Content Knowledge 

        Working within the field of education requires one to develop and maintain an understanding of the content being taught. With regards to teaching students with varying needs and learning styles, it is also important to understand teaching strategies for specific disabilities and areas of student need. With regards to teaching students with varying needs and learning styles, it is important to develop “tool-box” of teaching strategies and resources for specific disabilities. When teaching a class, it is important to be mindful of students with disabilities. This means that educators must understand how the student’s disability impacts his/her learning, and the appropriate strategies to assist the student in his/her learning. 

        Completing the Granite State College School of Education course work has provided me with a variety of instructional strategies that promote student success. Completing summaries on a variety of disabilities has provided me with much information on many different disabilities.  Researching different disabilities has allowed me to gain a better understanding of appropriately addressing student need. The information gathered from the disability summaries will assist me when developing IEPs for future students.  An individualized education program with appropriate goals, accommodations and modifications should be developed for a student with a disability. Completing the assignments on direct instruction, concept analysis and teaching, bloom’s taxonomy, and teaching instructional strategies has provided me with a variety of instructional strategies that promote student success.  Researching different instructional strategies and the natural progression of acquiring mathematics skills allowed me to gain a better understanding of how to plan lessons to meet specific student needs. The literacy handbook required me to research the key components involved in the development of literacy skills. Obtaining a general knowledge of the foundations of literacy allowed be to gain a better understanding of how to plan lessons to meet the very specific needs of students. The information gathered from the assignments throughout my coursework will assist me when developing lessons and IEPs for future students. 

Application of Content

        Completing the course assignments through Granite State College School of Education has provided me with teaching strategies that will assist students with varying disabilities. I was able to apply many of the strategies I learned from creating the various course handbooks within my lessons and unit plans. I was also able to apply many of the strategies I learned from researching disabilities to model lesson plans geared towards specific disabilities.  When developing a lesson/unit for a student (regardless of ability) it is important to gain a baseline of student ability. Lessons should include some form of assessment in order to assess student understanding of taught material. Understanding student strengths weaknesses allows one to develop a lesson/unit that will better meet the student’s needs. 

        Developing lessons for a student with a disability takes careful planning.  As an educator, it important to study a student’s IEP prior to teaching a lesson. Understanding a student’s skill set and individual needs allows for the implementation of appropriate instructional strategies. Many students, especially those with a disability, benefit from the use of technology such as iPads, computers, and smooth boards. The use of appropriate instructional strategies and technology are crucial in planning and implementing a meaningful education for all students. Incorporating these strategies within my lessons allowed me to gauge the effectiveness of certain strategies and resources. The assignments throughout my coursework allowed me to gain a better understanding of how students I work with best learn.