Blog #1

My name is Jacie Phillips I am a junior here at Texas A&M University Commerce. My interests are scrapbooking, taking pictures, playing volleyball, getting to work with students with disabilities, and hanging out with my family and friends. My certification is All-Level Special Education and I plan to graduate in May 2015. After I have received my Bachelor’s Degree I plan to go back to school to get my Master’s Degree to be able to get my license as a Dyslexia Therapist. All throughout my school career I was in dyslexia classrooms, but it wasn’t until I was in high school that I realized that being a Dyslexia Therapist was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

Before going and observing I thought the only technology in a Special Education classroom would be like books on tape and maybe a few activities the student could do on an internet website, but I was wrong! There is so many way you can incorporate technology into your classroom. Here are a few I am going to use in mine, Istation on the computers works with each individual student by what level the student is on, and gradually helps the student improve their skills. IPads so the student can use them for reading and having the text read to them aloud, Apps that are for reading, writing, numbers, shapes, and colors. Also, having a smart board in the classroom helps the student work together as a whole group by using an internet web page for math, reading, writing, science, and social studies. In my classroom, I would like to have a blog page where student can go and ask other students’ questions about homework and a place where they can work on projects together. 

My goal for the classroom is to have a welcome environment that students will be able to work best in. Wanting to be a Dyslexia Therapist I always want the students to feel like my classroom is a safe place for them to work hard to improve their skills and a place where they are not afraid to express themselves. As a teacher, I have set high goals for myself and my students. For my students I want them to learn the tools that help them overcome their disabilities so that they can succeed at anything they set their minds too. Also, I want my students to have a love, enjoy, and feel a part of school, not a place that is just a babysitter while their parents are at work. Goals for myself, I want to learn everything I can throughout college and the Scottish Rite Hospital so that I am prepared and can help these students face any obstacle with their disability. I look at in this point of view, we as Special Education Teachers are preparing and teaching these children the everyday tools and skill they will need to know after they have moved on after school to succeed in life!