Blog 26: Senior Project Reflection

(1) Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your 2-Hour Presentation and/or your senior project? Why?

One of the things that I am definately proud of for my senior project is my decision to choosing child life specialist as my senior project. I was really happy that I had the oppurtunity to teach other teachers and students about the unknown career of child life specialist, and the significance that they make. Overall I was pleased because my topic never once had me questin my decision and it allowed me to continuously learn more and more evryday. Along with my topic, I am really proud with my research as a whole, never in my whole life had I ever researched something so continuosly. I am satisfied at with the fact that I was focaused with my resear and was determined the most to find the best research. Even though at first reasech checks were a struggle for me, I am proud that I showed major growth,and even more happy that I have a binder full of research to always look back on.

(2) Questions to Consider

a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your 2-Hour Presentation (self-assessment)?

For my assesment for my two hour even though I am positive that I hit all of the "P" concideration points, I would give my self a "AP". Although this isn't what I would want to give myself, I feel like due to my nerves I let it get the best of me, and I feel like I could of explained a few of my slides in more depth.

b.     What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)?

Overall for senior project I would give myself a "P" because although the bumps along this journey, I feel like I worked hard enough throughout the whole year to deserve this grade. All of my assignments were done and completed properly on time.

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?

Along with my research,what worked for me as for senior project was my 30 minute lesson. Being able to present a 30 minute lesson on my own was an accoplishment for me because this was one of the presentations that I was successful at. After presenting and recieving my grade I gained the confidence to continue throughout the senior year/project.

(4) (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would have you done differently to improve your senior project if you could go back in time?

If I had a time machine to go back, I would havenot procrastinated as much as I did as for completeing my powerpoint for my two hour presentation. I feel like I would have finished it weeks before, I would have had more time to perfect the way I was going to present. If I could of done that, I would have been less stressed out the day before.

(5) Finding Value

Overall the experience of senior project will always be something I will cherish. No matter how much my nerves got to me today during my presentation, at the very end once the audience applauded for me I felt one of the greatest feelings. I looked back to point when I was deciding what my topic was going to be,  times at mentorship, the ups and downs with research, the times when I got no sleeps, the time I once brokedown...all of it for this one moment. Completeing this senior project was one of the most challenging things that I had to do throughout my life. Never have I ever been committed to working on something for so long. Overall I appreciate what this project has taught me. I have personally learned how accept the fact that no matter what there is always sacarafices that you are going to have to make to get things done. I am pleased that this project allowed us to learn how to find and apply good research, this is something that I will always be able to keep in mind while in college.

Blog 25: Mentorship

Literal:


https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Arv7-kyJVfnSdE9KYXhGdHpkNEl1Qy1VU2dydENyN0E&usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Arv7-kyJVfnSdDR0OXFIQktKNnB5M0d5bTM5d0gxaUE&usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Arv7-kyJVfnSdDl1RHBnSjZULV9qOU9TTnZjVXU4UHc&usp=sharing
Mentor's name: Dalilah Calderon ...CONTACT INFO: (626) 859-4584
Interpretive:

What is the most important thing you gained from this experience?

The most important thing I gained from this experience was the ability to better the knowledge and skills that I have towards childre. For example from working hands on with the children from the daycare, I have been able to learn the needs of children in general, and how to be patient, and communicate effectlively.

Applied:

How has what you've done helped you to answer your EQ?

The hours that I have done with the daycare has helped me with answering my EQ because I was able to experience first the general needs that a child has within their life. During the hours I have done for my independent component 2, I  was able to confirm and and find the significance of play, which is part of my best answer.When I completed hours for my independent component 2, I was able to define the significance of having organized schedules to reduce the anxiety that the children had, this finding went in towards my answer: Preparation.

May 14, 2013 : What's New !?

