Panorama Ridge Secondary School had approximately 1500 students at the beginning of 2014 from which 7-10% of the student population consists of students with exceptionalities. I am one of those students, and over my secondary schooling period I have had the assistance of an EA (Educational Assistant). An EA has many responsibilities both inside and outside the classroom; they not only help with class work, but help students grow into a strong independent individual. This is an essay showing how all the EA’s that have worked with me have helped me reach my goals and accomplishments in the past 12 years of schooling, while helping me plan my future goals. I am hoping that this essay will also show how the EA’s go above and beyond their duties to help the students succeed. My EA’s supported me to make choices according to situations, options, and resources and always be reasonable, however sometime I am not able to see the consequences right away. My EA’s supported me to make good choices and to learn about good or bad consequences. I prefer to get choices, as often as possible. They helped me to identify my strengths and interest; therefore I made my choice to take admission in the ‘Stage Craft Diploma’ at Douglas. I believe choice making brings the interest and additional efforts in that work. When I had difficulties, the EA’s looked at the class environment, from my point of view and flexibility in term of curriculum and evaluation. My EA’s and I keep high expectations from me which gives me a boost to achieve good grades and grasp knowledge from school, teachers and available resources regarding the work field. I believe risk taking could be a one effective strategy while EA’s are working with student with exceptionalities to e... ... middle of paper ... ...cope of improvement. The purpose to improve the system is to bridge the gap between strengths and needs for a better outcome by doing early assessment and bringing more EA’s into the school system. An EA can give support and skills to the students with exceptionalities to get accepted academically and socially in school and society. EA’s job is not limited to academic only moreover the help students learn Self awareness, self management, self advocacy, knowing about the strengths and limitation and goal setting etc. which are the great skills to make positive change in life for students with exceptionalities. It is important to start embracing us with these strengths in young age so that we can grow and shine with self confidence. Students with exceptionalities can learn to live independently, as normal as possible and be an important part of school and a community.
There are many individuals who contribute to the education of the student with special needs. Their roles and responsibilities are varied, and each play an important part in the education of the student with disabilities. In the early years of special education, individuals with disabilities were not educated in the traditional classroom. Many of the students were left at home to be taught by their parents, or, sent away to institutions if the families were unable to care for them. In addition, some were education in private schools at the cost of the families. It was not until the 1970’s that special education became acceptable in the public schools. The passing of legislation made it possible for all students to have a right to a free and public education, regardless of their disabilities. The individual with disabilities education act (IDEA) opened the door to education for all students and therefore a change in special education.
As a future educator, I have reflected on how my own personal experiences have formed me into the person that I am today, and how I can use my experiences to help my future students. I have also reflected on how I can information about family systems as well as risk and resiliency to better understand families that I will work with in the future, as well as how children with special needs impact a family’s structure. I believe all of these components are essential for teacher, student, and family collaboration and success.
Skiba, R., Simmons, A., Ritter, S., Gibb, A. Rausch, M.K., Cuadrado, J., & Chung, C.G. (2008). Achieving equity in schools: History, status and current challenges. Exceptional Children, 74(3), 264-288.
Obiakor, F. and Ford, B., ed. (2002). Creating Successful Learning Environments for African American Learners With Exceptionalities. London: Sage Publications Ltd.
In modern times, special education refers to individualized instruction provided by school districts that fit the needs of a student’s exceptionality (Turnbull, Turnbull, Wehmeyer & Shogren, 2013). Special education is a rewarding field that encompasses the success of all learners with exceptionalities. Consequently, professionals in this discipline have to exhibit characteristics such as patience, ardor, and empathy. These individuals also have to be “self-aware culturally,” and by meeting that idea, they have to “become aware of [their] stereotypes, biases, and prejudices” (Turnbull et al., 2013, p. 74).
The students in our classrooms, both special education and general education classrooms, require individualized education to reach their full potential. Each child’s potential is different just as each child’s road to reach it is different. Our job as teachers is to be there for the student’s to help them reach their potential through their own unique way.
For a special education student to be successful and reach their true potential, it takes a collaborative effort between both the special education and general education teacher. Both teachers need to have an understanding of each student’s disability and unique academic needs. Both teachers play vital roles in participating as part of the IEP team, providing professional input, and best practices to develop the student’s IEP, which will provide all stakeholders in the child’s education the accommodations and modifications for the special needs child to be successful in the
Two years ago, I embarked on a journey that would teach me more than I had ever imagined. As a recent college graduate, I was thrilled to finally begin my teaching career in a field I have always held close to my heart. My first two years as a special education teacher presented countless challenges, however, it also brought me great fulfillment and deepened my passion for teaching students with special needs. The experiences I have had both before and after this pivotal point in my life have undoubtedly influenced my desire to further my career in the field of special education.
Richards, S., Taylor, R., Smiley, L. 2009; Exceptional Students: Preparing Teachers for the 21st Century
This chapter introduces the concepts of exceptional students, the concepts of inclusion, and how these ideas have developed in the Canadian education systems. I have taken classes that cover these concepts before, but it is interesting for me to review them in the light of both my pre-internship and internship experiences. After these experiences I think I am better able to understand these concepts because I have dealt with them as a classroom teacher.
The school’s old motto of “Empowered Learners meet High Expectations” definitely applied to myself as I felt that I was an “empowered learner.” As being such a kind of student, I feel that I had a responsibility put on me to meet such high expectations that society had for me. Some expectations I felt that I had to meet were constantly getting As and Bs in classes, going to college, graduating, and
I cannot recall a more rewarding experience than helping facilitate a child’s education while enabling parent participation alike. These experiences have drawn me to my current position as an Educational Assistant where I am constantly interacting and establishing relationships with students, learning about their goals and aspirations. It is that same desire to empower our future students that has steered me towards a career as a school counselor. By enrolling in the Masters in counseling program, I aspire to develop methods and experience to become an effective, experienced, and adaptable school counselor that promotes self-awareness, allowing students to realize their full potential and impetus them towards a promising future. I want to learn skills that facilitate personal and career development, ensuring that our students grow accomplishing their goals and ambitions. To discover techniques that help students improve in all areas of academic achievement, establishing relationships with students and parents alike. By becoming a school counselor, I am determined to become an advocate for underserved youth. I aim to become an effective agent educational reform, providing support for students in the various institutions that may disempower
An Administrative Assistant is a broad job category that describes an individual who provides various kinds of administrative support to people and groups in business enterprises.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was reformed in 1997 and calls for free and appropriate education for special needs students. The IDEA emphasizes a least restrictive environment, in which children with special needs are educated to the highest of their ability (). For many special needs children the highest level of appropriate education lies within mainstreaming. Participation in mainstream programs depends heavily upon the academic ability and social skills of each individual child. The Individual Education Plan is used to monitor the ability, progress and future goals of each student. “ Not only must the IEP contain a statement of how the child’s disability will affect participation in the general curriculum, but it must explain why any student will not be participating in the general classroom...“ (Moore, Gilbreath, Maiuri, 1998, P.3).
Jones, Melissa. "Teaching Self-Determination: Empowered Teachers, Empowered Students." Teaching Exceptional Children 39.1 (2006): 12-17. Academic Search Complete. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.