How would you describe your Special Ed. program model?
- Montessori is the type of program model of the classroom. This is a very unusual program model for a classroom that is both Special Education and Montessori. It is unusual in the sense that it is not very common.
What is your philosophy of teaching?
- Love your students above all else and that teaching is a service work for the families, children and your colleagues.
What is your philosophy of classroom management?
- Again, to love all you students and respect your students. To also be the adults while the students are just being kids in his/her world.
What are issues facing you as a Special Ed. teacher?
- How to give all the students what they need when they need it when I am only one person, sometimes there are others to help
- Resrouces: time, spce ,environemtn
What are issues facing students in your program?
- One main issues students face in this program is they are busy being themselves -being children. The expectations that adults have set for them are not realistic most of the time. Therefore it is important to remember that progress is going to show over time.
How could Special Ed. programs be more effective for your students?
- It depends a lot on the child, students who struggle with emotional, body issues, neurological, sensory have a hard time getting the services they need.
- The student who struggle with academic work get what they need to help them be successful, but other students who qualify for services most of the time have a hard time simply learning in their environment.
Share a little background of yourself, please (schooling, teaching experiences, achievements, degrees, etc.)
- Was in the Dual License program at UNM
- Mastered in education; thought and social culture studies
- Has been teaching for 20+ years
- Currently getting a diagnostics degree from UNM
- Worked in APS for gifted students only in upper Elementary
- Now working with students who qualify with a disability with K-3rdgraders
1) What is the “feel” of instruction/learning in the classroom? Tense, active, relaxed, enjoyable, comfortable, etc.? Why do you think this is the case, at least at this point in time?
- The feel of the classroom is very active and enjoyable. Every student is doing something different, as in the Montessori setting students are expected to complete their individual works. I think the philosophy of Montessori definitely helps with how the feel of the room is throughout the day.
2) What appears to be the relationship between the teacher and the students?
- The relationship between the teacher and the students is very strong. It is clear the teacher has made a significant effort to get to know each student. In return the students feel comfortable approaching the teacher when needed.
3) How interested are the students in the content or learning materials? How do you know?
- The students are very interested in all of the works on their white boards. Since the works the students are required to complete are creative, the students are engaged in them. New works are also added periodically to keep the students interested.
4) How is instruction related to students’ real life experiences, interests, or needs?
- Instruction is related to the student’s real life experiences, interests, and needs by making the works assigned to each student different and introducing new works when appropriate.
5) In what ways does the teacher adapt instruction/materials to address students’ needs and strengths?
- Each student has a small whiteboard with their personal agenda of work they should do each day. Teachers quietly move around, working with students individually to check in on how each student is doing with their work.
6) How would you describe the demographics of the students (age range, ethnic groups, gender, new or returning, primary language, etc.?
- The students are in 2ndand 3rdgrade. Therefore, the students are around the age of 6 and 7 years old. The classroom has a total of 10 students. The ratio between boys and girls is 6:4. The primary language in the classroom is English and most of these students are returning.
7) What is the overall management style (organization of time/space/ resources, expectations of students’ responsibility and behavior)? What works well, and why?
- Being in a Montessori classroom, there are low bookcases that hold materials to use in lessons and for everyone overall. The student takes the materials they choose to work on and bring it to a variety of tables to work independently on.
8) Describe or sketch the physical environment of the classroom below (seating, supplies and equipment, work areas, lighting, etc.)
- This classroom does not have desks. There were three student work tables of different heights and one ‘teacher work table’. In this portable classroom building, none of the fluorescent lights were turned on. The classroom was illuminated by natural light from the windows, a soft-light torchiere and two soft-light ceiling lamps. Another significant difference was a treadmill and a mini trampoline along one wall of the classroom. These allow students to refocus in between lessons. There was an inviting reading area in the corner of the room with big pillows and most bookcases were low, making it easy for children to browse.