Field Journal

Day One

Date: Friday, April 14, 2017

Time: The outdoor observation began at approximately 1800 hours (6:00 pm), and extended until 1830 hours (6:30 pm).

Location: The observation site was located off of Farmhill Road in Northampton, in a wooded area behind my house.

Observers: I was the only observer present during this period of time.

Habitat: The surrounding area was heavily wooded, with dead leaves and branches covering the ground. Hints of life were visible, though, as several of the trees were budding and green plants were beginning to appear through the dead leaves blanketing the ground. Ahead lay a small stream approximately two feet wide, with a tall tree with long, twisted roots on the opposite bank. Beyond the tree lay an open, grassy field, from which could be seen an old barn and two houses.

Weather: The weather was fair and sunny, with a temperature of approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The sky was clear with few clouds, and there was no humidity or wind noted during the observation.

Remarks: A variety of plant life is able to be seen, from small flowers to patches of moss near the stream. The most common form of wildlife observed in the area are birds, which can be seen flying overhead and heard singing from the treetops.

Comments: Spending the time to observe quietly in nature was relaxing. The wooded area visited was peaceful, giving me a sense of calmness.

Tree with twisted roots

Stream

       

Leaves growing over moss

           

Small flower

Day Two

Date: Saturday, April 15, 2017

Time: 1930 hours (7:30 pm) to 2000 hours (8:00 pm)

Location: The site was located off of Farmhill Road in Northampton, near the woods in the front yard of my house.

Observers: I was the only observer present during the observation time.

Habitat: Ahead was a small stretch of wooded area with an overgrown path leading into it. Few of the trees had any greenery, yet a few were beginning to grow buds. The trees cleared after approximately 15 feet to reveal a wide, open field, in which a barn and a greenhouse could be seen in the distance. Behind me lay a stretch of grass constituting the side yard, in which could be seen a large bird-feeder and an apple tree covered in small green leaves. The side yard led to a tan-colored house.

Weather: The weather was clear, although the light was fading as the sun began to set. Several large clouds were seen. The temperature felt to be approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit, with a light wind and no humidity.

Remarks: The only wildlife observed were several woodpeckers and robins as they flew overhead and landed in the trees. A variety of sounds were heard during the observation, including loud birdsong, faint barking, and even the occasional cry of a neighbor's peacock. Something interesting that occurred during the observation was the finding of a forgotten Easter egg in the apple tree, leftover from an egg hunt held earlier in the day for my younger siblings and cousins.

Comments: Unlike the first observation, this site displayed more plant life than the wooded area behind the house. It was peaceful to hear the birds singing and watch the sun slowly set behind a distant hill.

Field and distant barn

Flower blossoming on apple tree

Forgotten Easter egg

                                                                                             

                                                         

       Leaves budding

         

Personal Account: Monday, April 17, 2017

These two field observations were completed at my house, a place that I am quite familiar with, having lived there all of my life. The wooded area behind the house is a place that I enjoy visiting, particularly during the spring and summer months. The trees send forth new leaves to make the woods appear alive in varying shades of green, and the sunlight streams through the trees to cast the ground in areas of light and shadow. I find it peaceful to sit by the small stream running through the woods, listening to the sound of the water trickling and the songs of the birds in the trees. Sitting there quietly and taking the time to notice the nature around me fills me with a calming sense of peace.

The second area observed alongside of the house is also a place that I find to be peaceful and relaxing. It is full of memories of my sisters and I playing in the woods together when we were younger. Hide-and-seek, tag, and games of pretend are a few of the games we would play in this area and around the house. I enjoyed remembering these past times as I was sitting there, and felt glad to have had such wonderful times as a child. 

Campus Resource

     The campus resource I chose to utilize was the Learning Center, located in the College Center, Room 315. The Learning Center provides students with free tutoring in a variety of subject areas, including writing, math, and science. The center is open

The Learning Center

Monday-Thursday from 8 am.-7 pm, and Friday from
8 am.-5 pm. In addition, online tutoring is also available to students any day of the week. Sessions with a tutor are available by appointment, with walk-ins available for tutoring in math, accounting, and other academic areas.
     Tutors at the campus Learning Center and the online learning center provide students with feedback on their work, as well as helpful suggestions on ways to improve it. Students are able to use this resource to further improve their work from gaining feedback from a tutor.
     When I visited the Learning Center, I had made an appointment to meet with a writing tutor to discuss my explanatory essay rough draft and receive feedback on ways I could improve it. The tutor I met with reviewed my paper and pointed out several areas that needed improvement, providing suggestions on ways I could do so. After my meeting with the tutor, I had an idea of how my paper could be better written.
     The Learning Center is a campus resource that is able to benefit any student by providing valuable feedback and suggestions to help them improve their work and succeed in school.

