POST PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT 1

Post Personal Philosophy Statement

Alyssa Gainey

College of Southern Nevada

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Personal Philosophy of Special Education

Special education in our society and community has an outstanding purpose. Special

education not only teaches those with a disability, but it also teaches everyone who does not have

a disability. It teaches people that even if someone has a mental or physical disability, it doesn’t

mean they aren’t smart or capable. With a little guidance and teaching, anyone is able to

accomplish anything, especially those with a disability. As a community, we need to realize even

if someone has a disability, they are still an equal individual and special education is important to

teach those with a disability to prove the people that disagree wrong. Since people with a

disability should be treated as equals within a community, it is equally important to do so within

a society and special education allows those people an equal opportunity for education. Special

education has one outstanding purpose in our society and community and is to allow an

education to those with a disability and allow them to thrive in the world alongside everyone

else.

My personal philosophy definitely changed from the pre-personal philosophy statement,

however it isn’t a drastic change. In my pre-personal philosophy statement, I mentioned I believe

that everyone is smart in their own way and I still very much believe that. Another thing I said

that I still very much stand by is, people with a disability are more than capable of completing

everyday tasks similar to anyone else. A part where my personal philosophy starts to differ is

where I say kids in special education stay in one room all day and are secluded from the rest of
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the school. I have now learned that for some students, that is the best option for their education

and having their own environment will provided them with the best learning experience. In an

exclusive class, the students are able to get the extra one on one help that they need, and an

inclusive class isn’t for anyone. However, I have also learned the different types of inclusive

classrooms and they are definitely good options that suit some students with disabilities. In those

classroom, they are still able to get the extra help and attention that they need but they are able to

also get experience being in a normal classroom with all of the other kids. I have also learned not

everyone gives those with a disability dirty looks. Even though it is something that often occurs,

there are people that act kind towards those with a disability, especially kids. Which is another

point that differs from my pre-personal philosophy statement. Just recently, I was at the store and

there was a boy and his mom in front of me in line and he had a mental disability, and she was

teaching him how to grocery shop and pay for it with his own money. By the way the cashier and

bagger treated him, I could tell he comes in often and they treated him very sweet and patiently.

The bagger treated the boy like they were longtime friends and joking around with him while the

cashier waited very patiently for him to count out his money with his mothers help. After that she

complimented him and his mom how he is doing so well interacting with others and paying for

his own groceries. From that moment, I realized that others need to be patient with people with a

disability and they will improve their skills. Not only did I also learn that being kind to those

with a disability boasts their confidence, but it also confirmed my statement of how people with

a disability are capable of anything with a little help and training. I also think the help they need

can come from their parent, sibling, friend, and teacher. A teacher can help a student with special

needs in many different ways, however, anyone outside of the classroom can also teach them

things to help them out in life. Overall, my some parts of my personal philosophy may have
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carried over from before the class but the course of this class, it has taught me many different

things and opened my eyes to different things to add to my personal philosophy.

The role of the special education teacher in the classroom is to teach the students in the

best ways possible. One main role is be patient and kind with the students. Not only are they

there to teach the students with disabilities, but they are also there to make sure the students get a

proper education in a positive way. While teaching, special education teachers need to be very

patient which may include explain things more than once or dealing with the students’

frustrations and help them through it.

In regard to the question about what way students with special needs learn best, I don’t

think there is one specific way multiple students learn best. There are many different ways

students with special needs learn best like with different assistive technology, classroom setting,

or amount of help needed. If one specific way needs to be pinpointed, I think students with

special needs learn best with specific extra help whether it comes from an object or teacher. Most

student with special needs can not thrive well in a regular classroom all day, which is why they

need the extra help and someone to figure out what they need that will work best for them.

My goals for my students with special education needs are to be able to bring out their

best abilities and make leaps and bounds with the things they struggle with. My number one goal

for my students is showing improvement. I want them to see so much improvement in

themselves that they start to realize it without people constantly telling them. I also want to them

be able to function in society in ways that people could never think they could.

Similar to the role of a special education teacher in the classroom, I think an effective

special education teacher should possess a few key qualities. First off, they should be patient.

Patience is very important while working with any students let alone students with special needs.
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In order to be effective, the teacher should show patience towards all of their students. Another

quality they should possess is kindness. It is one thing to be patient, but an effective teacher

should show kindness while being patient. Most students don’t respond well to frustration and

rudeness so in order to be effective and get the point through, it would be having to be through

kindness. A third quality an effective special education teacher should possess is to know how to

make things fun and interesting with showing energy.

I strongly believe all students can learn. Whether they have special education needs or

not, I believe all students are capable of learning. Some learn at different paces in different ways

but despite all of that, all students can learn.

Teachers owe their students with special needs their best efforts to teach them along with

showing them equality. Just because their students have special needs, that doesn’t mean they

can be treated as any less human as someone who does not have special needs. Even if a student

doesn’t want to corporate with the teacher, the teacher at least should owe them by trying to help

them with their best abilities.