SPECIAL EDUCATION ENGLISH is my focus. I am the MOTHER OF A YOUNG ADULT WHO WAS CLASSIFIED WITH SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITIES(LD)in second grade. As a parent and also as a SPECIAL EDUCATION ENGLISH TEACHER, I have watched LD children struggle to succeed. I have witnessed how their daily challenges impact their emotional well-being. I have also struggled to get past the defenses these students put up to protect their own fragile self images. As a teacher my goal is to give these students the tools they need to RAISE THEIR READING, WRITING, AND SPEAKING ABILITIES RATHER THAN LOWER THE COMPETENCY STANDARDS SET FOR THEM. Doing this requires two key elements. First, each lesson requires a motivational component. Teachers need to show students how the lesson will help them in life, or thought-provoking discussion must be used to capture students' attention. Second, learning materials must be designed to be flexible so that students may work independently at their own pace when necessary, freeing their teacher to move about the room working one-on-one with each student when necessary. I have completed twelve years of teaching at the secondary school level and plan on teaching many more. I also spent two years at a local college working as an instructional assistant for learning-disabled college students. In addition to teaching I maintain the SMARTSPARKS.NET WEBSITE.

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