This week I worked on my research. I thought about my project prospectus alot, and how I am going to put all that to print. I thought I had found alot of good resources, until my topic changed. After meeting with Mrs. McComas wednesday, my essential question has changed from "Why is DAS so hard to treat?" to "In what way does the Lindamood Bell program facilitate speech improvement?" On the mailing list I joined parents are always commenting on this program, and how it and others like it have helped their apraxic kids. My problem is that when I researched this on the internet, or in the library (none), there is not a lot on it. The program has their own website that is very helpful but that is only one and not peer reviewed. Another thing that troubles me is that the website talks about how Lindamood Bell's focus is on dyslexicia. I don't remember if that was a main problem for Apraxic kids or not. I do know that they have problems with sequencing so maybe they do. So now I feel like I am starting all over from scratch. I am sure I can do it but just have to slow down for a minute to see where to begin and go from there. Now that I have started to research it, I will try to come up with some resources. (I sure hope that I don't have to go back and change all that I have done so far.)
I think that this question can be answered, and I think that I can do it, but I think it will take some time.........and well let's just be honest I have all the time in the world (hee hee hee). Just kidding I have to try to make myself believe that so I can finish this semester in one piece.
Michelle

TGIF-TGIF-TGIF
I am so glad this week is over. I tried my best to get organized by Monday. For the most part I did. I researched most of the week, and completed 3 assignments for week 4. I have alot on my plate right now, so I gotta stay focused. My plans for the week were to research, research, research. I did do that, yet I still can't think of a question for my topic. I am leaning towards a comparison of late talkers and apraxia, or how early apraxia can be diagnosed. Today's diagnostic evaluation was helpful. I was very lucky to get to observe a child with apraxia. Very very interesting. I was having a hard time following at first and then there was a characteristic of apraxia loud and proud! Not that I was excited by any means that the little boy had apraxia, I just noticed a characteristic that I learned about this week! Very exciting stuff.
Anyway the week was not wasted, besides the time I spent sending two assignments that didnt go through the night before. I hate when that happens! I set out to do some research and I did, and I set out to complete some assignments, and I did! Productivity in progress.
I think that this week held many valuable oppurtunities for learning and I think I accomplished that. I learned alot from the resourse evaluation assignments. I can check out a website thoroughly for reliability, research information, and use it if I need it.
I know now that I can do this!
Michelle

Well this week I intended to do more for this class than I actually did. I intended to do all of the assignments for week 3 and also many for week 4. I wanted to do this because I dont like to have assignments sitting around not finished. I know that week four is not due now but just having them there makes me crazy! Now what I did was finish up week 3 (just now). That is it. I just got finished with a (very) rough draft of my webliography. I had fun with this (to a point). I don't usually spend much fun time on my computer. I bought it for one reason and one reason only, and that is for school. The only other thing I use it for is emailing friends in other states or countries. I can't exactly give out all their email addresses! So coming up with fun stuff totally threw me off. I caught me telling myself, "I am fun.....aren't I". I'm sure I will have alot more to add, but for now that is it. I think that it will be fun to get that perfected. I looked at some of the summer classes and boy they really did a good job! Hopefully I can get to that point someday. Right now I am having a hard time thinking of what I am going to include on my own. I did however come up with a topic for the MRP. I haven't narrowed it down yet but nevertheless, I have a topic. My topic is Apraxic kids. It is a very interesting topic. I look forward to finding out more information on this topic. I did subscribe to a mailing list.......very high volume. I had 151 emails friday!! Most of the entries are from parents and things they are going through with their kids. I couldn't read them all, but what I did read fascinated me.
I also enjoy writing in the discussions. I didn't do this this week. I finished that part of the assignment last friday. But I don't think I have ever mentioned it before. I like to read the other responses everyone is posting. I see how different we all are. The vark inventory told me that I was a mild aural learner. I guess by mild they mean that I am kinda there and kinda not. I think so too. I like a variety of learning style, but for the most part I like to listen and then think about it on my own.
When completing these assignments this week I tried to think about them even after I have posted. If I think of something else I come back and modify. I have done that several times. I even found myself thinking over my essential question in the bath tub this evening! Now how is a bath relaxing if I can't get it out of my head!!
I have come to realize that the process of research never really stops. I am thinking over possible ways of looking at my topic and listening more careful to conversations involving my topic. For example, Friday I heard some graduate students talking about therapy stratagies for Apraxic kids. I jumped right in on the conversation. I also found out that working with them can sometimes be pretty "boring", (such repetitive drill) but in the end the two people I was talking with liked it for the most part. Anyway that, in away, got me even more interested in DAS.

Some questions I am asking myself:
I wonder how I am gonna get all my work done. I also wonder how I can organize a little better. I am having a hard time finding enough time to actually sit down and search the internet. How can I find a way to do that? But I will. I always find a way and this time is no different :)
MDS