Mary Lanham-Bates Dr.

Smyth EDET 650 28 August 2013 Internship Proposal After much consideration and mental probing, I have decided to conduct my internship at Saluda High School, where I am employed as an English teacher. My decision is based on last years writing scores on the High School Assessment Program (HSAP). The writing scores did not increase because there was not a significant gain among the students served through our Special Education Department; therefore, I would like to work diligently to improve these scores among this population. My mentor during this internship would be one of the Special Education teachers, Mrs. Charles. She works very closely with the students whose scores reflect this negative gain. Her knowledge of the students and their IEP accommodations would be an asset in helping me determine the best means to reach each student while using the assistive technology. My goal is to use Voice Thread to help these struggling students regain their voice as writers. They have a difficult time formulating their thoughts on paper, so they often choose to write just a few choppy sentences that do not meet the standards. Instead of allowing these students to sink any further, I want to help them gain confidence to produce effective writing exemplars. With the VoiceThread software, they would speak their words to various topics and begin to transcribe the words on paper. Once they transcribe the words on paper, they will begin to see that their words do have power and

can be enjoyed by others. These students would constantly record their thoughts and respond to other students ideas. Over several weeks, I hope to see a significant change, not only in their writing but also in their confidence as a citizen of Saluda High School.