Practicum Highlights: Special Education Edition
Avery Jensen
McKay Student Ambassador
Special Education
Being in the Special Education program is an amazing experience! The classes are fun, interactive, and we learn a lot. However, there is only so much we can learn in class, listening to a lecture. The thing that has really kickstarted my learning and has helped me to apply what I am learning is my experience in my Practicum! In case you don't know, we have two semesters of practicum in the program, and the first one is in an elementary school. I am about halfway through my first practicum, and I have learned SO MUCH about being a teacher. We spend 12 hours a week in our practicum classroom, which is so much fun. We are so lucky to get so much practice before student teaching.
Teach all the lessons you can!
One of the coolest parts of practicum has been being able to teach lessons! I used to think that we only observed during Practicum, but in reality, we still get to be super involved in the classroom. In Special Education, we work with so many different students who have completely different needs. We really have to get creative as we create lessons to figure out how we can help our students work towards their IEP goals. It isn't easy, but practice makes perfect. I have made a lot of mistakes, but each mistake I make teaches me something new.
Enjoy being a learner!
During practicum, you get to be a learner! No one expects you to know exactly what to do, how to teach, how to build lesson plans, etc. It is a time that you get to enjoy practicing and
learning as you go. It definitely isn't the time to expect perfection, but to make mistakes to learn from and laugh it off. When I was teaching one of my first lessons, it was so chaotic! I was struggling to keep my students engaged. They were throwing the materials around, and I was trying to figure out how to save the lesson! Even though my lesson didn't go as planned, I was able to practice adjusting my lesson, finding fun ways to engage my students, and thinking on my feet!
Throughout our education and our career, we should continue to find opportunities to learn and grow. When you think about it, even though Jesus Christ was perfect, He never stopped learning! Being a learner is so much fun when you let it be.
Ministering to the one
In 3 Nephi 17:21, it talks about how Jesus blessed the children "one by one." My absolute favorite part of practicum has been getting to know the students one by one. All my students have so many different needs, levels of support, personalities, and IEP goals! As I have tried to make my lesson plans individualized, I have felt my Savior's love for every single one of the students.
School and classes can be stressful, but don't let it get in the way of your opportunity to be present in the classroom. Teach all the lessons you can, be a learner, and follow our Savior's example by taking time to minister to each and every one of your students. It is such a fun time to learn and grow as a student and as a future teacher!
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