Gastineau,+Jessi,+Introduction

 **~*Personal Introduction*~ **  Hi My name is Jessi Gastineau. I am a One Year MAT Early Childhood/Elementary Education Student. I love teaching and want to learn as much as I can to be the best teacher for my students!!!! I love to go on outdoor adventures. I love to go up in the mountains,swimming in the river, fishing, hunting, hiking, going to the ocean, dirt bike riding, and so much more! My education goal is to receive my master of arts in education along with my teaching license for early childhood/elementary. My career goal is to become a primary/elementary trade teacher. I cannot wait to have my own classroom full of amazing students. Having fun and going outdoor gives me joy. I also love to see my students really enjoying their learning experience in the classroom. My greatest fear about becoming a teacher is being able to keep all of my students on task and behaving appropriately. Classroom management is a very important aspect of teaching and I ant to be successful in doing this in my classroom. A time when something was extremely difficult for me to learn was when I was learning how to snowboard. At first I tried to teach myself and I kept falling down and getting very frustrated. This made me want to quit trying because I felt like I couldn't do it. I did not retry snowboarding for throng time. One day when I was in Germany I went on a snowboarding trip with my students and I decided to try snowboarding again. This time I had an instructor teaching me the correct ways and techniques of how to snowboard. I started to get it down, and I was feeling very happy and successful! I began to love snowboarding and want to do more and more. Once I got the correct teaching of the ways to do this sport correctly, I realized that I can do it and I love it! This experience in my history has made me a better person because now I can connect with students with learning differences. I know oh it feels to not thigh can do it, but once you get the right teaching you realize you can do it. Just keep trying and trying until you get it! A few things that I want to get out of this inclusion strategies course are, learning about the many different types of disabilities that I may encounter as an educator, the IEP process, person first language, ways to make my classroom inclusive for all students, laws that support students and families with a disability, ways to accommodate to students with disabilities, and much more!

**Here is My Sweet Family!!!** **__~Classroom Community Building~__** The beginning of the year is a time for creating a sense of community, and your room is the gathering place. Here, all children can feel secure, nurtured and supported by the environment, each other, and YOU. This new group of individuals bring with them divergent interests, abilities, cultures, and families. Each child arrives at your door with a fertile background of experience that enriches your program. By demonstrating your loving acceptance of all children's backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints, you create an environment that says, "All are welcome here." At the same time you are modeling just how you want children to be with one another. The goal is to celebrate individuals while creating a sense of community.  A successful classroom community promotes positive social skills and academic achievement. Children learn best when they feel they are part of a community, where everyone feels accepted and where individuality is encouraged. Creating a Classroom Community requires planning and practice. __**Top 5 things learned:** __ 1. Making the time and effort to establish relationships with your students and build a classroom community is such a worthwhile endeavor. When a student feels like a teacher cares enough about him or her to want to establish a relationship and they feel like an important member of a group, it lays down the foundation for a positive and successful school year for both the teacher and the students.   2. Inclusive classrooms benefit all children. In an inclusive early childhood community children with significant disabilities encourage teachers and their peers to explore novel ways of sharing thoughts and intentions. Through our research of early childhood environments we have seen several examples of situations where children and adults have gained from inclusive environments. Some of the emerging themes which illustrate ways all children benefit include: <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Social Justice Safe Environments <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Communication Literacy Technology Collaboration <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="color: #ff4a00; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">3. Without community in a classroom, the learning that takes place is limited because there is no transfer of knowledge. In a community where learning is prized, and knowledge is constructed and shared, the knowledge students have is deepened and becomes more meaningful. True learning begins when students apply what they know. This can be done as students collaborate as they do group activities, as students take part in dialogue about a given subject, or as they simply share their own learning and respond to others’ sharing. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="color: #de59fc; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">4. In order to have classroom community at its best, the students need to feel comfortable around each other and feel as though they can learn with and from each other. In order to do this, the students need opportunities to work with each other. Although whole group lessons and activities foster a degree of togetherness as learners, it is necessary to have partner and group activities where students can learn to work with others, and can have the opportunity to have relationships with other students. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">5. Without this element of community, it is difficult for meaningful learning to ensue. Aim to have partner activities that require cooperation between students. Place priority on doing small group activities where students can experience the benefits of collaboration. The setup of the class, such as the shared materials at each table, also fosters the idea of working and sharing with a group of others. Plan for students to have individual work time so that I can meet with individual students that need further instruction or scaffolding so that they may be successful in the task at hand. Thus there is an appropriate balance of the type of work students do and the amount of collaboration that takes place. __<span style="color: #8515b7; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Top Resource: __ media type="youtube" key="9J9GbbR6u7Q" height="346" width="462" align="center"

