Standard 6 - Access and Equity
This element addresses program of study promotion, student recruitment, and strategies that support access and equity for various student populations, including by gender, race and ethnicity, and special population status (such as individuals with disabilities, individuals from economically disadvantaged families, and English learners).
In the summer of 2023, I worked at a nonprofit in Lonsdale, Tennessee called Thrive. This was an opportunity to help students academically, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. This community was primarily comprised of Guatemalan immigrants, African Americans, and African refugees. I was able to serve in a 4th-grade classroom, and Thrive's academic mission is as follows. "Academic assistance is especially beneficial for children who don’t have English-speaking and/or literate caretakers who can help at home. We address academic needs through homework help, our reading-intensive summer program, reading enrichment, math enrichment, and one-on-one reading tutoring." This program is free and allows students to have supportive services outside of school hours. Any students in the community were encouraged to participate and were more than welcome. This was a great opportunity for me as a teacher because it allowed me to work with a new community that was not from small-town Illinois or Nebraska. I was able to try different teaching methods and varying ways I could build relationships with the students in my class. I enjoyed my summer because each day I was helping students find success in a variety of ways, no matter how small. Also, spending time with these students was how I realized I wanted to become a teacher, so I owe a lot to Thrive Lonsdale.
*This photo has minors' faces blurred.*
IEP project.pdfThis IEP project was an assignment that I worked on in my Introduction to Special Education class and is a great artifact for number six: access and equality. In this project, my group was able to take a 12th-grade student with Autism and help create a plan to make sure this learner was receiving the same education as his peers. Also, this project allowed me to analyze the average classroom and refine it so that students with special needs can focus better. Having facilities and materials that are easy to access and navigate ensures that all students have the opportunity to achieve success. This project was great practice for my future because it allowed me to look at multiple IEPs and see the strengths and weaknesses that I need to adjust to daily to support equity for various student populations. Another part of this IEP was thinking about supportive services, such as tutoring and transportation services, that may come into a teacher's room to help and how I can appropriately assist them. Being aware of students' differences and taking those in stride is a fabulous way to better enhance my future classes and chapter as a whole.