  During most of my mentorship at the daycare I contributed by helping out three of the elementary students at Delovely daycare during homework time. From the beginning of the year I helped out one specific child named delilah who is in second grade. Overall she is a very bright kid, but has always struggled with reading and writing. As part of mentorship at the daycare, I have been tutoring her with her english. After all of the hard work we have both put in together, as of today delilah had been emitted into the Gate program (gifted & talented education). After hearing the appreciation from delilah's parents, I have realized how amazing it has been and felt to be part of this accomplishment and ofcourse my overall experience at mentorship.

Took Delilah and her friend to celebrate at Benihana restaurant for her accomplishment

Blog 24 : exit interview

(1) What is your essential question?  What is the best answer to your question and why?

My essential question is : "What is the most significant contribution of child life services to a hospitalized child's health?". After researching this past year about child life specialist I found that the most significant contributions are preparation, and support, The most significant contribution of the services to a hospitalized child's health is PLAY IN THE HOSPITAL. This contribution is the best answer to my essential question because although preparation and support  benefit a child's  mental and physical health, play in the hospital is more benficial because it benefits not only physical and mental health but the children gain a variety of social skills aswell,  all at once . 

 

(2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?

After commiting to the topic of child life specialist I began to more about the general idea of what child life specialist are. I became exposed to the foundation of the carreer aspects and achievments that the child life services take part of. After fully understanding the background of child life service, I became passionate with the idea of finding the right essential question that will help others recognize the child life occupation. Thus I came up with the eq "What is the most significant contribution of child life services to a hospitalized child's health?". I began most of my research online to find the potenial aswers to that question. Although alot of research articles had alot of supporting facts, I found my first answer: npreparation, and best answer: play in the hospital, bolded in a book called "emotional care of hospitalized children". After receiving two of my aswers, I noticed that I had a pattern. I found that the most significant contibutions that i found happen in the begining and middle of a child's hospitalization. After that finding, I was determined to find something significant that the specialist do toward's the end of hospitalization.While looking at the pediatric site of Maryland university children's hospital, I found my last answer: support, which concluded my pattern in the way that I expected.

 

 

(3) What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?

For one mentorship was hard to find, then when I did a "trial" mentorship at the city of hope hospital, I felt as if what I was doing wasn't as relatable to my topic as I hoped it would be. I didnt have an oppurtunity to even be by kids, so I felt mentorship there was not effective enough for me. A few weeks after I got the okay to complete hours at a daycare. This issue was definately resolved because I was actually now going to be able to be hands on with the children there, and have the oppurtunity to learn from that experience.

A second problem that I faced had to do with research. Alkot of research was online, but when it came to finding books about child life specialist , alot were very outdated. I then resolved the issue by changing my focaus to the needs and care of hospitalized children. Since child life specialist deal with hospitalized children for a living, the book I found " emotional needs of hospitalized hcildren" talked alot on specialist.

 

(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?

 

My 1st most significant source would be my mento JoAnn Namm (specialist at city of hope) because although my other mentor Gina Day Padre Vaughn was a big help as well, JoAnn not only gave me the output of great interviews, but she allowed me to witness the child life services at work . From the experiences that she has let me be part of, I have gained knowledge from the aspect and point of view of real child life specialist like her. In addition JoAnn was who introduced me to my second mentor, who has also been a great help.

My 2nd source is the book "Emotional care of hospitalized children". This book was the one I checked out at the cal poly libary, til this day I am really glad I checked out that book because it made it easy for me this year because I was able to find two of my asnwers to my EQ in there in bolded letters. The book not only discussed the basic needs of the children, but explained in detail about the contributions specialist make for the children.

 

(5) What is your product and why?

So far My product is that I gained The ability to be a much more understaning person in general &learn how to communicate with children effctively. From working hours at my mentorship (Delovely daycare) I have been much exposed to a variety of people of different ages. Each person and child has their own needs and personality. At first adapting to others needs vs mine was a challenge. From the experiences that I have been able to have, I have been able to be much more understanding of others ways, and forms of communication.

