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March 6th, 2020

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April 8th, 2020

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April 8th, 2020

What I’ve found from working with the other kids within the special education program is that they all work differently. Like most people, the way one person learns and does their work may be completely different from someone else. I had a chance to work with plenty of other students and the way I helped and provided support was completely different with each student I worked with. Since being home and starting remote learning, I have taken the liberty of helping my brother with his work everyday. The way I get him to work and pay attention is by using something that he likes and enjoys, such as his favorite snacks. Since he is non-verbal, I also find ways to communicate with him such as using my hands and fingers to get him to answer questions. Since we are also bilingual and the language he hears the most here at home is Spanish, he has a tendency of paying more attention when I speak to him in Spanish. He understands both languages and knowing when to speak to him in what language can be tricky. The most important part of working with special education students is knowing how to communicate with them because from there, working and helping them can be much more easier since you both have a better understanding of each other.

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April 7th, 2020

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April 7th, 2020

Even though I was unable to finish some of the things I had planned for my senior summit at school, I still have been able to continue by working with my brother at home. This week, we had to start logging exercises that we’d be doing from home. Since we are in the same P.E class, I have been finding ways to do workouts at home that are fun and easy. We have gone on walks outside and have gotten to do some more fun stuff inside like stretching and dancing. The hardest part has been finding some exercises that would not be too hard on him and so far, I have been successful in finding ways to stay active without it being too strenuous or difficult for him. We are making do with what we have at home and it has actually been super easy finding what specifically works for him.

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March 5th, 2020

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March 5th, 2020
I have been participating in the Project Unify Basketball team. In doing so, I am able to work with a small group of students and assist them while playing basketball. We have had three practices, all of which consisted of different activities that have involved working with a group of students. We practiced dribbling, shooting, and even did a scrimmage game. In doing so, I have had to find a way to be an effective coach and leader. I have been able to give feedback and also praise the students in the amazing work they have been doing. Today, our final practice, we worked on a lot of shooting. We found a way to accommodate the students that would allow them all to shoot into the hoop. For the students in wheelchairs, we placed a hula hoop over the net and let them shoot it through. For others, we let them shoot from wherever they felt comfortable. It was great to be able to find a way to work with all the students in a way that was fitting for them and that allowed each of them to be successful in their own way. Also, discussing with the coach and teachers present, Ms. Copas, Ms. Jana, and Mr. Derby, allowed me to really find a way to get through to the students I was working with. Overall, we spent about 4 hours throughout this week practicing and preparing for our games!

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March 3rd, 2020

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March 3rd, 2020
In our P.E class we have partners that we work with daily. Since my brother is in this class and he does not do well with sports, I take the liberty of walking him since it allows him to get out of his chair and move around. Mr. Derby and the school have given me permission to do this since he is my brother and i know when his limits have been reached and I know how to accommodate to his needs. Though I do this often at home, at school it’s interesting to see how different he reacts to the environment and the other students around him. The days I do walk with him, I try to go toward the people or the places he is interested in looking at. On this day, he wanted to look outside the gym doors. It’s also hard to make him get used to walking after sitting for so long and this day, he was not in the mood to walk, yet I helped him get through it and walked him across the gym and then back to his chair. Today, I spent about 30 minutes walking with him and exploring the gym.

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January 15th, 2020
Since the beginning of the year, I have been a peer tutor and a positive P.E. aide. Being involved in this, it has made me realize how much I genuinely love working in this area of teaching. First semester, I was a peer tutor in the language arts class so I had a chance to work closely with the students. In P.E., I have more of a chance to work with the students in a group, even if it is a small one of 3-4 students. Since the start of the new semester, I have switched to being a peer tutor in their life skills class. My next step, is to be able to get through to more students. I work with the same couple of students most of the time, and I really want to be able to get through to other students. I want to be able to make new connections with new students.