Education is something that should be provided to all students of all abilities and educators should try to be the best they can be. Teachers who are not motivated to teach their students should not be teaching. I have found through my experiences in schooling and through my observation hours that the teachers who love what they do make the biggest impact on the students.
When I was in elementary school I had several teachers who were not passionate about their job and they did not make education a fun learning experience. I was not passionate about my own education because I did not have teachers who were excited about teaching. It is important for students to be inspired by their teachers. Motivation is something that I believe cannot be taught but it can be learned through experiences. By this I mean that if teachers exemplify there own passion for education then the students will in turn become excited about learning. This is a skill that students will carry all through their education, through college.
Learning these skills at a young age is important for students because it is hard to learn later on in life. When I started high school I had little motivation to do well in school. It was until my 9th grade biology teacher took the time to work with me and showed me a passion for education. He loved to teach and loved to share his knowledge of biology with his students. This experience made a big impact on me and I began to find my own passion in school.
I have learned many things through the duration of this class. I found learning about the different kinds of education around the world and how they are similar and different to the United States to be very interesting. Another thing I found to be interesting the different perspectives on inclusion classrooms. A final thing I learned through this course was the different perspectives of multicultural education and the importance of culture in education.
Through reading the other students in the classes blogs I have learned that a single idea can have so many different outlooks depending on the persons opinions on a particular subject. I found the blogs to be a great way to get a different perspective on certain subjects such as social justices and inclusion classrooms.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Social Justices within Special Education
For my blog this week I wanted to connect social justice to special education and find a topic within the genre.
A social injustice I found within the realm of special education is the population of students who are behaviorally out of control or emotionally disturbed. Students with learning and physical disabilities are protected by law to be provided Free and Appropriate Public Education (F.A.P.E.). If the school district cannot provide these services for a student, then the student will be outsourced to a private school. Students who are emotionally disturbed and/or have behavioral problems do not always fit into the category or learning or physically disabled and can be denied such services. These students actions are typically reprimanded with suspension or expulsion from particular school systems. These students deserve the same rights as students who are physically or learning disabled. Below is a picture of a book that I read for an education class I took last fall. It give a very good insight on what it is like to be an emotionally disturbed student.
A social justice that special education students have is the availability of an educational liaison. Special education has a lot of moving parts and there are a lot of people involved in the IEP process of a student. If a students parents are found to be neglectful to the students education and/or refuse to sign the students IEP an educational liaison can be called in place of the students parents to make decisions in the best interest of the student. This is extremely important for the students if the parents are not making appropriate decisions for their child.
http://education-portal.com/articles/Legal_Mediator_Education_Requirements_and_Career_Info.html
http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/65429139/special-education-more-about-social-justice-less-about-caring
A social injustice I found within the realm of special education is the population of students who are behaviorally out of control or emotionally disturbed. Students with learning and physical disabilities are protected by law to be provided Free and Appropriate Public Education (F.A.P.E.). If the school district cannot provide these services for a student, then the student will be outsourced to a private school. Students who are emotionally disturbed and/or have behavioral problems do not always fit into the category or learning or physically disabled and can be denied such services. These students actions are typically reprimanded with suspension or expulsion from particular school systems. These students deserve the same rights as students who are physically or learning disabled. Below is a picture of a book that I read for an education class I took last fall. It give a very good insight on what it is like to be an emotionally disturbed student.
A social justice that special education students have is the availability of an educational liaison. Special education has a lot of moving parts and there are a lot of people involved in the IEP process of a student. If a students parents are found to be neglectful to the students education and/or refuse to sign the students IEP an educational liaison can be called in place of the students parents to make decisions in the best interest of the student. This is extremely important for the students if the parents are not making appropriate decisions for their child.
http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/65429139/special-education-more-about-social-justice-less-about-caring
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Humanism in Education
**What is the most important aspect of the humanism philosophy in education?
Humanists believe that the student is in control of their future through the effort they put into the activities they engage in. More recently humanist have begun to focus on the self-concept of a child. Self-concepts refers to the students ability to feel good about themselves. If the students feels comfortable with themselves they will feel more comfortable in school, thus assumingly succeeding. The child must learn to be comfortable within them in order to learn efficiently. The philosophy is based on the theory that children by nature are good and proper education should foster their inherit goodness.
