1.

The Profession
I have chosen a profession as a special educator for its rewarding and fulfilling atmosphere

of hope and compassion. As an older student entering a new field it is important to gather

inspiration not only from personnel sources but also through professional experience. For

my field observation I was placed with a very inspiring new teacher. Ms. Karen Gregorec

has been teaching for less than a year after a change in career and her insight has been most

helpful especially for a person seeking advice about entering a new line of work. Ms.

Gregorec has had a few major life changes in the past few years and as an older woman

recently divorced she found her maternal instincts (she has no children) have blossomed and

given her a feeling of appreciation for her students that she would not have necessarily been

in touch with at an earlier time in her life. She exhibited patience and a drive to give her

pupils not only the attention they require but also the respect they need to nurture self-

confidence and produce the maximum amount of self-esteem needed to learn. Ms. Gregorec

was most certainly helpful and inspirational to me as an older student entering a new career

field and as a person looking to contribute time and dedication towards the future of our

world. I believe being an older student gives me a perspective that encompasses patience,

understanding and an heir of professionalism that will aid me throughout my career.

2. Teaching Philosophy

My teaching philosophy is one of inclusion and that is something very positive I

experienced during my observation. An environment of respect and empathy where very

much a part of my assigned school. It is a philosophy that was highly effective in a multitude

of ways. I observed sharing, polite manners, and a genuine feeling of community between

the students that promoted learning and lessened distractions and behavioral issues greatly
when compared with my own elementary school memories of the early 80s. These new

ideas of encouragement and inclusion are in contrast to the attitudes of the past and as a

future educator I will continue to promote these humanistic ideas that help young minds

grow.

3. Instruction

The strategies I will employ are transdiciplinary as I observed in my assigned classroom. I

noticed many approaches that where new to me as well. Pointing and repetition where

stressed to me by my assigned teacher as where incorporating as many motor/sensory stimuli

during every lesson. I also noticed options being presented to each child and encouragement

even during incorrect answers to promote trying. The classroom also employed an aid

named Mr. Dyson who engaged in cooperative learning strategies with Ms. Gregorec. This

proved most helpful during learning stations and was useful to observe for future reference

when this method will be encountered by me in the future.

4. The Future

The career of special educator is indeed an important one and I plan to gather all the

wisdom and information needed to help me and my future students become successful. As

further steps in my career I plan to take childhood psychology and development courses

along with sign language and speech therapy instruction. One thing I have learned by this

experience is that through dedication this career is full of many rewards. I have learned that

with the immense workload, daily stress, and need for adaptation there also comes great

satisfaction in helping a young person to achieve and dedication is seems to me to be the

most common attribute needed to become a successful teacher. I know I have dedication and

will give my students the respect and time they need to achieve and succeed.