Kim Matias

Education Specialist Candidate for CSULB

Competency 1 Narrative

The Individualized Education Plan is a legally binding document that I

will be writing for the rest of my life. Any mistake made is on me. As I

mentioned in my Fieldwork artifact for this competency, this thought stresses

me. There are a lot of laws that I must abide by. I know for a fact that I dont

know some of these laws, but I do follow them somehow. I try to do what is

best practice. I try to follow evidence-based strategies. Is that enough? No.

However, as I write in my philosophy, the better we are(as teachers,

the better we can serve our purpose. Moving forward, I need to ask myself,

what constitutes a better teacher? Is it someone that knows every law? Is it

someone that follows what he or she thinks is best for the student? What

steps can we do, what are things that we can bring to not only follow the law,

but to be a better teacher?

In my 480 Exam, I mentioned, Every contribution madefor

individuals with disabilities, no matter how small or large is a step in the right

direction. While I was referring to what I think are the four biggest

contributions in educational law, I feel as if this can also be applied to

contributions made inside a classroom. While I may not know every law ever

written in the name of special education, I have made it an obligation to

educate and inspire my students. Of course, this is not enough, but this is a

step in the right direction for my future students.