Navigating SPED After BCLADEmily VillagranaBilingual Special Education Teachers NetworkAugust 2011

The SPED Program• Communication is KEY!• Always communicate

with your professors first!• If there are questions,

need for clarification, bring it up in an email or office hours.• Contact Dr. Regina

Brandon.

• Give yourself ample time:• To get your

observational hours.• To collect data.• To work on homework

assignments/reading.• To complete projects

(about 2-3 weeks in advance!)

Observations and Practicum

• Practicum (student teaching): pick a site, ask if you may observe, get it approved by advisor.

• 5 days a week M-F• 14-16 weeks or longer depending on your abilities and development.• Ask for letters of recommendation about a month before you leave your

site.• Ask them about positions that are open.• Ask them about substitute teaching.

• Observations: Pick a site, ask if you may observe, get it approved by advisor.• 15-20 hours a week• Total of 100 hours.

• Network!• With administrators at your site.• Ask them about positions that are open.• Ask them about substitute teaching.

Professional Conferences• Housing - figure it out by January or February! Prices go up for

hotels!• Plan, Plan, and get ready to change your plans.• Create a schedule of workshops you will attend.• Schedule breaks.• Pack lunches, snacks and water.

• Network!• With potential employers.• Possibly have business cards or website url to give out. (google lets

you create free websites, and vistaprint.com offers 250 business cards as long as you pay for shipping!)

• Freebies! Take an extra bag or suitcase for the samples you’ll be getting. These are products you may consider using in the future with students.

• Create a log of the resources you find, so you may share with your cohort.

School Life Work• Have a support network

(they understand!)• Study group• Dinners• Exercise• Dancing

• Manage you time!• Create a schedule• Set deadlines• Ask for feedback from friends

and professors

• Family, Friends, Significant Others• Talk with them

beforehand • work that is expected of

you• Time away from events• Need their understanding

and support ( $ )

Life After ALAS• Get your professional portfolio ready!

• Get your letters of recommendation as soon as possible.

• Have and updated professional resume or curriculum vitae

• Go online, research districts (size, salaries, etc), and sign up to look at job postings and for substitute teaching.