Blog 1 2nd Semester EDU 291: My teaching goals this semester are...

This year I have changed classroom levels.  I am still teaching an adpts (autism) self contained classroom but I am now teaching 2nd - 4th graders.  I have 9 students currently in my classroom.  Mild to moderate level combined with ADHD, ED and autism.  As any special education classroom, my hardest task is differentiation with the students and their current grade levels.  This year I started by focusing on the zones of regulations.  I have spent the last three weeks working with my classroom on learning the zones of behavior as I feel this is one of those concepts that will help not only in the classroom but also at home and in real life.  I have used it not only as a social skills learning aspect but also in my writing area.  I am teaching the students to use thinking maps while learning the zones.  I hope to have the students more confident in their own ability to control behaviors so in turn, as they begin integrating into the rest of the school through specials and attending general education classes, they can self regulate and have the ability to focus and be successful in school and in social interactions.
My other main goal this year is to teach self sufficiency to my students.  I find that since we are in a self contained environment, these students tend to gravitate to a one on one type learning style with centers and completing work.  My goal is to teach them that there will be centers and one on one time but they have to also learn to accomplish work on their own, in a group setting so that when they do begin going to general education classrooms they understand the structure and can accomplish work without the needed one on one attention by an aide/teacher.  I want to teach them strategies to find solutions on their own vs. always looking for aid from an adult.
I was lucky enough to attend a teacch training this month and not only learned a great deal of information but received a great deal of resources that I can use to help me work on setting up a class where my students become self reliant.
I also have a great team that I work with and two veteran teachers that have great ideas, suggestions and are emotionally supportive as well.  I have to keep reminding myself that  I have just begun this adventure, half a year into it and like anything, the glossy wide eye awe is wearing off and the true identity is coming to the surface.  In those realities though, as hard as some can be I am learning and becoming stronger as a teacher.  I am also seeing where I hope to make a change and empower my students to strive for higher goals.