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How long have you been teaching special needs children?

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How long have you been teaching special needs children?

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"This is my tenth year of teaching and 7th year working with special education students."

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What made you choose the teaching profession and, in particular, teaching special needs children?

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What made you choose the teaching profession and, in particular, teaching special needs children?

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"After working in the regular education classroom for three years I was wanting to go back for my masters degree and after interviewing at several schools I had applied to several interrelated special education jobs, and after interviewing with Greiffenstein Alternative Elementary here in Wichita and was explained the type of students who go there and what the goal for these students are (transitioning back to their base building) I wanted to be apart of their success."

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How have your ideas toward teaching changed with each passing year of experience? Can you recall your ideas about teaching when you were a teacher education student like me? What were they? What are they now?

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How have your ideas toward teaching changed with each passing year of experience? Can you recall your ideas about teaching when you were a teacher education student like me? What were they? What are they now?

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"I would say that with each year I have more empathy for some of my students who I work with and interact with.  I have learned to pick my battles and build relationships with every student I see.  I may be the first person who says “Good Morning” to a child when I see them in the morning."

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How does teaching children with special needs differ from teaching other children? What are some challenges you face in teaching special needs children? What are some rewards in teaching special needs children?

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How does teaching children with special needs differ from teaching other children? What are some challenges you face in teaching special needs children? What are some rewards in teaching special needs children?

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"They are similar.  I think it is how you approach any task.  If you are upbeat and present things in a way that shows value, they are more apt to want to work and learn.  All students need structures in place to help them be successful, and just because a student may not qualify for special education services, doesn’t necessarily mean that they will not need YOU to adapt to the way that they learn."

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What advice can you give me for teaching children with special needs in the regular education classroom?

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What advice can you give me for teaching children with special needs in the regular education classroom?

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"Read their accommodations page and have a good relationship with their IEP manager as well as their parents.  Keeping track of what accommodations they need to be successful so that way it can be included on their upcoming IEP. "

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What changes, if any, would you make to the educational system with regard to special needs children? Consider such aspects as inclusion, funding, state assessments, etc…

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What changes, if any, would you make to the educational system with regard to special needs children? Consider such aspects as inclusion, funding, state assessments, etc…

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"Better psychological support for students who have trauma backgrounds.  There is no supports for buildings when you encounter students who are unable to make academic and behavioral gains due to not having proper supports in place.  In a perfect world every classroom would have a support person to help with monitoring student behavior, developing differentiated groups and scaffold instruction, and consistency. "

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If you could choose another career field, would you? Please explain your answer in detail.

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If you could choose another career field, would you? Please explain your answer in detail.

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"Probably not.  I have thought about this on days that have pushed me to the edge, but at the end of the day I enjoy the kids and the relationships I get to build with them.  I hope that I can change them for the better and that I am a bright spot in their elementary careers.  If I did get out of the classroom I would like to work more as a special education support person, but feel like this is a job that is more putting out “fires” and not truly getting into the classroom to help teachers."

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Are there any comments you wish to add to close this interview?

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Are there any comments you wish to add to close this interview?

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"Good luck with your endeavors! There will be harder years than others but the important thing is to remember is not to take things personally.  Usually when a kid is acting out, its’ because they are needing something from you…."