Module 2

I’ve been working as a teacher’s aide in a special education classroom.  After reading Anita Woolfolk text chapter four, I learned that everyone learns differently. “Every child is a distinctive collection of talents, abilities, and limitations” (118).  While working with students with learning, I found that every child is not alike. In the section Student Characteristics, I learned that most common characteristics are certain difficulties. For example in the classroom that I am currently aiding, there are students with hyperactivity and impulsivity, lack of motivation, difficulty processing information, and problems paying attention. Although they are in a special ed classroom there are many students that are in the regular class with the same characteristics (137).  Also, I learned that labeling students can lead to a controversial issue. “A label does not tell which methods to use with individual students” (118).   If a student is label with a certain disorder a student may start believing this for their rest of their lives. For example, if a child is on Adhd medicine one might start thinking that the child has a behavioral disorder. When in reality, this child is a bright person that his or her brain doesn’t allow them to focus on one thing at a time. I agree the term “special needs” is a protection for students with disabilities whether it’s learning or physical. “If classmates know a student has intellectual disabilities (once called mental retardation), they will more willing to accept his or her behaviors” (118).  Another interesting topic that I found was section Measuring Intelligence.  Beniet believed that students with learning disabilities or students from poverty should be tested by their intellectual skills. “Binet and Simon finally identified 58 tests, several for each age group from 3 to 13” (124). There are many different ways of testing ones intelligence by taking testing individuals or as a group. However, I believe that IQ testing can be discouraging to students. As an adult, I took the test and although my score was considered normal; I still questioned my intelligence.

            In chapter 5 section Teaching Immigrant Students and English Language Learners by Anita Woolfolk, although I was born and raise in the United State, I can relate to Felipe’s story.  My father came to the US at age 17 to make a better life for himself and met my mother here in the US. My mother (Mexican descent) was born in Texas and knew English. The reason I can relate to his story is because my mother helped many immigrant family to settle in the United States. As a paraprofessional I continue to help families and non-English speaking students at my school.  Everyone deserves an education and deserves to succeed. “There are so many students like Felipe and his siblings in America school today,” and “we explore ways of teaching these students so that their dreams of college and careers can come true wherever they finally live”(185).