This blog caught my attention as soon as I typed in Special Education on edutopia.org. Although this blog has only one post I was very intrigued by the title of it, The ultimate guide to assistive technology for students with special needs. This post gives you ideas for all different subjects for which you can use assistive technology with you students. Listening, memory, and organization, math, reading, and writing. As a new teacher who doesn't have much experience with assistive instructional technology I would definitely turn to this site for simple ideas that I could use with my students. This post was extremely detailed and informative. It gave great details and examples for what you could do for each subject. I would recommend this post to my teacher friends who are looking for simple ideas to use with their students as well. 

https://www.edutopia.org

 

From reading this article I agree with the teachers and school personal/administrators out there who believe that instructional technology is very beneficial to the students. I do see the struggle that schools are having with getting the technology because of budget constraints. However I feel that schools should be trying to do whatever they can to get as much instructional technology in their buildings and classrooms as they can. As a Special Education teacher I personally would use the technology on a regular basis. For my students who need to relook at lessons multiple times in order to completely understand it I could record the lessons and they could relook at them for homework. This would give them the amount of practice with the subject as they need to succeed with a topic. I would also use a lot of visuals with the technology since it would keep the attention of most of my students better than without. Technology in the classroom has more benefits than without in my opinion. 

http://www.usnews.com

 

My Teaching Philosophy

Why do I want to teach? There are many reasons that people go in to teaching. As I was going through school I felt like every other kid, I hated the homework and the learning. When I went to college, that mindset changed.  I realized I hadn't been taught things I should've been taught. I felt like I wasn't prepared for college like I should have been. When I applied for the Education program I applied with the mindset that every child deserves to learn, and I wanted to find the way that would help each individual learn to the best of their abilities.


I grew up with my cousin who was diagnosed with an intellectual disability. My family is very close so I spent a lot of time with him. He grabbed at my heart from little on. Throughout High School I spent time with some of the students who had special needs at my school. They, like my cousin, grabbed at my heart. They are all extremely smart and capable of so many things. I want to help those students find ways to be able to show how great they can be, I want to help them express what they cannot always express, and further more I want to help them learn the best that they can. 

 

My name is Ashley Oppeneer, My hometown is Sheboygan Falls, Wi. When I am at home I live with my parents, my sister, and my dog Tucker. My family is extremely important to me. I am a currently senior at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, and I am Dual majoring in Elementary and Special Education. I love working with children and really want to make a difference in some of their lives. In my free time I like to be with my family, boyfriend, and friends. I also love to read, be outdoors in the summer and fall, go to dirt track races to watch my friends race, listen to country music, and play with my dog and pet rabbit. On the weekends I waitress at the 8th Street Ale Haus in Sheboygan Wi, where I have been working for 4 years. In the summer I also work for the Sheboygan YMCA in the youth development summer for the kids summer program. This summer I am also planning on volunteering for the Special Olympics. My cousin, and favorite person, plays bocce ball, basketball, and bowls for the Special Olympics so I would love to get more involved so I can spend more time with him and the other athletes. I am planning on graduating in December of 2016. My dream job after I graduate would be to teach 4th grade or Middle School Special Education.