Hello! I am starting this new adventure as an assignment for my very first class at Brandman University which is my first college class in 7 years. I am finishing with an Applied Studies degree (finally) after taking time off to start a family, I am a mom of 3 wonderful boys under the age of six, so now my attention is divided between the Bachelor’s and the baseball! It has been a very long and difficult journey getting to this point in my life and I could not do it alone. I am very thankful for parents who instilled a desire to continue my education and never give up. I have wanted to become a teacher since my first day of kindergarten, and when I became an instructional aid with Hemet Unified School District and got to experience the amazing challenge of working with severely handicapped students I found my direction and plan to continue with a Moderate/Severe Teaching Credential.
I think one aspect of my career that I need to continue to explore are limitations that I don’t have experience dealing with. For example, I have learned so much on how to handle basic classroom management, but I have never had to deal extensively with violent or emotionally disabled students for long periods of time. I have learned how to modify curriculum for specific limitations of students, but how do I find something meaningful to teach to a student who is so low functioning that the most simple fine motor skills are beyond comprehension?
I expect one of the challenges of teaching special education is finding the right tools to help our students. I was doing research on dyslexia for a specific student and was able to find a font that was designed specifically for dyslexic readers and was so excited that I had found a tool to help our student succeed! I hope that over the course I am able to find tools and effective strategies to help my students learn to the best of my ability.
I believe that one of my biggest challenges during this course will be reacquainting myself with college level writing and correct citation of my work because honesty is very important to me and I would never want to plagiarize work because it was not cited correctly. I would also like to learn more about education resources for severely handicapped students that are tested and studied accurately.
This course is an amazing opportunity to step back into my education and gain the tools I need to be successful and I am very excited about this amazing opportunity.
Very nice!
ReplyDeleteKim G.
Hello! First off I would like to say welcome to Brandman. My name is Tianna and we have some common ground because my goal and life dream is and has been for many many years to become a teacher, Kindergarden or first, do not know yet. I am on my fourth class at Brandman and I can tell you it is amazing. The instructors along with the advisors are always willing to help and especially in the Early Childhood Education major we all are very friendly and welcoming. Coming into a new school is intimidating I feel, but trust me it goes away pretty quick.
ReplyDeleteNow I must say your topic is very interesting to me. I have always wondered what tools are out there when it comes to special needs in young children. I have yet to be in a classroom setting unless I was just simply observing, so classroom management is something that sounds very good to go in knowing. As well as tools like you found the font to help with dyslexia, I would have never known. I can't wait to see what information you come up with. And again, welcome!
Tianna Nuno
hello, and thank you for your passion to help those that need it most. Just a thought, you might find some useful tools in the least obvious place to look. My father-in-law had a severe stroke three years ago at the age of 70. Let me tell you how frustrating it was to help him relearn his life. The therapist had games, and programs and just one on one time with him to help him. He basically went back to preschool. He has what is called aphasia (I'm sure my spelling is off), he can talk but nothing makes sense. He gets very upset and frustrated with us because we can't understand him. One of his therapist showed us a program on the computer, it shows pictures with the words attached to it. He can put his finger on the tablet, the picture of the toilet and it will speak to us. We then know he needs to use the bathroom. It isn't always a 100% but it does work.
ReplyDeleteBranch out of the comfort zone, not everything works because we aren't all the same but you can use different tools and methods to find the one that does.