What Do You Think

Dear Mrs.Potter,

I am here as a fellow educator to direct you thinking in another direction when it comes to these students with special needs in your classroom. I have experience similar situations and have seen successful out comes as a result of using the classroom community of learns to help students that are struggling. A good starting point would be icluding parents or family members making them aware of your concerns.

As a whole I think you should incorporate centers in your classroom even if it be for only a couple of hours. Lupita who has not been exposed to many toys, puzzles, and other Art supplies can be given the opportunity to explore these items while she is learning. You can also pair her up with an out going student, some one who is a leader and responsible that can help her feel included in the classroom community. At times Lupita can assist student in free time who are struggling with puzzles since that is one of her strong points. You can also praise Lupita when you see her doing sometime well. Talk to her about her grandmother it helps as a teacher to have some connection to the students’ home life. She should be able to excel with a learning environment that scaffolds her and uses different strategies to help her perform.

With Eddie I would encourage you to get a chart that he can keep track of his work. You can start out extrinsically rewarding him for his efforts and hopefully it will turn intrinsic; where he wants to get his work done because it makes him feel good inside. Centers would also help him to move around, and be responsible in staying on track, or it can be taken away. Try to include hands on learning opportunities that allow him to explore. I would also give him opportunity to share, include his active imagination in his work, use it to get and keep his attention during your lessons.

Finally, Jonathan who has much strength can also benefit from centers. Working with smaller groups may also clear up some of his confusions. The classroom should be a safe place where students feel that it is ok to learn, and make mistakes. You should share some of your challenges and struggles you had to over come with your students. Bring in literature: posters, books, magazines on piano, or baseball. Find out if anyone else in the classroom shares those interests.

In closing, I really think that you have learn a lot over your past four years of teaching and will continue to learn and grow as time progresses. You might want to also include digital media a little more into your lesson plan. There are wide varieties that can foster literacy in our students. Thank you for taking the time to get my input and in the process helping me to think on these important issues as I adjust my teaching style to cater to my students need. We as teacher should not take the easy way out and hold back our students, but we can meet them half way and build upon what they already possess.

Ms.Charles