Over the course of the semester, I have been place in Hopewell Junior School. I worked with an intervention specialist, Gina Ottlinger. Mrs. Ottlinger works with both seventh and eighth grade students, specializing in math and reading intervention, and inclusion in all content. She was a marvelous mentor, and was very open with what interventions she was implementing, and welcoming to me in her classroom. What I liked the most about Mrs. Ottlinger was her communication to the family of her students. She sends monthly emails to the parents reporting student’s progress, always starting the email in a positive way, how the student is progressing and then possible improvements, or deficits the student is having and how to help the student at home. …show more content…
According to standard 1, “beginning special education professionals understand how exceptionalities may interact with development and learning and use this knowledge to provide meaningful and challenging learning experiences for individuals with exceptionalities” (CEC Initial Level Special Educator Preparation Standards). This is shown through teaching students mastery, and using accommodations to do so, for students to achieve on level learning. More important than creating accommodations for students, is to understand where they come from. Mrs. Ottlinger new all her students and family to an almost personal level, she liked to know what was going in their life, and how she used the information to her advantage, on how she would teach a lesson, and give homework. She also was able to read the frustration level of her students, and when it was becoming too much for the student she would suggest a break, or a small activity that acted as a break without the student knowing. For example, one day, while doing Phonics First practice, a student was growing very frustrated while recalling the Latin roots of words (flashcards, which are part of the Phonics first method) an activity that was supposed to act as review. After writing the roots in the sand, Mrs. Ottlinger suggested that the student go wash his hands. As he left, Mrs. Ottlinger told me that this student never …show more content…
This is a very common theme for the school as a whole to have co-teaching in the classroom. In this preferred method of teaching, the general education teacher and the intervention specialist work together to create a curriculum that is inclusive and expresses differentiation, a principal of universal design for students. Mrs. Ottlinger expressed to me that this is a great system if there is good communication between the general education teacher and the intervention specialist. Mrs. Harvey, another intervention specialist at Hopewell Junior agrees with this, stating that there needs to be a level of mutual respect between the general education and special education teacher. It is also beneficial if both teachers in the co-teaching setting have a baseline understanding of the material. When the general education teacher works with the intervention specialist, accommodations are made quickly and effectively for the student. One of the students, Matthew, receives additional supports on testing, such as reading accommodations, because of his SLD. It was interesting to see how these accommodations are given in standardized tests. The intervention specialist must not prompt the student. When writing the student must state when to capitalize and
Cloran (n.d.) suggest teachers need to have a broad understanding of giftedness and learning disabilities, a variety of identification measures and the ability to modify the curriculum and implement differentiated teaching strategies to meet the unique needs of all students. A graduate teacher recognises that students learn in their own way and should understand and be able to identify a number of teaching strategies to differentiate and meet the learning needs of all students. They may create groups based on previous assessment results and set clear or modified instructions for each group based on ability or learning styles. To address the specific learning needs of all student abilities, multi-sensory strategies using charts, diagrams, outside lessons and videos, as well as posters around the room or information on the desk could be used. Tomlinson (1999) suggests that differentiated instruction aims to build on student’s strengths and maximize their learning by adjusting instructional tasks to suit their individual needs. Ensuring teaching and instructions are clear, revising and prompting students during lessons and providing templates and assisting student in breaking down tasks into achievable, systematic chunks are some additional examples. Lucas, (2008) suggests highlighting key vocabulary within the text to focus students on the central concepts within the text. Quick finishing students should be provided with the opportunity to extend themselves with extension tasks that have a specific purpose and
Bryant, D. P., Smith, D. D., & Bryant, B. R. (2008). Teaching Students with Special Needs in
Collaboration in the world of education has become an increasingly popular method of addressing a variety of school issues, such as curriculum design, behavioral plans, professional development and management of resources. One of the areas in which collaboration is becoming more popular is co-teaching in special education, where special education teachers and general education teachers share the planning and instruction responsibilities for inclusion classrooms (Friend & Cook, 2010). As academic standards for the education of students with disabilities are held to the same standards as their typical peers due to the No Child Left Behind Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the co-teaching model has been increasingly implemented to meet those needs. Most research has shown co-teaching to be effective in the inclusion classroom, though there are a few studies which have refuted its significance and identified reasons for problems in implementing a successful co-teaching program.
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.
