1.

I decided to become a special education teacher because of my interest in

psychology, particularly child development. I was advised by a college professor, who is
a family friend, to take up special education rather than psychology for the opportunities
available in the present and the demand for SPED teachers in the country. After
deliberating, I chose to take up special education over psychology.

2. We had a lesson on how to design and innovate our teaching aids or teaching
materials. In making teaching materials, we must first assess our students needs. After
discovering their needs we, as teachers must find out what they are interested in, what
material would be appropriate for the subject matter and what will catch their attention.
Teaching aids or materials are only used to enhance the teaching of the students, it is
not to replace the teacher.

3. In my opinion, the hardship of being a special education teacher in practice is to be

able to cater to all our students needs. Children with special needs are unique from
what we call the normal children. But these children with special needs are also unique
individually. For example during my practicum days, I handled a child with autism and
my co-teacher was also handling a child with autism but these two differ in a way of
communicating. My student was a verbal child, meaning he can use his words, or
knows how to say what he wants, but the other student is a non-verbal child, she uses
signs or symbols to communicate. Another difference between these two is that the
student I was handling was mostly interested in math and when given an activity in
reading he would always give me a hard time to finish it. Compared to the other one, the
non-verbal child, she would finish immediately her activity worksheets in language.

4. My professors always told me that one of my strengths is my memory. I can easily

recall my students profile, their needs and interests. Another strength they had pointed
out knowing my boundaries and for being firm with my students. I do not let their
tantrums or acts of escaping stop me from teaching them or letting them finish what
they are doing especially if I know that they are able to do it but do not want them to. I
do not like spoiling students because I believe it does more damage to their
development rather than being helpful.

5. What makes special education important in our society? I think it is giving these
people with disabilities the opportunities to grow and develop in their full potential. We
were always taught that in handling children with special needs we must first look at
their abilities, not their disabilities. And how many times are we to discover that PWDs
are able to work by themselves. We have heard and witnessed handicapped people win
in a sports competition. People with dyslexia becoming famous celebrities. A person
with autism graduating with the highest honors. I also say that I learn more from these
people with special needs because they think and act differently from others, the
normal, and I appreciate the steps they took for them to achieve to become part of the
society.