Home

     Home holds several different meanings to different people.To some, home is another name for a house, a dwelling place one goes out from and returns to each day, perhaps a place of refuge and peace from the outside world. To others, home refers to the place in which one's family resides, while to other people, home is more of a feeling of comfort and peace. When I think of home, I think of a variety of these different aspects of the word.
   
     I believe that one's home is more than simply a building with four walls and a roof. To me, home is more of a feeling than a physical location. One might feel comfortable, safe, or loved in a place other than their house, such as a friend's house or a peaceful park area. At home, one feels that they are free to express themselves without fear of being judged, whether that may be with family members, close friends, or another person they know well.

My House-
A Place in Which I Experience Feelings of Home

     Home is where one feels safe, accepted, and loved. It may be anywhere, not necessarily the house one was raised in, but a place in which one feels a sense of peace and belonging.

My Education

Bethlehem Christian School

     My educational experience was very unlike what one would typically expect. Typically, one would begin by attending an elementary school, before moving on to a middle school. They would then finally continue on to high school. My personal education, however, was different from what one might view as "normal." I attended a Christian school, and was later homeschooled, as well.

     My first few years of my education were spent at Bethlehem Christian School in Cherryville, where I first went the year I began preschool. I attended there for three years, from the beginning of preschool until the end of first grade.
   
     I had enjoyed attending Bethlehem Christian School, for a variety of reasons. Each of the teachers I had had were encouraging, and seemed that they genuinely wanted to help any student that was struggling. They nearly always had a positive attitude and a kind word for others, both staff and students. I have many wonderful memories from attending school there.

My Homeschool Classroom

     After I had completed first grade at Bethlehem Christian school, my parents pulled my younger sister and me out of the school to begin homeschooling, due to financial reasons. When we first began homeschooling, the transition was difficult for me. I had been used to seeing my friends and teachers nearly every day, and it was difficult for me to become used to not seeing them as often as I had previously. I had also been used to sitting in a classroom during the day, not at my kitchen table. However, after I had become used to homeschooling, I began to enjoy it more. We had more flexibility when it came to scheduling, and were able to make impromptu field trips to different events and places. Rather than having a single curriculum for each of my sisters and me, we were able to choose different curricula that best fit each of our academic strengths and needs, in order for us to be challenged in our learning. Even though we did not get to see our friends as often as we would if we had attended a public or private school, we still were able to participate in events with other homeschooling families often.

     When I graduated from high school and began college last fall, the transition was a bit challenging. However, I feel that I have been prepared for college, and am determined to continue to work hard. Looking back on my educational experience, I can say that I am thankful for experiencing two different types of schooling, and have learned a lot from both of them.

Classmate Interview

     This past week in English class, I was able to interview one of my classmates, Terry. Through talking with her, I was able to learn more about her personal life, interests, and goals for the future.

     Terry grew up and lived in New York before moving to Pennsylvania with her husband several years ago. After first moving here, Terry's husband was deployed in the Army while she was pregnant with their first child. She became very ill for a period of time after having her son, and during that time, began to grow deeper in her faith. Terry described that time as a point in her life in which she became more involved in her Catholic faith, "Just seeing the miracles that God has done for me and my son...He has shown me a lot."  

Terry's Children

     Terry currently lives in Allentown along with her three children. She has two sons and one daughter, whom she enjoys spending much of her time with. "We do lots of activities..." Terry said, "We do everything together." 

     One thing that was unique about my interview with Terry is that both she and I are currently majoring in Early Childhood Education. Terry works with Community Services for Children in one of the Head Start programs. Originally, Terry had wanted to work with Kindergarten children. However, she began working instead with children with special needs. She grew to love her role in serving these children, and realized her passion for working with them. Today, Terry has been working in an Intermediate Unit classroom for eleven years, serving children from ages three through five. 

     Currently, Terry is working toward earning her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education with a Dual Certificate in Special Education. In addition to obtaining her degree, she also has a desire to serve those who are less-fortunate. One particular project she would like to begin is providing backpacks filled with food and supplies to the needy.  

     Terry is a warm and kindhearted person, having a compassion for others as well as a desire to serve. I enjoyed meeting her and having the opportunity to learn more about her. I believe that she will have a strong positive impact on the lives of those around her as she inspires others with her caring spirit.