The document provides a reflection on the author's field experience volunteering in an ESE (Exceptional Student Education) classroom. Some of the key observations included small class size of about 10 students, various disabilities ranging from cerebral palsy to down syndrome. The author notes their initial stereotypes about ESE students involved wheelchairs and crying, but found the reality was different. They enjoyed getting comfortable with the students and seeing their excitement when the police department brought horses to interact with the students. The conclusion was that the experience was great and the students were often very similar to those in regular classrooms, with the main difference being students in ESE having less understanding of personal space.

1. Field Experiences Reflection
When I first learned I had to volunteer outside of my comfort zone I was a little
apprehensive at first because I did not know what to expect from the type of classroom I would
chose. I ended up choosing a ESE classroom at Hickory Tree Elementary; initially I wanted to
volunteer in an ESOL classroom but this school combined what little LEP students they had with
the ESE classrooms, which I found interesting. When I first entered Ms. Crystal‟s classroom
what I noticed first was how small of a class size she had, she had about 10 students, and she had
two aides to assist her. The second thing I noticed, of course, is the disorders the students had
(since I have never interacted with disabled students it was a shock to me) ranging from cerebral
palsy to down syndrome, there were a few students that I did not understand their conditions or
why they were in an ESE setting until I later asked the teacher who told me her classroom is
combined with every type of need, and that multifactor evaluations done by other teachers have
led some students with learning disabilities into her classroom.
Through the my whole experience volunteering at Hickory Tree what still stuns me the
most is how the ESOL students are placed in the ESE class all day and have no inclusion,
inclusion is important for LEP children because if they are in a classroom all day with children
that have learning and speech disabilities they are hearing many forms of dialect different from
their own and they might not know which one is correct or how to properly form sentences since
the classroom is mainly based on kindergarten type work and the ESOL student should be in say
a 4th grade classroom.
What I expected (in my mind) to see when I first walked into the ESE classroom to
volunteer on my first day was kids in wheel chairs, crying…etc. However, I saw a lot of

2. disabilities, physical and mental, but no wheel chairs, and no crying, yes, maybe a little whining.
This I guess was just a stereotype of mine when I think „ESE‟. What the school did not inform
me is there is a special class for children in wheel chairs and diapers, although the ESE
classroom I volunteered for most of the kids wore diapers it was more to prevent accidents than
anything. What I enjoyed most about my visit was how comfortable I got with the children
although it takes a lot of adaptation and getting use to. The Saint Cloud Police Department came
out to the school and seeing the children interact with the horses was a lot of fun and interesting
to see how children with their disabilities seem so at ease with the horses. Having the children
learn about the horses in out-of-context learning was great to see in person! The kids couldn‟t
stop telling the regular education kids what they learned all day about the horses! And that was a
great feeling.
In conclusion my volunteering experience in an ESE classroom was great! I learned that a
lot of the children in the ESE classroom despite their learning or physically handicaps are very
similar, if not the same, as the children in the regular education classroom. The only thing I can
point out that is noticeably different in the special education classroom is the proxemics, children
with special needs love to get in your bubble, and as Ms. Crystal‟s famous saying goes “You‟re
in my bubble!” this allows the children to know, you are welcome, but you are in my personal
space.