=====Practicum Information/Log=====
Psy498PracticumLog

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site: Lafayette High School, Fran Tucker 

Activities: 2/28 8-12 
3/1 8-12:30 
3/2 8-12 
3/3 8-12 
3/4 8-12 

Interesting topics were covered this week.  I was able to sit in on Junior evaluations.  Ms. Tucker and I went over what PSAT scores meant, and what scores were needed in order to get into college.  I sat with students and went over the COPS interest inventory, which changed some student's minds on where they wanted to apply to college.  I then had to make copies of letters to be sent home to parents stating that there child had an evaluation in their junior year so they are informed on what to do their senior year when applying to colleges.  While meeting with students I was very shocked that many said they had no internet access at home and the only time they were informed about certain colleges was when they were at school.  I mentioned to some of the students that they could go to a public library and search the internet because it is very helpful when choosing a college.  That was a perfect example of people not moving ahead because of the lack of resources and information in their homes.  Hopefully some of these students will take advantage of the public resources! 

Total hours this week: 20.5 
Hours remaining: 0!!! 

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site: Lafayette H.S., Fran Tucker 

Activities: 2/22 8-3 
2/23 8-12 
2/24 8-12:30 
2/25 8-12 

This week I went over the list I made last marking period of the students that were failing subjects.  I had to highlite over the names of the students who are still failing those subjects.  About 90% of the students are continuing to fail what they were failing last marking period.  After reading about LD's, maybe the counselors should be looking for that in math, because that is where most students are having problems.  Also, maybe the students just aren't pushed or motivated.  Also, I did "keep busy" work...stamping and stuffing envelopes...it's the work that you do not have to think about that takes forever!  I also had to make appointment cards for the students that had to make an appointment with their guidance counselor to talk about what they are failing and what they need to do to get better grades.  Lastly, I had to file schedule change cards into the files of students who have had their schedule changed. 

Total hours: 99.5 
Hours remaining: 20.5 

Next week should be my last week! 

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site: Lafayette High School, Fran Tucker 

Activities: 1/31/05 8-12 
2/1/05 8:30-12:30 
2/2/05 8-12 
2/3/05 8:30-12:30 
2/4/05 8-12 

This week I was able to sit in on some classes.  I was supposed to be observing the learning environment, the styles of teaching and how the students interacted with one another and the teacher in the classroom.  There was not much open discussion in the classrooms, which did not seem to be good.  Anything that was said was debated by someone else.  It seemed like it was not o.k. for students to have their own opinions.  I also corrected tests while sitting in the classrooms.  This week was busy in the guidance office.  I met one young lady that was scared to go to lunch because a group of girls were making fun of her (I thought high school was supposed to be the best time of your life).  I also met a young lady who is pregnant, but is scared to tell her mother so she wanted one of the guidance counselors to call her mother for her. 

Total hours: 80 
Hours remaining: 40    

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site: Lafayette H.S., Fran Tucker 

Activities: 1/24/05 8-12 
1/25/05 830-1230 
1/26/05 8-12 
1/27/05 830-1230 
1/28/05 8-12 

This week was catch up week because midterms, or end of the semester exams, were being taken so the students were not in school for the entire day.  I continued stuffing and stamping letters that needed to be sent home to the parents of students who have been missing too many days of school.  Each student can only miss 28 days of school the entire year or they will fail that school year.  It seems weird that some students in the past have not graduated on time because of that rule.  I couldn't imagine missing so many days per year without falling behind!  I also put files in abc order of students that have graduated in the past (I was in those files...kind of cool!)  I also had a chance to speak to tutors from Gear Up, that come from D'Youville.  They said that most students have many problems in math because of the new Math A exam that needs to be taken in order to graduate.  It seems to me that NYS is lowering its standards in order for more students to graduate, but the students are no where near prepared to enter the real world or the work force...hopefully that will change soon.  I also spent time talking to the EPIC workers and I am still bothered that NYS educates soon to be parents, but they do not want to spend the money on ways to prevent becoming teenage parents.  The system seems to be backwards! 

Total hours: 60 
Hours remaining: 60 

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site: Lafayette High School, Fran Tucker

Activities: Long time, no log in!   

1/18/05 8:30-12:30 
1/19/05 9-12 
1/20/05 8:30-12:30 
1/21/05 9-12 

This week was a "keep busy" week.  I did all the things an intern would do, because no one else wants to do them. 

1/18:  I stamped 1,000 envelopes with the address of Lafayette high school. 
1/19:  I stuffed all of the envelopes with letters to the parents of students letting them know how many days their child has missed in each of their classes. 
1/20:  I wrote down all of the schedule changes of the students who were entering Health and dropping either a study hall or gym. 
1/21:  I wrote down all of the schedule changes of the students who were dropping Health and entering a study hall or gym. 

Total hours: 40 
Hours remaining: 80 

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site: Lafayette High School, Fran Tucker

Activities: 12/14/04 8a.m.-3p.m. 
I sat in on meetings with the seniors and their guidance counselors.  Their class ranks were revealed and college applications were discussed.  Also, we met with people from AmeriCorps, which is an organization that helps students get their G.E.D. and also helps them with college applications. 

12/16/04 8a.m.-3p.m. 
I tutored most of the day.  I helped all I possibly could with algebra...I am a psych major, we got out of not needing too much math!  I wasn't a huge help, but I tried.  I met with a few seniors and discussed college life, campus life, homework, and the process of changing from a senior to a freshman again. 

total hours: 26 
hours left: 94 

Merry Christmas!  I'll log in again in a few weeks! 

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site: Lafayette High School, Fran Tucker

Activities: 11/30/04 9a.m.-3p.m. 
I had to go through about 500 report cards for Ms. Tucker and right down the names of students that were failing more than three subjects.  I was floored by how many names ended up on my list.  More than three fourths of the students are failing three or more subjects.  Also, I was able to observe senior evaluations.  We went over how to fill out college applications and how to fill out financial aid forms.   

12/9/04 9a.m.-3p.m. 
I sat in on a meeting with students that are allowed the privilege of early release.  This means that the students have priorities at home, a job, or an internship and must leave school early.  Also, I attended a meeting with a woman that is involved in a program called EPIC, which is a program that teaches future high school students how to become good parents.  I asked how many students were expecting mothers, and once again I was floored!  There are about 50 students per year that become pregnant and join this EPIC program.  It amazes me that the government cannot fund preventative services, but it provides parenting classes!!! 

Total hours: 12 
Hours left: 108 

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