Interview Question 1:

If you are a special education teacher, was it your first choice? Please explain. If you are a
general education teacher, what did you know about teaching students with special needs
when you began your teaching career?>>>
Getting to know my teacher after doing the interview I learned a various of things. For example
she has been in the education field for 10 years plus. But only a licensed teacher for four. The
reason she was only four was because all the other years she was dedicated to special
education as an assistance for the rest. This was used for her to get hands while still being in
college. So she has quite some knowledge with special education, for example she knows when
they kids are in there state of mind where they are not feeling well, or have some hardships that
is stopping them from learning. That she must reassure them, but also work with them. Rather
then it being a regular class she must punish them by taking recess. The situations are different.
Also with special education she delt with many students who scrambled hit and spit at her. But
she understood and just told them its not okay. Lets make better choices friends. Teaching them
is always hard as she states, but all I really wanted to teach them was the essentials. The
essentials like, going to the restroom. “I remember when one finally went to restroom pulled
down pants and missed but got the concept, and I cried because of how proud I was.” She
began to tell me al the proud moments like these. Overall she explains that learning in a self
detained class is much different then in a overall classroom class. She has students who retain
the information, rather then in a self detained class she taught them to reach milestones.

Interview Question 2:
What challenges do you face in teaching students with special needs? The vocabulary, some or
most didn't understand my vocabulary or I don't understand theres. Some don't even speak so it
was supper hard to tell when they needed something. I would say the hits and spits in the face
were worships at times id cry, but I learned eventually to wash my face and go on about the
day.

Interview Question 3:
What have you learned or done differently after facing some challenges with teaching students
with special needs?>>> I have learned patience. Patience is my biggest learning material I have
gotten. It has taught me how to act with my third grade students and how to ignore at times what
they do. For example when Dezmond is loud or singing and jumping around, the special
education room taught me how to ignore and not acknowledge so they stop. There are many
factors that come with learning. But overall I am a more calm teacher and I now know theres
teachers who deal with more then just a kid telling on another, or a kid singing there head off.

Interview Question 4:
What do you feel could have helped you more in beginning your career in teaching students
with special needs either as a special education teacher, or a general education teacher?>>>
There are many things we wish we did different or overall, wish we did better. There not one
thing I feel could have prepared me to be in special needs. Overall in my general education I
believe being with special education prepared me for what is to come. I also believe becoming
an instructional assistance like yourself will help a lot to prepare but also show you if this is
really want you want Ms. Vela. This is your time to think about it.

Interview Question 5:
What are your recommended strategies for addressing the different student
characteristics, behaviors, or needs for the special education students in your classroom?>>>
We are now required to get improvement from parents in order to even move a step forward
with any processes. But typically if i see no student with no growth wether with mad or reading
we recommend to our strategist to look back at records to see if there is any growth from kinder
to now. If there is no growth is when we start to do small test on them that teachers are able to
do. If these test show where they should be placed we place them with RTI. Which is individual
learning with a teacher. After is when we choose if they should go to the point where they are
tested by state, but as well placed.

Interview Question 6:
Is the IEP a useful process in assisting with accommodating different needs, and
resources for your students with special needs? If not, what could be improved? >>>
Yes i believe IEP are given for a reason, and are needed for certain students. The only thing I
don't like is how long it takes for a student to get an IEP. For example I have had two students
on the list to get tested to get an IEP for over two years. That is the most challenging thing I
have with IEP. I am an all inclusion teacher meaning I get the students with IEP so i do deal with
them a lot. I love being that teacher and I love being the teacher to try to get these students the
help they need even if it takes two years. This is peaking for the general education class.

Interview Question 7:
Provide your opinion of the use of team collaborations in providing services to
your students with special needs (Consider lesson plans, help for students, addressing
challenging behaviors, etc.) >>>
Team collaborations for my general education classes always happens, we have meetings
every tuesday with our principal to speak on the goals, the test, the lessons, so we know where
every teacher in our grade is at for the week. This helps as we give each other strategies like
“this is the fractions lesson I use in order for them to model how some are equivalent” This also
gives the teacher lessons they never had. We all have prep at the same time which also helps.