<span style="color: #ff009b; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 170%;">**__8 Additional Resources:__** media type="custom" key="12878712" width="190" height="190" align="left" <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">1. This Slide looks at the benefits of creating a positive classroom environment and strategies to achieve this. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">Rating: 3 media type="custom" key="12878814" width="190" height="190" align="left" <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">2. This is a presentation slides for using mobile devices to build community in the classroom. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Rating: 2 <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">3. Creating a Classroom Community: <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> Children in Laura Hampton's kindergarten classroom work together to learn about their similarities and differences. <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Rating:4 media type="youtube" key="MUhSPSfCk4g" height="315" width="560" align="center"

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">4. Creating Classroom Community in a Multi-Language Classroom: Isabella Yurkovetsky fosters language acquisition by integrating explicit vocabulary instruction into every part of her students' day. A visit to her classroom highlights the challenges of meeting the needs of students with wide ranging levels of English proficiency, but also proves a strong classroom culture can be built despite communication barriers. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Rating: 1

media type="youtube" key="KduFyBohX4g" height="315" width="560" align="center"

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">5. Building the community in the classroom website: <span style="color: #ee17c6; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%; text-align: center;">Great Resource for Building Community in the Classroom <span style="color: #ee17c6; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%; text-align: center;">Rating: 5 <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">6. Great article on building classroom community: <span style="color: #ee17c6; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%; text-align: center;">Building a solid foundation  <span style="color: #ee17c6; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%; text-align: center;">Rating: 4 <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">7.Teacher Vision Website. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Get ready for back to school with these printables, activities, and teaching advice. Our icebreakers, classroom introduction lessons, and worksheets will help students and teachers learn about each other and feel more at ease in their new setting. Games, printables, and tips will help you learn and remember students' names. From greeting your students to outlining educational objectives to establishing classroom rules, you'll find the tools you need to prepare for your first day. <span style="color: #ee17c6; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%; text-align: center;">[|Getting to know your Students] <span style="color: #ee17c6; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%; text-align: center;">Rating: 3 <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">8. Great Article : <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">**Ten Ways To Build Community in Your Classroom**  <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">**Rating: 5** **<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 200%;">__~*Dogs For the Deaf*~__ ** **<span style="color: #00ffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">!!!Community Based Learning Project!!! ** media type="youtube" key="IwtSj0p2kGg" height="315" width="420" align="center"

media type="youtube" key="ETLxC1GGjP4" height="315" width="420" media type="youtube" key="kAGvMMVQaQY" height="315" width="560" <span style="color: #ff4a00; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 30px; text-align: center;">Rescuing and professionally training dogs... <span style="color: #ff4a00; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;">... to assist people and enhance their lives is what Dogs for the Deaf is all about. At Dogs for the Deaf we place professionally trained dogs free of charge with... <span style="color: #ff4a00; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;">DFD rescues dogs from animal shelters throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California. The dogs are trained with positive reinforcement and lots of love. //"DFD has provided more than just a Hearing Dog in my life. DFD has actually given me a life worth living." ~ Doris W., North Carolina//
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff4a00; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;">People with a variety of disabilities and challenges including: hearing loss, autism, panic/anxiety attacks, depression, stroke, and chronic arthritis.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ff4a00; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;">Professionals (teachers, physicians, counselors, legal advocates, caregivers) who work with people with various disabilities and challenges.

