The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides professional development, defends the rights of individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice (Council for Exceptional Children, 2011). As such, they have established professional standards for teachers working in the field of special education. This course is strongly aligned with and focused specifically on developing knowledge and skills of Standard 5: Instructional Planning and Strategies (see below). In Week One of this course, the journal prompt asks you to reflect on your own professional progress in this area of expertise in working with students with disabilities.
CEC Initial Preparation Standard 5: Beginning special education professionals select, adapt, and use a repertoire of evidence-based instructional strategies to advance learning of individuals with exceptionalities.
Key elements you will focus on:
5.1: Beginning special education professionals consider an individual’s abilities, interests, learning environments, and cultural and linguistic factors in the selection, development and adaptation of learning experiences for individuals with exceptionalities.
5.2: Beginning special education professionals use technologies to support instructional assessment, planning, and delivery for students with exceptionalities.
In each reflective journal, respond to all of the following prompts:
- (1) Discuss your prior beliefs about teaching students with disabilities.
- (2) How have the readings, discussions, and the assignment altered or informed your current beliefs, knowledge and skills related to planning instruction for students with disabilities?
- (3) After reviewing CEC Standard 5 and its two key elements, discuss three areas you would like to improve upon professionally during this course?
- (4) Based on your experience, current role in education, and/or future role in education, how might you apply these concepts to plan effective instruction for students with disabilities?
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1. My own personal beliefs about special education and what it is/does relies on my family. My older son, Demitri, who is now eleven has been diagnosed with autism and ADHD at the age of three. Understanding the disabilities and realizing that your child is different from others can be challenging for new parents. I did not have any resources and every where I turned was not completely helpful (besides offering other people to talk too, who offered other people to talk to, etc.). I did research and talked with the Early Childhood Special Education Department in our district (at least they were able to offer support for school and help direct me to what I needed to do next). I started the long road of helping my son be all that he can be and develop as normal as he could (speech, therapy, doctor appointments, etc.). So, my current beliefs about teaching students with disabilities is: everyone is entitled to learn, and we all learn differently. It is my job to find a way to help you learn to the best of your ability and if I do not have a way I will help find a way and we will learn together. I also believe that I can offer parents other resources if they do not have them already. I know I will come across challenges, but I believe I will be able to overcome them through experience, practice, and understanding. There will be days that I will want to give up and other days when I know I am doing the right thing. We all have those days, regardless in what we do. I believe that everyone deserves an education and knowledge is power.
2. Currently the readings that I have read so far and the video has not changed my outlook on becoming a special educator. I believe it has enhanced my current knowledge and brushed off a fine layer of dust on other areas. I did learn about the CSI (Cognitive Strategy Instruction) which I thought was rather interesting. I am all for using Bandura's theory and socialism. CSI is a strategy that uses: steps, modeling, self-regulation, verbalization, and reflective thinking (Vaughn & Bos, 2014). I believe children model those around them and if everyone is doing something they are likely to follow. Of course, there are exceptions to those rules, but in most cases I believe that people learn through example. Another interesting strategy is the scaffolding instruction that is a sociocultural theory that allows teachers to help lead students in the right direction but allows them to control the flow (Vaughn & Bos, 2014). Engaging students in problem solving and having them figure out the answers without just offering them the answer right away helps build strong problem solving skills, which they will need when they enter adulthood. Learning about the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) is not exactly new to me, but I do not have a lot of experience with it because I am a stay-at-home mom. I have had to write a few practice lesson plans in the past that aligned with the CCSS, but I am not sure if I am doing it 100% right. I believe practice makes perfect as long as you have the correct order/ability down.
3. Reviewing the CEC Standard 5 I believe the three areas that I hope to improve on are: (1) I hope to learn about different teaching styles/strategies. Currently I love the idea of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and differentiated instruction (DI). I believe both of these kinds of strategies will help prepare me for a diverse classroom. I am looking to become a special education teacher but at first I might start in a regular classroom or co-teach with another teacher. (2) Co-teaching is another thing I would like to learn more about. I had a chance in a previous class to scratch the surface of co-teaching and how it can benefit the classroom setting and the students. Working together with someone else can be helpful as long as both people are collaborating on the work load, with the goal of helping their students succeed in and out of the classroom. (3) I would also like to improve my lesson plan writing skills (making sure I know what I am doing) and learning how to write a proper Individual Education Plan/Program (IEP) that will help me prepare for when I get a job as a special education teacher.
4. I plan to use the skills and concepts that I learn to run and manage an effective classroom that is fun, welcoming, safe, and challenging. We all learn differently. Some like to read, others like to listen, while others like to do and have hands-on activities. We all have different strengths and weaknesses. Using the skills and concepts that I learn from class will allow me to create a classroom environment that supports learning. Creating a social community that my students will feel welcome and accepted (regardless of their abilities or readiness levels). I will challenge my students to do their best and expect them to try. I will continue to monitor their success and adapt if changes are needed. Life is all about change. At first one thing that I try might work for one person or once, but next time I might need to do something different and change it up.
Understanding we are all different and that we can all learn is important.
References
Vaughn, S. &
Bos, C. (2012). Strategies for teaching students with learning and
behavior problems (8th ed.). Boston: Pearson.
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