Field Experience Blog
WEEK 1:
October 7, 2013 marked the first week of my field experience this semester. I completed my field experience in the high school setting. I am currently employed at the school as a special education teacher so my University field experience took place in an environment I was already used to. The first day of my field experience, Dr. Hathcote came to observe me in one of my co-teaching classes. That day, I had planned a series of station activities to help the students review for their test the next day. The lesson included tasks which benefitted tactile learners, visual learners, reading/writing learners, and auditory learners. At the end of the lesson, the students could use the information that they had created as a study guide. The lesson went pretty well but I do wish that I had shortened the assignments at each station because the students did not have enough time to finish.
WEEK 2:
This week, I conducted my first IEP meeting. Our special education liaison from the county came to LEA my meeting and make sure I was handling everything correctly. I was very nervous for this meeting because the procedures were all so new to me and I wanted to do things the right way. The meeting I conducted was for a senior on my caseload receiving services for a specific learning disability. He and his mother both attended the meeting. I was so thankful to have the liaison there to help me go through the meeting in the correct order and manner. After the meeting was over, she gave me some good notes on what I did well in the meeting as well as what I needed to do to improve for next time. These notes will be so helpful in the future as I get ready for other meetings.
WEEK 3:
This week, I was able to sit in on an eligibility determination meeting. The meeting was held for a 9th grade student at our school. I thought it was unusual and unfortunate that the student was just being tested and evaluated to determine her need for special education services. It was so interesting to hear the results of the various Psych tests and the hard data that goes into one of these meetings. Toward the end of the meeting, it was revealed that the student had an IQ of 54 and scored low on all of her content areas. It was determined that the student would receive special education services under mild intellectual disability.
WEEK 4:
On week four of my field experience, I continued to follow my usual schedule at the school. Our school is on block scheduling so we only go to 4 class periods per day for an hour and a half. My schedule is as follows:
Monday, Wednesday
1st- Coordinate Algebra
2nd-Planning
ILT(Increased Learning Time)- Coordinate Algebra Remediation
3rd- Coordinate Algebra
4th-Analytic Geometry
Tuesday, Thursday
1st- Coordinate Algebra
2nd- Advanced Mathematical Decision Making
ILT(Increased Learning Time)- Coordinate Algebra Remediation
3rd- Math III
4th- Math Department Collaboration
In each of my classes, I am the co-teacher in the inclusion setting. ILT, or Increased Learning Time, is a period of 35 minutes where the students are grouped into classes based on their need. This week, we changed ILT classes. I was given the 9th grade students in Coordinate Algebra who needed remediation and extra help. In this class, I give them assignments using hands on techniques to fortify their knowledge.
WEEK 5:
On week 5 of my field experience, I attended a meeting for the student that I wrote about previously in my blog. She had been found eligible for special education services under mild intellectual disability and this week, we had an IEP meeting for her. I was invited to attend the meeting because I had previously been to her eligibility determination meeting. The IEP meeting was conducted by the special education program specialist in the county. She also wrote the IEP. The meeting lasted for about an hour and a half and I learned so much from it. I was grateful to see a veteran complete an IEP meeting so that I could take notes and use the information for my next meeting. After the meeting was over, I was informed that the student would be placed on my caseload and I would have her in my Coordinate Algebra class starting the next day.
October 7, 2013 marked the first week of my field experience this semester. I completed my field experience in the high school setting. I am currently employed at the school as a special education teacher so my University field experience took place in an environment I was already used to. The first day of my field experience, Dr. Hathcote came to observe me in one of my co-teaching classes. That day, I had planned a series of station activities to help the students review for their test the next day. The lesson included tasks which benefitted tactile learners, visual learners, reading/writing learners, and auditory learners. At the end of the lesson, the students could use the information that they had created as a study guide. The lesson went pretty well but I do wish that I had shortened the assignments at each station because the students did not have enough time to finish.
WEEK 2:
This week, I conducted my first IEP meeting. Our special education liaison from the county came to LEA my meeting and make sure I was handling everything correctly. I was very nervous for this meeting because the procedures were all so new to me and I wanted to do things the right way. The meeting I conducted was for a senior on my caseload receiving services for a specific learning disability. He and his mother both attended the meeting. I was so thankful to have the liaison there to help me go through the meeting in the correct order and manner. After the meeting was over, she gave me some good notes on what I did well in the meeting as well as what I needed to do to improve for next time. These notes will be so helpful in the future as I get ready for other meetings.
WEEK 3:
This week, I was able to sit in on an eligibility determination meeting. The meeting was held for a 9th grade student at our school. I thought it was unusual and unfortunate that the student was just being tested and evaluated to determine her need for special education services. It was so interesting to hear the results of the various Psych tests and the hard data that goes into one of these meetings. Toward the end of the meeting, it was revealed that the student had an IQ of 54 and scored low on all of her content areas. It was determined that the student would receive special education services under mild intellectual disability.
WEEK 4:
On week four of my field experience, I continued to follow my usual schedule at the school. Our school is on block scheduling so we only go to 4 class periods per day for an hour and a half. My schedule is as follows:
Monday, Wednesday
1st- Coordinate Algebra
2nd-Planning
ILT(Increased Learning Time)- Coordinate Algebra Remediation
3rd- Coordinate Algebra
4th-Analytic Geometry
Tuesday, Thursday
1st- Coordinate Algebra
2nd- Advanced Mathematical Decision Making
ILT(Increased Learning Time)- Coordinate Algebra Remediation
3rd- Math III
4th- Math Department Collaboration
In each of my classes, I am the co-teacher in the inclusion setting. ILT, or Increased Learning Time, is a period of 35 minutes where the students are grouped into classes based on their need. This week, we changed ILT classes. I was given the 9th grade students in Coordinate Algebra who needed remediation and extra help. In this class, I give them assignments using hands on techniques to fortify their knowledge.
WEEK 5:
On week 5 of my field experience, I attended a meeting for the student that I wrote about previously in my blog. She had been found eligible for special education services under mild intellectual disability and this week, we had an IEP meeting for her. I was invited to attend the meeting because I had previously been to her eligibility determination meeting. The IEP meeting was conducted by the special education program specialist in the county. She also wrote the IEP. The meeting lasted for about an hour and a half and I learned so much from it. I was grateful to see a veteran complete an IEP meeting so that I could take notes and use the information for my next meeting. After the meeting was over, I was informed that the student would be placed on my caseload and I would have her in my Coordinate Algebra class starting the next day.