My Immersion Field Experience in the Collier County Public School district was amazing and absolutely life changing! My classmates and I got to experience what it was like to not only teach but teach in another state. Each morning, we got up, piled into our big white van which we named “The Beast,” and drove to one of the four schools. Some drives were short, while others were as long as an hour (that was one really quiet ride). However, every afternoon the van was filled with noise as we discussed all that we had seen and learned in our field placement from that day.
All week, I got to experience teaching in what they call ESE classrooms, or Exceptional Student Education classrooms. This was basically Florida’s version of Special Education classrooms. I experienced both pull-out and push-in classes. Pull-out classes occur when a few students are pulled out of their classes and given extra help and instruction by a special education teacher which might better fit their needs. Push in classes occur when a special education teacher joins in a general education teacher’s classroom for a certain time period. ESE teachers do not have their own classroom but instead spend their day walking throughout the school to provide aid in other classrooms and with specific students. I got a ton of steps in during that week!
We ended up going to Golden Gate Elementary School on Tuesday night to help them with their community night. This was an incredible night filled with hygiene giveaways, a book fair, snacks, and so many different fun activities such as drumming. Even though it was rainy, the night was a success and so many families came out for this community affair!
Thanks to the Jordan Center we got to visit a women's shelter during our trip to learn about the effects of domestic violence on children. Whether children witness domestic violence or are victims themselves, each of these children experience adversity. The shelter we visited provides care for each member of the family, including the pets. The survivors of domestic violence are now able to take care of themselves and become their own independent and free self once again. The shelter is truly amazing and all-encompassing, as it also goes into the community to educate those in schools, jails, and at-risk youth programs about domestic violence.
Overall, this experience has really helped me to become a better student and a better educator. I was able to connect every aspect of what I saw in in Florida with what I was seeing in my education classes and engagements for the common good classes at Cabrini. I have been able to utilize different classroom management techniques I saw in Florida within my field placement here in Pennsylvania.
I was also able to see what it is like when a school district pools their funding so everyone, whether they are from the most affluent or impoverished area, can receive the exact same resources and funding. Imagine every school having access to new textbooks, as well as the newest technology such as SMART Boards and iPads. It would bridge so many gaps and ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed. This experience really has changed my life in so many ways, and has honestly made me think strongly about where I might want to teach in the future. There are definitely some benefits that come with teaching in Florida, some of which I desperately miss now that I am back in our cold, snow covered home.