A Path Taken
A Reflection, by Cory Puskala
As I clean out my first grade classroom where I have spent the last three years, I can only look back and reflect on all the wonderful teaching and learning experiences I have encountered. I will always be a lifelong learner and each teaching year brings new and exciting challenges. Looking back at my goal statement I wrote in the fall of 2009 upon entering the MAED program I am amazed how much I have grown and where my life has taken me in three short years. While my life may be different now, as I juggle a family, teaching and the MAED program, my goals still remain very much the same.
After the completion of teacher internship year through Michigan State University I immediately moved to North Carolina where I taught kindergarten for a year. The first year of teaching is always a struggle as you learn more about yourself as an educator. With a move to Cincinnati and wedding on the way, I began my second year of teaching in a first grade classroom just over the Ohio River in Kentucky. I immediately fell in love with first grade and planted my roots there for the next three years. Being a classroom teacher is a rewarding experience that has allowed me access to many wonderful classroom resources, new forms of technology, and explorations of teaching strategies. While I will always remain a classroom teacher at heart, I look forward to my new venture as a Read-To-Achieve specialized teacher. This new position will allow me to pull students of varying ages and focus on individualized reading interventions.
My teaching positions have changed since beginning the MAED program but my professional goals have remained the same. I started the program with the belief that “technology and special education are essential tools needed to be an increasingly effective classroom teacher.” I knew that each year would meet an array of students with varying abilities, needs and learning styles. Therefore I needed to be ready to meet the growing needs of all my learners. With a concentration in special education I have explored different strategies, learned more about the process of an IEP, and worked with tools such as the Universal Design of Instruction.
Technology is a strong presence in all our lives. It opens the doors to new and exciting forms of learning that I believe all students should experience. The technology elective courses I took in the program have provided me with ways to expand upon classroom learning using interactive programs. I have been able to take the knowledge learned and bring it into my classroom as engaging and educational tools.
Since the start of the MAED program three years ago, I have not only grown as a learner in the areas of special education and technology, but have also become a much more reflective learner. Throughout the program I found myself reflecting back to prior courses, concepts and experiences. Being a lifelong learner means continuing to grow but always reflecting back.
After the completion of teacher internship year through Michigan State University I immediately moved to North Carolina where I taught kindergarten for a year. The first year of teaching is always a struggle as you learn more about yourself as an educator. With a move to Cincinnati and wedding on the way, I began my second year of teaching in a first grade classroom just over the Ohio River in Kentucky. I immediately fell in love with first grade and planted my roots there for the next three years. Being a classroom teacher is a rewarding experience that has allowed me access to many wonderful classroom resources, new forms of technology, and explorations of teaching strategies. While I will always remain a classroom teacher at heart, I look forward to my new venture as a Read-To-Achieve specialized teacher. This new position will allow me to pull students of varying ages and focus on individualized reading interventions.
My teaching positions have changed since beginning the MAED program but my professional goals have remained the same. I started the program with the belief that “technology and special education are essential tools needed to be an increasingly effective classroom teacher.” I knew that each year would meet an array of students with varying abilities, needs and learning styles. Therefore I needed to be ready to meet the growing needs of all my learners. With a concentration in special education I have explored different strategies, learned more about the process of an IEP, and worked with tools such as the Universal Design of Instruction.
Technology is a strong presence in all our lives. It opens the doors to new and exciting forms of learning that I believe all students should experience. The technology elective courses I took in the program have provided me with ways to expand upon classroom learning using interactive programs. I have been able to take the knowledge learned and bring it into my classroom as engaging and educational tools.
Since the start of the MAED program three years ago, I have not only grown as a learner in the areas of special education and technology, but have also become a much more reflective learner. Throughout the program I found myself reflecting back to prior courses, concepts and experiences. Being a lifelong learner means continuing to grow but always reflecting back.