SPED Philosophy 1

Special Populations Philosophy

Kimberlin T. Rico

Paris Junior College

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Table of Content

Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………3

Special Populations…………………………………………………………………….4

Gifted and Talented

Special Education

Teen Parents
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Abstract

Special populations in the learning and teaching environment are a group of individuals process

different needs then the basics of a teacher. Students in these categories span from gifted and

talented, possessing learning disadvantages, all the way to students who are teen parents. All of

these widely varied groups of students require special attention to help them succeed in the

educational system. As a teacher there are certain guidelines that are created but, individual we

all poses our own views on student’s needs.

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Special Populations Philosophy

The three groups that stuck out to me for special populations were gifted and

talented, students with ADHD or special education students, and teen parents. All three of these

categories have a special connection to me as an individual as well as an educator. Each of these

categories are things that have impacted me in my own education journey and as a parent. With

having these connections to these categories I have certain insight and ideas on the needs of these

types of students. For that reason, I have chosen these as my philosophy topics.

Students that are in gifted and talented while they do not require accommodations as

some of the other special populations might they do require special attention. From my time as a

student in gifted and talented I found myself striving for perfection at everything I did. So, while

I was a great student, I would get inside my own head quite often. While this is not a problem for

all students, I think teachers should monitor the good students more even though grades might

not be an issue. Gifted and talented students can sometimes have a lot of weight on their

shoulders to be the best and for some students that weight is overly hard to bear. So as a teacher

that is something I will strive to watch for and be a neutral voice for.

On the other end of the spectrum there are the students that do require the

accommodations and extra help. Starting with students that are considered at risk of dropping

out. Shifting from my school days as gifted and talented I did not receive the voice telling me I

did not need to be perfect or take the weight of the world on my shoulders. This lead me down a

very different path to where I became at-risk then transitioned to a drop out and teen parent. That

being said teen parent students also hold a special place in my heart knowing personally the

hardships they face. Students that are teen parents deal with not only the struggles of being a

parent so young but also the constant judgment that also plays into their mental struggles. I
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believe more schools should provide accommodations for teen parents whether that is help with

childcare for students or afterschool programs for students with children so they do not have to

feel that dropping out is the only choice.

The last category that means a lot to me and I deal with on a daily basis is students that

are considered special education more specifically students with ADHD. My son is a second

grader with ADHD and he struggles daily just to be on the same level as all the other kids. While

most school have accommodations in place, I have first-hand experienced both side of the

struggle for these kids. We were at a school that provided him with no assistance and he got

shammed as well as bullied daily then moved to a school that has gone above and beyond for

him. As an educator I will provide many accommodations in my classroom to help students like

my son. From relaxed seating to fidget toys to help with concentration. Also, providing a strong

open communication with parents and outside sources such as students therapists to help the

students succeed as much as possible.

While these students all seem vastly different, they all have one thing in common that a

teacher can provide, that is listening to them. Most students just need a teacher that cares and

makes them feel safe. This is something I feel very strong about is providing a safe open

environment to help my student flourish in any way I can. As an educator my philosophy is to be

the best I can be and aid my students into a successful future where they can grace the world

with their knowledge.