Art for the Kids & Reading Clinic Katharina DeVault Ksilcox@knights.ucf.edu April 10, 2011 EEX 4070

Introduction to Host Setting I began my service learning hours at UCP of central Florida. Their mission is; We are the experts for children with special needs. By providing the best support, education and therapy, we offer hope to everyone touched by a disability. They serve students with a variety of disabilities including: Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Autism, Speech Delays, Developmental Delays, and vision and hearing impairments. I then completed the rest of my hours at the University of Central Florida Reading Clinic. I am currently working one on one with a 4th grade student with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The reading clinic is held in the UCF Teaching Academy. This is the current logo of UCP of Central Florida.

Engagement Activities UCP of East Orange I used the Teachers in Action website to find the opportunity with UCP. As stated in the opening slide UCP caters to students with a variety of disabilities. I worked on a mural painting in the cafeteria. This is to make the area very colorful because it is students benefit from having a colorful and exciting environment. I went once a week for 2 hours each time. There were opportunities during this time where I was also in the classroom. I worked one on one with a couple of students to help them in their personal school work.

Engagement Activities Cont. UCF Reading Clinic This opportunity was given to my class by our professor because she runs the summer reading clinic and was beginning a spring reading clinic and needed clinicians. I was not told my student had Autism Spectrum Disorder until the first day I met with her. She in the fourth grade. I have been working on reading with her; the main focus is to strengthen her comprehension strategies and skills. We have been reading a variety of leveled books together along with completing some reading assessments to determine what her level of reading comprehension is currently.

Participant Demographics I worked with a second grade classroom at UCP. I served a class of about 20 when I was working in the classroom. When I was completing the mural it benefited all of the students at UCP that use the cafeteria for activities. My student in the reading clinic is currently in 4th grade. In this situation I am catering to an individual student. These students fall under the specific age range of 3-21 for the I.D.E.A. The students at UCP are have a variety of disabilities and my clinic student has Autism Spectrum Disorder which fall under the I.D.E.A. specfifics.

Service in Action – UCP The Rainforest

The Jungle Corner

Perceptions of Differences Initially, I was nervous about the service learning when I first discovered that we had to complete service learning. I had never worked with students with disabilities. I was nervous because I did not want to do something wrong or let anyone down. Even after working at UCP I found and I found that at the reading clinic I was going to working one on one with a student with autism I became just as nervous as before. I know I worked with students at UCP, but I didn’t ever work one on one with a student at UCP. Initial Reaction I still feel like I will have the nervousness that come when teaching students with disabilities. However, I feel that I get that way when getting in front of any classroom full of students. I think that with time and more experience I will become less and less nervous each time. I know that each student will be different and I will have to adapt my teaching strategies for each of them in different ways. After Experiences

Course Connections I completes TIA for EEX 4070 – Teaching Exceptional Students Behavior Management I feel that I bettered my understanding of classroom management in classes including students with disabilities. In the classroom there was an event where the students were arguing with one another and they were able to properly calm them. I also witnessed the different ways the classroom was run. There were 3 teachers for a classroom of no more than 20 students. This enforces the concept of teachers working together in the classroom.

Response to Intervention RTI is a process that provides high-quality research based instruction and interventions that are matched to a student's needs. In working with my reading clinic student I have learned to try and help in the intervention. Autism Spectrum Disorder During my work with the University of Central Florida’s Reading Clinic I have learned a lot about students with ASD. These students have a range in disabilities and are not all the same. I have definitely learned that patience is key when working with a student with ASD. My student requires directions to be repeated numerous times and she tends to repeat what you say to her. Working on comprehension skills is our main goal. Course Connections Cont.

In my Future Classroom… I feel that I understand a lot more since completing my service learning. I am able to go into the teaching profession with a better understanding of what to expect. I may have not worked with students with every possible disability, but I got experience in different areas. These areas have better prepared me for the challenges I will more than likely experience in my classroom. It has been drilled into our courses that working with others is a key to education. In this situation what is taught becomes reality. I work well with others and know that I will have to continue on with this personality as a future teacher.

Civic Engagement I have always enjoyed volunteering and service learning. These have always been the best learning experiences for me personally. I want to encourage anyone who can to take these experiences and use them. I have always been motivated to volunteer my time and energy for others. Then if I can’t volunteer my time or energy I will volunteer my resources. I feel that teachers should definitely continue to use service-learning and volunteer opportunities as a teaching experience for students. This should be done not only at the college level, but also at the younger grade levels. I volunteered in high school and gained from it. I wish I would have had more opportunities to volunteer in my elementary school years.

Final Thoughts . . I was nervous about completing this project. I did not know what to expect in the associated course or in my service-learning hours. I feel that I have come a long way and better understand how to work with students with disabilities. Being able to experience these things will strengthen my abilities as a future teacher. I know that I will continue grow and continue to learn because you can not be taught everything in one semester. I am glad to have had these opportunities handed to me.