Standard 1: Teaching Diverse Students

Standard 1 - Teaching Diverse students- The competent teacher understands the diverse characteristics and abilities of each student and how individuals develop and learn within the context of their social, economic, cultural, linguistic, and academic experiences. The teacher uses these experiences to create instructional opportunities that maximize student learning.

Rationale:

In the Summer of 2019 I took Introduction to Exceptional Children (AEDU216). We were asked to choose a topic that falls under the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) disability category. The topic I chose was Reading Disabilities within Elementary Grade Levels. The below essays and power point presentation showcase the information I learned from this assignment. The essays illustrate symptoms and possible causes and characteristics, as well as strategies and accommodations. The power point breaks down the strategies so they can be easily taught and remembered.

Standard Connection:

Below are standards that I believe best represent and meet my below work:

1C) understands how teaching and student learning are influenced by development (physical, social and emotional, cognitive, linguistic), past experiences, talents, prior knowledge, economic circumstances and diversity within the community;

1D) understands the impact of cognitive, emotional, physical, and sensory disabilities on learning and communication pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (also referred to as “IDEA”) (20 USC 1400 et seq.), its implementing regulations (34 CFR 300; 2006), Article 14 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/Art.14] and 23 Ill. Adm. Code 226 (Special Education);

1G) understands how to identify individual needs and how to locate and access technology, services, and resources to address those needs;

1H) analyzes and uses student information to design instruction that meets the diverse needs of students and leads to ongoing growth and achievement;

1J) differentiates strategies, materials, pace, levels of complexity, and language to introduce concepts and principles so that they are meaningful to students at varying levels of development and to students with diverse learning needs; and

1K) facilitates a learning community in which individual differences are respected.

Self-Evaluation:

Throughout this class I learned many strategies and terms that I didn't know before. I learned a lot about empathy and compassion. I have a much better understanding on how to work with students with ADHD, Autism, Reading and Emotional Disabilities, and much more. This class helped me better understand the many different struggles students face on a daily basis and how we as future teachers can help them in their educational journey. The many strategies and accommodations I learned will be especially useful in my future classroom.