Growth Statement Special Education

During my completion of the Graduate Special Education Program I took many courses over the last two years as both an undergraduate student and a graduate student. As I took these classes, I took several content classes as well as several classes on the practices and skills needed for teaching students with special needs. Along the journey I took many difficult classes, but overall all the graduate classes have provided me with the skills necessary for becoming an effective special education teacher. I feel all of the classes within the graduate program have taught me valuable techniques and lessons while ultimately preparing me for the day I have my own personal class. Each class individually provided me with different knowledge and as I come close to completing the graduate program prepared me for the challenges I may face when I enter the field. Upon the completion of all these classes I feel prepared and well equipped to teach children with special needs using the skills, techniques and practices I have learned. The very first graduate course I took was, EDUG 713 in which I wrote the first three chapters of my thesis. Throughout this course I was constantly overwhelmed as I researched various topics and ultimately created my own research proposal. For my thesis I decided to test whether or not using decoding strategies increases the reading comprehension scores of a second grade special education class. While writing my proposal I did an abundant amount of research on previous experiments but ultimately designed mine to build on the previous work of others. This research paper helped me realize the complexity, time and effort it takes to write a well written thesis. Although I was overwhelmed throughout the process I feel taking each chapter piece by piece allowed me to write a cohesive and well researched paper. By the end of the semester I was surprise by the amount of work I accomplished along with the quality of the work. As a result of having step by step instruction I feel if needed I could easily write another research paper. Creating a poster also allowed me to see what one day I may have to do if I ever present my thesis. Overall, despite feeling this class would be a nightmare I ultimately feel as Ive completed the class I can now write a well researched thesis. While take EDUG 713 my first semester senior year I also took EDUG 768, Math Science and Technology. This course provided me with both activities and resources that I can use while planning my lessons and as activities in my classroom. At the completion of this course I realized there are practices in math, science and technology I plan on implementing in my classroom one day. Prior to this course I never realized just how much math, science, and

technology I use in my everyday life. As I took this course I began to realize how important and frequent these content areas are on a constant basis. The technology component of this course provided me with an abundance of resources I can use within my future classroom. After constructing my webquest, I liked how it was an inquiry-oriented lesson that provided all the information through the web. As technology becomes more dominant in society I found the website to be an interesting and engaging assignment that students would enjoy doing. The mathematics component of this course provided me with numerous activities for specific topics I plan on implementing within my classroom. Through researching the mathematics website I also discovered numerous resources that I can use as a teacher or provide parents with to stay engaged in their students learning. The science component of this course also provided me with an insight to how important inquiry based lessons are as well examples of activities I can use with my students. Inquiry based instruction is hard for the students to comprehend but using the levels of the inquiry continuum it would foster the greatest amount of learning and understanding. This class also showed me the importance of becoming aware of students abilities in regards to science activities. The final graduate course I took during my first semester as an undergraduate senior was EDUG 805. This course focused heavily on social studies content and the New York State Common Core English Language Arts Standards. As a result of this class I have grasped an understanding of the common core standards and now recognize the importance of implementing them in the classroom. Not only has this class taught me the importance of preparing students to be college and career ready, but I have learned several strategies to use within the classroom. This class has taught me that the standards coincide as the grades progress building on the previous year. During the younger elementary grades I must prepare my students for the more difficult tasks they will face in the future. As the students progress they receive less aid and are required to complete more strenuous tasks. I realize I must challenge my students and that a students struggle is key to their success. As we were introduced to these strategies I also realized that to be an effective teacher I will have to serve as a facilitator within my classroom. While preparing both my lesson and evaluating other students lessons I realize how important differentiation is. Not all of my students in my future classroom will learn the same way. As a teacher it is my responsibility to reach all of my students needs and foster the best learning experience. This class has shown me what is necessary to be an effective teacher in todays

education system. During the spring semester of my senior year I completed EDUG 775. While taking this course I learned many valuable strategies and techniques to use when teaching math for at-risk students, English language learners and students with disabilities. One of the first things I realized while taking this course is that many people have math anxiety and that they have it for various different reasons. When reading both articles on math anxiety I realized the importance of getting to know my students and familiarizing myself with their feelings towards math by having them write a reflection about their mathematical history. This writing assignment gives the students the opportunity to explain their views on mathematics and allows teachers to become familiar with their students mathematical needs. This course has also shown me the importance of using games and math manipulatives to not only instruct mathematical content but to reinforce it as well. Students tend to learn better with hands on activities and interactive games. After taking this course I now realize the various problem solving strategies that can be used to solve math questions. As a teacher I plan on teaching my students all the strategies and how to use them when problem solving. As a result of this class I also feel that I have a better understanding of the Common Core Learning Standards and the Mathematical Practices. Over the summer I completed two more graduate courses, EDUG 815 and EDUG 733. EDUG 815 focused on the curriculum, forms of assessments and methods used to teach English language learners in both general education classrooms and special education classrooms. After completing this course I now feel that I understand the challenges and abilities of students who arent native English speakers, and how to best instruct and assess them. Through this class I became familiar with researchers such as, Cummins, Halliday and Krashen. This class has exposed me to the various legislations that have been passed throughout the years to encourage and expand on the teaching of ESL students. In class we focused on Lao v. Nichols, Keyes v. Denver and the No Child Left Behind Legislation. Ive realized the importance of a culturally responsive classroom and understand the individual challenges each content area probes for ESL students. This class taught by various ways to develop my future students phonemic awareness skills, phonics, comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary skills. Over the summer I also took EDUG 733 studying multicultural diversity. By not only writing my autobiography but reflecting on the autobiographies of my classmates and myself, I was able to identify and discuss factors that have influenced my individual perceptions and

