December 5th: ¡Bienvenidos Familia y Amigos!

¡Qué magnífico era este día!

When my little came into the cafeteria, I asked her if she was excited for her family and teacher to come. She then told me that she forgot to give her parents the red flyer! But that was not a big deal; we instead found her teacher, Mrs. Moore, in the hallway and asked her to come for a few minutes. I had an amazing conversation Mrs. Moore about my future in education. She highly suggested getting a spanish minor or an ESL endorsement in addition to my elementary education degree. We also talked about my little's classroom performance, and Mrs. Moore said that she struggles in some areas like reading and math. The reason, she said, was the language barrier and her inability to make connections. One day, a girl and my little paired up to work on math problems together. The other girl was really good at math and taught my little the concept, and after that, she said she understood what was going on. I am wondering if the girl taught my little in Spanish, or if it was simply being helped by a peer that did the trick.

I also talked with the ESL teacher at St. Charles. I showed her the journal we write in to each other, and she was really impressed at how dedicated we were each week with our entries.

One of my most memorable moments was talking with some of the parents who came. Amanda and Kristi's littles are cousins with my little, so I was able to meet her aunt, uncle, and younger cousins. I talked with them in Spanish and told them how beatuiful and smart I thought their niece was. ¡Qué bonita es ella!

It was a little heartwrenching knowing that this meeting would be the last one for about a month. I feel, however, that the time from now until then will help my little and I appreciate each other more. I always find that distance makes the heart grow fonder :) My greatest hope is that Monica continues to write in our journal. I hope she either writes like she has been or starts a creative story.

During the last couple of times we have met as a class, I've been realizing how much I have grown in knowledge and application of the Latino culture. From just the few presentations that have already occurred, I have discovered new areas I want to dig into and heighten my awareness of critical issues.

Thank you for an awesome semester! I'll be back in a month with more mentoring experiences!

November 29th: Second Trip to WSU

During the trip to St. Charles and back, I loved talking with all the littles about their Thanksgiving break. Everyone did something different, and I loved how each little really wanted to share their exciting news.

I have realized in the past few weeks how my little has grown so much more comfortable speaking her native language amongst the other littles. They have bonded so much and feel comfortable around all of the bigs. This has not only been a one-on-one mentoring experience, but also a group bonding experience where we have come to interact and learn about each other.

The trip to WSU was incredible once again. I could tell that they loved coming back; they all knew exactly what they wanted to see and knew exactly where the icecream was :).

I felt like my little took in the most when we went into the library. She was really quiet and was looking at everything there was to see. I will never forget the expression she had on her face when we walked up to the third floor of the library; She could not believe how many books there were, and she also paid close attention to the students studying below on the second floor. She was wondering what they were doing, and I told her they were studying for their final exams.

Going to the science lab was amazing! All the littles had a bunch of energy, and I was really impressed at how well Bruno Borsarri handled their excitement. My little was especially fascinated by the crickets. I remember at one point some of them were released on the floor and she was the first one to pounce at it! I didn't know she was fearless of bugs!

Cynthia Porter from the Winona Post asked me if I would like to be interviewed for an article entitled "Amistad." I agreed, and I just recently replied to her questions with the following:

I was first interested in this course because I have a desire to work with the Latino population in the future. I am an elementary education major at WSU and I am looking into completing a Spanish minor. My goal one day is to study abroad and also teach Spanish-speaking children in South America.

This class has provided me with more opportunities than I could imagine. Each day in class we discuss current issues affecting the Latino population in the United States, including border and identity issues, immigration laws and concerns, literacy and education, and more. Everyday we learn something new and discuss how this has affected Latinos and also how we can become more open-minded, humble individuals in a diverse world.

Mentoring at St. Charles has provided more insight into the culture and education of Latino children. In class we have learned that Latinos are prone to more educational difficulty, but as a mentor, I hope to reveal opportunities and emphasize optimism in my little's future. On Wednesdays, my little and I do a variety of activities together. One thing we both enjoy is writing to each other in a journal about our week. Every Wednesday we share what we did and what we enjoyed and then switch journals for the next week. This has been a great way to not only learn about my little's likes and dislikes, but to discover new ways in which we relate and have further conversation. We also read, do arts and crafts, and play group games. A couple of weeks ago, the class asked their littles to bring in pictures of their family and we did the same. This was the first time I saw my little truly open up and talk about her siblings and parents. It was an incredible bonding activity!

