Lindsay's Blog

 Encouraging a Growth Mindset In my Internship in a special education elementary classroom fostering a growth mindset is really important. Many students face challenges that can make learning overwhelming so having the right support that they can achieve hard things with effort, a positive outlook and perseverance is crucial. In my mentors classroom she is very intentional about helping students embrace challenges and recognize their own progress. her goal is to create an environment where students feel safe to try and grow.   The Power of Yet  One strategy that we have discussed in class is also one that my mentor uses which is the idea that just because they cant do something now doesn't mean they wont or never will. Instead of letting students say "i cant" she encourages them to say "i cant yet" She talks about how their learning is a process not an endpoint Embracing Mistakes, Challenges, and Growth developing a growth mindset means helping students see the...

  Building Strong Social Foundations in a Special Education Classroom During my internship in a middle school special education setting, I have seen how important social-emotional development is for student success. My mentor teacher prioritizes creating a classroom environment that fosters positive relationships , emotional regulation , and strong peer interactions . Through intentional strategies and a supportive atmosphere, she helps students build the social foundations they need to thrive. Creating a Supportive Classroom Environment One of the first things my mentor teacher emphasizes is getting to know students as individuals. She learns their names quickly, respects their preferred pronunciations or nicknames, and makes an effort to remember small details about them. This helps create a sense of belonging and shows students that they matter and most importantly they are  heard . She also makes a point to praise positive interactions between students, reinforcing kindn...