The educators role in humanism: The goal of the educator in humanism is to efficiently support the child in their studies and create an environment that fosters healthy learning. Teachers need to help students build strong self-esteem. The main goal of educators, through the lens of the humanism philosophy, is to create through learning processes and a positive learning environment, children who are caring toward one another and respectful to themselves and others.
**In my opinion the most important aspect that teachers need to foster is the act of teaching students self-motivation in their studies. Being self sufficient as a student is very important, especially in middle school and high school. The student must rely on their own knowledge and ability to work independently to do well in school.
Through my research on the topic of humanism philosophy I found an article from “CETYS UNIVERSIDAD” that outlines the important aspects of humanism:
- Education based around the idea of humanism: Human beings are inherently good and wish to succeed in education. Human qualities that aid in education include: “values, interests, beliefs, freedom, imagination, creativity, historic memory, hope.”
- A successful society is one that thrives for academic success. Academic success fosters individual success within a community.
Sources:
Saturday, June 15, 2013
People Against Special Education Inclusion Classrooms?
Is inclusion the most beneficial option for students or is the district using inclusion as a loophole for cheaper special education?
While looking for something to post about this week I stumbled upon an article that was about people being against inclusion classrooms. I have heard few opinions of those who are against inclusion. The argument is that those in special education inclusion classrooms do not make significant enough progress. Students, with learning disabilities and typical, learn in unique, individual ways. For an inclusion program to be successful the following must occur:
The other point I found through my research this week is that many district officials believe that inclusion classrooms are the most financially efficient option of special education because the student to teacher ratio can be larger, allowing for the district to save on the cost of more staff salaries.
In my opinion, inclusion may not be the best learning environment for individual students because each child has a unique and different case; therefore you cannot effectively teach them based on a curriculum of typical, grade level students. That being said I do believe that inclusion classrooms serve a great social purpose for both the students with learning disabilities and their typical classmates. The link below brings you to an article that explores the benefits of both groups of students in an inclusion classroom. It is a very informative article and I suggest checking it out if you are interested in inclusion. http://rse.sagepub.com/content/20/2/114.short
http://www.learningrx.com/against-special-education-inclusion-faq.htm
While looking for something to post about this week I stumbled upon an article that was about people being against inclusion classrooms. I have heard few opinions of those who are against inclusion. The argument is that those in special education inclusion classrooms do not make significant enough progress. Students, with learning disabilities and typical, learn in unique, individual ways. For an inclusion program to be successful the following must occur:
- the students must all be working toward a similar goal
- the students must have similar curriculum framework
- the classroom must be a flexible and creative learning environment
The other point I found through my research this week is that many district officials believe that inclusion classrooms are the most financially efficient option of special education because the student to teacher ratio can be larger, allowing for the district to save on the cost of more staff salaries.
In my opinion, inclusion may not be the best learning environment for individual students because each child has a unique and different case; therefore you cannot effectively teach them based on a curriculum of typical, grade level students. That being said I do believe that inclusion classrooms serve a great social purpose for both the students with learning disabilities and their typical classmates. The link below brings you to an article that explores the benefits of both groups of students in an inclusion classroom. It is a very informative article and I suggest checking it out if you are interested in inclusion. http://rse.sagepub.com/content/20/2/114.short
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
The Rising Cost of Specialized Education for Students with Exceptionalities
Does the rising cost of education for students with exceptionalities divert school districts from providing students with Free and Appropriate Education?