All the littles are energetic and willing to learn. They just need to find open doors that will lead them to a bright future.

__________________________________________________________________________________

I am really looking forward to next week! I hope we have an opportunity to talk with our little's parents and teachers. This will provide insight into both my little's life but also a glance into what my future will be like.

November 14th: Our Last Normal Day of Mentoring

I was really excited to see my little today, and I think part of this excitement came from knowing that our relationship is more like a friendship instead of an authority-child relationship. When my little came to the room, she had a smile on her face and was anxious to show me the pictures she had brought of her family. She brought at least twenty of them, and for each one she told me a story about who was in it. This activity was amazing because she was finally able to show me and talk about something that she really cared about. After she showed me hers, I showed her pictures of my family, and now that she was comfortable talking, she asked me a lot of questions. I am surprised at how open and talkative she became!

Next we read through our journals like we normally do. I wrote my entry in cursive, which gave her some practice reading a different style of writing (currently in her class they are learning how to write in cursive). Over the weekend I had made some tie-dyed clothing during my sister's birthday party, and after she read that part in my journal, I gave her a shirt I had made her. She loved it and we decided we would both wear tie-die the next time we see each other!

During the rest of the time, we played with playdough and took pictures of our creations. We also played badminton - I brought my rackets from high school and taught her how to hit the birdie! I recently learned that my little is a very hardworker academically, but I also think she is a hardworker in other areas of her life. She was really determined to learn how to hit the birdie accurately, and I have also noticed she pays very close attention to detail when she draws and writes.

Something clicked during this meeting. Through sharing and being more open with each other in the beginning, we were more easily able to carry on conversation for the rest of the time. Two weeks will be a long time, but I know our next meeting will be full of interesting stories!

Happy Thanksgiving! :)

o>
<<>>
^

November 7th: Mindset Can Make a Difference

I really appreciated the short conversation I had with Dawn during our ride to St. Charles. It helped me vocalize where I think I am at with my little. We discussed comfort level, trust, and areas where I think we need improvement. It also put me into a positive mindset when I met with my little.

It was really nice to start our day by looking through the journal entries my little had made over the past two weeks (we were not able to talk about our weeks together because of the exciting activities we had planned!). My little really enjoys coloring and writing. I also learned today that she is a very hardworker and that this is reflected in her school performance. Her and I do not talk about school that often, and when I ask, she usually does not have much to say. To learn more about what she likes and dislikes, I want to bring in activities in different subject areas, including story ideas, math worksheets, cursive exercises, etc. She will not be required or forced to do any of the activities, but if she does choose to work on any of them, it will gain insight and learn ways to help her learn.

Today Melissa was not able to make it to St. Charles, so I incorporated her little into the activities I did with mine. We made bead necklaces, and both her and Melissa's little were more talkative than usual. Again I noticed that she is much more comfortable talking when she is looking at or working on something. We also wrote letters to her parents. This time I let her decide what to write; she had a much better idea of what to say and was not hesitant to ask me how to spell specific words.

One of my favorite parts of today was playing a game with some of the other littles. Everyone stood in a circle around a person in the middle. This person had a rope and spun around in a circle, and as the rope approached those standing around, they had to jump over it. It was amazing to see how entertained these kids could be with the simplist of materials :).

For the remainder of the time, we played "Go Fish!" with Melissa's little, Amanda, and her little. I felt like this Wednesday was definitely more light-hearted and that our conversations were more natural and mutual. I am excited for next week when we bring pictures of our families! When I asked her if she had any, she said she had TONS! I hope she remembers to bring them so we can share stories and learn more about each other.

Excited for next time,

Kelly

October 31st: Halloween Extravaganza!

