This week I tried to focus on sorting through my research to formulate a power point presentation. It is tough after you have accumulated so much information to not incorporate it all. But there is no way I could have made a presentation and presented all of the information I have read thus far in my research, that would have been quite an overload for me and the one watching the presentation. I tried to narrow the facts down to a minimum so my presentation could be a short informative one. At one time in my presentation, I thought I may change the audience from the client's family wanting to learn more about how they could help their at-risk reader read better to the clinician and how it was our responsibility to promote literacy. However, I ended up going with my first plan and just made this a presentation to inform families with children who may be at-risk readers why phonological awareness is important and should be integrated in their children's life. I used facts and definitions I found throughout my research to relay my message.
I am very excited that we are finally on the down side of the hill. All semester I have felt like "The Little Engine that could" and I am still saying "I think I can, I think I can ..." This semester has been tough but I am proud of my accomplishments and I will continue to say "I think I can" until successfully complete this course.
I am looking forward to a new week and the completion of our last genre, man that sounds good.

I enjoyed the chat on the moo this week because it gave me some ideas of what I could do for my next two genres and get feedback from my classmates. I decided was going to put my genres together to form a story for my unifying genre. I think they will all fit together pretty nicely and I will have a chance to be creative and dramatize my work by writing a story.
I initially thought the genres already completed were tuff, however, this week seemed to be the toughest for me simply because I had to change modes and not only think of questions I would ask a parent and their child but I also had to respond to my question from their point of view. This was tuff for me but now I feel I have a better understanding of what types of questions may go through a parents or their child’s minds. During an interview like this one I tried to start off asking the parent a closed-ended question just to get the ball rolling. Then, I proceeded to ask open-ended questions to give the interviewee an opportunity to add any thoughts &/or feelings that they feel are important.
I will be excited when this semester is over, sometimes the stress is more than I can take. I often feel like I am letting my family and friends down because I haven’t kept in touch as much lately as I usually do. However, I keep thinking this semester will be over soon and I will be able to see them for the holidays. I know that had nothing to do with CD but I just felt like journaling about it—I feel better now :)!

Good Night All!

Things are slowly but surely coming along. I took time out to set back and take a look at all of the work we have done and it is really adding up. We have reached the halfway point in the semester-- yep pee! I think my research is beginning to fall into place a little at a time. I am still very excited to complete my MRP and I enjoyed using the time on Wednesday evening to do work for this class.

This week my genre #4 consisted of three lesson plans that incorporated phonological awareness in them. These plans took a long time to complete but I tried to write them as clearly as possible.

I would like to mention how much I have enjoyed my mailing list. It is hard to predict what type subjects will be discussed on this list. The members stayed on topic (Early Childhood) but you never know what question may arise when working with children of this age. If anyone had questions and they emailed them to the list a response was usually given with in that day.

I have noticed there are a lot of projects we have started that need to be finished. I sometimes find myself in a pool of stress, not being pleasant company for anyone. I just keep telling myself to keep my head above water and hopefully it will be more downhill from here. By writing about this I feel better already.