What'd Ya Say?

This semester I have had the privilege of working in a special education classroom. With this semester quickly coming to an end, I have been starting to really reflect on my experiences and things that I have learned. Without a doubt, this semester has been one of the best and most rewarding experiences of my life. Not only have I learned so much about being a special education teacher but I have also learned a lot about myself.

In my elementary placement, I have had the privilege of working with great students. One student in particular, is a student that is non-verbal and autistic. This student is very bright and is capable of completing a lot of activities. When I first began this placement, the only word that this student was verbally speaking was "bye" at the end of the day. At this time, she was using a device in which she could press different buttons and the device would speak for her. Then, a blessing in disguise occurred when her device broke. 8 weeks later (still without a device), this student is saying her alphabet, potty, bye, good and also stating her spelling words. It goes without saying that this has been amazing to watch. Our next goal is to teach this student how to respond to yes or no questions without being prompted. I can't wait to see what the next few weeks will bring and better yet, how much progress she makes when I return for contract hours next semester!