The Real World Connection?

     I didn't think I would learn too much from this Service Learning opportunity because I have spent the last 5 years working in schools. However, I soon came to discover differently. The time I had spent in the classroom before had been entirely within Severe Special Education classes. What they have going on is similar in many ways, but also quite different. It was actually the most interesting to me to see how basic things look different in these two areas. For instance, both types of classrooms have testing, but it looks very different in each. A regular classroom has regular testing directed to the whole ( or majority) or the class. Special Ed students are only tested against themselves on their individual IEP goals.  The Special Ed classrooms are far more differentiated and have more obvious accommodations. On the other hand, it was wonderful to able to interact with students who have verbal ability, and be able to witness more frequent milestones. Both kinds of classes are amazing in their own right.

     The process of blogging has been very helpful. It has been great as a "mind dump"- a time at the end of each module to think back and make connections between what I've learned in theory, and what I've seen in real life. It encourages me to further process the events of the day and consider them through a more thorough lens. In reading through my blog posts I can see that I have begun to understand the process of educating students more deeply. I know that it is more complex and interesting than I had thought. True education goes so much deeper than a well designed and colorful bulletin board. Its connections with students, creative and varied techniques, its assessing as you go. I'm excited to continue on my path to becoming a teacher!