Jackie Styrcula SPED 2100 December 4, 2013 Clinical Report I went to three schools for my observations.

On Monday, September 16th I shadowed Ms. Anthonys special needs classroom. The first school I observed was Beverly Hills Elementary School in Concord, North Carolina. I arrived at 8:30 a.m. and parked in the visitors parking lot. The school was beautiful and had an outdoorsy feel to it. I had to buzz in to get to the office, which made me feel like I was in a safe environment. I signed in the office and headed to room 310. I found Ms. Anthony right as she was going to another classroom. We entered the class where another teacher was teaching. Ms. Anthony was there to help a few students on IEP plans. However I could not tell which students needed the help, which later she told me that was the point, I was not supposed to know. After, we headed back to Ms. Anthonys room where I sat at a circular table to observe. She told me third, fourth, and fifth graders come to her classroom throughout the day at specific times for help with math, reading, or writing. At first three boys came in the room and Ms. Anthony was helping them with math. One of the boys would not answer Ms. Anthony when she asked him questions. She told me he does not like to talk and has a behavioral disorder. Thirty minutes later, a girl and boy from the third grade class came in and went over to the radio and started playing a song and singing to it. Ms. Anthony said this exercise helps them with memory. They both looked like they had a fun time singing the song. It was pretty catchy, I could not get it out of my head

that day! A little later a group of fourth grade students came in. There were six children. They went over to their desks and started reading and doing their assignment. Ms. Anthony would work with each new group that came in. She was good at keeping an eye on each group. A few of the kids asked who I was. The students seemed to be happy that I was there. Ms. Anthony explained to me that some of the kids that were below grade level in either reading, writing, and math would come to her. A few of the kids had ADD/ADHD and behavioral disorders. When it was time for me to leave Ms. Anthony at 11:00 a.m. she wished me luck with my studies. Over all I had a great time in her classroom and would love to go back to Beverly Hills Elementary School. The second school I shadowed for my observation was Kannapolis Middle School in Kannapolis, North Carolina. I shadowed Ms. Youngs 7th grade class from 8:15- 10:45 a.m. Upon arrival I noticed the school was in a rural area. It was a beautiful big school. I noticed there was a police car outside the building, which made me feel safe. I buzzed into the building and the office was on the right. I signed in and Ms. Young came to the office to get me when the bell rang at 8:15 a.m. She asked me what I was studying and I told her special education. She seemed excited to have me shadowing. She told me some of her students had ADD and some had behavioral disorders but were able to function in a regular classroom. I walked into the class and sat at a round table in the back of the room. There were about 19 kids in the classroom. The children were writing responses to questions on the book The Outsiders. Ms. Young gave me a folder to look at the questions they were answering. I noticed the class was very attentive, minus a few kids. I noticed

the main teacher Mrs. Fitz, was a graduate from UNCC. She looked very young and had red hair. Ms. Young and her were a team and worked together through out the class. No technology was used during this class but Ms. Young told me when students go to the media center they use iPads and computers. Ms. Young not only helped the students with disabilities but the ones without disabilities as well! Some students definitely needed more attention than others. The remainder of class the children read the book The Outsiders. Ms. Young gave me a book to follow along. I noticed a few of the boys were being disruptive and not paying attention and Ms. Young scolded them but they continued to be disruptive. When it was time for me to leave Ms. Young walked me to the office. On the way out she told me one of the girls asked who I was and she told her I was a student at UNCC shadowing the class. She told me the girl said I would not want to become a teacher after seeing their class! Ms. Young laughed at her. I had a great time shadowing Ms. Young and Ms. Fitz and would love to teach at Kannapolis Middle School if I had the opportunity. The third school I shadowed was Coulward Middle School in Charlotte, North Carolina. On November 18, 2013 I shadowed Ms. Barlows 8th grade special needs math class from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. I have to say this was my favorite group of students so far! I walked into her class and sat at the back table with computers to observe. There were about 8 kids in Ms. Barlows class. These kids could not function in a regular classroom. Two of the girls waved at me and smiled and the boy was asking me questions such as Where do you go to school? and What are your school colors? The kids were working in their math books. One of the boys in the front did not speak the entire time but he was gifted in math, he had a

behavioral disorder. The three girls worked together in the math book helping each other out with algebra problems. The boy on the other hand did not want to do his work at all. He just sat there and complained the whole time. He was a very nice boy though. You could tell he was showing off because I was there, even Ms. Barlow said it! When it was time for the children to go to their language arts class I was upset because they were so nice and I enjoyed spending time with them. They made a single file line and we walked them to their classroom on the other end of the school. On the way the students were asking me if college was hard, what my major was, and they told me what they wanted to be when they grew up. These kids were so sweet. When we got to the other class Ms. Barlow took another group of students, which were all boys. There were about ten boys in the second class. I noticed that each of the students sat at every other desk. Ms. Barlow tries to separate them because a few of them get easily distracted. This class seemed a bit more rowdy. Two of the boys were AIG and were very excited to learn. They were ahead of the rest of the class. Another two boys sitting by me did not want to do any work at all. They got even rowdier as the time went by, especially because lunch was soon. Before lunch Ms. Barlow had the students put their books away and line up in a single file line. We walked to lunch and sat with the kids at the table for a bit then Ms. Barlow and I got to sit in the teachers lounge till lunch was over at 12:30 p.m. After lunch we took the kids out for recess and they ran wild. Ms. Barlow told me she was a UNCC graduate. She said she decided to teach at this school because of the special education program. Some principles do not understand special needs and the requirements but Ms. Barlow said she felt a connection with the principle.

After recess I went to Ms. Barlows planning meeting for an hour. The teachers talked about when they should test the students for mathematics. I never realized how much planning goes into these meetings! I had a great time shadowing Ms. Barlows 8th grade math classes. I would love to come back and student teach at Coulward Middle School.