Learning Differences

The Learning Differences INTASC Standard calls for teachers to both understand and implement best practices for individuals of all needs, cultures, and communities so as to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable all students to meet high standards and to succeed. For me, this task for teachers also extends to my personal goal to help all of my students develop a lifelong love and respect for learning. Through many observations and internships, I have begun to develop a range of working knowledge in how to properly support and facilitate the learning of individuals of many unique backgrounds and I continue to push myself further in this area through professional development and with an empathetic attitude toward learning how to help each new individual that comes into my classroom.

The artifacts above focus on the extensive knowledge I gained at Samford University regarding students with a variety of special learning needs and how to best help those students toward academic success. Artifact 1 is a reflection of my personal observation of one of the best special education programs in Alabama and what I learned from their impressive supportive techniques for students of special needs and for students of diverse cultural and community backgrounds. Additionally, from Edgewood I learned the value of positive school environments both between students and teachers and between teachers and parents especially when students need extra academic support. Artifact 2 is an interview I held with a teacher for my own personal professional development. In this interview, I really began to understand the importance of seeing individual students as who they are with unique strengths and the idea of seeing the best practices for special needs students as best practices for the entire class. Artifact 3 is an interview I held with a parent of a special needs child. This interview really helped me understand the parental side of student learning differences support and how important it is as an educator to work together with parents and to be understanding of their everyday struggles and perspectives. The Artifact 4 is a reflection of my observation of a leading school in Alabama for the assistance of students with emotional disorders. This observation helped me better understand the intersection between academics and therapy for many students with special needs and situations in which core life lessons and skills must be intertwined with academic standards. Artifact 5 is a reflection of an observation at a leading school for Autistic students in Alabama. This observation helped me better understand how to support students in the development of social-emotional skills in conjunction with academic skills. Overall, all of these artifacts reflect stepping stones of personal growth within my own skills regarding the support of students of all learning differences and my personal development of educational skills in implementing best practices for a variety of academic and individual needs.