One big "aha" moment for me was realizing the power of a growth mindset. I’ve always known it's important to encourage our students to believe they can improve with effort, but this course showed me how crucial it is that we as teachers model that mindset ourselves. If we don’t practice it, our students won’t truly understand it. It’s not just about telling them to try harder, but showing them through our own actions that mistakes are part of learning, and we’re growing too.
Another key takeaway was discovering that assistive technology isn’t always high-tech gadgets. When we hear “technology,” we tend to think of computers or fancy apps, but assistive tools can be as simple as pencil grips, alternative seating, or visual schedules. These low-tech solutions can have a huge impact on students' learning and behavior. It reminded me that sometimes, it’s the simplest adaptations that can make the biggest difference in a child’s day.
Lastly, I really connected with the importance of RTI and MTSS for early identification. As a pre-k teacher, I play a critical role in spotting early challenges before my students head to kindergarten. RTI and MTSS provide structured ways to identify gaps between where students should be and where they actually are, allowing us to intervene early. The sooner we address these gaps, the better chance our students have to catch up and not fall behind academically.