Please download for best version. Thank you for taking the time to look at my portfolio!

1. Lisa M. Brown’s Teaching Portfolio

2. Educational Philosophy "Exceptional human beings must be given exceptional educational treatment, treatment which takes into account their special difficulties. Further, we can show that despite abnormality, human beings can fulfill their social role within the community, especially if they find understanding, love and guidance.” ~ Hans Asperger

3. Educational Philosophy The above quote, as a special education teacher, is what I hope to achieve every day. I especially like how he uses the term human beings. First and foremost, our students are human beings with feelings and ideas that should be heard, considered and respected. I believe that schooling should be practical and provide sound instruction that prepares students to live life. For students with special needs, this is the greatest education we can provide. I believe as teachers we wear many hats. We should have knowledge of the subjects we are teaching, but more importantly, we should be nurturing and managing both our classroom and students to create an environment in which they are happy, comfortable and which stimulates a desire to learn. As teachers, we should have the highest expectations of our students, and should never limit them. My goal as a teacher is to create a classroom where diversity is nurtured and to create a classroom community in which respect is given and received. I believe that learning, to an extent should be student driven. I believe in structure for students, and that there should be curriculum standards, but there is more than one way to meet those standards. I feel that as a special education teacher I should be open-minded to multiple methods of learning and teaching for my students.

6. ProfessionalInformation

7. Resume

10. Letters of Recommendation

11. Letter of Recommendation by Erin McKenna Banks “Lisa is always able to see the whole child in each student she worked with”

12. Letter of Recommendation by Erin McKenna Banks – pg 2 “Observing her interactions with other teachers, specialists, interns and aides, I note true eagerness to improve instruction and student achievement.”

13. Letter of Recommendation by Barbara Levine “promoted opportunities for cooperative learning and multimodal instruction” “demonstrated a willingness to incorporate feedback in a professional manner”

14. Letter of Recommendation by Christy Bordieri “Lisa faces every challenge with confidence and a positive attitude.” “Lisa has a quiet friendly nature that children re immediately drawn to. However, she is able to handle the most difficult children and situations.”

15. Plans Curriculum and Instruction

16. Lesson Planning

17. Received positive feedback from advisor that this was an engaging way to start a lesson Lesson Plan Sample #1 This was a lesson for the Learning Center

18. Use of modifications to curriculum Possible re-write of IEP objective shows understanding of IEP objectives and ability to write effective objectives

19. Lesson Plan Sample #2 This lesson is part of an science unit on mammals that I was teaching weekly in the inclusive general education classroom Included ELL standards for this lesson for the ELL students in the class.

20. Gave students a word search with the new vocabulary to complete if they finished their group work early

21. Received positive feedback from Simmons Supervisor on the lesson closure and assessment portion of this lesson.

22. Manages Classroom Climate

23. Classroom Management

27. Professionalism

28. Observations by Supervising Practitioner A rating of 3 is Advanced “Lisa is extremely organized, resourceful and reliable” “She was generous in her praise…consistent in her response to the student. By end of the day, he realized there were no “gray” areas in this plan.”

29. Special Education Specific - Moderate Disabilities Pre-k through Grade 8

30. Special Educator Toolbox

32. Have knowledge of and practice with basic ABA through course and through working with BCBA for two students during my practicum.This is a Functional Behavioral Assessment completed for the course.

35. They were co-created by myself and two special educators.

36. The student has 2 jobs that must be completed and then will earn a break.

37. The student earns additional minutes for exhibiting positive behaviors.

39. Formal and Informal Assessments FormalAssessments InformalAssessments Observed testing and/or given during Practicum: WJ III DRA QRI Through coursework, familiar with WIAT KeyMath GORT TOWL Taking behavioral and academic data. Assessment during and after lessons.

40. Reading Instruction Reading by the Rules Use the Reading by the Rules system to provide small group reading instruction in the Learning Center on a daily basis. Teach small group, inclusive lessons in the general education classroom using guided reading. Reading courses at Simmons RDG 406 RDG 410

42. http://devo-34lc.wikispaces.com/

43. Courses at Simmons

44. Assistive Technology -

45. Completed a project in that class in which we used Garageband to make, record and present a project

46. Universal Design for Learning

47. Online resource for learning students used this year:

48. RAZ Kids (Reading A to Z)

49. Roller Typing

51. Accommodations and Modifications of the Curriculum Modified Student Homework Samples

52. Thank you for taking the time to look at my portfolio and for your consideration. Regards, Lisa Brown