Peer Tutor Weekly Journal Topics

The following are weekly journal topics that you are required to write about in your weekly journals to receive the full 5 points.  Two to three paragraphs at a minimum are required. 

Journal #1 topic is:  Due 8-22-08

     What do you think a disability is?  How do you feel when you see a person with a disability?  In this first week of being a peer tutor what have you observed about the students with disabilities.

Journal #2 topic is due 8-29-08

     Do you personally know anyone with a moderate or severe disability besides these students you have been working with?  If so who is it and what is your experience with him or her? Also discuss some of your experiences this week with the students and your observations.

Journal #3 topic is due 9-12-08

     Put yourself in the shoes of someone with a moderate or severe disability.  How would you handle having a disability, how would you feel in a regular class around others who don’t have disabilities?  Would you still want to be with the other students?   Discuss your observations this week and your experiences so far as a peer tutor.

Journal #4 topic is due 9-19-08

     Discuss how you feel when you see a person who has a disability.  Describe the disability you have observed.  (It doesn’t have to be a student you work with as a peer tutor, it could be someone you see at the store, etc…)

Journal #5 topic is due 10-3-08

     What kinds of things do you think students with moderate and severe disabilities need to learn in school?  Do you think they should be in social studies, etc…?  Do you think they need to learn daily living schools, like cooking, cleaning, self-care, etc….?  Expand on your ideas.

Journal #6 topic is due 10-10-08

     What are your thoughts on students with moderate and severe disabilities having jobs after high school?  What kind of jobs can these students have?  Is it appropriate for them to work?

Journal #7 topic is due 10-14-08

     Name some myths (untruths) about people with moderate and severe disabilities.  For example:  they are dangerous, they are sick, etc...  What effects do myths have on people with moderate and severe disabilities?  What are some good ways that you as a peer tutor and fellow student can say to those who say negative and untrue things about these students?

Journal #8 topic is due 10-31-08

     Today you will hear many people using the word “retard” when referring to others that have done something dumb.  This word did originate from the word retardation.  Mental retardation were the words used to describe people who have mental disabilities by doctors and other type professionals.   The word is often used in a very derogatory way at this present time.  Describe some situations of when you have either used the word yourself or heard others use the word.  Now put yourself in the role of a parent or family member of one of my students and write about how this word would make them feel when they hear someone refer to their family member as a “retard” and how it would make my students feel if they were aware of the implications of this word. 

Journal #9 topic is due 11-14-08

     What are some ways you can think of to speak up for students in my class or others with disabilities when you hear them being referred to in a negative way or are being made fun of.  Now try to use these when you hear them being made fun of this year. 

Journal #10 topic is due 11-21-08

     Write about your feelings about being a peer tutor in my class.  What did you do this week?

Journal #11 topic is due 12-5-08

     Describe what you did this week with the students.

Journal #12 topic is due 12-12-08

    Describe what you did this week with the students.

Final Journal is due on  _________  it is worth 10 points.