Ayala

Philosophy of Education

Monica Ayala

Introduction to Special Education 203

Philosophy of Education Paper

Thursday October 22,2020

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My personal philosophy of special education is compelled by the studies of what I have

learned from this introduction to special ed class, observations, and by pursuing my own

thorough research on special education. Although I have discovered many things that I did not

consider before, it caused me to realize the true fundamental aspect of catering to the diverse

needs of each individual special student that they may have. As well as finding out effective

ways on how they learn and how they need to be taught. I will be focusing on four aspects of my

philosophy in special education that include Profession, Teaching, Instruction, and Future which

examines myself and what I think about today's society from the critical issues in Special and

General Education.

To begin, I always was interested in becoming a teacher, to become someone that can

obtain a value of service in society. I discovered my interest of becoming a teacher when I was in

the early stages of grade school, from playing “teacher” with my younger siblings and placing

them into my students. My parents thought I was creative because I had made “worksheets”,

“lesson plans”, pretend to go on “field trips,” include conferences, grade papers, etc. Moreover,

my second-grade teacher inspired me to become a teacher. This teacher made every student feel

important, showed us how to be respectful to one another and every summer, she sent out

postcards to each of the students and wrote about her summer and motivational quotes for the

next coming school year!

Another inspiration was my fifth-grade teacher who was rumored to be the cruelest

teacher in that grade level but turned out to be one of the kindest teachers I will remember! She

had a kind heart and constantly advised us to do our best. She had an impact on me because that

is where my “teacher,” experience began, she would excuse me out of class to go help some of

the kindergarten students read and sound out their alphabet letters. It was an engaging experience
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for me, one of the various reasons why I want to become a teacher. My personal knowledge or

skill set that will serve me is being patient, having dedication, and inspiring students to become

someone themselves. Some skill sets that will better serve me is communication skills,

collaborative skills, presentation skills, and technological skills to best serve students. According

to Héfer Bembenutty, “Enhancing teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs of teacher candidates is critical

to their performance as teachers and student learning. Teachers ‘self-efficacy refers to teachers’

“Beliefs in their ability to have a positive effect on student learning” (Bembenutty, et al. 16).This

may result in changing the ways teachers have with attitudes towards helping their students in a

better demeanor and a way to enthusiast students to a better engaging learning experience.

To continue, my field observation encouraged me to appreciate the teaching environment

especially in special education. I had the opportunity to observe a resource teacher classroom.

The resource teacher had over thirty students all that consisted of mild or moderate disabilities.

The students would work in small groups, and some of the groups consisted of a mixture

between high achievers and low achievers. I realized that it balanced out because some of the

high-level students would support the low-level students whether in math, reading or writing. My

cooperating teacher would give or take away dojo points to each student if they were following

directions, solved a problem, helped another student, or by coming early to class. That was one

way of getting the students attention and remain focused. While observing the cooperating

teacher, he would pull students out of their general ed classroom and test them individually on

subjects like rhyming words, where a story took place, words, math tests, building sentences, etc.

Also, every time a group came together, he would be very energized, welcoming, fun to the

students who made the class fun for them. The cooperating teacher went over how I.E.P. works,
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set realistic targets for the students, and work on behavioral, social, and academic skills. This

aided me to follow a realistic view of how things are in a special education classroom.

There are many critical educational philosophies, but I personally believe in Essentialism.

It is a philosophy that supports training the mind. This will not only help in general education but

with special education as well. Educators with the essentialism approach focus on getting the

students ready to move on to the next grade level on understanding reading, math, science,

history, etc. It focuses mainly on the lecture, memorization, repetition, practice, and standard

testing. According to Parkay, essentialism can be defined as “School system culture has a core of

common knowledge that the schools are obligated to transmit to students in a systematic,

disciplined way (Parkay 116). I believe that this approach may help teachers achieve a more

proper understanding from where their students are at in the classroom by those test scores or

practice in general. For instance, the teacher can pull students aside that aim lower and help them

achieve in certain spots where they need help the most. It equally gives students the strong basic

reading, writing listening and speaking skills which enables them to develop essential knowledge

in society.

