I Teach With Class

Esther Mead
Ivy Tech Community College
Welcome to my
classroom..

Please feel free to relax, be

mindful, and become inspired
Think Rock
and Roll meets
Hippy
I have always been described as
a Punk Rock-Hippy. My
classroom will reflect that
possible oxymoron. I want to
incorporate recycled materials
and lots of texture. I want our
learning environment to be a
place that is warm and loving.
It will also has conversation
pieces that can expose kids to
wonder and learn about thing
they might not have had a
chance to experience.
Combined a few things

Chalkboard and Burlap Mix in a bit of retro

 Natural - Relaxed - Peaceful

Natural light Lots of learning spaces

Modern yet
Warm
The modern aspect of my room
will be the way the room is
organized. It will be easy to
look at with good clean lines,
and more chaotic in others.
People learn in different
environments and I think its
important to have the room
broken up into areas that are
comfortable for the learner.
Lots of color and texture to
inspire.
Classroom
Management,
Style, and
Climate.

Sometime things that look to be

unintentional are indeed
intentional.
 I expect that I will have kids in my class that are exceptional. I
feel it is important to have things in place for these kids to make
their learning a good experience. With most kids, I think its
important to have a routine. I am a super routine person and I like
things to be organized. I will have my classroom reflect this. I also
think when working with kids, every kid learns in a different way. I
think its important to have kids be able to choose they way they
want to learn. I work best if I stand somedays, other days I might
want to read on a pillow on the floor, and sometimes I want to sit at
a desk with a chair. I think humans should be able to choose where
they sit, as long as it isnt interrupting their learning.

I believe kids are little people. I am teaching them stuff and

giving them new information, but they need to be able to accept
that. All kids need to make that choice. The choice to learn. I think
giving them some guidelines is important, but having them learn
how to make a choice is an important life lesson. If kids cant learn
how to choose for themselves, that becomes a problem later. As a
teacher it is important to remember that my job, or role in these
kids lives, it to teach them more than their ABCs.
Kids with
exceptions?

Yeah, we have them!

Some exceptions I might expect
to see in my classroom are
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder)
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
LD (Learning Disabilities) Intellection
Disabilities
ADHD
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

What it can look like How my classroom will help

Distracted
Mindfulness Practices
Unorganized Privacy folders
Focusing Outline for the day on board
Daydream
Choice to where they sit
Fidget
Waiting
Yoga balls to sit on
Work at your own pace station
Brain breaks with movement
 It is very likely that there will be kids in my classroom with ADHD.
ADHD is widely recognized as one of the most frequent reasons, if not
the most frequent reason, children are referred for behavioral problems
to guidance clinics. (Daniel P. Hallahan, 2015)

It is important that I am able to teach strategies to help kids learn for

students with Attention issues or Hyperactivity. Children with ADHD
also may struggle with low self-esteem, troubled relationships and poor
performance in school. Symptoms sometimes lessen with age.
However, some people never completely outgrow their ADHD
symptoms. But they can learn strategies to be successful. (Mayo
Clinic, 2013)

Having kids pic their seat and having different seats or standing room
will be helpful as an adaptation for any kid. school programs might
provide classroom adaptations, such as preferred seating, modified
work assignments, and test modifications (such as location for taking
the test and extended test time), as well as behavior plans or special
education. (CDC, 2016)

I believe sometimes like molecules children's energy feeds off each

other. It is important to use a quiet moment of mindfulness every once
and a while to re center and focus the kids. Mindfulness training is a
feasible intervention in a subset of ADHD adults and adolescents and
may improve behavioral and neurocognitive impairments. (Lidia
Zylowska, 2007)
PTSD
posttraumatic stress disorder

What it can look like How my classroom will help

Complaints of being treated unfair Defined rules for EVERYONE
Fits about not having control Allowing choices on their
Aggression
learning. (where to sit, how to
Scared
give a report)
Sadness
Low self-worth
Encouragement and uplifting
words
Positive activities
Trust building activities
 In some of our schools we will have children who view
adult things. Some of these actions they may see in
there young lives we might only see on TV. Traumas
that might bring on PTSDinclude the unexpected or
violent deathof a family member or close friend, and
serious harm or threat of death or injury to oneself or a
loved one (Nemours, 2016)