Today Amanda and I dressed up as Thing 1 and Thing 2 from The Cat in the Hat! I was so excited to see my little's reaction as she walked into the cafeteria. I saw her look around as she entered, and then once she spotted me, her jaw dropped! I had BLUE HAIR!

I really liked all the activities Amy set up for our Halloween party. My little and I first painted pumpkins, and while painting, we were able to talk about what we did during the day and what she was going to do to celebrate Halloween. She said that she was going trick-or-treating that night with her family. We next played Bozo buckets. She was really determined and threw the ball into all five of the buckets! We also played Halloween twister, made bead necklaces and bookmarks, played soccer, and went outside to play on the playground.

It was really good to see my little in her element again; both last week when she came to WSU and this week when she played with all her friends, she was speaking Spanish more openly and seemed more extraverted and comfortable. I also notice that she looks up to me for guidance and enjoys doing activities with me. She often asks me for permission to do different activities and asks me what we should do next. I usually turn the table and ask her what she wants to do, which, I think, shows that I value her opinion.

For the last two weeks she has not brought her journal, and I hope next week she remembers to write in it! I feel like that sets a foundation or a starting ground for each time we meet. I also have some goals for the remainder of the semester:

- To better understand her emotions and personality
- To learn more about her family and friends
- To make our time more interactive and encouraging.

'Tis all!

October 24: Trip to WSU!

I am amazed at how well this Wednesday went! I was in the group that went on the bus to St. Charles to pick up the kids. The faces of the kids once the got onto the bus were priceless; they all put their backpacks on the upper shelf and asked the bus driver all sorts of questions. I felt like a little kid again when the driver told everyone to sit in their seats! On the ride to WSU, I had my little read the journal entry I wrote for her. We also talked and listened to the scary stories Kasee's little was reading. Kasee's little and my little are cousins, and I learned a lot more about my little's family through talking with them. I also discovered that my little talks in Spanish more than I expected. Her and her cousin carried on side conversations, and it caught me by surprise! Later during the afternoon, I discovered that my little is able to speak Spanish but is unable to read and write it. I wonder how this has affected her English reading and writing skills and if her lack of education in her native language has affected her level of English comprehension. She seems to be a very good reader and writer, and maybe her inability to read and write Spanish has not affected her comprehension because she has lived in America for almost all of her life.

I LOVED when the kids received the giant icecream cones! It took them all a while to eat them, but I noticed that everyone did not want to throw them out! I also loved when they walked into the gym. My little's jaw dropped along with a huge "wooaaaah!"

I discovered this trip that my little is a very independent person. She is still getting to know me, and I must be patient in order for further trust to develop. I realized that she really does respect me and value her time with me when got on the bus to go back to St. Charles. She knocked on the window to get my attention and waved. It was the first time that she has ever really made an effort to say goodbye.

During this trip, our group as a whole bonded. Not only did I become closer with my little, but the littles themselves shared this experience together and will be able to look back on it in the future. This was an amazing opportunity for them to see what a college actually looks like. Most kids their age never have that opportunity!

I had a realization hit me as I began this entry. This is not just a class we take for credit; this is real life. I am becoming a part of someone else's life by becoming a friend. I am impacting her future decisions. I am making a difference. Thank you, Stace!

Further Information about my Interview with Mrs. Duley

Below are some more details about Mrs. Duley that recently she sent me:

I taught elementary students for eleven years, and taught children
mostly in rural schools. I spent nine of those years in first grade,
where I became very interested in early literacy. While I was teaching,
I pursued my master's degree at UW-River Falls, and was certified as a
reading specialist.

During these years, I was fortunate to work with students of varying
levels, abilities, and backgrounds. I had students from Mexico,
Honduras, Vietnam, Korea, Canada, and many other countries. I also
taught in New Zealand and England as part of a Visiting Teacher Program,
to learn more about early literacy and thematic teaching.

After eleven years, I was offered a position at WSU, where I taught all
of the literacy courses, including the Literacy for English Language
Learners course. I placed my students in ELL classrooms and worked with
ELL teachers to provide students with opportunities to work with ELL
students. We had many guest speakers and learned about the resources
available in the Winona area. My major emphasis in the class was on
cultural responsiveness.

