Artifact Reflection

Title of Artifact: Practicum Hours in Special Education Classroom

Date Completed: September 2015 January 2016
Artifact Description
The artifact I am using is my special education time that I put in for my Practicum course. For the class, we were required to complete
at least 200 in a special education environment. My time for this opportunity was spent teaching in my own special education
classroom.
Wisconsin Teacher Standard Alignment
The artifact best aligns with standard 3, Diversity: Teachers understand that children learn differently which states, The teacher
understands how pupils differ in their approaches to learning and the barriers that impede learning and can adapt instruction to meet
the diverse needs of pupils, including those with disabilities and exceptionalities.
The artifact aligns with the specific standard because the students I work with do not all learn or think the same. A few of the students
that I work with have cognitive disabilities, or difficulty with mental tasks that the average person typically does not. Many of my
English students have trouble reading and comprehending sentences. In order for students to become better readers, thus becoming
better at comprehending, they need practice. My methods for teaching English included reading along with the students, but mostly
having the students read aloud by themselves. When students come across a word that they cannot read, I require them to sound the
word out. After multiple attempts, students generally are able to pronounce the word. I find that most students skip words because
they dont think they can read them and then they dont understand what they are reading. When I have them stop and sound out a
word, the meaning then makes sense. As they read, I also have them correct their reading if they skip a word or say an incorrect word.
Through this experience, I demonstrated that I can recognize when a student is having difficulty with instruction and I can adapt my
instruction to best help the student succeed at their assigned task. I adapt by trying different strategies to allow the students to not just
read, but also comprehend what they are reading.
UWP Knowledge, Skill, Disposition Statement Alignment
The artifact best aligns with KSD3.e, Demonstrates flexibility and responsiveness that states, The candidate has the ability to make
appropriate adjustments to his/her instruction and accommodates students' questions and interests while being aware of student
differences and difficulties, and can use a wide range of resources and strategies to meet all students' needs in the classroom.
The practicum experience best aligns with the standard because I have to adjust my instruction multiple times in order to help the
students comprehend their reading. While instructing, I often have multiple students working on different things or I may be teaching
different classes. I need to be able to adjust my mind frame to be able to help multiple students at the same time. The experience
requires me to appropriately answer students questions and adapt my instruction for multiple students in order for them both to
respond. I am flexible with the students learning styles and responsive to their questions. Being flexible and responding to students
promptly is very important.
Secondary Alignment:
1. KSD2.a Creates and environment of respect and rapport.
2. KSD3.a Communicates clearly and accurately
3. KSD3.b Uses questioning and discussion techniques
4. KSD3.d Provides feedback to students
What I learned about teaching/learning from this experience:
From this experience I learned that it is very important for me, as a teacher, to understand that I may have students in my classroom
that have barriers to learning or circumstances that may impede learning. Not only is it important that we be able to recognize these
situations, but we must be able to adapt our instruction to accommodate different types of learners since not all students learn the
same. Even after adjusting our instruction, we need to do as much as we can to continually accommodate students with disabilities
and exceptionalities to give each of them equal opportunities to learn at their full potential in our classroom.

What I learned about myself as a prospective educator as a result of this experience/artifact:

As a teacher, I learned that the classroom is a very diverse place and that I can/am comfortable adjusting my instruction to assist
students that need the help. Ive learned that we need to be supportive of students with disabilities or exceptionalities, which also
means we need to provide a classroom atmosphere that encourages all different types of learners. One way of doing this would be to
vary instruction multiple times throughout one class period. By showing that I care enough about my students to do everything that I
can to find a way to help them learn, the student is likely to see my dedication to them and become more interested in what they are
learning and comfortable in my classroom.