Diversity Experiences
Peru
In the Spring of 2016 the Emerging Leaders Academy's 2016 senior class was given the opportunity to travel to Peru. In our time spent in Peru we experienced different customs, cultures, and social classes within one country, while traveling from Lima (Low lands) to Cusco (High lands). We also had the opportunity of visiting a variety of schools ranging from private to public, different social economic statuses, and schools for individuals with physical disabilities. Personally through my time spent in Peru, as prefaced in my 'About Page', I truly came to the understanding of why I align closely with early childhood education and special education for students with emotional disturbances. This experience also opened my eyes to the privileges we take for granted in our education in the United States. Students in Peru value their education immensely, many travel two to three hours just to attend school. Students in all of the schools wear uniforms, acknowledge and respectively stand to greet a guest, and are appreciative of the little adaptive equipment they are provided.
Special Education Practicum
In the Spring of 2016 I was able to work closely with a special education teacher at Solheim Elementary in Bismarck, North Dakota. With supervision from my cooperating teacher, Ms. Sheila Blotsky, I was able to observe and work one-on-one with students with intellectual disabilities and students with emotional disturbances. I also had the opportunity to sit in on an IEP meeting. Through the experience of my special education practicum, I affirmed my love for working with the students with emotional disturbances. It drives my teaching to see a student recognize an unexpected behavior, self-correct (With or without assistance), and complete a task. The students I worked with had the ability to preform at grade level, it was a matter of them utilizing their supports and individual strategies and coping mechanisms to allow them to do so.
Rome, Italy
In the Spring of 2014 I had the opportunity to study abroad in Rome, Italy for four months. Our time consisted of studying European culture, history, and art. We were immersed in the European world, as we were asked to not only study, but build a life of traveling and living in a completely different culture than our own. Through living and socializing we ate out a significant amount and every restaurant that we went to, we felt as if we had been there before, as the servers greeted us like family. We would dine and mingle for hours without feeling the unspoken rush to get us out the door. Our servers would even join in on conversations. This was one of the customs I admired in Italy. The people took time to slow down, to be, and enjoy each other over delicious food.
Ups of Downs Swimming Lessons
In the Summer of 2013, I was approached with an opportunity to teach swimming lessons to students with Down syndrome through the program, Ups of Downs. The Ups of Downs program unites individuals with Down syndrome and their families through many different interactive activities. One of the interactive activities being swimming. The program partnered up with The Rapid City Aquatic Center, where I had been working for several years, to incorporate a swimming lesson element. The program was in need of seasoned swim instructors, therefore, a co-worker of mine and I decided to embrace the opportunity. This was my first notable experience with differentiated instruction. Instead of working through the prescribed lessons, we used them as a guide, adapting and providing each of our students with a different avenue for their learning. Success is not measured by how a student achieves his/her goal, it is that the student achieved his/her goal. I believe the avenue is different for each student, but the destination is all the same.
In the Spring of 2016 the Emerging Leaders Academy's 2016 senior class was given the opportunity to travel to Peru. In our time spent in Peru we experienced different customs, cultures, and social classes within one country, while traveling from Lima (Low lands) to Cusco (High lands). We also had the opportunity of visiting a variety of schools ranging from private to public, different social economic statuses, and schools for individuals with physical disabilities. Personally through my time spent in Peru, as prefaced in my 'About Page', I truly came to the understanding of why I align closely with early childhood education and special education for students with emotional disturbances. This experience also opened my eyes to the privileges we take for granted in our education in the United States. Students in Peru value their education immensely, many travel two to three hours just to attend school. Students in all of the schools wear uniforms, acknowledge and respectively stand to greet a guest, and are appreciative of the little adaptive equipment they are provided.
Special Education Practicum
In the Spring of 2016 I was able to work closely with a special education teacher at Solheim Elementary in Bismarck, North Dakota. With supervision from my cooperating teacher, Ms. Sheila Blotsky, I was able to observe and work one-on-one with students with intellectual disabilities and students with emotional disturbances. I also had the opportunity to sit in on an IEP meeting. Through the experience of my special education practicum, I affirmed my love for working with the students with emotional disturbances. It drives my teaching to see a student recognize an unexpected behavior, self-correct (With or without assistance), and complete a task. The students I worked with had the ability to preform at grade level, it was a matter of them utilizing their supports and individual strategies and coping mechanisms to allow them to do so.
Rome, Italy
In the Spring of 2014 I had the opportunity to study abroad in Rome, Italy for four months. Our time consisted of studying European culture, history, and art. We were immersed in the European world, as we were asked to not only study, but build a life of traveling and living in a completely different culture than our own. Through living and socializing we ate out a significant amount and every restaurant that we went to, we felt as if we had been there before, as the servers greeted us like family. We would dine and mingle for hours without feeling the unspoken rush to get us out the door. Our servers would even join in on conversations. This was one of the customs I admired in Italy. The people took time to slow down, to be, and enjoy each other over delicious food.
Ups of Downs Swimming Lessons
In the Summer of 2013, I was approached with an opportunity to teach swimming lessons to students with Down syndrome through the program, Ups of Downs. The Ups of Downs program unites individuals with Down syndrome and their families through many different interactive activities. One of the interactive activities being swimming. The program partnered up with The Rapid City Aquatic Center, where I had been working for several years, to incorporate a swimming lesson element. The program was in need of seasoned swim instructors, therefore, a co-worker of mine and I decided to embrace the opportunity. This was my first notable experience with differentiated instruction. Instead of working through the prescribed lessons, we used them as a guide, adapting and providing each of our students with a different avenue for their learning. Success is not measured by how a student achieves his/her goal, it is that the student achieved his/her goal. I believe the avenue is different for each student, but the destination is all the same.