<span style="color: #de59fc; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">**__Mission Statement:__** <span style="color: #de59fc; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">//Dogs for the Deaf, Inc.'s mission is to rescue and professionally train dogs to help people and enhance lives, maintaining a lifelong commitment to all dogs we rescue and all people we serve.// <span style="color: #ee17c6; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">**__Vision:__** <span style="color: #ee17c6; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Dogs for the Deaf strives to be known throughout North America for rescuing and training dogs to assist people with hearing loss, autism, panic/anxiety, and other challenges. The number of dogs placed each year matches the resources available to Dogs for the <span style="color: #ee17c6; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Deaf. The standard of excellence in training and placing these dogs exceeds Assistance Dogs International standards. Every dog has value, and all people should have the opportunity to feel safe and independent regardless of their physical or sensory challenges. To that end, each dog that comes to Dogs for the Deaf meets basic characteristics needed for helping people with a variety of needs. Dogs for the Deaf is responsive to the changing needs and challenges of both the clients and their dogs and commits on-going support for the life of every dog/person partnership they form. The needs and abilities of applicants and dogs are carefully matched and tracked to assure they receive maximum benefit from each other. People connected to Dogs for the Deaf feel they are doing something that matters to them personally and to the larger world. People feel free to try experiments, take risks, and openly assess the results. People treat each other as colleagues. There is mutual respect and trust both in the way they talk to each other and work together, no matter what their positions may be. Employees and Board Members are invited to learn what is going on at every level of the organization so they can understand how their actions influence others. Visions of the direction of Dogs for the Deaf emerge from all levels. The responsibility of upper management is to manage the process whereby new emerging visions become shared. The responsibility of the Board of Directors is to support and cultivate the atmosphere to build and evolve shared visions. Saving dogs, training them, placing them with people, and supporting the partnerships over their lifetimes could not be manifested without the many donors that Dogs for the Deaf honors each year. Donor relationships are supported throughout the year by various vehicles: newsletters and letters to the clients, opportunities to meet trainers when they are in town and open site visits to the Dogs for the Deaf campus. Dogs for the Deaf cultivates relationships and alliances with agencies and individuals that support and contribute to the safety and welfare of dogs and the independent living challenges of people. Dogs for the Deaf enjoys a financial profile that demonstrates prudent investment of donor dollars. Donor support directly covers the cost of rescuing dogs, training dogs to assist people, placing each dog with the right person, and ensuring on-going support for the lifetime of the partnership. Administrative and fund development costs are supported with the income earned from endowment investments grown since 1999. Dogs for the Deaf facilities reflect the requirements of the training program and support staffing needs, while maintaining a cost-effective approach to fulfilling the mission. Programs and service dogs are managed to ensure the best possible training, placement, and follow-up procedures. <span style="color: #ffdb00; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;">__ DOGS __

=
<span style="color: #ffdb00; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">Dogs for the Deaf rescues/trains/places six types of dogs to help with different disabilities, challenges, and needs: ===== <span style="color: #0098bf; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;">[|**HEARING DOGS**] <span style="color: #ffdb00; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;">media type="youtube" key="xJia2iXtJwU" height="283" width="504"

<span style="color: #ffdb00; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;">are trained to alert people to household sounds that are necessary for everyday safety and independence. They are trained to make physical contact and lead their person to the source of the sound. By providing sound awareness and companionship, these dogs enhance parenting skills, increase employability, and provide greatly increased freedom and independence. [|**AUTISM ASSISTANCE DOGS**]  <span style="color: #ffdb00; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;"> are trained to enhance the safety of children with autism by acting as an anchor and preventing the child from bolting...   <span style="color: #ffdb00; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;"> [|**PROGRAM ASSISTANCE DOGS**] go to work with and assist professionals such as physicians, teachers, counselors, and court room advocates in the treatment of and work with their clients. These dogs can help improve overall cognitive development and provide a calming effect, allowing the professional to better serve or treat the clients. These dogs do not have public access except when accompanying the professionals and their disabled clients in order to provide assistance to the clients. [|**MIRACLE MUTTS**] (special dogs for special people) are wonderful, loving dogs who can provide companionship, motivation, and emotional support to people who need a "helping paw." [|**HARMONY'S HOUNDS**] (dogs with special needs) are dogs we rescue from shelters and, during the medical evaluation or later in training, are found to have a special physical or emotional need that prevents them from completing training. These dogs need someone willing to provide a stable, loving home and possible medical care. In the right, nurturing environment, these dogs can thrive and provide lots of love and companionship. [|**CAREER CHANGE DOGS**] are wonderful dogs who are happy and healthy but just not suited to working for a living. These dogs make loving pets and companions and are looking for their forever homes... __<span style="color: #ee1793; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 190%;">My Reflection: __ <span style="color: #ee1793; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I was very impressed with this hidden organization that rescues and trains dogs to assist people who are deaf. I had no idea that there was this type of organization in this area. I think that if I would have know about Dogs for the Deaf sooner, I may have been volunteering or doing what I could to help out. I love to volunteer and spend time with organizations that incorporate animals in the healing and caring process for people with disabilities. I was once a volunteer at Handi Riders in Chico, CA and I loved it soo very much. Handi Riders is an organization that uses horses and horseback riding as a way of therapy for children with disabilities. Dogs for the Deaf just brought back great memories of this amazing experience. Dogs for the Deaf do not just train dogs for people who are deaf, they also train dogs for children with autism, miracle mutts, and program assistance dogs. This organization seemed to be very well organized and clean. They have been around since 1980 and are still going strong. I am very happy with the choice I made to visit their facility. I will definately go back and see if they are in need of volunteers!!! :)