38yrs

female

Speaks English

Working with special needs children is the best way for me to make a difference in the world. Special education operates on the premise that every student receives an individualized educational experience that best meets their needs. I have learned that all children come with their own set of "special needs," and I can only hope that one day, we can apply this special education principle to every child. I enjoy working with all children, but I prefer to work with children with special needs because it would be unnatural for me to pursue a career unrelated to advocacy for children with special needs. Most recently, I have been employed as a nanny and para educator. I am a teacher-caregiver (Gaithersburg, MD, January 2009 to present). I am responsible for the growth and well-being of the family's three children (ages 3, 5, and 7). I plan activities that promote the physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development of the children, focusing on the children's special needs and interests. I attend to the specific needs of the eldest child who has Down syndrome. I engage children in activities designed to develop self-help skills. I encourage learning experiences outside of the home environment through outings to the library, local cultural events, etc. I provide individual instruction to enhance school readiness or to reinforce what is learned at school and supplemental therapy sessions. I am also a volunteer para-educator (Damascus, MD, August 2009 to present). I provide support to kindergarten to first grade special education classroom two days a week. I lead small reading and math groups, manage classroom in the absence of the teacher, provide supplemental support wherever necessary to ensure that classroom routines and schedule remain in tact, prepare classroom and instructional materials.