Week 4 Reflection

I thought the video was insightful in knowing how IEP meetings work. I loved that there are so many people on board and striving to improve the individual's success. I also think that the way that they have organized it so everyone is on the same page is smart. For example, the nurses, and teachers, and attorneys, administration, and families are all included in every meeting. In the video there was a woman that talked about how a student had to be so careful of what he ate- that was important for all those at the meeting to know, and not just the nurses or those in charge of his health. Teachers are responsible for making sure that they are aware of all the needs and accommodations to prevent accidents or situations where the child is excluded.

The teachers talked about the dreams and nightmares of the child. These are different in every family and child. The dreams are especially important because that is where we can base our developmental goals off of in order to reach them. I loved learning about the different components of IEP.: the components of IEP are understanding and looking at the child's current development, setting goals, projects, services available, accommodations, and how the child is going to participate.

There are so many laws and cases that have fought for the students equality and rights. I feel that with each case and each year that passes the government is becoming more flexible and understanding of concerns that families have with children with disabilities. I think one of the most important aspects of these cases and laws is to ensure that children with disabilities get the same opportunities and have access to the same curriculum. Inclusion is key, and when they are included and put in the least restrictive environment, they benefit, their families are benefitted, and the peers are also benefitted.

Week 3 Reflection

This week from the resources I was impressed with how much the government has been involved in making changes for people with disabilities, but there is always room for improvement. They have come a long way but they still have a long way to go. The term “separate but equal” doesn’t really make the situation better. In my experience it is best to have the children with special needs learning alongside their peers rather than in a separate classroom. The children need exposure to both peer interaction and one on one help depending on their strengths and struggle areas. Below is a cartoon that I like that describes the meaning of equality. Sameness does not necessarily mean that it is equal. Depending on areas of weakness some children need more accommodations and help in order to achieve the same success as their peers.

One of my favorite parts of Special Education is the IEP’s because it is INDIVIDUALIZED. I am a strong believer in seeking to help the “one”. Individualized plans allow teachers to accomplish all their responsibilities and attend to all their students yet they are aware of how to make accommodations to the one in order to help each student succeed. IEP’s are a documentation of goals and progress. The first part of the plan is to recognize where the child is at presently. Once children get behind in the educational systems it is hard for them to get back on track and ahead- yet Individualized Education Plans pace the students, it challenges them yet the goals and expectations are achievable.

One of the best examples that I saw of an IEP was when I was helping in a second grade class, one of the students had special needs and he required a constant aide by his side. He would go out of the normal classroom 2-3 times a day to be with other special needs children, but majority of the day he was learning with his aide in the normal classroom. The aide always had a clipboard with objectives for the day and the things that the particular students did well and accomplished as well as new goals for the next day. Sometimes I think that people view special education programs as a babysitting or entertainment facility to keep them occupied so they are less of a distraction. IEP’s help teachers know how they can help the student progress daily rather than just filling in meaningless activities to take up time.

The more inclusion the better, understanding and success will come with time. Love and Inclusion will make the difference in the community of the classroom.

Post one

I was mostly touched by the talks we were able to read for the topic of Love and Inclusion. I realized that Christ was never concerned with the difference in people- yet he values and served everyone regardless of their difficulties. The lesson that I apply to teaching from Christ is loving and reaching out. Christ is the shepherd and is willing to reach out to those that are lost. People can feel lost for many different reasons. Children with disabilities may feel lost because they feel out of place in society- yet the whole part of loving them is helping them feel included and appreciated. Tenderness and love brings patience to those that serve. I can see the perspective of parents feeling lost and discouraged when they find out that their child has a disability- yet Christ and Heavenly Father work alongside us as we raise HIS children. Teachers can have such a big influence on children with special needs as we are patient and understanding. As we make accommodations we can put ourselves in their shoes in order to understand them more. Understanding of their condition and background brings love and willingness to make changes within us.