Brittany Mayer

EDUG 787
December 7th, 2011
Final Growth Statement
Since I am only at the early stages of completing the courses required to receive my
Masters in Special Education at Manhattan College, this is the first course of many that I have
taken related to Special Education. Prior to this I had no knowledge of this field of study. I was
always unsure on whether I would ever actually want to teach in a Special Education classroom
but I knew that taking graduate courses to become a Special Education teacher would be
beneficial for my future as a teacher. I was very nave, and had a vague understanding of the
topic of Special Education. Before this course, I had a difficult time differentiating the variety
disabilities that apply to Special Education. Through the material taught in this class, it has
opened my eyes to wide spectrum of physical and mental disabilities that pertain to the field of
Special Education. There are numerous opportunities that are offered by working with students
with special needs. By getting the chance to administer and score the WIAT-III standardized test
I have been exposed to working with a student that may need special services. Through this
experience I had the ability to gain knowledge on the value of standardized testing, as well as,
developing a relationship with the student.
Standardized testing plays a crucial role in the development of a plan to drive your
instruction and the creation of differentiation in lessons for individual students. Standardized
testing is very important, however, in the more recent years teaching time has been reduced due
to testing preparation. I dont feel that test preparation should take away from the students
learning experiences. There are many advantages and disadvantages associated with standardized

testing. The administration of these tests is very beneficial in comparing data to plan lessons and
see what the class as a whole needs to work on, as well as an individual; however, I feel that
testing shouldnt be the main focus. Data also is helpful in making differentiated groups because
you are able to see which students are struggling in certain areas. These test results also make it
clear as to which students should be referred to special services. The weaknesses that associate
with standardized testing revolve around the idea that it is standard; there is no individualization
of the test. The administration is very rigid and uniform, which, as a result, creates an
uncomfortable, stressful, tense, and controlled environment. The standardization of the test
attempts to rid the performance from any outstanding variables and have the most accurate
scores. This can result in test anxiety and poor performance on the tests. I had noticed while
testing my 5th grade student that he experienced some uneasiness while completing the test. For
example, my student appeared to be impatient and constantly tried to work on his homework
instead of taking the test. I found it tremendously difficult to control the atmosphere and rid all of
the distractions. I think that this difficulty was enhanced because of my unfamiliarity with the
administration of the test. The test seemed scripted and it was hard to keep the relationship
comfortable with the student
Through this opportunity I was able to better understand what Special Education entails.
By furthering my knowledge on Special Education I have a better attitude toward the field. I now
realized that students with special needs arent always apparent. The student I was testing
appeared to be an average 5th grade student, however, the further I got into the testing processes,
there were signs that surfaced which could lead to an evaluation on whether the student should
have an individualized education plan and special services. These standardized tests make it

possible for these students to receive the services they need to be successful and perform their
best.