My Personal Philosophy of Special Education
comparative Essay
1036 words
My personal philosophy of special education drives not from teaching in the field, but from, observations, and personal experience, and the workshops I attended. I have had the opportunity to work with individuals with special needs in many different settings, all this help cultivate my knowledge in handling the needs of the special needed student. Special needs students have the ability to learn, to function, to grow, and most importantly to succeed. The difference comes into how they learn or how they need to be taught. There are as many beliefs about the "hows" as there are teachers and each of us forms our own philosophy through our experiences and research. As a student in a special education teachers’ program, learners with special needs includes all students in special education programs in the public school system or other appropriate settings. However, the students I would like to focus on in my career are students with learning disabilities and therefore when thinking about learners with special needs, my mind focuses on this population.
Students with learning disabilities can learn; each student has his or her own strengths and weaknesses. Educators must continue to focus on the strengths of each student and building on them, creating a stronger student and person. Identifying the weakness is at the core of getting a student help with their learning disability, but after this initial identification and placement, the focus should shift to the strengths and adjusting the student’s schoolwork to reflect these strengths. For instance, if a student is weak in reading but has wonderful group interaction skills and is good with his or her hands, the students' reading tasks should then be shifted to reflect these st...
... middle of paper ...
...ualized plan due to time constraints, it is reasonable to treat each student as they do have an individualized education. Teachers should know their students well enough to individualize the classroom activities so all students have strengths in each lesson. Through collaborative efforts, teachers can gain knowledge about the students and new ways to teach according to different learning styles. Working together, each student can receive an individualized education where their full potential is used.
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.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that their personal philosophy of special education drives not from teaching in the field, but from observations, personal experience, and the workshops they attended.
- Explains that students with learning disabilities can learn; each student has his or her own strengths and weaknesses. educators should focus on the strengths of students and adjust their schoolwork to reflect these strengths.
- Explains that as an educator, it is their job to find new ways for students to learn that coincides with their particular learning style and takes advantage of their strengths.
- Recommends a collaborative setting in partial inclusion with either co-teaching or consultation.
- Explains that it will be their job to teach students to look at their life differently than general education students. students with learning disabilities see the world and their learning process in a different light and need to understand that in order to advocate for themselves and achieve greater success.
- Explains that students with learning disabilities are not lazy, dumb, or slow; they have a unique way of seeing material and learning. they are served through special education where it is their job as an educator to seek out how each child learns, where their strength lies, and how to help them succeed.
- Explains that they still agree with their teaching philosophy, which is stronger now at the end of the course.
- Explains that students in special education and general education classrooms require individualized education to reach their full potential. each child's potential is different, and our job as teachers is to be there for them.
Related
- explanatory
- opinion
- analytical
- Special Education: Roles And Responsibilities In Special Educationexplanatory essayThere 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.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the individual with disabilities education act (idea) opened the door to education for all students and thus a change in special education.
- Explains the role of the special education teacher in the delivery of instruction to the student with disabilities.
- Explains the role of the special education teacher in the classroom.
- Explains that special education students are a diverse population and managing the curriculum, lesson planning, and individual students and their iep can be challenging for special educators.
- Explains that a special education teacher must self-reflect and be clear on their philosophy of education. they must also identify cultural differences in their student population.
992 wordsRead More - Personal Statement : Special Educationopinion essayTwo 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.
In this essay, the author
- Describes how their first two years as a special education teacher brought them great fulfillment and deepened their passion for teaching students with special needs.
- Opines that what inspires them to pursue a career in special education is celebrating the achievements of children, both big and small.
- Opines that in order to help children reach their full potential, we must seek out and focus on their abilities, rather than their disabilities.
- Opines that teachers must become detectives within their classrooms by investigating their students' strengths, and then using those strengths as clues to cultivate leadership and individual achievement.
- Opines that the master's program in teaching students with severe disabilities will allow them to enhance their skills as a special educator.