Blog 23 : 2014 interview

So today, just when lunch started I had the oppurtunity to meet as well as interview a student from Ipoly's class of 2014.

1) Who I had the chance to interview was a girl in South house named Symphony Moreno.

2) Me: "What ideas do you have for you senior project and why" ?

Symphony: "What I am looking into is straight up Photography, maybe even forensic photography."

Me: "Really, thats sounds really intersting. Im pretty sure that this girl named nicole Diaz in my senior class has either one of those topics, so if anything I'm sure she wouldn't mind giving you a few tips or other information about photography related things."


Me: "Is there any specific reason why you are interested in those topics" ?

Symphony: " Well first of all I really enjoy the aspects of photos and photgraphy in general. Til this day I still concider photography as a type of carreer path for me to take on someday in the future. Also if I am going to achieve photography as a carreer, I think it would be useful to have the knowledge and experience."

3) Me: "What do you plan to do for your summer 10 hr mentorship experience" ?

Symphony: "As of now I'm not really sure what I will be able to do, but so far I've been researching places online that I might be able to go to, and also I have been trying to get in contact with this one forensic photographer, as well as contacting a police station to see if things will be possible for me there"

4) Me: "What do you hope to see or expect while watching the 2013 2hr presentations" ?

Symphony: "To be honest I am not really sure, becaus e the whole senior project idea is still new to me and also too because everyone has a different topic. If anything I hope to be able to see a topic similar to the one I will chosing".

5) Me: "Is there any questions that you have that I could answer relating the senior project or senior year" ?

Symphony: "Is the senior project hard" ? .."And if so, how brutal is it" ?

Me: " Honestly senior project isn't difficult, as long as you pace your self correctly. Depending on your topic, things that could be difficult along the way are finding mentorship, people to interview, and maybe even the science fair. But in general the senior project may be stressful, but it is not hard to complete overall. It's all about being able to manage your time well so that you can get everything done on time, and about not giving up. As long as you try your best and manage your time in wise ways, senior year should be fun."

Blog 22 : 3 column

3 column logic chart

Blog 21: Independent Component 2

LITERAL
(a) Statement saying: “I, Alicia Rangel , affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”
b) Sources: DeLovely Daycare.. CONTACT INFO: (626) 859-4584

Inspirational article: "helping your child cope with hospitalization" Scott Baker

(c) Provide a digital spreadsheet (aka log of the 30 hours)
hours on the blog post below...
http://loveandhellokitty.blogspot.com/2013/04/independent-component-2-additional-30.html

d) Explanation of what you completed.  

What I completed for my independent component two is an additional set of 30 hours of mentorship. To achieve this, my purpose of this component was to create a variety of daily schedules for the children at the daycare to follow throughout the day. The general process that I followed to complete my component was...

1) Observe the daily routine at DeLovely daycare.

 * This included making a list of the normal activites done and the approximate time that was spent doing them

2) Evaluate the Needs and Basic of the children.

* Some examples would be homework time, snack, study hall..ect

3) Think of new activities, timing, and organization.

* New activities were discovered with the help of JoAnn Namm (mentor /childlife specialist) and inspirational online sites like DLTK'S crafts for kids : http://www.dltk-kids.com/top10.htm

4) Create a variety of new schedules

* The new routines were typed up on a word document, printed out, and had to first be approved by the daycare.

5) Follow through with the routine.

* After approval, the routines were set and were posted up to notify the children how their daily schedule would be for that day. 

6) Get the routines going!

* since I was the one to create the routine , I enforced the schedule daily while  I was there.

