Alexis Hagan 

10/19/2018 

Edu 203 

Intro to Spec.Ed. 

Post-Philosophy Statement 

“What would I do with a special needs child in my general class?” Is still something at the back of my
mind, but I believe I now have a better understanding of what can be done in order to help that child,
through school programs, and that there are people who are qualified to help that student. I had no clue
before about IEP documents, and I didn’t understand how the special needs children were taken care of,
but now I do. I know that the Special Education teacher will be able to help them with what the child
needs. With the pull out program, I was able to observe the specialist providing them with help more
focused to their needs, as well as extra time to get their work finished. 

I believe special education students learn best in this way. In a general education classroom the pace is
much faster, which can be frustrating for a special child and they may lose their will to participate in
class or finish homework. They need someone who is trained to help them, because that person will
have a better understanding of what the child needs in order to succeed. I believe, just like general
students, they each have a certain modality that they prefer. I think the special education teacher allows
them time to learn using these methods rather than plain instruction.  

My goals for students with special needs would be to make sure they are getting their education in a
way that is sufficient for their needs. If they weren’t already in a special needs program I would help to
ensure they’re getting what they need, by discussing it with the special needs teacher, as well as taking
whatever steps I need to get those students in a program offered by my school. In the classroom I would
make sure they had as much time as I could give them. I hope to be able to utilize every modality to
make sure all my students were understanding the lessons. All students can learn if you allow them to. A
lot of kids get judged or misplaced because they weren’t placed in the right environment. If you put a
child in an environment where they are able to flourish they will. Teachers should be able to do just
that, they owe every student their best, and they owe every student a cooperative environment. 

I still adhere to these philosophies for my own classroom, which will most likely be general education,
but now I have a better understanding of the action steps for having a special needs child in my class: 

1. Treat all children with the same respect you would give an adult, don’t talk down to them. When
applying this to special education, give them that same respect, and don’t treat them like they’re
stupid. They could be understanding concepts very well, but the process of communication is where
the wires get crossed. Don’t take miscommunication, for not understanding. 

2. Existentialism. Everybody is different, everybody likes different things, everyone has different
opinions and beliefs, everyone learns and understands concepts differently, so why should students
be taught identically? I believe that if they are comprehending the subject to the fullest extent of their
understanding, how they learn shouldn’t be more important than what they learn. When it comes to
special education, there are numerous tools available, for numerous types of learners. If possible I
would use some of those tools, seeing as how not all schools would approve of the electronic
resources, I would incorporate various, tangible, learning techniques for children with special needs. 

3. Behaviorism, which includes environment. I want my classroom to be a place where students feel
comfortable learning, communicating, and being themselves. If able, I would like to control certain
variables in my classroom. The right lighting, décor, and visual aids (which, for me, consist of
powerful, positive statements) are essential to create a proper learning environment. Specifically, for
a special education classroom, I would make sure that whatever needs the students have are met.
Example, if they need a wheel/mobility chair, I would make sure there is ample space for them to
move around.   

I am still not trying to achieve a career in the field of special education, but appreciate my greater
understanding of it. I still believe everyone who successfully works in special education are
greatly inspiring. They are taking on a career that most people either don’t want, or can’t do, and I
applaud them.Page Break 
 References 

1. Colmo, A. R. (2017). 7 Philosophies of Education. Retrieved August 31,2018,

from  https://www.wattpad.com/157648158-prof-ed-gen-ed-let-exam-review-7-philosophies-of