As future educators we have to realize that we may have children with exceptionalities. Having students with exceptionalities can be life changing, and a learning experience. It can also be quite difficult. That is why it is so important to understand the difference between different exceptionalities and disabilities. As a PROFICIENT educator you must accomadate the needs for all of your students to enable them to learn.

As someone who knows first hand how exceptionalities and disabilities affect an environment I think as an educator I will be able to recognize and understand how to deal with certain issues in my classroom. Having an older cousin who has Autism and another who had down syndrome I understand quite well how it can affect a family which is quite important in the classroom as well. What happens at home for a student can affect how they behave in a classroom. All this aspects play a big role in how I will deal with these issues in my classroom and make the environment a place of learning and love.

I AM

I am Beautiful and Daring
I wonder how I am perceived
I hear the busy town
I see my future now
I want to make a difference
I am Beautiful and Daring
I pretend that I am a teacher
I feel my nervousness
I touch hearts
I worry about future failures
I cry about what I could have done differently
I am Beautiful and Daring
I understand that with God all things are possible
I say "If God is for me who can be against me"
I dream about success
I try to be the best Me I can be
I hope I make an impact on someone's life
I am Beautiful and Daring

Reflection

As a educator I never realized the impact you have on each of your student's life. This homecoming one of my students was a drum major for The Fort Valley State University's Blue Machine Marching Band. He was adorable and when he saw my face a huge grin spread across his face. He became more confident in his steps and his performance for the pep rally was impeccable. I was so proud of him and at that moment I realized that not only was I impacting my students lives, they were impacting mine. I have grown and become a better person because of my students. The little things that they do, that they believe aren't important, mean the world to me. For example, one of my students finally read a whole story by himself to me and he was so proud. He ultimately showed me that working hard and practice makes perfect. I was extremely proud. The biggest thing I believed I have learned from this entire experience is that teaching is not just a job, it is a passion. You have to be passionate about teaching children and you will grow to be a better person in the end. To me that is more rewarding than any dollar figure can give me.