This document provides information about Nicole Pepin's service learning experience volunteering in a VE (Varying Exceptionalities) classroom at Riviera Elementary School. Some key details include: - The school has 758 students, many from low-income backgrounds or limited in English proficiency. - Nicole volunteered in Mrs. White's 3rd grade VE classroom to better understand how these programs support students with disabilities. - Through hands-on activities like guided reading, Nicole was able to provide individual support to students with disabilities. - Nicole gained a new perspective on instructional adaptations and self-contained VE classrooms from this experience.

1. Riviera EElleemmeennttaarryy SScchhooooll
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Nicole Pepin
ncpepin@knights.ucf.edu
November 23, 2014
EEX 4070

2. RRiivviieerraa EElleemmeennttaarryy SScchhooooll
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 Riviera Elementary School is a public elementary school in Palm Bay, FL.
 758 students attend this school and identify mostly as Multiracial; Asian/Pacific
Islander; African American; and White, non-Hispanic.
 13% of the students are “limited in English proficiency”. 81% of the 758 students
get free or reduced lunch prices. Making this a Title One school.
 Mission Statement: We are a gathering of diverse people and backgrounds brought
together to provide guidance in a collaborative method, to the school community, to
foster an environment that will allow our students to develop to their fullest.
 There has been a change in the ESE (not gifted) population, an increase from 14% to
20% to 22% due to the addition of two VE classes, a Blended VPK/EELP and a high
needs EELP class.

3. WWhhaatt iiss VVEE??
 VE stands for Varying Exceptionalities.
 The VE classroom meets the needs of students with different
exceptionalities with a smaller teacher-student ratio.
 There are three VE classrooms at Riviera and I was able to complete
my 15 hours of engagement in Mrs. Whites 3rd grade VE class.
 Mrs. White has a full time assistant teacher, Miss Dennis. There are
13 students in her classroom that range between the ages of 8-10
 There is a wide variety of ethic backgrounds in her classroom. They
include African American, Caucasian, Hispanic, and Middle Eastern.

4. VVEE ccoonnttiinnuueedd…………
• Students are labeled as Slow Learning Disability (SLD) or
Developmentally Delayed (DD). Although they’re labeled as SLD and
DD, the teachers have an idea of what type of disability each child
has. Some of the disabilities in the classroom include Other Health
Impaired (OHI), Emotionally Behavior Disorders (EBD), Language
Impaired (LI), Autism, and Cerebral Palsy.
• Each student in Mrs. White’s class are considered persons with
disabilities based on I.D.E.A. because each student needs additional
or different services to participate in school.

5. EEnnggaaggeemmeenntt AAccttiivviittiieess
• I chose to volunteer in
a VE classroom to
better understand the
services provided and
how this program
works in our public
school system.
I volunteered in Mrs.
White’s VE classroom
on Wednesday’s from
10:00am-12:00pm for 8
weeks.
I was able to work hands
on in the classroom
helping students with
science activities and
guided reading groups.

6. SSeerrvviiccee iinn AAccttiioonn
 I was able to help Mrs. White and Miss Dennis in some creative
hands-on science instruction and activities. I also helped with
guided reading groups.
 Students were learning about the solar system, stars, and planets.
 I also worked with students one on one to help promote
engagement and participation.

7. PPeerrcceeppttiioonnss ooff DDiiffffeerreenncceess
• I have never worked one on one with children with learning
disabilities. To be honest, I think I was more scared of the
unknown then anything else.
• I feel as a future educator it’s very important to educate
yourself and volunteer as much as possible with children with
disabilities to understand that these children are ALL
awesome and need loving and caring teachers to help them
learn.
• Every Wednesday after leaving Mrs. White’s class I felt a
sense of fullness. It was a very rewarding volunteer
opportunity.
• The experience that had the most impact on me was with one
student in particular. He is language impaired and the minute
he experienced an “ah-ha” moment in reading was priceless.
He was able to read a sentence to me with comprehension
and fluency. He said, “I understand it and read it fast.”

8. CCoonnnneeccttiioonnss ttoo YYoouurr CCoouurrssee
• I completed this project for EEX4070.
• The three topics I understand better now through service
learning are instructional adaptations, Self Contained Varying
Exceptionalities, and emotional behavior disorders.
• Instructional adaptations means more then just the teacher
having a positive attitude to meet the needs of each child. It’s
adapting materials and classroom environment to help
accommodate the needs of each child to be successful.
Alternative
Keyboard

9. CCoonnnneeccttiioonnss
From this experience I was also able to understand what it
means to teach in a self contained varying exceptionalities
classroom. This class is designed for students in schools who
would not be successful in the general education classrooms
due to academic ability, health issues and/or behavioral
problems. These classes are smaller and have more teachers to
assist. There are always at least 2 adults in the room. The
students are taught at their ability level, regardless of age or
grade. They’re also taught in small groups and 1:1 when
necessary. In addition to the regular education curriculum, many
supplemental materials are used to teach these students.
The students remain in the room all day. They are mainstreamed
for Special Areas, such as OT, PT, speech, and ESOL services.
Sometimes with a paraprofessional to help them be more
successful.

10. CCiivviicc EEnnggaaggeemmeenntt
 My perspective on civic engagement has always been positive and
it should be something every citizen does. It helps promote
relationships with the community and helps develop connections.
 The purpose of civic engagement is increasing civic participation by
encouraging participation in civil society. By volunteering and
participating in TIA project, I am more knowledgeable and aware
about how children with disabilities learn in a VE classroom.
 I think this service learning project promotes student learning
through active participation in a meaningful way. I would
recommend anyone getting a job in the education field to participate
in the TIA project in order to enhance their general knowledge,
course content, and self awareness in the community.
 What you learn through actively participating in service learning you
can’t learn from reading a simple textbook. Hands-on experience is
the best way to improve one’s life.

11. FFiinnaall TThhoouugghhttss && RReefflleeccttiioonnss
• I’ve been volunteering for a long time, but
never to help benefit children with
disabilities. This experience has made
me want to help children with disabilities
and get my friends and family to help as
well.
• I really enjoyed working with Mrs. White’s
class and I promised the students I would
come back once a month to help with
science experiments; not because I have
to for a class, but because I WANT to.