Smart Goal 1
Throughout my placement, I was assigned to help a student diagnosed with ASD who has a developmental delay which causes the student to be behind in many activities. Personally, as an EA I would accomplish some teaching and learning strategies that can be used every day in class to help the student stay on track and finish tasks independently and on time. Strategies will also include enhancing the student’s self-esteem and self-confidence. Educational assistants have a vital role in helping the student overcome their problems, and be motivated, it is our job to remain on top of things and to be involved in the progression of the student.
As an EA and professional I will address as many unique patterns and strategies of learning in class to make sure that the student understands the concept of the tasks. Strategies will be tangible and in easy and simple steps. The evidence will be written in a chart which will include all the steps that need to be completed on a daily basis. One column in the chart will be for the rewards, to encourage the student to try hard to achieve the goal. It will start with the easy step and gradually move to the hard ones. The students' successful transition from one step to another will measure their goal success. The more rewards they achieve the more their successful progress improves.
First I will find out the student's learning style, this way I can find alternatives to their way of learning. Second, chunk the work into simple and straightforward steps, starting with the easy steps and moving on to the hard steps by accommodating the student learning style.
Thirdly, I will connect each new step to the student's prior knowledge, to help the student learn more and feel confident about themselves, as well as increase the sense of capability within every student. Fourthly, I will find resources and online sites that can aid and support the students' learning, throughout this process, I will ensure encouragement and a value of self-worth. Finally, I would let the students work independently to feel confident and enhance their self-esteem to accomplish and achieve the target goal and understand beyond their knowledge.
There are various barriers that can interfere and cause an impact. Some barriers that are faced may include the relationships with the student and building a relationship where they feel comfortable enough around me, the lack of reinforcement is another barrier since the student must always be encouraged and motivated. We could overcome these barriers by building a friendly relationship with the student and spend more time with them and get to know their way of learning in order to break the ice and make them feel comfortable. As well as try to include each and every student and keep them engaged in the activities. Also, I will follow the strategy chart to ease the work for the student.
This goal will start on October 30th 2020 when the new unit begins and will be accomplished by November 27th, 2020.
Smart Goal 2
In one of the classes I helped in, a student with low vision is physically present but does nothing because the program is not modified to suit their exceptionalities. I thought about using assistive technology and the universal design of learning (UDL) as well as a modified curriculum to help the student feel included and not segregated. This will be the main goal that I will try to accomplish.
I will consider my goal accomplished and gained if the student will be able to share all activities with the other students and be included. Also, when the student starts the modified curriculum that suits their disability. The evidence will be the assistive technology tools, materials and resources that will be ready once the student arrives at school even with easy and simple directions on how to use the tools, which will be written in big words associated with images large.
To accomplish this goal I will first work collaboratively with the student’s parents and the team members at the centre and set a plan to see what helps the student best. Second, I will provide the assistive tools and have it ready for the student to use as well as use many ways to present information. Thirdly, I will have the instructions written in big words to be easy for the student to use. Fourthly, I will have a braille version as an alternative copy of the instructions. Also, I will provide some online activity and resources to help the student and the family to collaborate with us as a team. Finally, I will share all the data I prepared with team members.
Barriers we would face will be expenses and time. Since some assistive tools are expensive. Also, the modified curriculum will need extra work from all the staff. I will overcome this barrier by using online resources and activities more often instead of buying all materials needed. I will borrow the assistive tools from the library if it is available. Also, we can get the most effective tools first and every once in a while we can buy a new tool that can help the student share different activities with one another. I would also ask the parents to help and cover some expenses if they are willing to donate in order to support the student. Or we can even look for used ones in a good condition to help the student.
This plan will begin at the beginning of this term on September 1st, 2020 and the goal will be accomplished by the end of the term on December 15th, 2020.
Field Placement 3 SMART Goals
Goal #1
S
Placement is a fantastic opportunity for me as an EA student to be exposed to different cases of individualities. EA’s have an essential role in students' progress and academic achievement. Throughout my placement, I was assigned to shadow a senior EA who is supporting a grade 1 student with hearing loss who still doesn't know their letters. The student was recently moved to the school and the staff was going through an assessment to complete an individual educational plan (IEP) to help support the student. The student was not getting the needed help because of the lack of resources. Personally, as an EA, I would use American Sign Language (ASL) to help the student better. Also, I would accomplish a few effective teaching and learning strategies that can support the student’s needs during the school day and improve their communication with peers and staff.
