Entry #5

             With the observations I've made, I can see that there is a lot of  support for English learners. In Ms. Mitari's class, she has ensured that every student is keeping up with their assignments and has made various approaches in how she teachers her students. For example when it comes to teaching a subject, like math, Ms Mitari goes over a subject through multiple steps in which she utilizes methods like group learning, and one on one lessons. While she has a total of 24 students, she is able to address each students particular challenges by having a steady line of communication with her students parents. She also had discussed  with me that 6 of 24 students have IEP plans, where Ms. Mitari had a vital role in each of those students IEP plan. 
           It should be noted, that Ms. Mitari did not disclose the identity of the students who had IEP plans and what their disabilities were but she was more than happy to discuss the process of creating an IEP plan with me. For the students who had IEP plans she ensured that each student had received what there assignments were and had a quick line of communication with the student's parents. Ms. Mitari had made great efforts in ensuring that she met the needs of the students who had IEP plans. One historical moment that lead to the creation of IEP plans was the Individuals with Disabilities Acts.
        The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was first introduced into the United States in 1975 where students with disabilities were finally included within the classroom. It made slow progress but with this introduction students who had learning disabilities were being recognized within the classroom. With recognition came teacher awareness and administration strategies that made developments with teacher and student interaction becoming more effective. The development of pre-referral process, IEP, and RTI's played a vital role in this process. 
        Prior to the development of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, most children with disabilities weren't even able to attend public school. IDEA put an end to that by ensuring that students with disabilities would be able to enter the classroom. IDEA was also part of another historical movement which was the American with Disabilities Act that passed at the same time as IDEA. The American with Disabilities Act  covered a much broader aspect of the lifes that it had impacted in which it ensured the people with disabilities would be safe from discrimination, ensuring that they have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. IDEA is a product of ADA which has created a positive impact on students with disabilities.  
           While I have discussed IEP's and the positive role it plays within the classroom with Ms. Mitari, I've also noticed how Brown Vs. the Board Of Education has made an impact in the classroom. While about 50% of the classroom was white, the other 50% of the class were of various races of Latino and with one student being African American. The diversity within the classroom allowed the students to be aware of different cultures but one thing that stood out to me was the conversation that I had had with Ms. Mitari. 
        In this discussion we had talked about how non-white students had more reports of written warnings and verbal warnings within the classroom. While this was a problem throughout this school this was also a problem throughout the districts within Utah. This was interesting to me because it raises the question of why this would be the case. Were teachers more observant and reactive to non-white students when they would be disruptive in class? Were non-white students being singled out within the class by their teachers? What would lead to this type of disproportionate reporting within schools?  As a future teacher, it would be my hope that I can provide a safe and comfortable environment within my classroom and that I am able to view my students with equality while also being aware of their backgrounds so I can come from a place of understanding. 

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