INTERPRETIVE



"Jason during X-box time 4/12"



Schedule #1  
2:00-3:00 pm Homework time

3:00-3:15 pm Snack time

3:15-4:15 pm Play time (outdoors)

4:15-5:00 pm Study hall

5:00-7:00 pm Movie time

total hours per day : 5
dates used: 4/8,4/11
days (2) x hours (5)= 10 total hours for schedule #1


Schedule #2 (fun friday)
2:00-3:00 pm Arts and crafts

3:00-3:30 pm T.V. time

3:30-5:00 pm  Out door activity

5:00-5:15 pm Snack time

5:15-7:00 pm X-box/ Wii time

total hours per day : 5
dates used: 4/5,4/12
days (2) x hours (5)= 10 total hours for schedule #2

Schedule #3 
2:00-3:00 pm Homework time

3:00-3:30 pm Board games

3:30-3:45 pm Snack time

3:45-4:00 pm Songs of the day

4:00-5:00 pm Outdoor games

5:00-7:00 pm Relax/T.V. time

total hours per day : 5
dates used: 4/15,4/17
days (2) x hours (5)= 10 total hours for schedule #3



"During out door play 4/8"



APPLIED

This component helped me with the process of answering my essential question because it focused specifically  on one of my answers, which is preperation. After reading one of my articles "helping your child cope with hospitalization" by Scott Baker, I learned one of the most  important aspects of preparation in general. Scott Baker included the fact that making a schedule is helpful for a hospitalized child. For a child, having a daily schedule or sets of routines can help them ease types of anxiety.As for hospitalized children in specific, it is helpful to have a routine, child life specialist are the ones who can help a child and family set up a schedule. The schedules is a factor to a successful child's coping. I was able to able my reasearch to real life. When I created the schedules, I had planned to see some type of result(s). After The schedules were followed through I noticed what a change in organization can do. I was able to relate and agree with Scott Baker on his words applying to the significance of routines. Overall I am satisfied that I was able to test my research and verify that what my research stated is generally true.

Independent Component #2 : Additional 30 hrs mentorship log

	Date	Hours	total hours	duties
	4/5/2013	5	5	Follow schedule - enforce the following activities
				arts&crafts, out door activity, snack time,and indoor game
	4/8/2013	5	10	Follow schedule -help kids with homework, prep snack, conduct play time, prep for movie
	4/11/2013	5	15	Follow schedule -homework time, study hall help, prep snack, enfore outdoor play activities
	4/12/2013	5	20	Follow schedule -explain and help children with crafts for that day, prep snack, set up indoor games
	4/15/2013	5	25	Follow schedule - homework help, board game activities, prep snack, enforce songs of the day, out door activity with kids
	4/17/2013	5	30	Follow schedule - homework help, board game activities, prep snack, enforce songs of the day, out door activity with kids

Updated WB

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Arv7-kyJVfnSdFpFSmcxTkw2RmJVLU53VDVIX2xLVFE#gid=1

blog 20 3 column draft

Name _____Alicia Rangel____________________________          House ____S___   Topic ____CHILD LIFE SPECIALIST______________________________
THREE COLUMN LOGIC CHART
Essential Question: What is the most significant contribution of child life services to a hospitalized child's health?
Best Answer: play in the hospital
Statements	Reasons	Verification
1) EQ: What is the most significant contribution of child life services to a hospitalized child's health?	1) Given	1)
2) child life services are the roles played by child life specialist	2) we need to know what child life services are in order to classify them as child life specilaist	2) childlife.org
3) child life specialist are pediatric health proffesionals who work with children and families in hospitals and other settings to help them cope with the challenges of hospitalization	3) we need to understand what child life specilaist in order to know what contributions they make to children	3) mayo school of health sciences
4) child life services were necessary for the emotional stability and healthy development of hospitalized children	4) hospitalized children are mitigating the fear and pain associated with treatments	4) evolution of the child life profession
5) child life programs are beneficial	5) they promote normal growth and development	5) barnabas health.com
6) answer1: preperation	6) increases the understanding of the hospital experience	6) Mary Seriah
7) the aspect involves clinic visits, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures	7) helps familiarizes the children and families with the circumstances and procedures they will encounter	7) American academy of pediatrics
8) the specialist provide verbal information to families and children	8) they share accurate descriptions to demonstrate the experiences they will have	8) earl grollman
9) enables the child to practice coping strategies	9) strategies include relaxationa and pain management techniques	Eileen ogintz
10) answer2: support	10) the child life team plays a crucial role in supporting children and families by helping the cope and adjust to the stessors of hospitalization and illness.	10) University of maryland, pediatrics
11) support involves not only the child but parents and other members of the family	11) family members have an important effect on a child's adjustment to the health care experience	11) chris daniels
12) emotional support is the most common form of support	12) emotional support helps the child and family cope and remain confident throughout the experience	12) "emotional care of hospitalized children"
13) answer3: play in the hospital	13) play therapy involves many creative techniques to help benefit children	13) j.p. lilly
14) increases childes social skills	14) they learn to develop respect and acceptance of themselves and others	14) schaefer,2005
15) is a common form of distraction towards hospitalization	15) the children natrually enforce their play and remain independent while play	15) jessica marcer
16) It makes them feel good overall	16) promotes self confidence and selfe esteem, boosting their ability to cope	16) recognition of the importance of play in the hospital
	if : preperation, support, and play in the hospital are significant contributions of the child life services
	then: the most significant contribution of the child life services to a hospitalized child's health would be play in the hospital because it promotes he child's self esteem while improving their ability to cope.

