Interview with Mr. Mathias by Nathan Reyes

1. How long have you been teaching special needs children?

reyesn17 — 2025-04-21 20:16:57 UTC

Mr. Mathias has been teaching special needs children for 4 years now.

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

reyesn17 — 2025-04-21 20:17:18 UTC

MR. Mathias said he thought it would be better than teaching P.E.

3. 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?

reyesn17 — 2025-04-21 20:17:36 UTC

Mr. Mathias has now been able to teach a group of students that he got when they were freshmen and are now ready to graduate. They aren't his first graduates but this class is special because he has learned so much from them since they got to the school at the same time.

4. 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?

reyesn17 — 2025-04-21 20:17:50 UTC

Mr. Mathias loves teaching the students with special needs because he says they come to class with an eagerness to learn. The reward is when you can see the student understand what is being taught and learning how to communicate their concerns.

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

reyesn17 — 2025-04-21 20:18:03 UTC

Mr. Mathias says to just be patient with the students and myself. To give myself a break when I think the students aren't understanding and to refocus.

6. 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…

reyesn17 — 2025-04-21 20:18:16 UTC

Mr. Mathias didn't really feel the need to change anything because where he is the other students and faculty make the special needs students feel at home and take good care of them.

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

reyesn17 — 2025-04-21 20:18:32 UTC

Mr. Mathias would not change his career choices. He loves coming to school and teaching his students and watching them grow.

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

reyesn17 — 2025-04-21 20:18:44 UTC

It was an incredible time spent watching Mr. Mathias in action. The students gravitated to him to the point they were a little sad when it came time to go home for the day.

reyesn17 — 2025-04-21 20:36:04 UTC