703 wordsRead More - Specializing Educationexplanatory essaySpecial Education was one of those things I never truly understood as a student in the public school system. Who were these children that had to be taken out of the class for reading and math or who remained in a separate class all day? What was so “special” about them? Believe me, I could have tried to find out what was different about them and how they were taught anytime I wanted; my mom teaches Elementary Special Education. I always heard her throwing around terms like resource room and inclusion when she talked about work. But being the typical self-involved child that I was, I never listened to what she said about teaching or asked her more about her students. What I do know is that teaching Special Education involved a lot of ups and down. As a Special Education teacher, the specific tasks of my mom’s job change frequently. She has taught full-time special education classes, has worked with individual students in an inclusive setting, and most recently she teaches resource room. Now that I don’t have to listen to her work stories all the time, I find myself wanting to know more about what special education entails. What I discovered is that none of the methods utilized in Special Education are entirely right or wrong in addressing the educational needs of children with LD. Children with learning disabilities should be educated in the most appropriate way to meet their specific educational needs.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the methods utilized in special education are not entirely right or wrong in addressing the educational needs of children with learning disabilities.
- Explains that the national center for learning disabilities states that children with learning disabilities have a neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to receive process, store and respond to information.
- Explains that the individuals with disabilities education act (idea) of 1977 requires that students with disabilities be provided with a free and appropriate public education.
- Opines that full inclusion is beneficial, but implementation is problematic for disabled children. in general education classes, children with severe learning disabilities do not receive specialized help and instruction.
- Explains that inclusion can be beneficial to learning disabled children if implemented correctly in physical education classes.
- Explains that mainstreaming can promote both the academic and social development of children with learning disabilities.
- Describes resource room as a pull out program where children receive learning support for subjects where they need extra help. it allows for partial exposure to general education classes and interaction with age-appropriate peers.
- Explains that children with learning disabilities can benefit from inclusion, mainstreaming, and resource room settings. however, not every method is effective for every child with a learning disability.
- Explains the origins and interpretations of special education in mahwah, new jersey.
- Explains that disabilities in general physical education. proquest. penn state library information access system.
- Cites proquest, penn state library information access system, and the journal of physical education, recreation & dance.
- Explains that proquest, penn state library information access sysytem, is a resource for students with learning disabilities.
1722 wordsRead More - The Need For Special Educationexplanatory essayI. Imagine walking into school, through the white and blue halls of Upton Middle School to your locker. Going through the motions, you move to dial in in your combination. This time however, the numbers switch around… or maybe your fingers are finding it difficult to mess with the lock. As you gather your things for class, a friend calls to your from across the hall, but they sound as if you were under water.
In this essay, the author
- Describes how life can be like for someone with special needs, a daily, never ending struggle for normality. since the 1600s, the lives of those with disabilities have been greatly improved through an increase in the public awareness of disorders and teacher education
- Explains that our understanding of special education has changed for the better over the course of history.
- Explains that similar schools were opened in liverpool, vienna, london, berlin, amsterdam, zürich, stockholm, boston, and new york city in the following 25 years.
- Describes séguin's most well-known schools, one for the mentally retarded in 1839, and the other for physiologists in new york.
- Explains how brain research was applied to teaching disabled children from the 1930s to the 1960s.
- Explains that alfred strauss found that a person could be diagnosed into more specific groups of disabilities.
- Explains that struass noticed similar aspects in the diverse groups of people. many had been wrongly diagnosed and treated.
- Explains that the effects of the great depression and world war ii slowed the progression of special education globally.
- Explains that the bureau of the education for the handicapped was created in the department of education from these amendments.
- States that the act made appropriate education for disabled children free and individualized education plans (iep) mandatory in schools.
- States that in the united states, about 50% of students with special needs are included in regular classrooms throughout most of their day.
- Estimates that over 90% of children with special needs in developing countries do not even attend school.
