Kristin R.

Meet Kristin

• Early Childhood Special Education Certification
• Comfortable with pets
• Has a car

As a Master’s student in Early Childhood Special Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, I am obtaining knowledge and skills on how to effectively work with students and families that come from a multitude of backgrounds. As a recipient of the PCRP (Preparing Culturally Responsive Personnel) grant, I am required to attend a seminar once a month that is about cultural responsivity. The concept of cultural responsivity, being that everyone comes from different cultures and to learn about and respect that idea, is a prevailing concept not only in the seminars I attend but also throughout all courses I have taken thus far. Working with families and students involves being able to see their perspective and acknowledge cultural differences. Teamwork is also profoundly important. Not only is it important to work as a team with families and students but working with other service providers and school staff is Read more key in creating a successful educational environment. Obtaining an assistant teaching position would allow me to bring into fruition the principals of teamwork and cultural responsivity, applying those principals to any position that I may receive. Previous work experiences such as working at Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center teaching swim lessons to children, working at Springer Cultural Center as a preschool assistant and art instructor and working at the Champaign Early Childhood Center as a teacher’s aide gave me experience in working with a team and exposed me to cultural diversity. However, while those experiences provided tangible learning opportunities, I am eager to re-enter the setting and apply new knowledge and skills, making what I do more impactful and more informed. In my previous work experiences, I worked with a wide range of ages. When teaching swim lessons, I worked with babies and their parents in the water up to ages 12. I also conducted art activities to children who were as young as 2 up to age 12. At Champaign, Early Childhood Center, I worked with children ages 3-5. Working with different age groups allowed me to fully see that each age group has unique qualities and different levels of what is developmentally appropriate for them. I enjoyed working with children that were at the early childhood stage and noticed the need for support in facilitating inclusivity. As a future teacher, one of my goals is to help children with disabilities receive proper support in their early years

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References

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