Journal 1: Assistive Technology

The video showed how assistive technology is utilized in the classroom. Technology has

provided many different forms of representation for students and is also very engaging, meeting

Universal Design Learning guidelines. Students with disabilities can struggle with things such as

auditory, fine motor skills, writing skills, etc. The technology available to schools today allows

for students to work independently at their own pace without feeling singled out and different

from the rest of the class. Assistive technology provides text to speech which allows students to

see and hear what they are writing or reading. It provides engagement by using interactive

whiteboards to make learning fun. It provides an opportunity for students to compensate for their

disabilities by choosing how they learn while still focusing on the same content, building their

strengths. While technology is heavily integrated into the classrooms, it does not replace teacher

instruction. Instead, the teachers work as guides, using technology as a tool to support students.

They are able to display instructions on the whiteboards and also print them out for students.

Students don't just work independently all day. Teachers give instruction, ask questions and

allow the student to utilize technology in front of them so they can guide the student through

programs. Teachers are able to set individual goals for students. There are multiple different

ways assistive technology is utilized, such as pens that record notes for students that have

difficulty paying attention or writing, headphones to help students hear text to speech and focus,

and even programs that check for common spelling errors for students with dyslexia.   Assistive

technology is a great tool to remove barriers for students by providing alternative ways for them

to access and interact with the curriculum. It has allowed all students to be successful and

provided an opportunity for all students to learn in ways they never have before. 
 Journal 2: American Academic Education Today

The video brought up education in the U.S. schooling system today and brought to light

several different controversial topics. It appears as though throughout time, the learning culture

has changed, and academically, several things have been forgotten. The first thing I noticed in

the video is the reference to reading and books not being the same. It started by saying that most

kids coming into schools have never read a book before. Even in schools, it seems as though the

content has been shortened and schools are focused on giving just enough information. But what

effect will this have on them in the future? Do they remember that little bit of knowledge they

were given? Another important thing I noticed was the fact that language and culture are

overlapping. English learning students struggle in schools and the parents' struggle as well,

considering the student is also now the interpreter.  When the main goal should be for the school

system to give them the proper education they need in whichever language and then focus on

mastering the English language as they graduate. There is also a lack of background knowledge

on other cultures and a lack of representation in history books. It appears as though the entire

world is trying to get kids to compete globally and the focus is on testing and being the best.

Instead, changes need to be made to restore academic confidence in students again. Testing in

schools has given students no free time for extracurricular activities, draining any amount of

creativity they have left. Not only has it taken up so much time, but it has made them into

measurable objects where they now worry about facing failure. There is also the problem of too

many rules in schools now, constantly telling students what they can’t do, can't wear, etc. Due to

the strict environment, the students are starting to act out behaviorally.  The communities need to

restore ethics in the school's systems and work together to pull politics back out of education,

help create boundaries for students, recreate structure, and overall restore academic value.
Students are being set up today to compete globally and pass a test, but where are they getting

life skills to go into the future? The most interesting thing in the video was the Montessori

method, where students were able to take control of their learning and use teachers as guides.

They were not stuck in such a constricting environment and were able to be creative. The value,

instead of being placed on test scores and funding, was placed on the students. That is something

noteworthy that I feel as society has sort of forgotten in the mix of politics and at the expense of

our children. 

Journal 3: Autism Insights from Inside

This video brought to my attention the importance of pushing all students through school

to their highest potential. There are too many children stuck defined behind their disabilities.

Rather than making the disability revolve around the student, the student should revolve around

their strengths. Schools need to focus and build on the skills of students with autism instead.

There are plenty of high functioning, smart kids with autism that are often told of the things that

they cannot do. Teachers need to encourage students to do the things that they are good at and

understand that their potential is also limitless. Not only for children with autism, but this also

holds the same for all children. Teachers need to know their students and know what interests

them. There is no one set definition of autism and there are several different forms showing each

individual differently. Often, teachers struggle with differentiating this difference and the

students end up being treated like they have the same disability. There needs to be more

specialized training for teachers to be able to understand and differentiate their instruction

accordingly. These students need to be taught skills that they can carry with them into the future.

Teachers may need to step outside of their comfort zones, try something new or have a hard
conversation. The most important thing is to understand those children with autism process and

perceive information from the environment differently and it is necessary to find ways to engage

those differences for significant outcomes.  These are the things that will push kids with autism

to try to learn and create a successful future for them. The focus in the classroom for teachers

should be getting to know their students. The more they know will help them better understand

and connect to the students and be able to help them flourish. 

Journal 4: Classroom Behavior Management

This video provides several ideas to promote positive behavior in the classroom. One

thing I noticed the most was that the teachers did not focus on any negative behavior in any of

their examples. The primary way to influence behavior in the classroom was to utilize the

positive behavior of students with rewards that were instantly given. By rewarding positive

behaviors, the students that are struggling with behavior recognize that they are not being

rewarded and may want to change what they are doing. There were several different ways that

the teachers promoted behavior, by individual rewards or point systems, group rewards, and also

school rewards. The teachers challenged the students and incorporated team-building with the

rewards systems, getting the students to work together in groups towards a common goal. The

examples of rewards systems the teachers provided were motivational to the students, for them to

do better and to encourage other students. The school also provides an opportunity for students to

get rewards by allowing any teacher in the building the capability to award points to the students

if they recognize good behavior. One of the recommendations I found unique was the secret

student. The teachers informed the class there was a secret student and they would be watching

everyone closely for the day. If the students were not behaving properly, they would not reveal
who that student was. I thought it was important to make sure that a student doesn't feel pointed

out and shamed, keeping the rest of the class wondering about their actions as well. The teachers

also placed students in groups and made them equal with well-behaved students and students that

were struggling. They also grouped them into higher achievers and students that needed a little

extra help. This is essential in a classroom and helps the students motivate and help each other. It

provides a means for a strong classroom community by getting the students to work together

towards a common goal.  Overall, the video provided many excellent ideas to promote a positive

classroom culture that I will carry with me in my future classroom. 

Journal 5: Preschool Autism Classroom

This video showed me how early intervention and detection are important to young

children with Autism. Since these children were diagnosed early on, they were given advanced

and individualized care. The preschool classroom focuses on children with autism to give them

life skills and prepare them to go into kindergarten. The teacher-to-student ratio was small,

allowing the teachers more one on one time with the children. Having this smaller class size

makes it so the student is getting the care and attention they need to help them excel and meet

their target goals. The students worked in centers that focused on whichever area they needed

help with and really allowed the opportunity for the teachers to be hands-on. The teachers were

always at eye level, sitting at the table with them or sitting down at circle time with them. The

teachers focused on good listening and communication skills and were constantly reassuring the

children. The goals for the students ranged from educational to behavioral. The teachers really

focused on student emotions and tried to understand them and help others understand them by
questioning why they were feeling a certain way. They also focused on consequences, paying

attention to the student's behavior before and after the emotional event occurred. The teachers

served as guides for the students, asking them questions and allowing them to react. They would

constantly recognize and reinforce positive behaviors when the students displayed them or used

corrective feedback. The teachers teach in a systemic manner, keeping track of progress in

binders that they can go through and figure out what the next step is for each difference in

behavior. Parental involvement is essential and I liked how the teachers incorporated them into

everything. That way, parents can utilize the tools they have at home to encourage the child as

well. The teachers not only let the parents know when they have mastered an area in class, but

also what they are working on currently. Overall, this video showed me how much focused and

explicit education early can truly help a young child's future potential.