At the same time all of this was happening, my husband started a program
called Puentes, which I also became involved in. My husband arranged for
farmers in our area to travel to Mexico to meet the families of
employees of local farmers. This program has been going for seven years,
and it continues to evolve. I traveled to Mexico last November and
visited with teachers, principals, and children in the schools of
Altamirano. This experience had a profound effect on me and continues to
influence me on a daily basis.

Community Interview

I currently have two people I would like to interview, both of whom I have contacted and are willing to complete a phone interview. One person is Cindy Duley is the current assistant director of field experience at the University of Wisconsin in Lacrosse. She previously worked at Winona State University in the department of education and worked closely with the Latino population. I am not sure of the extent of her experiences, but she will be contacting me sometime today with a brief description of her background. The other is Robyn Moore, a third grade teacher at St. Charles Elementary School. She has been teaching there for thirty plus years and has witnessed many changes in the latino population within the community and school. She is currently the teacher of my little and is willing to meet with me next week!

October 17: :-

After a weekend of being sick and not being fully recovered, I was expecting this week's trip to St. Charles to be a little stressful and burdensome. But surprisingly, this was not the case! I surprised Monica in the hallway as she was heading towards the cafeteria. We had a short conversation about what she really liked today during school, and then she excitedly told me that her dad had sent in the letter saying she could come with us to Winona! We then did rock-paper-scissors to see who would read their journal first. She won and read through what I did during the week. I then read hers, and I could tell that each week, she tries to follow the structure of how I wrote my entry the week prior. I notice some of the same designs and coloring and also some of her own unique ideas. In each of my entries I try to include something that I liked from the previous week and some suggestions about what to do the day we are meeting. We then ate some cookies I had baked the night before, and I said she could take home the extras!

I remember from a few weeks ago that she really enjoys doing "I Spy" books, so today I brought one called the "Ultimate Challenger!" We looked at a few of the pages, often laughing when we found a funny looking object or something that we had been looking for for a long time.

Today she really wanted to paint, so we took out some paper and the watercolors. As she painted, I started to make a paper box, a paper folding activity my Grandma taught me when I was younger. Soon she noticed what I was making and asked if I could show her how to make one. Pretty soon I had Teal's little interested, so I showed them both how to make both a top and a bottom for their box. My little really enjoys doing crafts and working with her hands. I could tell that after I showed her how, she really wanted to see if she could do it on her own. We then made a box for Stace and put a secret letter inside of it! It was humbling for me to see how excited my little was to deliver our "gift" to Stace. She also made a box for one of her good friends at school and put a friendly letter inside.

My little also really enjoys playing group games. Today we played 500, and even though she is one of the smaller kids in the group, she still tried her hardest and could not stop smiling! It seemed like the time flew by, even though I was not feeling really well. My little seemed much more open and comfortable with me today. She seemed more motivated to get involved, and I think this is because we did some activities that she really enjoys.

After the next two weeks, I will try to think of some more hands-on activities. Maybe we could paint, but instead of using a paint brush, we could use different objects that would create unique textures. If I start brainstorming, I'm sure I could think of plenty of ideas. The ability to work hard and focus on what she is doing is something I also have, and I think this may be a way to help us better understand one another. I also want to see more of her creative mind at work!

October 10: Breaking the Norm

I noticed this past Wednesday that when my little sees me in the hallway, she holds back her excitement. When we walk into the cafeteria, she knows exactly where to put her bookbag and always asks, "what are we going to do first?" Instead of me deciding, I flipped the question around and asked her what she would like to do. Immediately she pulled out the journal she had been writing in for the past week. We sat down at a table and shared with each other the events of our past week. I could tell from her journal entry that she really enjoys coloring and writing her thoughts. I learned more about her family, her friends, and things she likes to do outside of school. She is still very shy, however, when I ask her questions, and I want to find some ways to boost her confidence and comfort level when we spend time together. One thing I would like to do is play a game or do a project that she really likes. This way she will maybe teach me something and express herself naturally.

