Amanda Hayes completed a volunteer project at Cocoa High School where she helped exceptional education students volunteer at a local sharing center. She engaged the students in collecting hangers and doing a scavenger hunt to make the work fun. This experience impacted Amanda by helping her learn about different disabilities and how to interact with and support students with special needs. She reflected that the project gave her confidence and skills to work with all students in her future classroom.

1. Helping the CommunityAmanda Hayesamandahayes@knights.ucf.edu4/10/2010EEX 4070

2. Early PerceptionsWhen I went into this project I was feeling very nervous and excited at the same time. I had no clue what I would be doing or who I would be doing it with. Now I am confident that I made a difference in the lives of the students I worked with as well as the community we helped.

3. Introduction to the SettingCocoa High SchoolMs. Sammon’s Exceptional Ed ClassMs. Sammon and her High SchoolExceptional Ed Class

4. DemographicsThe students were excited at times and impatient at others. They sat and waited for the bell to ring so we could go do our project. Their moods and expressions while the teachers were checking out their goodies at the end were priceless.

5. Personal DemographicsMy interestsWorking with children and making a difference in their livesOne day becoming a child psychologistMy interest for this class was to learn about the many different disabilities out there and how to deal with them in your classroom. My experienceIn the education program, I have learned a lot of new and educational experiences with children in the classroom.I have gotten one on one experiences with children in different classroomsI also got lots of hands on experiences with them by doing lesson plans and the JA programGoalsIs to be a successful and well educated teacherTo make a difference in my personal and business lifeTo build a strong, healthy, and happy life for my daughter, my family, myself, and even my children I teach at school

6. Engagement Activities 1 of 3My project was for the children to volunteer their time at the Sharing Center in Cocoa.I put together a scavenger hunt for the students to do after they did their work. I mixed with work with pleasure. This ties into what the teacher is teaching them about work ethics and helping their community.I was helping the group collect hangers (demonstrating work ethics)Us looking for items for the classroom, this is part of the scavenger hunt.

7. Engagement Activities 2 of 3The students were to volunteer their time here at the Sharing Center.

8. They collected hangers from the racks and place them on the hanger racks.

9. I also had them do a scavenger hunt of some items in the store that they thought were interesting to them and can be used in the classroom. I also jumped in on the scavenger hunt.I was encouraging them to keep up the good workLooks like Rudy is in the lead!!Ez is doing a great job!!

10. Engagement Activities 3 of 3 During the project I helped Rudy, Darious, and Ez find hangers and showed them were to place them on the empty racks. This was teaching them work ethics as well.

11. While I was doing the scavenger hunt with the students, the teacher and intern were doing hunting for goodies of their own.