- Explains that the course history has taken has helped create the special education system we now have today.
- Opines that although the special education system has improved greatly since the 1600s, the program still has problems that need to be addressed.
- Opines that special needs are still discriminated against in society, and activities can prove difficult.
- Opines that although the quality of special education has greatly increased over the years, it still has a long way to go.
1893 wordsRead More - Special Needs Children and the Special Education Program Controversyexplanatory essaySpecial education is such a broad and sensitive topic to talk about as well as the several issues that come with the Special education topic. And although there are a variety of issues, such as: special education children being accepted, segregated from their peers, the financial ability to support many special education programs, and the fact that a lot of teachers are not properly certified and do not know how to handle special needs children; there are also many resolutions. Special education Awareness, peer understanding, support from the local and state government, proper teacher certification, and most importantly social unity and understanding amongst peers are all a part of this controversial issue and they will also help maintain and resolve the growing concerns in the Special education programs and the children.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that special education is a broad and sensitive topic to talk about as well as the various issues that come with the special education topic.
- Opines that schools need to make it a priority to keep the special education programs successful if funds are going to continue to be cut.
- Explains that special education programs could use extra financial support to maintain an essential learning environment for special education students. they could host kid friendly activities, such as school carnivals, bake sales, and fundraisers.
- Opines that more money should be spent educating teachers on special education and the common needs of special education students.
- Explains that special education awareness helps contribute to peer and social awareness. people fail to realize that a huge number of special education children are extremely social, and they are taught by their surroundings.
- Opines that if people started working together more people would want to support special education programs and what they mean to so many children.
- Explains the occupational outlook handbook, 2014-15 edition, special education teachers, on the internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/
- Explains that cook, bryan g., and melvyn i. semmel. american educational research association.
- States that jones, melissa, "teaching self-determination: empowering teachers, empowered students." teaching exceptional children 39.1 (2006): 12-17. academic search complete.
- Explains starr, linda, "teaching special kids: online resources for teachers." education world, 2005.
- Opines that segregation for children with special needs is a good idea.
1394 wordsRead More - Book Report/Manifestoanalytical essayIn light of questions and critiques from parents and guardians, it is also important to know exactly why you are doing what you are doing in the classroom. The priority of educators and other professions in the area of special education and inclusive education should be to provide the student with the most appropriate, least intrusive education as possible. Again, through Sean’s case study, Linneman portrays the heat that special educators can receive from angry, concerned, misguided parents, and even parents in denial or uneducated on the topic. This book addresses the need for teachers to determine best practices and settings for an individual child, and support and defend these decisions to parents, administrators or any other adults by putting the child’s best interests first.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how r. daniel linneman's book, idiots: stories about mindedness and mental retardation, has a powerful message in the field of individuals with disabilities.
- Analyzes how linneman breaks the book into nine chapters, alternating between case studies from his experience and informational chapters based on his expertise and experiences in the field of disabilities and special education.
- Opines that the book has opened their eyes to a variety of critical and important topics surrounding disabilities and how society looks at disability.
- Analyzes how linneman's book strengthened their perspective on the generalization and categorization of children based on their labels. they argue that students with disabilities often defy labels, as long as we take the time to view them as people.
- Analyzes how linneman reinforces the idea of building trust through interactions with a child with disabilities, as he did with woody.
- Analyzes how linneman builds the sense of moral responsibility that we have as teachers and other classroom or school building personnel to advocate and support our students, especially students with disabilities.
- Explains that teachers need to know their students well enough to determine which techniques and strategies work best for them, especially in inclusive settings.
- Opines that linneman's book impacted their career path and their obligations in supporting, educating, advocating, and fostering children with disabilities.
- Analyzes how linneman points out that educating students with disabilities is a large facet of education. setting goals, objectives, adaptive or modified curriculum, assessment or instruction, both long- and short-term, is mandated.
