(b) Cite your source regarding who or what article or book helped you complete the independent component.
Two things helped me completed my independent component. That would be my mentor and teachers at the daycare along with the kids as well. An article about kinesthetic learning also helped me learn several tips on how to teach kids with physical activities. Link to article
(c) Update your Independent Component 2 Log (which should be under your Senior Project Hours link)
(d) Explain what you completed.
I have completed 30 hours of my independent component by observing and participating in learning activities with the kids at the daycare. I helped conduct activities that involve kinesthetic and visual learning which is what kids learn best by at their young ages. Kinesthetic and visual learning is learning with physical and hands on activities. Kids that are so young and curious and want to explore everything around them that grabs their attention. So what way to teach them best by using what they are most attracted to?
(e) Defend your work and explain the component's significance and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work. Provide evidence (photos, transcript, art work, videos, etc) of the 30 hours of work.
My independent component two has helped me realize that kids at a young age are willing to explore things that are new to them. Whether they realized that they are learning or not, they are always learning something new everyday. When they're at a daycare they learn what the teachers provide for them. For my component I took advantage of the fact that the daycare actually has a routine similar to a common core education. The activities they have for the kids throughout the day consist of subjects such as art, math, science, some history, and language. I would observe and participate with the kids to see their progression and to help teach them a few new things. This couldn't just be done within a day. It took time to track how well they do and how well they memorize certain things such as the alphabet or their numbers. Over time I noticed that the more the activities are repeated the better that they grasp the lesson.
(f)How did the component help you answer your EQ? Please include specific examples to illustrate how it helped.
This component helped helped me answer my EQ which is, How can a caretaker best ensure the proper development of a child under the age of five? There are several ways the a caretaker can help ensure a child's proper development. In this case the component actually taught me that a caretaker can ensure that by providing educational activities that aren't necessarily "strict" on the education but that the kids are learning something in the most fun way possible. Keeping them entertained while they're doing the educational activities is what really benefits them. For example, when trying to teach a kid to count up to number ten repetition and communication is essential. As a caretaker you have to say it slowly enough for them to follow along so they know how to enunciate the number correctly. You can also do this in a fun way by having them count objects such as toy insects or legos.
