Reflection

Throughout my experience I was blessed to have been placed in a learning support classroom with an amazing cooperating teacher, Mrs. Simmons. Mrs. Simmons taught me so much over the time that I spent in her classroom. One of the comments that gave me insight into teaching was that it is very important to be flexible. I have learned to be very flexible and adjust my lessons and plans whenever needed. Since I am in a learning support classroom the class sizes are a lot smaller. In one of the math group I only have two students, so when one of the students was absent I would individually work with the student on basic math skills. I would then save my lesson for the following day. This situation has occurred many times throughout the five weeks. The other two math groups have four students and two students. In the group with four students, two of the students have speech some days, so when they went to speech I would wait to teach my lesson since it was half of the class. Instead I would work with the students on other concepts. I learned to become very flexible and to think of ideas on the spot when students were absent or getting pulled out of class for occupational therapy or speech.

My cooperating teacher was a great role model for me because she was always modeling great teaching strategies and responsibilities. She was able to model how students with special needs need extra assistance and how they learn best. I learned how to reach the students interests and needs in order to help them succeed. I loved seeing the students learn and understand concepts that I taught them. I will never forget this experience and I will always be thankful that I was placed in the learning support classroom with Mrs. Simmons.

In addition, my cooperating teacher modeled how one should never give up on a child. By watching my teacher I learned how to talk to students about how they are feeling and why they are frustrated. I learned how to approach students when they are angry and don't want to talk. I also learned how to help this particular student overcome distractions and frustration. This child would get very upset and distracted in lessons. I was able to learn how to communicate with him in a way for him to give me the Angry Bird picture he drew, his pencil, or whatever he had that he was playing with. It was the most rewarding feeling when he listened to me and gave me these items without getting upset. By watching my teacher in situations over the five weeks, I learned how to handle situations in many ways that I will continue to use when I become a teacher.

My teacher modeled the qualities that every learning support teacher needs to have. I learned so much from her. She would always model patience and respect for every student. Watching her and talking with her about situations has helped me become even more patient. She always says to me that being a learning support teacher is like being a teacher, a mother, a nurse, and a mentor. From being in the classroom the last five weeks I was able to understand what she meant by all the characteristics of a teacher. The situations I have experienced motivated me more and more to become a learning support teacher!

The experience I have had in the learning support classroom with the thirteen students, Mrs. Simmons, the aids, and the TSS' has been the greatest experience in my life. My teacher was able to show me all the responsibilities that she has with being a learning support teacher. I was able to sit in at an IEP meeting which was a great experience for me. I was able to see the process of how IEP meeting go. I also learned how to handle situations that I could never even imagine being able to handle.

I learned so much from not only my cooperating teacher, but my students as well. My students taught me how to be patient, individualize instruction, think creatively, and think on the spot. I loved having the opportunity to work one on one with students. I was able to see how students with special needs thought. I was always trying to think of a way to reach the students, and when I did it was such a rewarding feeling. I was also able to get to know these students very well and create my lessons that would motivate each of them. The one day when I created a concentration math game for the students to practice their number and number word relationship the students asked me if they could keep the cards and practice them for homework. I couldn't believe that they actually wanted to take the game home and practice for homework. The excitement they had after I told them they could keep it was priceless. Being able to motivate students to learn is one of the greatest feelings in the world. I also love being able to see the growth that the students have made since I have been there.

I will never forget my pre-student teaching experience with my cooperating teacher, TSS staff, classroom aides, and my wonderful 13 students!