Keeping my classroom in a positive uplifting motion can

not only create a good feeling about school, but a better
day for all of us. Cognitive-behavioral therapyis very
effective for people who develop PTSD. This type of
therapy teaches ways to replace negative, unhelpful
thoughts and feelings with more positive thinking.
(Nemours, 2016)

Allowing kids to make choices on their learning not only

helps them to feel in control, but it allows them
ownership of their learning. Some ways we can do this is
giving them two or three choices to choose from that will
still allow them to learn what is being taught. That can
LD
learning disabilities

What it can look like How my classroom will help

Know students reading levels and
Trouble learning the connection between letters
and sounds put them in appropriate groups
Unable to blend sounds to make words for reading/ math
Confuses basic words when reading Help create basic notes for
Consistently misspells words and makes frequent students to reference
reading errors
Model new tasks and ideas
Trouble learning basic math concepts
Do a few example problems
Difficulty telling time and remembering sequences
together
Slow to learn new skills
Change wording and examples to
make a connection
 repeating the same thing over and over could be helpful.
Making a connection to something they already know will
prove to help along with visuals. They just need to be
taught in ways that are tailored to their unique learning
styles. (Gina Kemp, 2016)

Using words to express what is acceptable and

unacceptable as well as reading their cues will be
important to catching a meltdown before it gets out of
hand. Kids with learning disabilities may have trouble
expressing their feelings, calming themselves down, and
reading nonverbal cues from others. (Gina Kemp, 2016)

As mentioned before , moments of Mindfulness have

proven to help exceptional students. It has been known to
thicken grey matter in the brain and aids in
neuroplasticity. One important discovery that brings new
hope for learning disabilities and disorders is
calledneuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity refers to the brains
natural, lifelong ability to change.(Gina Kemp, 2016)
How can I learn
more about my
students with
exceptional
needs?

I found a few resources to be

helpful, and I will share them
with you!
Teacher Support
What I can do on my own.

Classes Online reading

www.k12teacherstaffdeve http://www.ptsd.va.gov/
lopment.com www.autismspeaks.org

www.teachtomorrow.org http://www.helpguide.org/

http://www.doe.in.gov/ This last one is

FULL of information!
 In this course I have learned a few very valuable things. One of them being
how to notice and respond to a child who seems to be acting out. It is my duty as
an educator and an adult in this child's life to be aware of things that could help a
child learn and cope better in their everyday life. Not only is my job to be a
teacher, but also for me to help observe my students in order to identify any
additional needs my students may have. Each child is different, and it is Summary of
what I have
important to make sure if a child needs to be identified that it is done sooner than
later.

Another important thing I have learned from this course is that there are
laws protecting these students and the process that needs to be followed in order
learned
for a child to receive an IEP. When I am a teacher it is important for me to
understand the laws and resources available. This is important for me in order to
inform the parents of options and places they can go for support. Even though I
work directly in the RTI process I found this course to be helpful in aiding my
understanding of its intent and the way in which it is to be operated.

A few times I have put myself in the shoes of a parent or an exceptional

learner. It has been fascinating to explore their point of view and the emotions
that could come along. I think overall I have learned a great deal of what it means
to have exceptional children in my classroom and I hope that when the times
comes I will be able to receive, except, make a connection, help, and personalize
learning for each student.
 References
CDC. (2016, January 22). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD). Retrieved from Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/
Daniel P. Hallahan, J. M. (2015). Exceptional Learners an Introduction to
Special Education (13th ed.). New Jersey: Pearson.
Gina Kemp, M. M. (2016, April). Learnign Disabilities and Disorders.
Retrieved from Help Guide: http://www.helpguide.org/articles/learning-
disabilities/learning-disabilities-and-disorders.htm
Lidia Zylowska, D. L. (2007). Mindfulness Meditation Training in Adults
and Adolescents With ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders, Abstract.
Retrieved from Journal of Attention Disorders:
http://jad.sagepub.com/content/11/6/737.short
Mayo Clinic. (2013, March 5). Deiseases and Conditions Attention-
deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Retrieved from Mayo
Clinic : http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-
conditions/adhd/basics/definition/con-20023647
Nemours. (2016). Posttramatic Stress Disorder. Retrieved from Kids
Health : http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/ptsd.html
Photos were retrieved from Pintrest and Google images