interesting and fun, but also very
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hard as well. For almost the entire time I was there I was confused about what was

going on, but I am so glad that I went because it helped me be able to relate more

to these families who feel this way all the time. My second practicum experience

was at Camp Life. This practicum by far was my favorite. I got the chance to work

with a young boy who is Visually Impaired. This practicum experience first broke

down every preconceived notion I had about dealing with students who have

disabilities. It was great getting to work this young man, who inspired me by the

way he held himself. The young boy who I worked with did not let the disability

control him, but had fun canoeing, rope swinging, and doing the science activities

that we did at the camp. I was just there to support him and really get to talk with

him, and get to know him. I was honestly really worried and nervous coming in since

this was my first time at Camp Life. I thought that I would be told that he could not

doing certain things, or that he needed help in certain areas, but when I finally got

to meet him and talk to him and his mom that completely changed. From the

discussion in class about how certain families are very protective or very easy

going, it was crazy for me to see that in action. His mom told me that he is good to

go on everything and that I did not really need to worry about him. This experience

showed me a bias that I did not even know I had. If I brought anything back from

Camp Life it was that I cannot sell these kids short on anything, and that they are

capable of doing things that are just like everyone else. I loved getting to hang out

with this little boy so much, he taught me things like canoeing which I am awful at,

and even pinning for gold. This experience was completely touching because all the

kids were so fearless and willing to just explore and try new things. Although, most

of my time at Camp Life was really great and fun, when I had to do my night shifts

in the Cabin with a young boy who had Autism thats where I got to see some of the
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struggles people face. This young boy did not want to go to sleep at all the first

night. There were about four counselors in the room and none of us could really

calm him down. He was very loud and active, but even got a little physical towards

the middle of our shift. We eventually had to call one of the main counselors to

come help us get him to bed. My job during that time was making sure that the rest

of the campers were able to sleep, but most of them were still awake due to the

young boy being loud. Once the main counselor got there we learned that he loved

to make list and that if you start of at a soft but normal tone with your voice, and

then slowly start bringing your voice to a whisper he falls asleep. It was amazing

getting to see this in action because at that moment I felt so helpless and confused

of what we were doing wrong. This showed me just how much parents are going

through who might be just finding out that there child has some type of disability.

They are confused and feeling helpless and as my job as a Special Educator I need

to know these tricks or different ways to help parents. This showed me that this job

is not going to be easy, but very difficult at times. From walking through this

experience at Camp Life I am far more determined to continue learning about

Special Education. I want to be that go to person for families, I want to be the one

who advocates for them, is a resource for them whenever something gets rough.

This experience also taught me determination , the first night the young boy did not

go to sleep until early, early in the morning. As a group we decided the second night

to take what we have learned from the past night and put into action. We made

different lists, and made sure to do our vocal cues to help put him to sleep. By

putting into action what we had learned, the young boy was able to go to sleep a lot

faster than we could have ever imagined. This practicum was definitely hard for me

and took a lot out of me, but the result was so rewarding that I would do it every
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weekend if I could. I feel more exposed to different situations and experiences that

come with special education then I did before. I know that I still have a lot to learn,

but I know that I will try to be the best resource and advocate for parents. My third

practicum was for Dinning in the Dark. I was a part of the set up crew for Dinning in

the Dark, where I had to help lay down rope for the servers to follow and set up the

tables for the quests as well. I did not expect this to be very challenging, but having

to lay down rope and then put tape down on a huge ballroom floor was definitely a

little harder than I was expecting. This experience had me test my communication

skills that we talked about in class. I had to make sure that the people who were

helping me understood what I was trying to say, and that we were able to lay down

the rope effectively. I also need to make sure that I was listening to what was being

asked of me. This experienced showed me how important it is to really

communicate well with the parents I will be working with. We are team and the

parents need to know what how I am trying to help their child. It also taught me

though, that I need to be a good listener and willing to take the time out and here

what they have to say. The fourth practicum opportunity I had was listening to the

