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1. When I envison a day in my special education classroom I see kids coming and going to their appropriate classes. I see them all on a schedule that miximizes the one on one or small group time they will have with me throughout the day. I see a special education classroom as an individualized curriculum for each student. 2. To diffuse a hostile situation with an angry parent, I would first try to make it clear that we are both fighting for the same cause. We all want what is best for the student and are willing to do whatever it takes to make their child a success. 3. A highly effective classroom is student centered and is catered to meet the needs of the student population. 4. I have taugh a unit called "Community Helpers" to a group of first graders. I believe this was an effective lesson because it sparked the importance of being a good citizen and an active member of whatever community they will belong to throughout their lives. 5. My teaching style is student centered and flexible to the individual needs of my students. My style is whatever best meets the needs of my student population. 6. The responsibilty of learning falls on me as a teacher, parents, and even administrators. However, ultimately the student will have to take responsibilty for his/her learning. It is our job to give them the tools they need to make that learning possible. 7. As a special education teacher, oppositional behavior will likely be a daily struggle. I believe that when working with the disabled population it is important to identify the triggers for the behavior and try to rearrang those antecedents whenever possible. I am in favor of a warning sytem leading to a consequence as a backup plan though. 8. A outstanding teacher can and will differintiate his/her instruction to meet the needs of every learner in the classroom. A good teacher will do what it takes to make sure the majority is learning. 9. Two current educational trends that come to mind are differentiated instruction and the use of technology in the classroom. My classroom will be structured with both of those things in mind, from my lesson planning to the layout of my classroom. 10. Students need to be set up for success. As a special education teacher I believe it is crucial to focus on what my students can do rather than on what they cannot do. 11. My top two strenghts are my drive and my passion for my students. My weaknesses are my organizational skills and knowing when to say when. I am highlt conscious of these weaknesses and I make an effort to work on them every day. 12. I believe mastery has been reached when a student can use a skill consistently in a variety of situations. 13. My first step would be to ask the student what he/she believed was the reason for the failure. I would then work with the student and the teacher to set attainable short term goals that would lead to success. 14. Technology is crucial for the disabled population. I will use it whenever I feel it will increase the independence of my students in the future. 15. Being raised in a house with a disabled older brother has given me a lifetime of personal experience in special education. He was a gift to me and my family and I think I can share what he has given me with your special education program.