I was born and raised in the same community to which I now work as a support teacher. I have always wanted to be a teacher and as I completed grade school this dream became even more apparent. After completing high-school I attend college for few semesters before getting married. Upon marriage I took a leave from from my educational dreams so my husband could start his education and career. Before I knew it 5 years had past and we were both ready to have children. Once my first child was born I realized that he napped a lot so I though I could have enough study time during the day and go to school at night when my husband come home from work. Since that moment I have been attending post secondary education in one form or another (my eldest son is now 15). Although my undergrad and my teaching certificate took me many years to completed the effort and time was well worth it.
My children were ages 5 and 7 (kindergarten and grade two) both attending French Immersion when I started teaching in the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows School District. Here I noticed that my oldest had a challenging time with reading although he worked hard at it, I was worried but the teachers at the time said that he will catch up in both languages. Three years later he was reading 4 years below grade level. Again I was worried and finally we had the school psychologist complete some testing. His testing showed a learning disability. Knowing that Learning Disabilities is genetic I wanted my youngest son tested too, sure enough his results indicated a learning disability. This was my a turning point in my personal and professional life.
Although I went through enormous heart ache during the meeting with the psychologist this experience has strengthened my professional abilities and I can truly say to other parents "I know what you are going through" . In addition I have first hand knowledge of the struggles these kids and their families face daily. These experiences and emotions where the driving force to further my knowledge about students who have Special Needs and lead me to pursue a Master of Education in Special Education at the University of British Columbia.
I have now completed my degree, and I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge which has shaped my personal and professional career yet, I still feel that there is so much to more to know. I will undoubtedly be a life long learner so I can help influence others who want to make a different in the lives of those with special needs.
My children were ages 5 and 7 (kindergarten and grade two) both attending French Immersion when I started teaching in the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows School District. Here I noticed that my oldest had a challenging time with reading although he worked hard at it, I was worried but the teachers at the time said that he will catch up in both languages. Three years later he was reading 4 years below grade level. Again I was worried and finally we had the school psychologist complete some testing. His testing showed a learning disability. Knowing that Learning Disabilities is genetic I wanted my youngest son tested too, sure enough his results indicated a learning disability. This was my a turning point in my personal and professional life.
Although I went through enormous heart ache during the meeting with the psychologist this experience has strengthened my professional abilities and I can truly say to other parents "I know what you are going through" . In addition I have first hand knowledge of the struggles these kids and their families face daily. These experiences and emotions where the driving force to further my knowledge about students who have Special Needs and lead me to pursue a Master of Education in Special Education at the University of British Columbia.
I have now completed my degree, and I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge which has shaped my personal and professional career yet, I still feel that there is so much to more to know. I will undoubtedly be a life long learner so I can help influence others who want to make a different in the lives of those with special needs.