Multicultural education is a type of education that focuses on an approach to include all students and provide the best accommodations to their individual situations. Students with exceptionalities are those students who vary from the norm of their peers, either as with learning disabilities or those who are gifted and talented. Think about when you were in school. Accommodations for students with such exceptionalities include integration of students into typical and grade level classrooms, to substantially separate classrooms within the public school system, to private organizations that provide specialized education. (McNergney p. 54-59)
Free and Appropriate Education is provided by law to all students. Specialized education is extremely expensive. The federal government claims they will cover 40% of the educational costs that comes along with educating those who are learning disabled or gifted and talented. From a recent pole taken by ABC News, it is found that for the majority, the federal government only covers about 10% of those costs. School districts are struggling to keep up with the rising demand for special education services. Those students who are not successful in the public school setting are eligible for private education.
Deborah Toups, the spokesperson of the Gilroy Unified School district says that "In 2002, our unfunded special ed costs were about $170,000, this school year it's $3,200,000." This is a ridiculous amount of money for a school district to owe. Most school districts are afraid that if this rise in cost their school district will become bankrupt. Some school officials, who chose not to be named, admit that they are hesitant to provide private education for their students because of the cost. Private special education can range from $30,000-$70,000 a year. If a student is considered eligible for a one-one (one teacher to one student) then their tuition can sky above $70,000. The school district must provide the students this education if they cannot provide appropriate education and services in the public school setting. The school district is also expected to pay for transportation. As an example from my school, a student was having a conflict on the bus with a peer of theirs. The parents called the bus company and demanded that the student be taken off of the bus and put on a different bus by themselves. The bus company complied and now his school district had to pay for two buses transportation from the same area to the same school. Bottom line is the parents get what they want.
In my opinion, education in invaluable. Education should absolutely be provided to those who need it and if public education does not suite that child then it is the job of the district to find the student new and more appropriate placement. I do however feel that parents tend to take advantage of the system and do not completely understand how extremely expensive special education services are. School official are hesitant to send their students out of the public setting and into a private setting because of the high cost. One thing we need to keep in mind is that every student, regardless of learning abilities would benefit from specialized services, but it should only be provided to those who truly need it and will not succeed without the services.
The chart below provides a great visual reference of the costs in specialized education...
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/education&id=7786691
http://www.learningrx.com/special-education-costs-faq.htm
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x121060135/More-students-complex-needs-higher-costs-in-special-education
Multicultural education is a type of education that focuses on an approach to include all students and provide the best accommodations to their individual situations. Students with exceptionalities are those students who vary from the norm of their peers, either as with learning disabilities or those who are gifted and talented. Think about when you were in school. Accommodations for students with such exceptionalities include integration of students into typical and grade level classrooms, to substantially separate classrooms within the public school system, to private organizations that provide specialized education. (McNergney p. 54-59)
Free and Appropriate Education is provided by law to all students. Specialized education is extremely expensive. The federal government claims they will cover 40% of the educational costs that comes along with educating those who are learning disabled or gifted and talented. From a recent pole taken by ABC News, it is found that for the majority, the federal government only covers about 10% of those costs. School districts are struggling to keep up with the rising demand for special education services. Those students who are not successful in the public school setting are eligible for private education.
Deborah Toups, the spokesperson of the Gilroy Unified School district says that "In 2002, our unfunded special ed costs were about $170,000, this school year it's $3,200,000." This is a ridiculous amount of money for a school district to owe. Most school districts are afraid that if this rise in cost their school district will become bankrupt. Some school officials, who chose not to be named, admit that they are hesitant to provide private education for their students because of the cost. Private special education can range from $30,000-$70,000 a year. If a student is considered eligible for a one-one (one teacher to one student) then their tuition can sky above $70,000. The school district must provide the students this education if they cannot provide appropriate education and services in the public school setting. The school district is also expected to pay for transportation. As an example from my school, a student was having a conflict on the bus with a peer of theirs. The parents called the bus company and demanded that the student be taken off of the bus and put on a different bus by themselves. The bus company complied and now his school district had to pay for two buses transportation from the same area to the same school. Bottom line is the parents get what they want.