Blog 19: Senior Project and ESLRs

1.  What ESLR have you excelled in most in your senior project? 

The ESLR, to which I feel I have excelled in most in my senior project is... being an effective Communicator

2.  Please explain why you think you have excelled in this ESLR.

For my senior project I feel that I have best become a much more and effective communicator. I clearly have been a more effective communicator because, now when I do need feed back with my senior project, I  ask for opinions by communicating with some of my classmates. Not only in school have I been improving my communication skills, but as well as my during my mentorship. From time to time I learned that along with being responsible, communication skills were extremely important to have when working with children. Since they are children , I eventually have developed a new way of how to communicate with that specific age group effectively. Along with that skill, I have gained a greater deal of patience, which has helped me create bonds with the kids at my mentorship.Ipoly in general helps students become better communicators, with all the group work and things like trade shows. What has helped me specifically strive as a better communicator this year  is my experience of presenting our 10 and 30 minute lesson plans. Even though the 10 minute was a short presentation, this was what gave me the confidence as a senior to want to spark up my communication skills as a presenter. From the space gaps between my first and second presentation, im learning more, and hopefully to the point where I communicate extra well during my 2hour presentation.

3.  To support my claim...

The "ice breaker" of my communication skills as a senior...my 10 minute presentation



This image is a refereance to one of the ways I use alot of  communication at the daycare , during 'HOMEWORK TIME'



2-Hour Meeting Answer #3

1.  What is your essential question? What is the most significant contribution of child life services to a hospitalized child's health?
2.  My third answer to my essential question is support.

3. The child life team plays a crucial role in supporting children and their families by helping them cope with and adjust to the stressors of illness and hospitalization.
 4.  What source helped you prove this answer is justified for your essential question? http://www.umm.edu/pediatrics/child_life.htm ( the University of maryland pediatics site).
5.  What do you plan to study next and why? I plan on studying techniques on how to support a child depending on this issues and just more of the basics about emotional support.

Fouth interview questions

1)What are the most significant contributions of child life services to a hospitalized child's health?
2)How did you find out about the child life field?
3)How do you personally describe your career to someone who is unfamiliar with it?
4)Which age group is easiest to medically prepare?
5)Is it harder to help a child cope before or after procedure?
6)Are the any experiencences that have helped you prepare for being a child life specialist?
7)How do you see your self connecting with the community?
8)How do the specialist phycologically prepare a hospitalized child?
9)What makes preperation difficult for a hospitalized child ?
10)What makes preperation difficult for a child life specialist?
11)What do you do to take care of your self during difficult or stressful days at the hospital?
12)What can you tell me about the nature of relationships between child life specilaist and the families?
13)How does play therapy contribute to medical care?
14)Are there any professions similar to child life specialist?
15)What are some ways child life specialist provide emotional support for the families?
16)What are some ways child life specialist provide emotional support for the child?
17)Due to your own experience, are there any frequent questions asked while at work  that you have to answer?
18)Are there specific skills that I as a person should make sure I have before entering this career path?
19)How do you mesure the effectiness of play therapy?
20)Are there any specific techniques of play that you reccomend?

