This document provides information about the author's first experience in a special education classroom. It introduces the setting at Ocoee High School and describes the classroom teachers, Mrs. Velazquez and her assistants. It then gives some personal details about the author and her interest in becoming a teacher. Next, it describes an arts and crafts activity where the students made crowns and the varying ability levels of students in the class. Finally, it provides an example of one student, Thomas, who receives individualized instruction.

1. Natalie MontijoNatalie_Montijo@knights.ucf.eduApril 23, 2010EEX 4070

2. Early Perceptions Scared Excited Anxious Nervous

3. Introduction To The Setting Ocoee High School Home of the Knights “Where Every Student Will Graduate” Mrs. Velazquez Room

4. The Classroom Teachers Mrs. Velazquez Classroom Teacher Mrs. Perdomo Student’s Personal Assistant Mrs. Natividad Teacher’s Aid

5. All Smiles and Poses!!

6. A Little Bit About Me I am 21 years old and I am an Elementary Education major. I love dancing, talking, smiling, and just being around people. My close family and friends mean the world to me and I would do anything for them. I am so eager to be in my own classroom because that is where I truly feel I will start learning how to really be an effective and influential teacher. My mother, my only role model, has been a teacher for over thirty years and even though I do not tell her often I look up to her and love her dearly. The passion she has for what she does is something that every educator should contain. I plan on pursuing a master’s degree in either administration or something that will help me become a Social Worker. There are so many kids that need help outside the classroom and I would love to be that person.

7. Activity Time! Student’s were kings and queens for the day. They created crowns that I traced and cut out for them. I brought some materials for them to decorate with but Mrs. Velazquez had a lot of materials as well. Student’s did an arts and crafts activity everyday so when I came up with this idea I was very excited and proud of myself. I helped the students glue, size, and gave them ideas on how to decorate their crown. Thomas Working Hard Alec’s favorite were the colored puff balls. That was all he used!

8. Participant Information In this classroom student’s ability ranged from many different levels. Some were high functioning while others needed assistance using the bathroom and watched closely. Several could and volunteered to read while others could not say their name. There was a young girl with severe obsessive compulsive disorder and SLD and there was a student named Andrew. He was non verbal, non responsive, and after talking to Mrs. V, as everyone calls her, she told me he had the mentality of an eight month old. They were in the process of trying to get him into a different program that would give him some more one on one time with an instructor. Student’s age ranged anywhere from 14 to 22 which I believe is the maximum age they are allowed to attend public school. However, they all have one thing in common. They fill your heart with joy and are some of the happiest individuals I have ever met. No matter if they were in a wheel chair or couldn’t talk they always seem to smile which put a smile on my face. Pictured is Thomas who has received one on one instruction from Mrs. Perdomo from the time he was in kindergarten. He is learning sign language and recently learned his ABC’s. His parent’s believed and fought for him to have his own one on one instructor. She helps him with his everyday activities and work.