Grad School Entry Essay

Being a graduate from Illinois State University’s Learning and Behavior Specialist 1 program, I entered the workforce well prepared for the area of special education. After being hired for my first job, I was confident of my skills and knowledge in the area of my Bachelors Degree. However, the job experiences that I have encountered have brought new challenges. In my first teaching position, I taught children with social and emotional disorders in a self contained classroom. This meant that I had to teach all of the core subjects, as well as life skills, health, and social skills. In addition to academics, I had to deal with and teach alternatives to behavior that occurred in the classroom. I was well equipped to deal with the behaviors, accommodations, modifications, and diverse learning styles and abilities in the classroom. However, I found myself lacking tools for instructional delivery, developing sound curriculum, and assessing my students. In my current teaching position, I co-teach with the science department. I work closely with two general science teachers who include me in the planning and delivery of instruction. However, not coming from a science background, I have realized my short comings in my knowledge of the area of core content classes and instruction. Obtaining my masters would allow me to immensely grow in several areas of the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards. I would be better equipped for instructional delivery, planning, and assessment. I would be more able to integrate myself into my co-teaching position, and contribute in unit planning and assessment. I would also bring to the table current, effective teaching strategies in order to teach our students using best practices. Furthermore, the professional growth obtained from a completed Masters Degree would enable me to be a more effective teacher. I believe that it is crucial for teachers to participate in life long learning in order to bring the best possible instructional practices to the classroom. The world is changing, and we must change with it. For these reasons, I desire to continue my education at Illinois State University, in the area of curriculum and instruction.