Standard 1.1 discusses how special education teachers need to understand how language, culture, and family background influences the learning of students with exceptionalities. Standard 4.3 discusses how teachers should collaborate with other teachers and parents to use multiple types of assessment information in making decisions. Standard 5.5 discusses the transition plans they have to implement in collaboration with the students, families, and teachers. Standard 6.3 discusses how teachers understand that diversity is a part of families, cultures, and schools, and that they can interact with the delivery of special education services. Standard 7.0 discusses the collaborations that teachers need to start having with families, educators, and related service providers. 7.3 discusses the promotion of collaborations for the well-being of the individuals with exceptionalities. These standards show what the teacher is beginning to do with the families that have a child with
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.
My field experience for EDUC 2130 was done at Rabun County Elementary STEM camp. The camp and its instructors had the goal of increasing the student’s awareness, knowledge, and interest in STEM. The student age groups I worked with went from kindergarten to 5th grade which gave me a wide range of behavioral, moral, and developmental stages to observe. The teachers running the program used many of the techniques we have discussed such as whole class discussions, small groups, and observational learning.
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
I have been a Special Education Para-Educator for eleven years now. My decision to do this was based on the needs of my family and kids. When my last child was born, the doctors did not think that he would make it. He had a heart malfunction and was born with RSV and Von Villibrantds disease (which I did not find out until he was three); those factors lead me to want to work with special education kids, knowing that I could make a difference.
Training should be implemented on IEP’s and modifications and accommodations for general education teachers. General education teachers should also be trained on utilizing the special education teachers experience in modifying, accommodating, and differentiated instruction. We are a team and the goal we are working for is for all of our students on our campus to be successful, general education and special education students.
In this article, Patrick Wall (2014) cited how teachers effortlessly tried to discipline Joseph—but it failed. However, this sparks a rather differences between the general educator to special educators. According to Anne M. Hocutt, she conducted some findings revealing the contrast between the two positions: General educators are far more concerns on whether or not they are capable of being discipline—education is often secondary. This lead to the stereotype among teachers that students with disabilities have “irrational behaviors” (1996). However, special educators on the other hand, are more patient, promote one-to-one instructions and have a better understanding with the students. Teachers have lower tolerance of special education students compare to students in general education (Hocutt 1996). Special educators are more likely to praise students, ignored any disruptive behaviors, provide more answers about themselves and the students (Hocutt 1996). Melissa Ferry offers feedback in usual, special education classroom tended to be smaller, children become individualized and more responsive to positive feedback (Ferry 2011). In fact, a study conducted by Kris Zorigian and Jennifer Job (2016) concluded positive behaviors interventions and support brings out the best out of students in special education differs little when compared to general courses – strengthen by another study that isolation
Education is a profession which requires a teacher to be able to communicate with a multitude of students on a variety of levels. There is not a class, or student for that matter, that is identical. Therefore, teachers must be able to identify and help educate students from all different types of backgrounds and at different levels. Teaching a singular subject presents difficulties, but teaching students with disabilities should not be one. There are three main teaching areas that need to be focused on when teaching a student with a learning disability. Teachers need to focus on the strategies that will assist students with reading comprehension skills, writing skills, and maintaining appropriate behaviors in a classroom setting.
As I ponder over my personal professional development experiences as an educator the realization of how one has developed over time is personally satisfying. Educating children especially children with special needs is a challenge within its self. As a teacher it is important that this writer makes a positive influence with students. There are going to be certain ideas that one tries to uphold and other discriminations that one will not allow. Everyone has their own beliefs teachers should do what is necessary not to infringe on others, but show children different way to think so that they have all the information needed to make educated choices. Children are open-minded they have not yet had to deal with or understand the injustices that they will encounter. If children are taught from an early age they will have the ability to succeed especially children with special needs as an educator my main goal is teaching the purpose of public schools, and education reform. It is my purpose to influence children and be positive influence.
Special education is an incredibly important, but often underappreciated aspect of education. There is a stigma around individuals with disabilities, that leads people to assume those in special education are less capable or smart as their peers in in a strictly traditional classroom setting. That could not be farther from the truth though, and the individuals in special education are just as capable of learning and maturing in to successful adults. As a future teacher, I was not really aware of how little I knew about special education until I enrolled in this course. This course has helped change and shape my views of special education, and helped me gain a better understanding of what exceptional children are and how I can better serve them
As a prospective secondary mathematics educator, I felt that it was unfair that I would have special education students in my classes. I would rationalize my attitude by saying that I signed up to teach “normal” students, and that the special education students were not my problem or responsibility. I did not want to deal with them. I did not see them as individuals who seek meaning through learning.