https://padlet.com/saellis02/ThoughtsAboutLaws_SE_ Learn about what a kindergarten teacher has to say about IDEA and the Educators' Code of Ethics! en-us 2019-04-27 17:45:06 UTC 2019-05-05 02:41:48 UTC hello@padlet.com saellis02 https://padlet.com/saellis02/ThoughtsAboutLaws_SE_/wish/354694171 According to Ms. Ragan, there are many benefits to educating students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment. However, the biggest of these benefits involves the socialization of the child with disabilities and their general education peers. By being included in a general education classroom, students with disabilities learn how to interact with those who do not have disabilities and those who do not have disabilities learn how to interact with those with disabilities. Ms. Ragan also pointed out that by being in a general education classroom, students with disabilities are consistently surrounded by examples of what the expectations are (or are not in some cases). Students without disabilities can also help extend the learning of those with disabilities through their interaction with each other (turn and talk or working at the same center). Overall, both the student with the disability and general education students benefit socially from an inclusive environment. 

]]> 2019-04-27 17:45:06 UTC https://padlet.com/saellis02/ThoughtsAboutLaws_SE_/wish/354694171 saellis02 https://padlet.com/saellis02/ThoughtsAboutLaws_SE_/wish/354694172 Being that learning and instruction within the Charter School emphasizes communication, I was not surprised to hear what Ms. Ragan said were the benefits of including students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment, or in the classroom. I also very much so agree with practices found within the Charter School, and I agree with what Ms. Ragan had to say. From Ms. Ragan, I learned that socialization is the main benefit of being inclusive. When working with a student with a disability,  we must first make sure that students' appropriate least restrictive environment is the general education classroom. If the general education classroom is appropriate, teachers must always find an entry way for these student so they can socialize and participate. This can be done by modeling the expectation several times, giving a sentence starter,  giving a pictorial representation, or by having someone aid the student. My goal would be to give these students an equitable, safe, and as independent as possible way to participate in everything that goes on in the classroom, which includes speaking in an academic manner. ]]> 2019-04-27 17:45:06 UTC https://padlet.com/saellis02/ThoughtsAboutLaws_SE_/wish/354694172 saellis02 https://padlet.com/saellis02/ThoughtsAboutLaws_SE_/wish/354694173 The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children. IDEA also believes that students should be educated in the least restrictive environment as is appropriate for the student. 

]]> 2019-04-27 17:45:06 UTC https://padlet.com/saellis02/ThoughtsAboutLaws_SE_/wish/354694173 saellis02 https://padlet.com/saellis02/ThoughtsAboutLaws_SE_/wish/354694174 One way that Ms. Ragan opened my eyes with this interview was with what she had to say about privacy. Privacy is very serious, and in some cases, there are extra steps that one must take in order to keep information private. As someone who is used to seeing a variety of work while doing portfolios but also not having the experience of keeping that information confidential besides putting it in the corresponding binder, the fact that in some cases you must white out a child's name to show a particular person their work seems almost like a bit much. However, I 100% see why it is appropriate; I am just not used to it.  Basically, Ms. Ragan reminded me that there is a process fro everything in order for things to remain safe and confidential. In addition, as someone who has grown up on receiving a random paper to grade in class as a class, Ms. Ragan reminded me that I must always think about how my actions will affect my students no matter how minor what I am doing is. For example, having my students grade other students' papers is completely inappropriate and invasive of privacy. ]]> 2019-04-27 17:45:06 UTC https://padlet.com/saellis02/ThoughtsAboutLaws_SE_/wish/354694174 saellis02 https://padlet.com/saellis02/ThoughtsAboutLaws_SE_/wish/354694175 My interviewee for this interview was Ms. Ragan. Ms. Ragan is a kindergarten teacher at the SFA Charter School, and this is her ninth year teaching. In addition, Ms. Ragan has had experience with students with disabilities throughout her teaching career. ]]> 2019-04-27 17:45:06 UTC https://padlet.com/saellis02/ThoughtsAboutLaws_SE_/wish/354694175 saellis02 https://padlet.com/saellis02/ThoughtsAboutLaws_SE_/wish/354694177 The Texas Administrative Code sets forth the Educators’ Code of Ethics to provide rules for practices and ethical conduct toward students, parents, colleagues, and community members. 

]]> 2019-04-27 17:45:06 UTC https://padlet.com/saellis02/ThoughtsAboutLaws_SE_/wish/354694177 saellis02 https://padlet.com/saellis02/ThoughtsAboutLaws_SE_/wish/355650282 In reference to the Code of Ethics, Ms. Ragan immediately thought of privacy. More specifically, Ms. Ragan thought of things such as keeping grades private from others besides the student and their caregiver, and she thought of keeping details about other students private. For example, if two students got into a fight at school, when speaking with each child’s parent, parents would be talked to separately and only that parents’ child would be discussed. More specifically, if Jake and Erin got into a fight, the teacher should not tell Jake’s parents all about Erin or the teacher should not tell Erin’s parents all about Jake. Instead, each set of parents should hear about their child only. By keeping this information private, teachers are being law-abiding citizens and keeping parents from becoming upset. In addition, Ms. Ragan also related the Code of Ethics to parent-teacher and teacher-teacher relationships.  In order to be a successful teacher, parent-teacher and teacher-teacher collaboration and communication are needed, and the Code of Ethics highlight this. 

]]> 2019-04-30 22:56:42 UTC https://padlet.com/saellis02/ThoughtsAboutLaws_SE_/wish/355650282 saellis02 https://padlet.com/saellis02/ThoughtsAboutLaws_SE_/wish/355650455 One way that Ms. Ragan follows the Code of Ethics is by keeping information about students private. For example, while demonstrating to new parents what the work of a kindergartener looks like, the name on the child’s work being demonstrated will be whited out. In addition, in general and for all school work, the grades of students are kept between the teacher, that student, and the student’s caregiver only. Next, when talking to a parent about an incident, Ms. Ragan only mentions the child whose parents she is talking to. Thirdly, Ms. Ragan keeps information private between her and who she is talking to. She does this by having private emails that do not Cc others unless otherwise needed. 

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