In my opinion, education in invaluable. Education should absolutely be provided to those who need it and if public education does not suite that child then it is the job of the district to find the student new and more appropriate placement. I do however feel that parents tend to take advantage of the system and do not completely understand how extremely expensive special education services are. School official are hesitant to send their students out of the public setting and into a private setting because of the high cost. One thing we need to keep in mind is that every student, regardless of learning abilities would benefit from specialized services, but it should only be provided to those who truly need it and will not succeed without the services.
The chart below provides a great visual reference of the costs in specialized education...
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/education&id=7786691
http://www.learningrx.com/special-education-costs-faq.htm
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x121060135/More-students-complex-needs-higher-costs-in-special-education
CYBER BULLYING:
Cyber bullying is defined by teasing, mockery, or name-calling through any form of technology networking(such as instant messaging, text messaging, social network sites, etc). Cyber bullying is a relatively new topic to researchers. Cyber bullying is so dangerous because of the many methods of the anonymous nature the internet and other communicating devices provide.
QUESTION ON THE TOPIC:
Cyber bullying is defined by teasing, mockery, or name-calling through any form of technology networking(such as instant messaging, text messaging, social network sites, etc). Cyber bullying is a relatively new topic to researchers. Cyber bullying is so dangerous because of the many methods of the anonymous nature the internet and other communicating devices provide.
QUESTION ON THE TOPIC:
What is the best way to handle cyber bullying as a parent? There are two major philosophies on how to deal with cyber bullying. After reading through a blog on greatschools.com, there proved to be two common ways to deal with cyber bullying. The varying opinions split down the middle. One, allow your children to stand up for themselves on their own in hopes that the problem will be resolved. Parents who chose this path express to their children their concerns but continue to allow them to use the internet freely. Secondly, is to complete cut off your child from all access to computers and cell phones in hopes of limiting their exposure to the bullies.
Both opinions on the subject stress that parents CAN'T use the common excuse that they cannot keep up with their children's technology. Just because you don't understand doesn't mean you shouldn't learn, if only for the well being of your child.
My opinion on the matter would be right in the middle. I would allow my children to use social media, a cell phone, IM, etc but I would monitor it and make sure I had all of the passwords to check in every once in awhile. Growing up I was very open with my parents. I would read my mom my text messages and I didn't keep any secrets. I was not the typical child you could say. I valued talking through different situations with my mom and didn't keep anything from her. That being said, I was never bullied. Through my research on cyber bullying, those who are bullied who are being bullied keep it a secret because they feel ashamed. Often they will begin to internalize the comments the bullies are making and in some cases start to believe them. It is important for children to have their own privacy and handle their own situations- it is truly the only way they will learn. BUT it is also the job of the parents to protect their children from the negatives in the world.
Cyber bullying is a horrible, senseless form of teasing that is often taken way to far. Children get a false sense of confidence, which fuels their cruelty, when chatting online. The best things parents can do is to be open with their children and make sure they are aware of the dangers of cyber bullying. Parents should be aware of whether their child is a bully or is getting bullied.
Schools are taking a stand against bullying and serving severe consequences toward those who are involved. Cyber bullying is a serious matter that can be prevented with proper awareness and education of the dangers.
http://www.greatschools.org/parenting/community/discussion.gs?content=58677
http://www.education.com/reference/article/cyberbullying-research/
http://www.puresight.com/Research-Reports/cyberbullying.html
Both opinions on the subject stress that parents CAN'T use the common excuse that they cannot keep up with their children's technology. Just because you don't understand doesn't mean you shouldn't learn, if only for the well being of your child.
My opinion on the matter would be right in the middle. I would allow my children to use social media, a cell phone, IM, etc but I would monitor it and make sure I had all of the passwords to check in every once in awhile. Growing up I was very open with my parents. I would read my mom my text messages and I didn't keep any secrets. I was not the typical child you could say. I valued talking through different situations with my mom and didn't keep anything from her. That being said, I was never bullied. Through my research on cyber bullying, those who are bullied who are being bullied keep it a secret because they feel ashamed. Often they will begin to internalize the comments the bullies are making and in some cases start to believe them. It is important for children to have their own privacy and handle their own situations- it is truly the only way they will learn. BUT it is also the job of the parents to protect their children from the negatives in the world.
