Blog 5: My Future Classroom

I’ve realized that I need to be teaching English classes, not social studies, reason being that my greatest passions, interest, and bulk of knowledge is in literature. I determined this once I started to teach my students Shakespeare in the past two weeks. When I lit up, my students lit up. I need to be in an environment that enables me to explore these interests with my students. That’s when both my students and I are happiest to be in the classroom. It is my hope that I will find a position that allows me to solely teach English to either middle or high schoolers.

Blog 4: Strategies for ELL students

I have used cloze sentences, realia, and gradual release to scaffold instruction for ELL students. I also use small group instruction when possible. I like to be able to work one-on-one with ELL students to make sure that they comprehend the lesson, what it asks of them, and to clarify any questions they have about the objective and methods used to reach the objective. This helps not only because I can address their individual needs, but it helps me see how I can assist them in the future.

Blog 3: IEPs

I don’t personally write the IEPs. And on rare occasion, the IEPs have been made available to me, for whatever reason. But the most stressful part of the IEP for me to deal with is implementing the accommodations for each student within a class of 25 to 30 students. It is my job to make sure that all students are successful, but with that many students to mentor and assist, it is difficult to make accommodations for one or two students, especially when they are so specific to their individual needs. Additionally, oftentimes the IEPs require remedial help that exceeds the amount of limits of classroom instruction.  

Blog 2: Behavior Managment

At the beginning of the year, I implemented a successful behavior management system, utilizing positive rewards to motivate positive behavior. As time went on, it became more difficult to manage, to keep up with, and unfortunately I lost my grip on it, let fall to the wayside. Student behaviors haven’t gotten in between them and their learning to the point of worry, but class culture and the environment have slightly suffered. Positive rewards encourage behaviors rather than dissuade them like negative consequences, which I have defaulted to since discontinuing a positive rewards system.

Blog 1: Children with Emotional Disturbance

I did not receive training regarding children with Emotional Disturbance. However, during the first week of professional development, teachers and staff do receive training on mandated reporting, as well as a review of the services available to us through our schools’ emotional behavioral specialist as well as the school psychologist. I guess they would qualify as our “Emergency Team,” though their partnership has never been coined as such. The emotional/behavioral specialist conducts group sessions with students who require structured environments that serve as additional outlet and arena for them to practice grappling with their emotions and behaviors.