I made it to Special Education. Not without experiencing being a classroom teacher first. But, I remember I use to always say to myself after my first few years in ed, I just want to teach one subject with small groups, after experiencing this environment as a co teacher. 

Then it hit me, that’s special Ed. So here I am and I love how much it has taught me. 

Here’s my advice to teachers based on my experience: 

1. Giving students think time. This allows the student to learn more organically helping them remember more often
2. Always focus solely on growth and development. This is not an environment to discuss drinks from the night before. Student gaps I have witnessed are detrimental so anything that takes away from a positive learning environment is unacceptable. 
3. Keep the learning environment light, fun, and logical. This is the time to build confidence not track behavior flaws. Have you any concerns regarding behavior, talk to a principal and request counseling. If it isn’t “that serious” please let it role off your shoulders because the main reasons students aren’t learning is because they are BORED. This is not the time to manage behaviors, this is the time to build COMMUNITY AND CONFIDENCE through CREATIVITY AND CONVERSATIONS 

Let me expand on 3 before I go forward. Conversations with student are so important. These are the moments students are judging and observing and may interpret something as “I’m bad, I’m not good enough, I’m not smart enough” 

Students, when I pull them for sessions come to my room saying, “I’m being good today” and it grinds my gears. But I respond, “you’re not bad, so you don’t have to say you’re being good” 

But this just made me realize, next time I will dig deeper and ask, what makes you think you’re being good or bad and that can help them make the connect better regarding what I’m saying. 

Asking questions are so important. Answering your students questions are too.

Special education is tough but it’s for people who like challenges and PEOPLE WHO LIKE challenges only ! 

Why do I say this? Because if you don’t like a challenge, you’re gonna give up. And it’s not to be taken lightly because guess what ? You’re not giving up on yourself, you’re giving up on a child who is already falling behind in their 30 classmate whole group class sessions because they struggle to read, write, and count. 

This is my first time teaching students who speak Spanish and Madrin. And do you know how I felt when I found out ? I was overjoyed and each day I see progress the fire continuous to burn.

There are days I don’t see results but they remind me that nothings perfect and to be honest they don’t even bother me because I know we have more than enough time to make growth and not only am I capable, but so are the students.

I met another special education teacher who stopped seeing a student who she shared had a disability because, in her words “I’m not a magician”. And guys I know she meant it harmlessly but it cut me deep hearing a white teacher say this about a black child when the environment was majority white however the majority of student who were being seen in special education were white. So you mean to tell me out of all the eligible students, this one student you just couldn’t get to ? You could try? This id why I put emphasis on creativity. 

It’s taken me weeks to craft my official schedule and do you know why? Trials and Error, the name of real builders GAME. I needed to see what was the most beneficial and although it took time, it’s feels special because I crafted it based on true bonds and understanding of each student and based real data.

• Some needed a thirty min one on one and vs a 45 small group 
• Some need less days, others more
• Some students worked better together than other groups based on their level, because even in a small group you can still feel left behind. For example: One third grade classroom can a group of k level readers, 1st grade and 2nd
• Some students may know their letters but not letter sounds.

I’m sure there are other reasons that will encourage change along the way. 

All in all, I’m grateful to be in this abundant position to learn and really put in ground work to helping close academic gaps amongst our students because they ARE THE FUTURE !

And I am, we are, doing our part to secure the youth