2-11-2016 Intro to Ed: Service Learning

Yesterday it finally worked out for me to spend some time with Trish Lay, one of the Resource Room teachers at Midway Elementary! Because I am in EDSP 3400 Class (Special Students in Gen Ed Classrooms), I am going to do the 10 hours of special ed first and then do at least 10 more hours in regular ed. I was impressed with Mrs. Lay: there are many little things that she did that I now recognize were not just hand movements but were cues and prompts to help the students stay on task. So far I think the primary learning theory she uses is Behaviorism. She seems very aware of antecedents and is careful with the consequences she allows to happen! I liked her friendliness to the students and I could see the students responding to that. Some of the activities I observed today included: small group practice with Fry phrase cards; work on listening to, writing, and reading ending blends (with erasable sheets); and individual work with a student on the Autism Spectrum for math skills. Midway Elementary (in Midway, UT) is part of the Wasatch County (Heber) School District. Midway has a population of about 3000 people, yet the school has over 600 students in K-4th grade! That seems large to me! Of those 600 students, about 100 receive some resource room or other special ed services, yet only about 22 are on IEP's. Cool! this way students who are struggling a little can get special help without the stigma of a label!