2-18-2016 EDSP 3400: Intro to Spec Ed: service learning

Both EDSP 3400 and EDEL 1010 classes have requirements for Service Learning: so I have 10 hours to observe/ participate in a special ed setting and 20 hours required for the special ed class. The ELED department kindly lets us count the 10 hours of special ed observation for both classes, so I am doing it first. I am observing in a Resource Room at an elementary that is part of the Wasatch County School District The school has over 600 students in K-4 and three "special ed" classes, with two being resource rooms and one self-contained room. I am in one of the Resource Rooms. This experience has been especially interesting because in addition to the classes mentioned above I am taking a class SW2500 which is Understanding the Autism Spectrum-- and the teacher works with two students who are on the Spectrum. One is in a lower grade and I have not seen him, but the other is in a higher grade and I have seen him each time I have been there to observe. It is so interesting to watch the teacher work with him, using techniques that I have read about and seen in both the EDSP Class and the Autism class. Many years ago I worked with students with Autism and it is so wonderful to see that "we" understand their situations so much better now than we did then! So now I wonder, is general education really where I want to be or do I have what it takes to work in special education again? In the past I worked primarily with severely disabled students as a related service provider. I know the burnout rate for special ed is higher than any other field in education. But I am fascinated with the possibility of really making a difference in the lives of students who may go on to be fully functional in our crazy world!