Why I Want To Pursue A Career In Special Education

My career goal is to obtain a master’s degree in elementary education by the end of Fall 2016 in order to start teaching by the beginning of Spring 2017. Upon completion of the dual certification track, I will receive elementary (K-6), special education (ESE K-6), and ESOL endorsements. Before entering graduate school, I always believed these certifications would prepare me for teaching more than if I had started teaching immediately after graduation. Today, I still hold this belief to be true, for I have opportunities now to closely practice, implement, and refine teaching skills, strategies, and qualities that I learned as an undergraduate in a real school setting. I am also able to work closely alongside teachers who have experience working with students with identified disabilities and experience the different behavioral responses that students with identified disabilities may exhibit. As a first year intern this semester, I even sat in on an EPT (Evaluation and Planning Team) meeting regarding whether or not a student in my first grade classroom should receive a 504 Plan that I did not get to

Throughout my years of school, I have become intensely interested in all things academics and have strived to achieve academic prosperity. Due to this, I am very enthralled with the Duke Summer Program. Working hard for high grades, volunteering, and participating in many clubs to become the best student and person I can be has allowed me to yearn for more enrichment. Being involved in many clubs, such as National Honor Society, Partners Club (a club designed to help Special Education kids), and Student Council, has propelled me into a world of independent thinking that I believe will be further enhanced with this summer program. Although, there have been many hard times in my life, I have always grasped onto my education as a means of support and stability. My education and knowledge is everything to me. It always has been, and will be for a very long time. Because of this, doing everything I can to learn as much as possible is something I not only need to do, but want to do. Moreover, as a self proclaimed ¨political advocate¨, the courses you offer will allow me to gain the knowledge needed to jumpstart my goal career of being a politician.

The time is now to become a Special Education Teacher. I believe the best fit for my academic and vocational goals is the UWM Exceptional Education Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program.

I completed my field experience at Cedar Crest High School in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Since I serve the role of building principal, I am exposed to many different special education situations on a daily basis. Through this leadership field experience, I have learned a few additional things. It has taught me to stop and listen to what is occurring in our special education classrooms. By completing classroom observations, I was able to focus on the students, instead of rushing through a classroom observation on a teacher.

1.) Through out my life, I have been trying to figure out my purpose. It wasn't until my senior year of high school that I found my calling. Helping out in one of the Newaygo High School classrooms, tutoring speical needs students, is what truly brightens my soul each day. To obtain this goal, I plan to graduate from Adrian College with a Bachelors degree in Speical Education. From here, I would like to find a career in either a school, hospital or learning center. In 10 years, I see myself making a difference. Where ever I end up, I will be changing the lives of children who are trying to find their purpose. Special education is dear to my heart because so many people count out people with disabilities. The students in the classrooms I have helped in have shown me what it is to truly live. They have such a unique perspective on life; a thirst to experience and cherish each

In 2004, my teacher sent me to obtain special educational support. As a fourth grader, I was extremely embarrassed when I had to spend more time than other students working on vocabulary, speech, and reading. For years, I would work one on one with public school teachers to improve my knowledge, thus becoming a stronger student. The help of these professionals paid off when I entered high school and was placed in all Honors classes. In 2010, I was finally equal to my peers when I suffered a severe concussion. Doctors at AI Dupont hospital unsure if all parts of my cognitive function would return. With the special assistance from doctors, occupational therapists, tutors, and educators, all cognitive function of my brain returned. Suffering from serious side effects of my concussion, I became a non-traditional student and attended private school, public school, and one year of

As I reflect on my life, I am unable to cite one incident that made me want to be an educator; instead, I feel that I was groomed into wanting to work with children and families. Learning was a high priority in my family, as some of my earliest family memories involved education. I recall my dad sitting at the kitchen table studying late into the night for his college classes, and the nightly ritual of my mother reading to my brother and me. These memories, plus the encouragement of family, friends, and teachers, provided me with the desire to become an educator. The final factor came when I discovered the world of School Psychology.

Someone interested or working in special education entails a lot of skill, tolerance, and training, but is known as one of the most satisfying jobs for the right individual. For myself, I figured out that I am not the right individual for this career. However, special education applies to students who are have various degrees of learning disabilities and require special attention by teachers, psychologist, aides, paraprofessionals, and so on.

Was it difficult to divvy up your time given that all of your kids had different needs, depending on their conditions? Were you provided with an aid?

My interest’s in special education goes back to my high school years, where I was taken out for testing, and to get help with homework. I was that student that had an IEP and was in a resource room twice a day to get help. It was hard for me to understand why I had to get taken out for exams, homework or even big projects. Well it helped me get good grades and pass exam usually. I couldn’t get the jest to why I wasn’t a “normal” student and to be able to take an exam in the class room. While I was in elementary school I had to get tested a lot for academics to see what was going on. Finally came to a conclusion that I have and disability with an IEP, bad test anxiety and that’s why I had an IEP in school. I came to realize in high school that

As we focus on future, we start to ponder and more about what our career paths are ultimately going to become. Being just a sophomore, I do not know where exactly where I am going to end up after college. However, there is one career path that can help with the barrier of education that children with disabilities face. By being is a special education teacher, which does the job of helping the students of disabilities to receive an education that every children rightfully deserves. By participating in this career you can have an opportunity to change the lives of these children who are not given the same privileges as able bodied students.By doing much research, there are an array of different nonprofit organizations one being Disabled For Attendant

The field of special education is my passion, as I have dedicated tens years to teaching students with moderate to severe disabilities. Over the years I have participated in educational reforms, professional development, and curriculum design. My personal experiences have inspired me to pursue a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership and establish both short and long term goals. In the next few years I plan on obtaining my doctorate degree and conducting research within the field of special education. I currently work in a low-income area that services many diverse special education students.

Jane is a sophomore college. Shes working on a degree in special education. She works as a camp counsler every summer. The camp is a camp for children physical n mental disadvantages. Jane helps the kids and children get exercise and make better their social skills. Every summer, she takes the kids swimming in the afternoons in the summer. They goes bowl a couple times a week, as well. The children really like camping Jane always wanted to work with kids with disabilities. Jane is looking forward to a career in special

In Kindergarten, I met a student that would not only become my best friend, but would forever change my life. I would say that John and I had a typical Kindergarten friendship, we colored together, played together at recess, laughed at the same joke, and we both hated naptime. There was only one difference, John was autistic.

Millions of children now a day are being identified as “disabled children.” Over the semester I have been enriched with information that will stick with me throughout my teachings. When I tell family and friends that I am studying to be a special education teacher they go “wow you must be a really patient person.” I feel like it takes a special person to have the passion and patients for these children. This course has made me more excited to be able to move on next semester and start my clincincals.