School is an important part of any person’s life. It is during this time that many people gain not only an education but also their own sense of identity. Education is a gateway for students to explore the world before they are yet old enough to do so on their own. In a troublesome time such as middle school and junior high, students will struggle greatly not only with academics but also with adjusting to the idea of individuality. The best thing a school can do for its students is to give them the opportunities that they won’t find anywhere else to expand their horizons. Children use school to develop their own interests. To best help their students, the school simply has to make sure that they are learning to the best of their abilities because that is what will prepare them for their futures.
While the school’s job is to provide opportunities for the growth of its students, it is the student’s job to take advantage of those opportunities. Every child is capable of learning; they simply have to be willing to put in the effort necessary to succeed. A good way to encourage students to take an active role in their education is to make it interesting and to ensure that it applies to their life. For example, as an English teacher, I could go over literature that has themes present in today’s society, giving students a way to objectively explore their own opinions and ways to manage in the world.
As a teacher, I think my job would be to encourage my students. I know from experience that a reliable teacher who can encourage you will make all the difference. I was a bit of a problem child, but the intervention of an effective teacher is what helped me to become who I am today. A teacher has a unique role in students’ lives. They get to be a mentor, a supporter, and an educator. There are many things that a teacher can do for his/her students. One of the best things to possibly do for your students, though, is their advocate. You need to believe in your students 100%. If you can manage that, you can encourage them to believe in themselves, too, and you’ll find yourself to be more accepting in the long run. You will especially need to be a strong advocate for those children who have diversity against them. While society has become more and more accepting over the years, the deep-seated beliefs and stereotypes are not things that can be reversed overnight, so you have to be prepared to help your students however you can because a great deal of their success will depend on you.
For my students, I would like to create a welcoming classroom environment. I would probably want to put them in groups and have a system set up for my expectations of their behavior and performance. As for the lessons, I would like to give as many ways to do the work as possible, particularly if I wind up teaching math. The important thing is that the students understand the work, not that they learn to copy my methods. If there is a particular method that works for a student and is correct, I would gladly accept their work. I’d also try to make myself available for tutoring sessions for those students who feel as though they need the extra help. It would also give me insight into what I can do to potentially improve my lessons for my students. I also think that I would not wind up doing many straight lectures; I want my students to be engaged in the classroom and to take away all that they can, so breaking it up periodically could be helpful in maintaining their attention.
As for dealing with the families of my students, I would like to make myself available to them as well. I certainly don’t want to overwhelm myself, but parents can give you an insight into a child that you may never have otherwise. Not to mention that home problems can directly affect a child’s performance at school, so being aware of a situation that could be potentially harmful to a student’s education can be beneficial. I’d like to work with the families as best as I can to help their children succeed.
Over the years, both the ideals and reality of special education have changed significantly. Students with disabilities in the past were often ignored in the world of education due to the belief that they were ineducable--a belief that is entirely unfounded. All students regardless of impairment or disability are capable of benefiting from education, and while the need for accommodations may be present, this does not negate the potential of those students with disabilities. Even those students with severe or profound disabilities can benefit from schooling by gaining essential skills for the function of their day-to-day lives.
Sadly, this is not an opinion that is shared by everyone, evident by recurring court cases where students have to fight for their right to an education. However, the right to education is still protected for these students due to the implementation of IDEA and Section 504. Both of these acts have created many opportunities for special education students by ensuring that all students, regardless of disability, receive a free and appropriate education. IDEA guarantees that every student who is part of the special education program will receive the help and accommodations necessary for their academic success while Section 504 prohibits discrimination against a student due to his/her disability. Although IDEA and Section 504 grant many legal rights and freedoms to persons with disabilities, this does not mean that those persons will not have obstacles to face.
One of the larger obstacles in the way of students with disabilities is the lack of acceptance from their peers. Inclusion in the classroom can go a long way towards helping students without disabilities understand and accept their peers with disabilities; it can be particularly fruitful to assist special education students in a way that does not call attention to their disability; this way those students can share their experiences at their own pace and will be less likely to receive the scorn of their classmates.
While I do wholeheartedly believe in inclusion for students with disabilities, this does not mean that all students with disabilities will succeed when spending all of their time in a regular classroom environment. The idea of least restrictive environment is one that is important to consider when placing a special education student. The point of the special education program is to ensure every child’s academic success, and some children will find more success in a special education classroom, interacting with other students during periods such as lunch and extracurriculars but receiving the majority of their education in an environment where they can get the assistance they need. All in all, what is most important to consider is which environment the child will benefit the most from.
With that being said, I believe that the most important role for a special education teacher is their job as an observer. Children with disabilities will often struggle with things both inside and outside of school; they will need assistance and support to learn how to navigate through academics as well as social and sometimes functional problems. What is even more troublesome is that some students will either be unwilling or incapable of explaining what it is that they struggle the most with, so it will be the job of the special education teacher to observe her students and assist as best as she can. Having a solid support system and a teacher who is aware of the students limitations and how to improve them can benefit the student, letting them learn and interact with confidence.
As for the regular classroom teacher with special education students, I think her most important job will be ensuring inclusion for her students with disabilities. An effective teacher can go a long way towards ensuring the success of her students, but even more so when those students have disabilities and may be struggling in class. The teacher has to maintain high expectations; to give up on the students and lower your expectations is to give them permission to give up on themselves. School is a special time in any child’s life, and all children should be able to walk away from school being the better for it.