Blog Entry 3

Tuesday Sept 24, 2013 (12:30- 3:00)

Today was a special day because we celebrated one of the students birthdays. I remembered back in my elementary school days when it was your birthday. Usually you would bring in some sort of treat...store brought because they no longer allowed homemade treats. You would pass them out to the class, you would maybe get sung happy birthday and you just got to feel special for most of the day. That is not the case in Ms. Kay's class. You get a FULL BLOWN birthday party, complete with Balloons at your desk a present from each child, aid and teacher, birthday cake and birthday songs. She makes these kids feel like they are the most important person in the world. They all got so excited to give their gift and watch it be opened. It was the best.

Thursday Sept 26, 2013 (12:30-3:00)

Today I was once again able to spend some one on one time with the kids. In relation to the IDEA law, each child in this class has an IEP. I've noticed each day that I have been there that posted on the cupboard doors behind Ms. Kay's desk is a daily schedule for each child broken down to each half hour that they are at school. Some might spend some time in inclusion, other times the whole class will go to group speech and other times one child will be fed their lunch while another does physical activities. A couple might be watching a video, while some are working on sight words with an aid. Each child has an individual folder with project and activities specific to their learning needs. This is not a class where everyone is taught together, everything is geared to each child's individual needs, right down to the time that they eat lunch. It's amazing how structured everything is. I was able to work on assembling some projects for some of the children's work folders and was able to get a good idea of the curriculum they are working on. I was also able to work on some physical exercises with one of the children who has Cerebral Palsy. I am still amazed at the mental capacity that these kids have. They truly are incredible kids who continue to surprise me everyday with their capabilities.