2-Hour Meeting Answer #2

1.  Essential Question: 2.  The second answer to my essential question is "Phycological Preperation".
3.  Preparing children for hospitalization and procedures is is an important element of child life services.
Preperation reduces emotional disturbances in the hospital setting.
Preperation allows the specialist to explain and introduce the child to procedure that will be further done.
4.  What source helped you prove this answer is justified for your essential question? My source was the article from The American Academy of pediatics, about child life services.
5.  I plan to continue the study of my answer 2 by finding great books that talk and explain about the importance of medical preperation.

Independent Component 2 Plan Approval

CONTENT:
(1) Write a description of what you plan on doing for your independent study component.
For my independent component I plan on working with the motel children's hospital in Los Angeles.
(2) Describe in detail how you think your plan will meet the 30 hours work requirement. I will meet the required time by working every week with the children's hospital's child life specialist program.
(3) How does your independent study component relate to your working EQ?  It relates to my project because I will get real life experience with working with the specialist .

Independent Component 1

LITERAL(a) Statement :I, Alicia Rangel, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.
(b) Mentor's name: Dalilah Calderon ...CONTACT INFO: (626) 859-4584
(c)digital spreadsheet

Date	Hours	Total hours	Duties
10/31/2012	4.5	4.5	Since today was Halloween, at the daycare I helped host a fun celebration. My duties of this day consisted of... -preparing setup and decorations -Create and run activities for the kids -order and pick up food.



This is one of the first photo's I've taken. On the day of Halloween this is my mentor Dalilah dressed as a cat, having a group chat with the children.



11/13/2012

2

6.5

Today was a very calm day, compared to the Halloween celebration I hosted the last time I went. My specific duties today included being outside while the kids were playing.

 



Here's a photo of this boy max , who I helped trace his own hands to paint  them on paper.



11/29/2012

4.5

15

At the daycare today, it was movie day for another time. My responsibilities included setting up a “movie atmosphere”. I was also able to participate and facilitate this event.

12/14/2012

8

23

Before the christmas party, my mentor Dalilah asked me to take on a big challenge. Today was the day of the challenge, which was to create a suprise party for Dalilah’s daughter’s 8th birthday. With only a day, I was able to create a party for her to include the daycare children.



Here's my mentor's daughter posing with mariah (daycare child) infront of the photo booth I made for the party that day.



1/17/2013

4

27

At the daycare today, I was in charge of homework time and study hall. I was responsible to help grade children with homework & provide worksheets for some pre-schooler level children.

 



Here's a shot of adam playing tag at the daycare with the kids for 'FUN TUESDAY'.



(d) For my Independent Component, I basically added 31 more hours of mentorship towards my total hours for my senior project.

INTERPRETIVE : My independent component definately made the 30 hour requirment, because I was able to successfully break down my hours by specific days chosen by my mentor. My project did not take up as many days as I expected, I was luckily able to complete the 31 hours within the seven random days that my mentor suggest I come.

APPLIED:

How did the component help you understand the foundation of your topic better?  I am overall satisfied that I completed additional hours at the daycare as my Independent Component. I feel I was wise to do those hours at the daycare rather than city of hope..because unlike city of hope, I get to be full on within the children's atmosphere. These hours as my component have really helped me with the foundation of being a child life specialist. With the time I spend one on one with the children, the more I learn how to use and apply proper skills when working with children in general.For example, I can definately say that my duties such as facilitating fun fridays & tuesdays at the daycare..has taught me to gain more patience when needed.