After reading our journals, I helped her write a letter to her family explaining more about the field trip to Winona State. I helped by explaining what she should write, and then she wrote it in English. Because her mother speaks and reads mainly Spanish, we also wrote the letter in Spanish. My little is definitely more advanced in her English speaking and spelling than she is in Spanish. I am not sure if it would be beneficial for her and her relationship with her mom if we worked on some of her Spanish writing skills. As she wrote, I also noticed she has some difficulty in punctuation and some spelling of English words. Despite these minor errors, I am really impressed at how well she can write. I am hoping sometime to write a story with her. We could even make pictures and bind it, making it look like the real deal!

This week we also spent a lot more one-on-one time outside. We played tennis with a small pink bouncy ball and were able to hit it back and forth across the blacktop! I was amazed at how well she was able to hit the ball; I told her that she could be a really good tennis player someday! We later went back inside where a bunch of littles and bigs were playing a game of basketball. Monica hopped right in and played on the girls team. Even though she was one of the smallest, most fragile players, she still gave it her best effort and could not stop smiling! With only a few minutes remaining, we went outside and played with the parachute. I think one of the greatest accomplishments of this meeting is that she had fun and laughed constantly. There is so much more to her that I do not know about, but I must remember to be patient and that opening up comes more slowly for some.

'Til next time,

Big Sis Kelly

October 3: Progress!

Today my little came to the cafeteria before I had a chance to go upstairs to find her! The first thing we did was read each other’s journals from throughout this past week. I was surprised to see how much effort she put into hers. She drew many pictures, asked me questions about my likes and dislikes, wrote about what we did last week together, and expressed how much she enjoys spending time with me. She is often very quiet, and I am hoping this is a way for her to share what she thinks more easily. When we were finished, we traded journals and planned to write to each other throughout this upcoming week.

Next, we played an icebreaker game using skittles. My little had never eaten skittles before, so this was not only a new game, but also a chance to try a new candy! We each took ten skittles from the bag, and for each skittle we ate, we had to ask the other a question. Some questions asked were: “What is your favorite food?” “If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?” “What do you like most about school?” and “What are your friends like?” She loved the skittles and loved asking me questions. We even talked about college, a word she was not very familiar with. I told her it is a place where you can learn to be whatever you want to be. Because I want to be a teacher, I have to go to college to learn how to teach. Hopefully she wants to talk more about her future and that I can encourage college to be something she looks forward to. After playing this game, we made bead necklaces and also worked on a puzzle while listening to the High School Musical soundtrack – her favorite music!

Today my little told me how she really enjoys the “cookies” we bring every week (a.k.a. graham crackers!) I think next time it would be a great idea to bring ingredients for making s’mores. She has never tried them before, and even though we do not have a fire to cook the marshmallows, I think she would enjoy them anyway! Next time I hope we have a chance to play some of the newly purchased games and paint. Now that I have a better idea of how to use our time together, our future meetings will be more comfortable and relaxed. I don’t think there will ever be a dull moment!

Community-based Research Topic

What are schools doing to improve the academic success and integration of Latinos? How successful have they been in the last decade?

Throughout the school districts of Minnesota, it is evident that many areas are highly populated with Latinos. This especially affects school districts as the Latino youth attendance is increasing. It is important to analyze the ways in which these students are welcomed and taught. Many come from homes where the primary language is Spanish and are often not motivated to do well in school. I will research the school districts in these areas of high Latino population and determine what programs or policies are being used to help these students learn.

In order to do my research, I hope to use a variety of different sources. I will need to do observations inside classrooms and interview community members and school administration to receive information firsthand. Newspapers, school district websites, journal databases, and books concerning the rise of Latinos in public schools will also be useful.

September 26: A Big Step

Today my little greeted me with a smile and a giant hug! She seemed much more excited and talkative than last week. In the cafeteria, I told her I had brought a surprise with me: my computer! I showed her some pictures of my family and horses, and we also took some funny photos with the photobooth program! We both could not stop laughing! After a while, I could tell she was getting ansy. We made a trip to the library and found a quiet place to read a couple of books she had for homework. She read both of the books outoud, and though she had some difficulty with the larger words, she was able to sound them out and eventually say them correctly. This was a great opportunity to help her with her words and see what reading level she is at. She said she doesn't like "long" books, so hopefully in the next couple of weeks I can help her discover a love for reading longer books and possibly start reading a chapter book together.