- Analyzes how linneman portrays the heat that special educators can receive from angry, concerned, misguided parents, and even parents in denial or uneducated on the topic.
1082 wordsRead More - Essay On Special Education Inclusionexplanatory essayIn 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).
In this essay, the author
- Opines that special education is on the rise to success, but educators need a solid background on idea and inclusion to form outstanding learners.
- Explains that special education is a rewarding field that encompasses the success of all learners with exceptionalities.
- Explains that idea is a law enacted by congress that delivers services for students with disabilities.
- Explains that idea's fourth principle, least restrictive environment, mandates inclusion of all students with disabilities in general education.
1204 wordsRead More - The History of Especial Educationopinion essaySpecial education used to have no place in society, but now it has a permanent place. For years students with disabilities were hidden away. That started to change in 1973 and by 2002 students were welcomed in traditional classrooms. There were numerous lawsuits that had to happen to free disabled students from their segregation. Lawsuits influences the student’s lives in a great way. They could learn with everyone else. Teacher’s responsibilities had to increase, holding them accountable for the performance of the new students. All students need to learn in a safe and welcoming environment no matter if they are disabled or not.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that special education has a permanent place in society. students with disabilities were hidden away for years, but by 2002 they were welcomed in traditional classrooms.
- Opines that the civil rights movement changed people's minds, allowing children independence and many types of social connections.
- Opines that students with disabilities will have an easier time in the future, knowing that educators, doctors, and parents will never give up new methods.
- Explains how laws and court cases explicate how individual people act within their society. the way people think about disabled students has changed drastically over the years.
- Narrates how they reacted differently to a disabled person when they were 12 or 13 years old. their nephew had an auditory processing disorder and his learning suffered because he could not hear correctly.
- Explains causton-theoharis, malmgren, and folsom-meek, s. l., nearing, r. j.
872 wordsRead More - Philosophy of Special Educationopinion essayPhilosophy of Special Education I have known that I have wanted to become a special education teacher for almost three years. Over those three years I did lots of hands on experience with special education students. This past semester though I learned more in a semester about special education than I have in the past two and half years. Intro to Exceptional has taught me a lot of good information about laws, rules, and regulations of special education. I believe that inclusion is necessary for a child to prosper in society.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that intro to exceptional has taught them a lot about laws, rules, and regulations of special education.
- Opines that inclusion is necessary for a child to prosper in society. they believe that it is great learning experience for both the special education student and their peers in the class.
- Describes how being in intro to exceptional and being a teacher's assistant helped them understand the students better.
- Opines that after taking this class, they want to be a special education teacher more than ever. they can't wait until they have their own classroom.
364 wordsRead More - Learning Disabilitiesexplanatory essayEven though learning disabilities had been recognized in the 1960’s and 1970’s, there was still a lot of argument over; the process of how students that qualified to receive services was receiving the proper remediation. Many researchers thought that students should get to a certain point of failure before getting special instruction. However, new researchers showed proof that direct instruction of academics had been more effective in student success. Although the term “learning disability” was coined many years ago, there is still a debate over what a learning disability is. There are two definitions that are most important and still used in the public and private schools today. One definition has to do with outlining the program and services a student needs in the federal definition included in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the definition anticipated by the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities (NJCLD).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that learning disabilities were studied through a method before the term was introduced.
- Explains that learning disabilities had been recognized in the 1960s and 1970s, but there was still a lot of argument over how students that qualified to receive services were receiving remediation.
- Explains that idea 2004 has changed its way on identifying students with learning disabilities by implementing the response to intervention (rti).
- Explains that they work in an economically disadvantage school where parents are involved in the success of their students. the student was able to write his name, identify some letters, and count to ten.
- Opines that there is still controversy in the field of learning disabilities. one is response to intervention effective and two are students being identified early enough to help with the disabilities to make the necessary transitions throughout school and their lives.
848 wordsRead More