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:

Causes and Characteristics was a writing assignment used to help the learner further expand their understanding of a specific IDEA disability category. The IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Act) disability category assigned to me was Speech and Language Impairment. I was given autonomy to decide what my topic would specifically focus on under this category. Social Pragmatic Communication Disorder is a topic/disability I hold dear to my heart. My son has this diagnosis and this assignment furthered my understanding of what my son deals with everyday--facts and strategies I never learned from the doctor who gave him this diagnosis.

Strategies, Accommodations, and Modifications was a writing assignment used to help the learner further asses the tools needed to support students with social communication. Through this assignment, I was able to explore the different tools such as: strategies, accommodations, and modifications students experiencing SCD will likely benefit from.

These assignments connect to Standard 1-Teaching Diverse Students, because it has broadened my understanding of students with deficits in their communication skills. I will use this understanding of social communication disorders to help students with various verbal and social needs. All of my future students will benefit from strategies that involve practicing communication.

Self-Evaluation:

• Through the process of expanding my understanding of IDEAs definitions of students with Speech and Language Impairment and Social Pragmatic Communication Disorder, has allowed the personal development of strategies, accommodations and modification I can use in my future classroom. This experience has really increase my awareness, knowledge and understanding on this topics, to better serve the students in my care.