After reading for almost forty-five minutes, we headed back to the cafeteria. I proposed the idea of keeping a journal where we would both have a notebook to write in throughout the week. Each Wednesday, we would be able to read through each others and ask each other questions about our week. She loved the idea! We now each have a notebook, and I hope this ongoing activity will help her open up more and gain more trust in me. This Wednesday was a huge growing step for both my little and myself. Something clicked; I realized that I have a purpose in getting to know my little and that this will be a successful experience. It is extremely important to come each Wednesday with confidence and a positive attitude.

Because she loves art, next time we may do an art project with paint or watercolors. I also want to know what she thinks of school. I have been asking her how her day has been, but we have not talked about her likes and dislikes. After knowing this, I can maybe find activities to help spark interest in the subject areas she is least comfortable with. I will also bring some M&M's for an icebreaker game!

Until next time. . .

September 19: The First Meeting!

While riding the bus to St. Charles for the second time, I remember thinking whether or not my little sister was going to come. Once we arrived, I headed straight to my little's classroom in hopes of finding her at her locker or still inside her classroom. There was a line of students waiting in the hallway, and the teacher pointed to my little. I had to quickly introduce myself because the line was moving, but at that moment I was really relieved that I had caught her before she left! One of the first things she asked me was if she had to come to Big Brothers Big Sisters every Wednesday. I said yes, but I was not really sure how to respond! She was probably hesistant about our first meeting because it was her birthday, and she probably really wanted to see her family. But instead of focusing on this, I started to ask her questions about school and her family. The first activity we did together was color pictures. I made her a birthday card while she colored a picture of a park. During the rest of our time, we talked a lot about our favorite things to do. We also played kickball with all the other bigs and littles, wrote in Spanish and drew horses with chalk, and went on a tour of the school building. She introduced me to her ESL teacher and showed me her locker and classroom. I could tell she really enjoyed school by the way she confidently showed me all of her favorite places! The most memorably part of our first meeting was when she was waiting for her mom to pick her up. She came on the bus with all of the other big sisters and was amazed at how big and "cool" it was!

I think our first meeting went really well. She is definitely not as quiet as I expected, and she definitely warmed up as we spent more time with each other. One of the last things she asked me before I left was, "Are you going to come to St. Charles everyday?" I sadly said no but would be there next Wednesday!

Next week, I am planning on bringing some art project ideas. She also really likes computers, so we may type up a story or take pictures with mine. I can't wait!

September 12: My First Day at St. Charles Elementary

The excitement one feels before meeting someone for the first time is indescribable. It's not only the nervous stomach butterflies that flutter endlessly, but also the inability to keep from smiling! I had been feeling this way all day, and the feeling only became more intense once I entered the EDUC 299 classroom at one o'clock in the afternoon. I felt like that class period was the "team prep" before the big game. We were all getting ready for a very important moment in our lives: the chance to finally meet and begin impacting our little sisters and brothers. Unfortunately, my little sister was not present at the first day of mentoring, but even though I was a little disappointed, I was able to use the time wisely. It was amazing to see the faces of the big sisters and little brothers who met for the first time. They all seemed to bond right away, and the endless stories on the ride home were priceless! During the hour and a half we had at the school, I wrote my little sister a short letter telling her how excited I am to meet her next week. It was also a great opportunity to contact her teacher. I learned about her habits in class and how she interacts with other students. This week, I am going to think of some fun activities that will hopefully help her open up and become comfortable around me during our first meeting. I hope she will trust me as a friend, and I cannot wait to see her smile! One thing I have learned this past week is to expect the unexpected. Most of life experiences are unpredictable; I will always be running into obstacles and finding ways to overcome them. As a mentor, I must encourage challenges and not be afraid to learn through the conversations and activities my little and I will experience together throughout the next year.