deena cohen
This past year, I had an amazing opportunity to participate in Dr. Susie Russak’s course and workshop: “Identification and Remediation of Students with Learning Problems in the EFL Class”. In the first semester, we learned about various methodologies and tools to help us identify learning difficulties in students with LDs. In the second semester, we got the opportunity to apply these tools and devise and implement individualized intervention plans for 7th and 10th grade students from the Beit Ekstein School in Hod Hasharon – a school specialized to meet the needs of students with learning disabilities and other special needs. Every Thursday the students from Beit Ekstein and the students from Beit Berl met for 45 minutes of learning English and learning about learning disabilities. After each tutoring session with our student, we were asked to compile a log of any problems that arose with our students as well as the methods we used to teach our students, our goals and reflections. As the semester progressed and we got to know our students better, we were able to go back and review our student’s progress – as well as our own. Besides gaining academic knowledge from the course, I gained many insights into myself and my own capabilities and I learned many new teaching skills.
I have gained so much from this experience. When I started this journey, I was actually quite nervous and afraid. I wasn’t sure what I would encounter, what it meant to teach a child with LDs, and I didn’t know if I could empathize with them and understand their needs. The theoretical knowledge I acquired along with its practical application helped me gain insight, not only into my student , but also into myself. I am sure this will guide me into becoming a better teacher and allow me to assess and help my students better, whether or not they have LDs. More specifically, I have learned that there are many varied ways to teach a student, whatever his age, and a teacher needs to be in tune with her students to search out the teaching methods that are suitable for them.
I truly believe that it is vital for every person who wants to become a teacher or tutor to take this course so that the needs of all students can be recognized and a strategy implemented to help them fulfill their potential.
I have gained so much from this experience. When I started this journey, I was actually quite nervous and afraid. I wasn’t sure what I would encounter, what it meant to teach a child with LDs, and I didn’t know if I could empathize with them and understand their needs. The theoretical knowledge I acquired along with its practical application helped me gain insight, not only into my student , but also into myself. I am sure this will guide me into becoming a better teacher and allow me to assess and help my students better, whether or not they have LDs. More specifically, I have learned that there are many varied ways to teach a student, whatever his age, and a teacher needs to be in tune with her students to search out the teaching methods that are suitable for them.
I truly believe that it is vital for every person who wants to become a teacher or tutor to take this course so that the needs of all students can be recognized and a strategy implemented to help them fulfill their potential.