expectations. The autobiographies not only informed me about myself and my classmates but also prepared me for the various cultures I will encounter in my future classroom. By reflecting on the articles in class, participating in discussions and completing the class field trip I was able to discuss and reflect on concepts, issues and dilemmas related to a multicultural society from both historical and contemporary perspectives. Through class discussions and student led power points I was able to examine and analyze the implications of cultural pluralism and diversity for education and schooling, while also discussing the impact of race, ethnicity, gender, social class, disability, language differences and sexual orientation on behavior in the classroom. By actively participating in the workshop sessions I was able to identify strategies and design activities to use in the classroom to support equity. During this current semester I completed three more graduate classes and finished my thesis. Throughout the duration of EDUG 787 Psychoeducational assessment course the content relied heavily on assessment. Through videos, PowerPoints, and class discussion I gained an abundant amount of knowledge regarding assessment. While taking this course I learned the role of legislation in regards to the assessment of all students, the impact both the special education and general education reforms had on assessment, the biases of assessment, the different forms of assessment, and how to administer, analyze and interpret a particular assessment. Through the various forms of assessment a teacher can gain knowledge regarding a childs behavior, strengths and weaknesses. As a result using the data they collect from assessments the teacher can create and instruct lesson plans designed specifically to meet each childs individual needs. As I completed EDUG 858 both the seminar and student teaching component influenced my views as a teacher. While attending weekly seminars we discussed No Child Left Behind, the New York State Common Core Learning Standards, the Danielson rubric, IEPs, tenure and mentoring. We also discussed data driven instruction and assessment. Aside from having lectures we also had presentations regarding Responsive Classrooms, and seminars on Child Abuse and SAVE. Another main component of seminar was reading and reflecting on Ruby Paynes, A Framework of Poverty. This book has opened my eyes towards the lives many of my students and parents live. Now that I am aware of many of the things in the book, I can understand the behaviors of my students and their parents while relating to them better. While student teaching over the course of three months I watched as my students grew. I never realized

that in such a short amount of time, twelve students could grow in ways I never imagined. Along the course, I lost a few students while gaining some others but they all viewed me as a classroom teacher. I learned a lot about myself as both a person and a teacher not only from my cooperating teacher but my students as well. Despite this student teaching experience being extremely challenging I found it to be overly rewarding. I learned a lot about the new curriculums, and the importance of differentiation while working with special needs children. Especially understanding that students have individual needs, they learn both differently and at their own pace. During my student teaching experience I also carried out my research for my thesis. Using my students I instructed lessons regarding decoding strategies and recorded the effect these strategies had on the reading comprehension scores of my students. This semester I also completed EDUG 781, Management and Curriculum of the At Risk Student. At the conclusion of this course I feel I have gained an understanding of an effective teacher. As I work to become an educator I realize the importance of recognizing the difference between management and discipline. Therefore, as a result I must establish good discipline within my classroom. By understanding the development of my students and identifying their needs I can adequately instruct students while managing their behaviors and implementing discipline techniques in my classroom. In order to understand the development of students we studied theorists such as Piaget, Erikson, Maslow. We also discussed Maslow, Feldhusen, Dreicurs, and Coopersmith. This class showed me the importance of establishing classroom rules, using both positive and negative consequences, and using discipline measures, both verbal and non verbal methods. As I complete the graduate program, I have learned an abundant amount of information and acquired numerous resources that I can use as a future educator. I have learned several techniques and activities I can use in my classroom to foster the most beneficial learning experience for my students. Fostering parental involvement also allows for language acquisition. If parents feel comfortable in the classroom and have good communication with the teacher, they will be able to better assist their children throughout their education. Through these courses in the graduate program I also gained an extensive understanding of the Common Core Learning Standards. I feel as I come close to completing the requirements of the graduate special education program I am prepared and ready to instruct my own classroom while meeting the needs of all my students.