Interview Question 8:
From your perspective and experience, what are the most important things for me
to consider when tailoring a lesson plan for individual special education students in your
classroom?>>>
Speaking for my general education class, the thing I do most is for my lowest students or for my
students with IEP I typically give the same exact lesson. But for them I give pictures, colors, and
little side notes to help them. When it comes for test, I read it to my students who only speak
spanish but as well to the students who have trouble reading. As that is the only way I can
accommodate to those students. During test it is a little harder because its hard to read it to 5
students and the whole class is quite trying to listen. I've tried my hardest to help them but at the
end I end of helping the rest of the class. I believe there are many ways, there is even website
that give you lessons to help the lower students that have pictures already. Always use your
resources and stink to your grade level teachers as they will always help as well.

Interview Question 9:
Have the laws changed from year to year within the IEP’s guidelines, and or mandates, and if
so, how have you adapted to that over the years?>>>
As far as she is a teacher everything has stayed the same.

Interview Question 10:

Describe both teacher and student uses of technology for your students with special needs.
How has that changed over the years?>>> When I first started technology wasn't really used
and for that reason I feel like more kids paid attention dn learned a little more and obviously
differently. Now that we have technology the kids rely on it more, which where we now show
there ABC on it as well as anything else we are learning. Not only is it more engaging but the
kids like more of the colorful, but as well as the singing that comes with it. The kids are happier
and begin every morning with the weather and much more. Now as far as my general education
class. They use there computers everyday at least for 2 hours doing exact path in each class
since I do only do math. We also use the visualizer to workout problems together. Its more of a
norm and its weird but my kids use technology better than I do at times.

Interview Question 11:

Describe some of the teaching strategies you use for your students with special needs.
>>>
None of my students in my class right now have IEP as they are on the list and have been on
the list for so long, so for that reason I give them the same treatment and work they get as for
someone who isn't on the list. Only different between these students is that I give them that
extra hand. Our send them over to our instructional assistant to help them understand it in a
class that isn't moving on so quick.

Interview Question 12:

What procedures or strategies do you use to maximize instructional time for your students with
special needs? >>>
I am no longer a special education teacher, but what from I remember years ago. I believe we
did videos to teacher the lesson, went over it, then worked it out. Whatever it may be. But you
always have to have something fun for them to do and have in order for them to simply keep
focus in the class. A lot of the time, our time goes quick when you have those students who
really cant maintain themselves with that being said. Time is precious. Most of the time us
teachers in special education are handling a kid rather then having instructional time.
Interview Question 13:
What positive reinforcement programs have you had success with, and what behavioral
consequences seem most effective with your students who have special needs?
>>>
Positive reinforcements I have had is my treasure box, but also getting punch cards after they
get 100 on any exact path lesson. It helps so much as every student would love to get to
treasure box. As far as consequences I do what any other general education teacher would do. I
take away recess or call home if it gets to a level I cant take anymore.
Interview Question 14:
How are special education specialists involved in the instructional planning process? If you are
a general education teacher, have these specialists been available or helpful to the process?
>>> We don't in specific have our specialist. If anything our special education classes now have
an extra teacher where they help. This is overall the same thing for general education.

Interview Question 15:

How often are you evaluated, and what measurement tool is used by the administration for
determining your teaching performance? >>> Every teacher here is evaluated twice out of the
year, we schedule when we would like to be evaluated and so froth. Admin would love for us to
be evaluated when we are doing centers on a lesson so they see how we work at a center and
millions of kids interrupting us doing the center. Just so admin can see how we work and
multitask at the same time. If not done overall they still evaluate and give us the feedback after
each lesson we give. Given the principal we have it is always easy, and we are always provided
with feedback!