Working as a teacher in an urban setting, is a great responsibility. Like all students, they deserve the best education out there, though here, it seems even more vital. Working in an urban setting, with students who need various levels of differentiation is a greater responsibility. Not only because you most likely have various levels of learners in your classroom, but because as a good urban teacher you will find it necessary to figure out how to reach each and everyone of them based on their individual needs. 

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Being an Urban Teacher of students in special education requires a lot of time, patience, and organization. As I get ready to enter my first year as a general education teacher of record, I'm thinking about what I can do to best support my students with IEP's even when the Inclusion teacher is not in the room. I hope to do this through a consistent use of visuals, creating interactive and engaging lessons, and lastly truly getting to know each on of my students, their strengths and their weaknesses. 

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This course has helped me prepare for this by connecting me to resources and scholars in the field. Taking the time to research and learn more about evidence based interventions was truly helpful. As new teachers I think it can be easy to identify when a student needs more support, but knowing what intervention to implement, and how to intensify that intervention is something that has to be learned, and experimented with.

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Lastly, the class on teaching English Language Learners was helpful as that makes up almost half of my classroom. For me, I know that I will end up teaching my class as if every student was an English Language Learner. In practice, it should benefit everyone, especially in such a young grade as 1st grade. 

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In the fall, I want to be prepared with a tool box of skills that I can bring to the table when my first differentiation strategy isn't working, or when I notice some students not responding to an intervention. This class began to supply my tool box with resources I can come to, when everything isn't going as smoothly as I wanted it to. My students deserve a teacher who will work hard for them, and who will persevere even when I'm not sure what else I can do.