Reality 101: CEC's blog for new teachers

Key Points on Creating Learning Centers

By Gayle Solis Zavala
Special Education Teacher, Gove Elementary, Belle Glade, Fla.
CEC 2009 Clarissa Hug National Teacher of the Year

“Learning centers” can take on a variety of shapes in any given classroom. They allow students to learn and practice new skills and provide an awesome opportunity for them to sharpen their social skills (i.e., turn taking, good sportsmanship, appropriate use of materials, pragmatic communication skills, and task completion).

I have a few key considerations for setting up learning centers in your own classroom:

1) Decide what centers to set up based on classroom needs and space. Depending on the needs of your students, you will become aware of what skills to focus on. And the amount of room you have available will sometimes determine the number of centers you can practically set up.

Over the years, I have generally set up a computer center; an independent reading center (an area that includes picture books, easy reading books, magazines, photo albums, and maps); and a listening center (with a Language Master, LeapPad stories, and CD or tape player). What I expect the students to accomplish in the learning centers may change, but usually the procedure for using the equipment and materials doesn’t change. The various software programs should be modeled and monitored to ensure students are using them appropriately and haven’t wandered off onto the internet!

Moving To Learn

By Gayle Solis Zavala
Special Education Teacher, Gove Elementary, Belle Glade, Fla.
CEC 2009 Clarissa Hug National Teacher of the Year

Last week someone posted a question related to grading. In response, I would have to ask whether the students are working toward a regular diploma or a special diploma. I believe in our state (Florida), if the student is working on a regular diploma tract, the student would be graded the same as their nondisabled general education peers. The difference would probably be in the accommodations developed and included on the student’s IEP.

In Florida, they have developed Access Points for students taking the alternate assessment based on the state standards for the core subjects. Our school district report cards for students who are identified as taking alternate assessment are based on the Access Points (participatory, support, independent levels).  Feel free to visit the Florida Dept. of Education Web site for a thorough description. I hope that helps.

I hope you enjoyed my last post about “stories on a string.” Another wonderful strategy demonstrated by the same group was the use of “physical statues,” which could be used many ways and in a variety of content areas in the classroom. In teaching it is essential to consider learning styles, especially with kinesthetic learners; these are the students who need movement incorporated into the learning process. “Physical statues” is very much like the childhood game of “freeze” in which the students move or dance around in an area and the leader orders everyone to FREEZE!

Bloggers Wanted!

Attention new teachers!

Careers in special education are incredibly rewarding . . . but CEC knows that those first few years in the classroom can be quite challenging, too. What do you hope to accomplish and what problems will you face as you begin to work with students with exceptionalities? There will certainly be ups and downs — and we want to hear about it all.

CEC is seeking members with three or fewer years’ experience to write about the 2009-10 school year for “Reality 101." This blog “diary” will act as a sounding board where readers will get to know you, offer advice, and share their own stories.

Our new bloggers will be treated to complimentary copies of some of our most valuable publications for beginning special educators and will also have the option to receive a FREE one-year CEC membership or a gift certificate to the CEC Store.

Visit CEC’s Web site for more information and the application form. Candidates must e-mail CEC by Aug. 7, 2009, in order to be considered.

Have more than a few years under your belt? Then pass this opportunity along to a friend or colleague who you think would make a great blogger on “Reality 101.”

Teaching Literacy Through “Stories on a String”

By Gayle Solis Zavala
Special Education Teacher, Gove Elementary, Belle Glade, Fla.
CEC 2009 Clarissa Hug National Teacher of the Year

Hello again . . . Before I get started, let me tell you a little about myself. I am a California native who now lives in southern Florida and I am married with three adult children and an amazing grandson! I have been an educator for 24 years. I worked as a speech-language pathologist for 10 years and then decided to pursue my master’s degree in Special Education.

Over the years I have enjoyed teaching a variety of classes with students with mild to severe intellectual disabilities. About six years ago, I had the opportunity to pursue a second master’s degree in Reading. I was very inspired to learn about and seek successful strategies to teach reading to students with cognitive disabilities. At the end of this last school year, a new position was advertised at my elementary school and all other schools in our district: an RtI (Response to Intervention or, as some refer to it, Response to Instruction) teacher. My principal selected me and I am looking forward to this new experience.

I find myself interested in additional projects outside of the classroom. Apart from the busy commitments I have through CEC (I serve on the Florida CEC Board as the Children and Youth Advocacy Network Coordinator), I have also been active with VSA arts, the Knowledge Through Friendship Peer Buddy Project, and the non-profit Farmworkers Coordinating Council. I grew up very influenced by my Hispanic culture and the arts. And the arts is something that I feel will always influence my teaching.

How do you create a welcoming classroom climate?

 By Gayle Solis Zavala
Special Education Teacher, Gove Elementary, Belle Glade, Fla.
CEC 2009 Clarissa Hug National Teacher of the Year

It is my pleasure and honor to participate in the CEC blog. I have just returned from a wonderful trip to Lake Tahoe, Calif., for a family wedding. My first bit of advice to my fellow teachers is that you DO make time in your busy lives to relax and take time for yourself and time with family and friends. And not just during the summer time, but throughout the school year.

Teachers do not only impart knowledge and new skills to students, they are also caretakers of hearts and feelings. But teachers must take time to care for themselves so that they can be physically, mentally, and emotionally prepared to reach out to their students each day.

With that said, I want to encourage teachers to prepare for welcoming their students back by getting organized and helping their students get organized. I am going to admit that organization is one of my weaknesses, so I have really had to consciously work on it. But in the end, the more prepared I am, the better teacher I can be.