To continue behaviorism, represents a psychologistic orientation that dictates my beliefs

in education because a person’s behavior will merely change if they are prepared to make those

decisions or action upon themselves. For instance, if a student is ready to go out of their way to

learn then they will, if not there learning will be constrained. In other words, their motivation to

learn will be on them rather than anyone else opinion. Behaviorism can be defined as, “Desirable

human behavior can be the product of design rather than accident” (Parkay 128). This means that

our behavior is influenced by the impacts of our environment that molds out our behavior. In

some instances, it can be referenced as, “we are what we eat” sort of conception in behaviorism.
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Some of my knowledge of historical events set the stage for how I will think about children, and

schools are acknowledging and recognizing what the student’s specific needs are and what type

of area the school is in. This will aid me to figure out the student and the school to a better

outcome of influencing the students in a more elevated level, getting the needs accommodated

and making a difference in both the students and school.

Also, the Education for All Handicap Children Act also known as Public Law 94-142

where later was changed to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is one of the

most historical events upon education! It was enacted by the United States Congress in 1975 and

required all public schools accepting federal funds to provide equitable access to education for

children with physical and mental disabilities (Gargiulo and Bouck 197). This shows that all

special need students possess the equal right to have access to education and lunch just as the

other students are. This act additionally requires goals which perfects and enhances their

understanding of what is taught based on their circumstances. This historical event sets the stage

for children with special needs because they are receiving the value in educational skills they

need and as a prospective teacher, I would cherish this in mind because everyone deserves an

education!

Next, instruction represents a substantial role in the classroom. Some of the strategies I

will implement is first identifying any disabilities early. I would observe each student on how

they do in the class setting, on tests, on paying attention, speech, etc. If any if believed to have

disabilities early I would set up an early identification with the counselor or school administer.

According to Evangeline Parish, “Research has shown that students who receive early and

appropriate support are less likely to experience persistent academic difficulties” (Department of

Education 4), This shows that students may achieve the support they need so they will not
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struggle during the upcoming school years in academics. Another example would be forming

minor groups according to their level of where they are in the lesson. For instance, I can be

teaching a math lesson, and one group can be working on the basics of addition and subtraction

and a more advanced group can work in multiplication and division. I also can establish the

groups by supporting them out with gathering some of the advanced students into a lower group

to support them. This will make it a challenge and may even help the students instead of learning

from me.

To continue, I will carry out daily routines consistently so my students can get use to how

things are in the classroom. It will provide them being organized and maintain a more disciplined

outlook to them. Also, I will implement breaks from time to time. This will help them stay

focused and reenergized to learn then sitting at a desk all day. Moreover, include different

subject corners around the classroom like math, reading, writing, etc. This will encourage

students to pay attention and know where to go when it is time for that subject. Another thing I

would use is developing a reward system for good behavior, completing work, participation, etc.,

this would encourage students to try their best and motivate them in many ways.

Moving on towards my future as a teacher, some of the qualities that I need to possess to

move forward in this career are adaptability where the classroom can be unpredictable at times,

so by having flexibility and maintaining excellent standards will help me out. Collaboration is

key to note because to succeed one must cooperate with other teachers, parents, students,

administrators, etc. this is essential because I believe it gives you more support within the

learning experience. Compassion is also a big one for me because instructing students with

special needs or not they need value in themselves and learn more about their strengths while

aiding them achieve in more elevated levels. I plan to get my associates degree in elementary
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education and further move onto my bachelors in a state university. I have thought about

securing my foot in the door by seeking opportunities like being an assistant at a school, helping

in schools, or just getting a job in safe key or even a tutoring position. I believe that all those

opportunities may give me a better picture in achieving my goals until I become a licensed

teacher.

In conclusion, this course introduction to special education has enhanced my knowledge

and my awareness of the classroom, students, and community. From my field observation to

undertake my own research about the field made me realize there is a lot of hard work and

dedication to put in, especially for the students. Special need students can become someone they

require; I would give them the same knowledge and motivation just as I will for general

education students. I would obtain accommodations to the classroom type to adapt each student’s

needs, provide breaks, and inspire them to work hard! By getting my foot in the door in the field

would set me up as a future teacher because I would make relationships with colleagues,

administration, observe and ask as many questions to be a great aspect in the society.
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Works Cited

Bembenutty, Héfer, et al. Developing Self-regulation of Learning and Teaching Skills Among

Teacher Candidates. Springer, 2015,

file:///C:/Users/monic/Downloads/2015_Book_DevelopingSelf-regulationOfLea.pdf.

Department of Education. STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS: A Guidebook for Supporting Students

with Disabilities. Evangeline Parish, 2020.

Gargiulo, Richard M., and Emily C. Bouck. Special Education in Contemporary Society: An

Introduction to Exceptionality. 7th ed., Sage Publications, 2021.

Parkay, Forrest W. Becoming a Teacher. 11th ed., Prentice Hall, 2020.