M
As an EA I will convey some special strategies that can engage and include the student in the class activities with other classmates. I would use UDL, technology, and I would hang up the ASL posters on the wall to help the student communicate with classmates and get involved in-class activities. I would seek help from different organizations such as the Canadian Association of the Deaf, to get more information to educate myself to better support the student. The evidence will be noted in an ASL chart that includes all the signs and meanings as well as colored pictures that need to be used in the class for primary needs. The ASL chart would be designed in a fun and interesting way that can catch the student’s attention and encourage them to try hard and in return be reworded to achieve the goal. Parents will be involved as a source of information. Every sign the student masters successfully will measure to the goal success. The more the student uses the ASL chart and signs to communicate with peers and others the more their progress improves.
A
Firstly, I will try to find out the students' learning style to create activities that can motivate them to learn more. Secondly, because the student is still learning the alphabet, I would divide the letters and the signs into manageable groups so that they can quickly learn its sign. For Example, one group would include the letters; F, R, P, E, and T. Thirdly I will start with the letters in the student’s name, to make it interesting for them to learn. I will always start with the simple and straightforward steps and gradually increase the level of difficulty. Fourthly, I will always connect the new step to the student’s prior knowledge as well as help improve their responsibility and independence. I will look for online sites and devices that can aid and support the students' learning and enhance their confidence. Finally, I will encourage them to work independently to build their self-esteem to achieve the target goal.
R
There are various barriers that can interfere and cause an impact. The expenses of the devices that are needed can interfere in helping the student. The short period of time we have as I have to be trained to use the ASL to support the student. The relationship with the student as he is new at the school. We could defeat these barriers by spending more time with students at lunch, recess, gym and in the class to build mutual trust and friendly relationships. I will also engage the student with other students, and they can all use the ASL chart as a way of building support and communication among them all. To cover the expenses of the devices we need, we could ask the parents to contribute or even make a fundraiser. I would raise the issue to the in-school team to get support or looking out for used devices as they can be cheaper.
T
This goal will begin on February 8th, 2021 when the school’s return and it will be accomplished by April 15th, 2021.
Goal #2
S
In my placement, I was assigned to help a student who is in grade 6 and has a developmental delay. The student’s reading and writing levels were at a grade 2 level. The extensive absence over the last few years has resulted in having gaps in their learning skills that are now delaying the student’s further advancement in class. The main goal I need to accomplish is to help the student overcome their weaknesses and enhance the student's reading and writing skills. As an EA I thought about the universal design for learning (UDL), technology such as text-to-speech and speech-to-text software in order to help improve the student’s reading and writing levels as well as help the student feel much more included.
M
The goal will be considered accomplished and gained once the student is able to read books at a higher level than grade 2. Then be able to move gradually into more challenging reading books and words, this can be useful for improving their writing skills. As an EA, I will use different tangible yet simple learning and teaching strategies to support the student in reading and writing. The evidence will be the technology tools that we can manipulate to support the student. The classroom computer and iPad would be the most useful tools to help the student. Materials like different levels of reading books that gradually become harder or even a chart of the reading levels including a column for the “reward” of the student when moving from one level to another, is also considered as evidence.
A
Firstly, I will begin with easy books to help the student feel confident when they read. Secondly, I will gradually progress to a higher level when the student masters the current level. Thirdly, I will reward the student and connect each new level to the student’s prior level to help keep their mind in tune. Fourthly, I will use the devices and technology to aid the student and ensure encouragement and a value of self-worth. Finally, I will always be supportive and encouraging towards the student to get them to work independently to enhance their self-esteem to accomplish and achieve the target goal.
R
The Barrier we will face is the relationship with the student regarding the excessive absence during the year, the student is not yet familiar with me as an EA. The target goal needs consistency and persistence in order to be accomplished. To approach this target goal the student is expected to attend the school at least three times a week and join the reading program I created for them to earn the best results. I will overcome these barriers by keeping in touch with their parents and ensuring they bring the student to school every day. Also, I will try hard to build a trusted and healthy relationship with the student by spending more time together during lunchtime, recess, and gym to help the student become more comfortable. I will also choose interesting books that match their desires to encourage them to read with me.
T
This reading program will begin at the beginning of the term on February 8th, 2021 and the goal will be accomplished by the end of the term on April 15th, 2021.