Journal Practicum Student: Elizabeth Curtin Date of Entry: 3/13/12

Describe an instructional interaction that is: ______problematic __X___effective As I have been implementing my fluency instructional program, I have been able to take data and monitor my students progress over the last couple of weeks. After looking at my data and observing my student during my instruction, I have made a few slight changes to modify it and make it more successful. For example, after talking with my supervisor, it was suggested that I have my student follow the words with her fingers as we read aloud together. I have been having my student do this and it has made this portion of the program easier. Also, I have allowed her to read through the whole passage during the independent read rather than just for one minute. While I will still track her words read after one minute, allowing her to read through the entire passage helps the student become more familiar and read more fluently. Mark the learning variables that made it problematic/effective: X_Task difficulty _ _Curriculum meaningfulness __Prompting _Consequences __environmental considerations _ _clarity of task materials

If the scenario above was problematic, describe solutions to variables mentioned. If the scenario was effective, describe how the variables were used correctly. In the scenario above, I have modified my instructional program in order to meet the needs of my student. After implementing my program the way I had planned originally, I noticed that a few changes needed to be made. I made these changes, and this made the task/program easier for my student to follow and succeed at. Making these changes to make the program easier and more individualized, I hope, will push my student toward greater success. While I believe my student would have progressed without these changes, these changes make it possible for my student to read her highest potentials.

Based on your reflection above, describe one action you choose to use to be effective and explain why. As a future special education teacher, I will be sure to continually analyze my instruction. I realize the importance of monitoring student progress and changing instruction to meet the students needs. I will be sure to look at each of my students as I provide instruction and make modifications to my programs/lessons to help my students develop and succeed. It is crucial for

teachers to continually reflect on their instruction and be critics of their own work. In doing so, I will be able to provide the best instruction to my students at all times.