My first day at my special education placement will not be until Tuesday, February 19, 2013. In preparation for this placement, on Wednesday, February 6, 2013, I went to visit the school and to meet the students. Since I did not call ahead of time, I was not aware that my assigned class was on a field trip to Rutgers. The visit to the school was not a total waste as I had an opportunity to meet the school principal Michelle Adubato.
My meeting with Michelle (all staff are referred to by their first name even the students call staff by their first name) was interesting. She and I met for what I have referred to as an impromptu interview. She asked me about my professional background, my definition of teaching, and my experience in my current placement. She even wanted to know what I new about her school (glad I had been doing some research on the school).
Our 15 minute meeting concluded with a discussion about clarity from our text The Skillful Teacher. Michelle stated that she is great fan of the book and that she often refers to the book when working with her staff. She explained that she is a very hands on principal and that she always expects excellence from her staff.
I am glad that I stopped by the school but the impromptu interview/visit did nothing to quiet my nerves or the anxiety I am feeling. I am confident that I will learn a great deal about working with such a fragile population but I have many questions.
I will be working with students who are in grades 7 and 8 but are developmentally on a pre-school/kindergarten level. I can not help but wonder what were the children like before coming to Regional Day? Did the children receive early intervention services? Did the children fall through the cracks? Is a self-contained class in a self contained school the best educational environment for this population? What will the future hold for this population? Will I be able to assist in their growth and development?
These are just a few of my questions I hope to have answered over the next five months. I am looking forward to adding additional tools to my toolbox and I am looking forward to the challenge of working with the label of PDD. A label what is in a label??????????????????????????????
Keshia,
ReplyDeleteI look forward to hearing about everything you learn in this placement. It's great that you have so many questions about the students you will be working with. It shows your dedication, and that you are taking everything you have learned and experienced in the residency so far and looking at everything with a critical lens.
You have taken on a great deal of responsibility in your current placement, and I am sure you will begin this new placement with the same level of energy and commitment.