Last reflection

First I wanted to say that I am going to miss this class so much. I loved the people in the class, the professor, and the content that we were learning. I have learned more from this course than any other course this semester, or maybe even the whole time I have been at BYU-Idaho.
  This last week we collaborated with out groups on a final exam. It was fun to collaborate one more time one a case. I like collaborating because I feel like I learn more from my peers and learn more about myself and how I can be a better team player when I work with a group.
  The last reading we had was on responding to student behavior. As I have pondered over this I have realized that ,as teachers, we have to be patient with our student's behavior because it may not always be the ideal behavior we want them to have. But with that, we help them out little by little. I think it is also important that we do not expect perfection from the students we teach. No 2nd grader is going to be still and silent all the time and that is something important to internalize. I feel as if now teachers expect students to listen and behave perfectly , but we have to remember that they are still little kids and still developing. Sometimes it is often necessary to look at your own behavior and teachings strategies as a teacher to see if those are causing certain behaviors in the classroom. What you are doing may not be cohesive with certain learning styles or temperaments.

I am very appreciative to my peers and friends I ahve made in this class this semester, and I really am grateful that Brother Cloward let us take the time to get to know each other because I know that made the difference for me. 

LD Simulation

The last simulation I did was the Learning disability simulation where we were not allowed to use any words with the letters L or N as we talked with other people. This was to simulate a slower response to find words and speak them. I was not really looking forward to this one, but like all the other simulations I have learned a lot of respect and empathy for those who have these disabilities.
   The first conversation was at pizza pie cafe. As I was talking the girl looked at me like "is she ok" but then it was like this switch in her face went to understanding. I was really appreciative to this girl because of how she acted towards me. Now, even though I do not have LD others do, and it is so nice to know that there are people out there who are compassionate and understanding to those that have difficulties with LD or any disability in general. It was almost as if she was trying to finish my sentences for me when I would ask her a question, but she did it in a patient way, not a "get to the point, I am annoyed way."
  The second conversation I had was at Walmart when I was checking out. I got some simple things and as she rang them up I asked her if the price was right and the total. She kind of looked at me weird because I was talking to slow and at one point I lost eye contact with her because I didn't want to see her judging me for being slow at saying words. With how slow I was at say words, she just hurried up with my stuff and gave me my receipt to go home. I think that is how some people treat those that do have LD, where they just don't want to talk to them or get their conversations over with so they can move on and do something else they think is more important.
  I think it is so important for us to have these experiences now so we can prepare for those children we teach in the future. I also feel that because we know a very little bit about how they feel, we can teach other children that do not have disabilities to be friendly, respectful, and friendly towards them instead of treating them like there is something wrong with them.

Stutter Simulation

This one was the most challenging for me because of how embarrassed I felt during and after. I went to order a sandwich for lunch. It seems like a simple task to do,but just the thought of it made me not want to get the sandwich and just wait until I was home to eat. But, I did it anyway. As I was talking to the girl and stuttered a little bit, she just starred at me. As I was ordering 2 other girls just stood there and starred at me as well, I guess to see how strange I seemed at ordering a simple meal.
  It made me feel really self-conscious of myself and like I said earlier, to the point that I didn't even want to make the order because I knew they would sit and judge me. It also made me feel really bad about myself, as if I really had a stutter. I just wanted to take my food and run!
 But no matter the embarrassment I felt, the fact of the matter is that I don't have to live with this for the rest of my life. There are many people who deal with this on a regular basis and don't have the ability to turn it off like I did. I have only come in contact with one person in my life who has a stutter, and I don't know them very well. I used to just think "Just say what you need to" but it is not that simple.
  I learned that I need to be more patient with those that have a stutter and be loving towards them. If we judge them and see them as flawed, then their desire to communicate with other people will decrease.

Lesson 12

This week in class we studied how we can evaluate the learning of students with and without disabilities. The book outlined something that you can do to help students and how you can evaluate their learning:
            1. Do all you can to help prep them for test
               -clear study guides to reflect what is expected to understand of certain concepts
               -study sessions
               -more one-on-one attention or help with concepts
            2. Offer accommodation for students that need them
               -more time allotted
               -different environment
            3. Offer feed back or additional help if needed for after the test.

These 3 things can be really beneficial to students that are not good at taking tests, are not organized, or who need more help based on certain disabilities. The more you can do to offer opportunity for your students, the more they will grow and flourish.

 We also discussed more about visual impairments as our disability for the week. I know for me that would be very difficult to go through. We did a simulation where we had to be blindfolded while doing a few tasks. It was so hard for me. Because I couldn't see where I was going I felt like I was going to fall off of my feet face forward. It was terrifying. Because I couldn't see, I was relying a lot of my sense of touch as I walk by feeling the walls with my fingertips. I gained a greater respect that day for those who do live with visual impairment.
 In class today we also talked about emotional disturbances. This was different than what I thought it was going to be about. We talked mostly about depression, phobias, and obsessive compulsive disorder. It didn't dawn on me before this class that depression can disable someone from learning. My mom, sister, and husband suffer from depression. I have seen firsthand that experiences they go through and the hard ship it really is. There are some days that my husband stays in bed or sleeps all day because he physically can not get out of bed. He cries as well for part of the time. this soon begins to take a tole on me and I just feel helpless. But what I have come to realize is that despite being sad, they are still capable of finding joy. When my husband has his bad days, I do all I can to be that ray of sunshine he needs to get through the day. It can be emotionally draining, but it is something that helps a million percent in the long run.

Lesson 11

This week we read chapter 10 in the book which was all about teaching independent strategies to our  students and how we can help them to achieve personal independence. This has so much to do with helping our students see the importance of self advocacy. We live in a society now where everyone wants immediate outcomes and everyone wants something for nothing, no work. But if we can teach the importance of doing things for yourself and taking advantage of all opportunities at a young age then think of how competent and self reliant those children will group up to become. They will then live in a world of "I can do anything I work for", instead of "these are my limitations, i'm going to stay here. " Today in class we skyped with a girl names Emily who was born will no sight whatsoever. When she was little she wanted to become a bus driver. Now this desire really is unrealistic because she can not see to drive, but her mother never told her that she couldn't. Instead he mother instilled in her self advocacy and that she can accomplish anything that she works for and puts her mind to.
  No child wants to grow up being told they can't do something. when this happens creativity decreases, self-esteem decreases, and the desire to explore and learn will never increase. We as parents and educators MUST teach children that they can no ANYTHING they desire and work for.
  Another profound thing that  Emily shared with us today was that she feels like she do not have a disability and her not being able to see is not a deficit to her. She actually said she hopes she doesn't have the ability to see once her body is resurrected because she likes this part about her. WOW!! Just wow! A 15 year old girl explaining that she doesn't want to see because she likes who see is...i was speechless when she said that. If we all as parents could help our children love who they are and not see disabilities as a set back but as positive unique characteristics, then out children would learn to love themselves for who they are.
  I hope when I become a mother I can help my children feel empowered and confident in themselves and love who they are. This little thing can go a long ways.

Don't use the would can't...its the new swear word.