Supporting Writing

UGH! I wish I would have had some of these tools when I was a student.  I am the worst writer and I hate having to write anything more than bullet points.  Even just the way this chapter broke down "What is writing?" made more sense to me than ever before.

• problem-solving
• thinking
• planning
• decision making
• transcription

Thinking of writing as planning and a problem to solve would have made it more fun and relatable to me.  

One thing that I have learned the most in my time in grad school is "What is good for one is good for all" meaning that if one student needs a graphic organizer, all students can benefit from a graphic organizer.  I feel that one common misconception with students in honors and AP classes is that they don't need those things.  Well, let me tell you that I could have done a lot better had I had a simple tool to help with an outline or concept map.  

It's encouraging to see that there are so many tools to help students with writing as I know this is a daunting task for a lot of them.  

Assistive technology

I think what I liked most about this chapter was the they way they explicitly defined assistive technology. There is in fact a difference between an assistive technology device  and an assistive technology service.  I think that this is a very important concept to remember when reading and writing IEPs.  Another important fact to keep in mind about assistive technology is that it does not have to have all the bells and whistles of an iPad.  Something as easy as a slant board and pencil grip can drastically make a difference in the legibility of a young child's handwriting.  Assistive technology services is more of a general term that helps with the acquisition of the devices.  To note both of these in an IEP can make all of the difference in the world for a young child.


It is because of the ADA that educators must know the term 504 Plan and IDEA.  It is important for us to remember that just because a student has a 504 plan, it does not mean that they have an IEP - the two are not mutually exclusive.

Understanding all of the devices and services available is so incredibly important in this day and age.  With all of these tools becoming available, students with special needs will have no bounds once we learn how to use them all appropriately.

Yay for Jobs!

On a more personal note, I just got offered a job in a pre-K classroom! I am super excited to start with them now, complete my student teaching in the same room, and then become a lead preK teacher at their new location.  It's every student's dream with an impending graduation to have a job lined up.  I could not be more happy to have this opportunity presented to me!

Observation

I am proud to finally announce that I will be starting observations on Tuesday, January 28th and Friday, January 31st. The school is an elementary school just down the road from me.  As far as I know, the classroom is self-contained, but I'll find out more details on Tuesday.

I think what I am most excited for is to see all of the resources in action that have been discussed in the book so far.  I am hoping that they use one of the online math programs as I'm most interested in that.  I know that math is a difficult subject for a lot of students and I am looking for fun ways to make it interesting for kids.  I am a self-proclaimed math nerd and find the topic to be second nature.  I feel like I need to learn ways to break down math topics in a way that is entertaining and meaningful to students.

Week 1

During this week, I am trying to get into a school to start observing.  I have made contact with a few locations and am hoping to hear back soon!