Educators with PRIDE Unite

JustLovelyJenn · 12-19-2012, 03:40 PM

So, while I am working as a para-educator I am also working towards my teaching certification in special education. My goal is to work with the severe needs population in either a life skills or behavior classroom at the middle or high school level. In my past experience working with special needs students as a para and as a volunteer, I have been exposed to many different types of teaching strategies and the one that really interests me for these specific children is a project based learning program.

One classroom I worked with grew and sold garlic, incorporating science and measurements for growing and fertilizing, mathematics for inventory and sales, and English for advertising and reports. A group my brother was involved with received a grant to distribute to a local non profit organization. The class had to write the grant parameters, create an application, interview applicants, and write a news release, they also held an event to present the moneys to the winning applicants.

In my experience these project based programs drew in kids who would have otherwise been unwilling to participate and helped them to achieve academic goals while also feeling like they were part of a group and that what they did mattered, not only to them but to the community as a whole.

I am curious how many of you have worked with similar programs and what types of projects you used. I am hoping to compile and research a number of project based learning ideas before I complete my degree.

bkisbutchenuff · 12-20-2012, 03:53 AM

Almost......so close - yet so far away...

bkisbutchenuff · 12-21-2012, 03:46 AM

sis · 12-21-2012, 04:40 AM

40 minutes into a full week off! Cup of tea at my side, Kindle all fired up, holiday music playing in the background and just chilling! Oh, and it appears the world has not ended yet!

Chancie · 12-21-2012, 04:53 AM

I'm giving a quiz today.

:eventhoughwedidn'tfinishtheunit:

spritzerJ · 12-21-2012, 05:04 AM

I am so very grateful for the holiday break. Time to rejuvenate and spend with family. I work with fabulous children and I know I am lucky in that respect.

In other threads I talk about working in crazyville. The school is headed by 2 very difficult to work with administrators (principal and vice principal). They often provide me with SMH moments. This week was no exception...

They announced big staffing changes with the paraprofessionals coming up when we come back but we don't know what they are yet and won't until we get back. Nothing like time to plan for them. What lead to the staffing changes is "student needs". Like they hired someone to work 1:1 with our most impaired student who has no sped experience and no desire to work with sped children (they told the person they hired she'd be doing something else). Now mind you someone in the building with experience wanted the position but they decided to not do that.

The list goes on and on. I've go to let it go!
So the winter break is well timed.

sis · 12-29-2012, 01:41 AM

Well, not one to complain about a couple of extra days off from work .... I just found out that the school I work for will be closed Monday AND Tuesday! WOOT!!!!

12-19-2012, 03:40 PM	#1
JustLovelyJenn Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: She/her Relationship Status: That's Need to Know Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Aberdeen, WA Posts: 4,478 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 12,464 Thanked 13,991 Times in 3,684 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	So, while I am working as a para-educator I am also working towards my teaching certification in special education. My goal is to work with the severe needs population in either a life skills or behavior classroom at the middle or high school level. In my past experience working with special needs students as a para and as a volunteer, I have been exposed to many different types of teaching strategies and the one that really interests me for these specific children is a project based learning program. One classroom I worked with grew and sold garlic, incorporating science and measurements for growing and fertilizing, mathematics for inventory and sales, and English for advertising and reports. A group my brother was involved with received a grant to distribute to a local non profit organization. The class had to write the grant parameters, create an application, interview applicants, and write a news release, they also held an event to present the moneys to the winning applicants. In my experience these project based programs drew in kids who would have otherwise been unwilling to participate and helped them to achieve academic goals while also feeling like they were part of a group and that what they did mattered, not only to them but to the community as a whole. I am curious how many of you have worked with similar programs and what types of projects you used. I am hoping to compile and research a number of project based learning ideas before I complete my degree. __________________ --Jenn

12-20-2012, 03:53 AM	#2
bkisbutchenuff PPoA - Southern Gentle Butch How Do You Identify?: BOI/Butch/Daddy Preferred Pronoun?: she, her, he, him, handsome, Daddy Relationship Status: Single. 😉 Join Date: May 2011 Location: GA Posts: 2,398 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 14,071 Thanked 10,845 Times in 2,247 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	Almost......so close - yet so far away... __________________ BK "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." Randy Pausch.

12-21-2012, 03:46 AM	#3
bkisbutchenuff PPoA - Southern Gentle Butch How Do You Identify?: BOI/Butch/Daddy Preferred Pronoun?: she, her, he, him, handsome, Daddy Relationship Status: Single. 😉 Join Date: May 2011 Location: GA Posts: 2,398 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 14,071 Thanked 10,845 Times in 2,247 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	__________________ BK "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." Randy Pausch.

12-29-2012, 01:41 AM	#7
sis Diva! How Do You Identify?: StoneFemme Preferred Pronoun?: She, Her Relationship Status: Content! Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Canada! Posts: 322 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 4,174 Thanked 1,403 Times in 296 Posts Rep Power: 21474850	Well, not one to complain about a couple of extra days off from work .... I just found out that the school I work for will be closed Monday AND Tuesday! WOOT!!!! __________________ Oh! Please do not touch me! Oh! Please do not touch! Oh! Please do not! Oh! Please do! Oh! Please! Oh!

12-21-2012, 04:40 AM	#4
sis Diva! How Do You Identify?: StoneFemme Preferred Pronoun?: She, Her Relationship Status: Content! Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Canada! Posts: 322 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 4,174 Thanked 1,403 Times in 296 Posts Rep Power: 21474850	40 minutes into a full week off! Cup of tea at my side, Kindle all fired up, holiday music playing in the background and just chilling! Oh, and it appears the world has not ended yet!

12-21-2012, 04:53 AM	#5
Chancie Senior Member How Do You Identify?: queer femme-inist Relationship Status: I'm lucky. Join Date: May 2010 Location: Western Mass Posts: 3,774 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,518 Thanked 14,540 Times in 2,744 Posts Rep Power: 21474855	I'm giving a quiz today. :eventhoughwedidn'tfinishtheunit:

12-21-2012, 05:04 AM	#6
spritzerJ Timed Out - Permanent How Do You Identify?: Queer (gender), female (biological marker) Preferred Pronoun?: she will work as a default. Relationship Status: engaged to jac until 8/10/14 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Maine Posts: 3,154 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 30,307 Thanked 15,802 Times in 2,905 Posts Rep Power: 0	I am so very grateful for the holiday break. Time to rejuvenate and spend with family. I work with fabulous children and I know I am lucky in that respect. In other threads I talk about working in crazyville. The school is headed by 2 very difficult to work with administrators (principal and vice principal). They often provide me with SMH moments. This week was no exception... They announced big staffing changes with the paraprofessionals coming up when we come back but we don't know what they are yet and won't until we get back. Nothing like time to plan for them. What lead to the staffing changes is "student needs". Like they hired someone to work 1:1 with our most impaired student who has no sped experience and no desire to work with sped children (they told the person they hired she'd be doing something else). Now mind you someone in the building with experience wanted the position but they decided to not do that. The list goes on and on. I've go to let it go! So the winter break is well timed.