Autism: Parenting on the Spectrum meeting. I had never heard of the Bridge to

Career program or the PATHS program. The meeting described how Bridge to Career

sets up opportunities for adults with disabilities to further their education. Both

programs try to help students be able to function and do things independently. It

was great to hear parents who have already walked through the program see the

progress in their child, and the independence they have gained. The points of both

programs were to help the students to obtain the goals that they themselves set,

whether that be: doing their laundry, driving, going to college, or even living on

their own. This experience made me more aware of the resources that are out there
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for students with disabilities. It taught me that I need to not give up on these

students, but to work them because they can achieve great things. As a teacher it

provided me with two resources to help parents who are looking for ways to help

their children be independent, but to also to be an advocate for these students and

show parents that they can accomplish things that make them be more

independent. My next practicum experience was with Project Unity. For Project

Unity I helped a lot in the main office as an office assistant. I helped with the

shredding, small projects, and even with making sure that the papers that get

handed out had the right information. I got to see all the time and effort the people

at Project Unity put in to helping families. I also was there when a lot of the people

who work there came back from some of the cases that were took to court. It was

interesting to see what they discussed in class being put to use and really

happening. I loved getting to help with whatever projects they needed because they

were always having things go on, dealing with people or meetings. This is another

place that is such a great resource to families. I want to make sure that I tell

families about the work that Project Unity does for the community. I know going into

the experience I thought I was going to see so many people all the time coming in,

but I found that only few would be coming to get food or to talk to someone. That

preconceived idea that I had, was nowhere near what it was like, and for me it

showed something in me that I did not expect. I feel that I put everyone who lives in

poverty into a bubble. I thought that since people were in poverty they would come

and get these supports, but that was not the case at all. There would only be a few

people or even one every hour that I was there. This experience taught me that just

because people might have resources do not mean that they will take them, but it

also means that I cannot assume that the families are as bad off as I might think.
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For my last practicum opportunity I went to Potluck in the Park. Going in I had really

no idea what to expect. My general accusations was that there was going to be a lot

of people, families walking from miles away, children dirty and the people dirty.

When actually arriving to Potluck in the Park I was absolutely wrong. There were not

as many people there on the Saturday that I went, there were families who brought

their cars, and there were tons of children who were not dirty. This instance showed

me just how much I had placed a stereotypical ideal around these people. The

children were definitely hungry and so were many of the people, but it showed me

just how much I had judged them before I got there. I was already prepared that

they were not going to talk to me, that they did not care if I was there or not, and I

was so wrong. They were some of the nicest people I could have ever met, who

were so welcoming. They all had different stories, but the main thing was is that

they got together on these days to cherish each others company before going back

into their lives. This experience taught me that I need to be careful of how I judge

people and that I need to get to know the parents that I work with. I honestly, but

sadly, thought that these people were not trying, did not care about their kids at all.

It demonstrated something inside me that I do not want seen in the classroom. I

want to be able to help these families with resources, and help them have someone

to listen to them. I am so glad that I went to Potluck in the Park because they

taught me something about being open, and nonjudgmental to those around me.

Overall, this experience this semester was very special to me. I thought that I was

not a biased person and that I loved people for who they were. In many instances

that statement is true, but I found a lot of faults in myself that I want to change for

the better when I become an educator. Families are so important to me and I want

to be able to help them get the things that they need whether that be different
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resources, or for me to try and find ways to communicate better with them. I feel

that the families are the heart of the children I work with, and that they hold an

important piece that is a part of teaching those students. I got to ultimately

accomplish stepping outside of my boundaries and stepping into other peoples

shoes. I loved getting to see and experience what it is like to not understand what is

being said, or talking with families who are homeless. By doing the practicum I have

learned so much about myself and others, to where I am now more prepared for

what is to come as a future educator.