Week 5: Feb 8-12

We started off the week learning about different Co-Teaching Models that can be used with classrooms that incorporate collaborate efforts. We learned about the different types, which include: 

1. one teach, one observe
2. one teach, one assist
3. station teaching
4. parallel teaching
5. supplemental teaching
6. alternative teaching
7. team teaching

It was interesting learning how to distinguish the differences between each and for which type of classroom each of these models would work better with. 

Reading about an IEP and actually doing a mock one was a lot different. As the Principal of the Elementary School of Esther Ramirez, I was responsible to introduce her mother to everyone at the meeting and make sure that she was fully aware of her rights and responsibilities as a parent of a Special Education student. While conducting the meeting, I tried to make Mrs. Ramirez feel very included and that her opinion was valued and important. However, afterwards I realized that it came across a little but of us versus her, and not as one big team all trying to help Esther. As a group, we talked about ways that we can help parents feel apart of the solution and avoid only focusing on the problem at hand. The chapter 3 reading in our textbook gave me a great background and preparation for understanding how a collaborative meeting is most effective and how to establish team goals all together which help everyone involved to feel shared accountability. 

The group presentation on Specified Learning Disabilities was insightful because the website understood.org allowed us to see first-hand what it would be like to have one of these disabilities. In addition, it provided resources and tools that are very useful with how parents can understand for themselves and talk to their children about the learning disability. As a future general education teacher, I realize the importance of giving parents the tools and resources that will help them not only understand it for themselves but also know how to best talk to their child with that specific learning disability. In addition, the special education teacher will also be able to describe these things in greater detail and know how to best help the child in a specific ways.