McDanielCollegeDeaf(Bilingual)EducationProgram

PracticumReflectionJournal

(forallobservationsandactivitiesduringthepracticum)

Date:__5/28/15______________Time:9AM1:30PM&2:30P.M9:00P.MNumberofhours:11hours
School_______TennesseeSchoolfortheDeafKnoxville________________
Category(checkallthatapply):__Age05__KGr.2__Gr.35__Middle__High
__Regclass__Res.Life__SpecialNeeds__Mainstream_x_SupportServices
___Other:___________________

ConceptualFrameworkUsedforthisReflection:(checkallthatapply)
__x_K=Knowledge
_x_D=Diversity
__AB=Attitudes&Behaviors(Dispositions)
__x__R=Reflection
____C=Communication
_x_T=Technology
Tennessee School for the Deaf-Knoxville (TSD) is hosting Family Learning Weekend (FLW)
for parent(s) and their Deaf or hard of hearing students. The parent coordinator develops this
type of event annually through TSDs budget. Their purpose of doing FLW is to provide variety
of resources to the parent(s) about literacy strategies, post transitional secondary students, and
how to work with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) department in Tennessee. In addition, the
Continual Educational Resource Center (CERC) department offers variety of family activities for
Deaf and hard of hearing students and their parents to socialize together. (K & D)
Description
I worked with the CERC- Parent coordinator from 9A.M to 9P.M to organize the folders,
bags, t-shirts, and snacks for the family learning weekend. I was asked to develop 40 folders and
organize different types of information such as family outreach, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
contact information, FAFSA, scholarship, IEP services such as how to request for interpreters,
note takers, CART, text-to-speech software, and many more. I realized that there was one
important missing information related to Deaf culture and I had to ask the parent coordinator for
the permission to add some suggestions. The parent coordinator accepted my recommendations. I
made several copies based on Deaf culture and resources. I added PEPnet information, Deaf

centers in Tennessee, and Deaf culture in the folder for parents to read about it. At 1:30PM, I
decided to take one hour lunch break. (K & T)
Analysis
Continual Educational Resource Center (CERC) wanted to do a Family Learning
Weekend to connect with the families and allow them to express their concerns or thoughts
about Tennessee School for the Deaf (TSD) and as a parent. Todays organization is intended for
me to prepare everything so the parents can have appropriate information related to their childs
education from K-12 and college-ready information. The parent coordinator wanted the families
of TSD to feel like they are part of the team and is important to TSD. Her intention is to
encourage a better relationship between TSD and parent(s) because there are higher numbers of
hearing parents who doesnt know American Sign Language (ASL). (K)
Critical Reflection
When I first started, I wanted to observe the papers in the folders. I realized that they are
not considering much of Deaf culture rather than focusing on impressing the hearing families
who doesnt sign fluently. I had to inform the parent coordinator that Deaf culture information is
missing especially with contacts with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) for parents to be able to ask
them questions especially if they want them to go to work, trade school, community college, or
universities. The parent coordinator felt bad and said I meant to include those information. I
should have known better. I have been working with hearing families who is oral based. Im
sorry! Yes, please include Deaf culture in the folder. She didnt resist my recommendation. I do
understand her intention and her tasks are not easy especially dealing with majority of rural or
poverty families in Tennessee. Tennessee School for the Deaf (TSD) is very old-school and
hasnt done some revamp. However, CERC staffs and the parent coordinator was very warm and
liked several ideas of mine based on informing parents about Deaf culture, Deaf role models, and
Deaf centers in Tennessee. They said that they forgot a lot of those because of the Administration
staffs are very old-school and hasnt retired. This experience was a positive experience and is
able to see why Family learning weekend was important for me to come and provide silent
Role model to the parents and socialize with Deaf or hard overhearing students later this
weekend. Although, I was disappointed to see I am only Deaf volunteer who helps with Family
Learning Weekend. I do wonder if Tennessee School for the Deaf (TSD) has a poor relationship
with the Deaf community. This observation made me feel like I want to make some changes and
broke my heart. (K, R & D)