Cyber bullying is a horrible, senseless form of teasing that is often taken way to far. Children get a false sense of confidence, which fuels their cruelty, when chatting online. The best things parents can do is to be open with their children and make sure they are aware of the dangers of cyber bullying. Parents should be aware of whether their child is a bully or is getting bullied.
Schools are taking a stand against bullying and serving severe consequences toward those who are involved. Cyber bullying is a serious matter that can be prevented with proper awareness and education of the dangers.
http://www.greatschools.org/parenting/community/discussion.gs?content=58677
http://www.education.com/reference/article/cyberbullying-research/
http://www.puresight.com/Research-Reports/cyberbullying.html
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
What drives educators to teach?
When looking for the answer for this question on the internet I stumbled upon an article presented by UNC (http://www.unc.edu/uncbest/teacher.html). This article went through the generic answers each one of us would come up with when posed with the questions; learn for the rest of your life, make a difference in the lives of your students, spend more time with your family, etc. Making a difference in the lives of your students is probably the most commonly used reason for becoming a teacher. Good teachers help students grow in their academic and social lives through the lessons they teach everyday.
Another article I found was by a professor at Boston College, Mary Brabeck (http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/rvp/pubaf/chronicle/v11/n14/brabeck.html). I really appreciate the way she presented why someone would chose teaching as their profession. Brabeck explores the challenges of being a teacher and the criticism that teachers face on a daily basis. I especially liked her emphasis on the collaboration between teachers, other school personnel, and parents. Education should never be a concrete plan that is decided by one person. Education should be something that is flexible and receptive to input from all parties involved. This collaboration goes back to challenges of teaching. It is impossible to please each one of your students parents. It is a major part of the educators job to interact with the parents of your students, who are usually very defensive and protective of their children. When posed the question Why become a teacher? Brabeck responded with: "Because it's challenging. Because it's never boring. Because it's important. Because our democracy depends on what happens in our schools. Because, as Christa McAuliffe famously said, "I touch the future...I teach."" I closely relate to this statement. Teaching is not an easy profession. Many people who do not understand the field of education make their judgments on the profession.
I googled "Why Teach?" Hundreds of pictures popped up but this one in particular stood out to me. This students is using his magnifying glass to look at the crab who is probably living in the classroom fish tank. The student is using the magnifying glass as a tool to look closely at the crab, perhaps in hopes of learning something new about him. This picture reminded me of my little brothers excitement when he would come home from school after learning something new that he was excited about. We teach to give our students the tools to become learners. We felt build the foundation our students need to be successful in their academics and in their lives. We help our students build on their imagination, creativity, and eagerness to learn.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
This blog is a great opportunity to express my passion for both general education and special education. A little background on myself...I am 22 years old. I am finishing my undergraduate degree in English at Bridgewater State University. I took this past Spring semester off from school to focus on passing my MTELS (the dreaded mtels!) I ended up getting a job on my time off working in a school for children with severe special needs. I work with a population of students with varying medical and learning disabilities. The population I work with requires a lot of hands on work and my students require a lot of one to one attention. I have 6 students in my classroom and 4 staff members. We all work collaboratively to ensure our classroom is a safe and inviting learning environment. I started my journal toward a career in education picturing myself in a 3rd grade general education classroom. Now that I am working in special education I no longer have the desire for a typical classroom. I could not be any happier with my experiences in the school I am working in now and cannot wait until I have my own classroom! I am looking forward to the different aspect of education that this course will bring light to.
I truly believe that it takes a special person to dedicate their lives to a career in education. I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone in the class through their blogs and classroom discussions!
I truly believe that it takes a special person to dedicate their lives to a career in education. I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone in the class through their blogs and classroom discussions!
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