Main Responsibilities of a Learning Specialist at California Middle School
Dan's main responsibilities as a Learning Specialist center on building strong relationships with "students and the parents, and with the teachers as well," to understand their learning styles and tailor instruction accordingly, ultimately setting and monitoring motivating goals for student success. This involves "delivering specialized academic instruction" that authentically meets each student where they are, ensuring a positive learning experience.
Building Relationships, Teaching Methods, Student Motivation, Goal Setting, Personalized Learning
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Dan McCauley
Learning Specialist
California Middle School
New York University, 2017
Relay Graduate School of Education, Masters in the Art of Teaching
Education
Education
Education
Former Foster Youth, Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Building strong relationships with students, parents, and teachers is crucial for success as a Learning Specialist. This involves understanding family backgrounds and learning styles to create a supportive environment.
2. Effective teaching requires adapting instruction to meet individual student needs. This includes identifying student strengths, modifying lessons for better understanding, and fostering a positive learning experience.
3. Setting and monitoring achievable goals is essential for student motivation. Breaking down large goals into smaller, manageable steps helps students experience success and take ownership of their learning journey.
Transcript
What are the key responsibilities in my current role as a resource specialist?
The biggest thing is building relationships, specifically with our families—the students and their parents. This also extends to teachers. In my role, I teach and work with students in grades eight through ten, so I’m with these families for a long time.
It’s really important for me to understand where these families are coming from, their previous educational history, and their relationship to learning and to other teachers. Building a strong foundation is essential for these relationships, as it’s a crucial part of our work.
This also involves building relationships with teachers. I want teachers to understand the profile of students as learners—what works best for them. It’s also important to lean on their experience to tell me what works best with that student too.
The second thing is to teach in a way that reaches the student. I deliver specialized academic instruction, which means understanding a student’s strengths. It also means authentically meeting students where they are.
If a student isn't grasping a lesson presented in a particular way, we need to figure out how to deliver it differently. How can we break it down so they can succeed, feel that sense of accomplishment, and find what works for them? The goal is for them to have a positive experience with learning and eventually do well, expressing their understanding in a way that suits them.
Finally, we need to build and monitor goals that are motivating for the student. For example, if a student needs to read at an eighth-grade level by the end of the year, how can we break that down using sixth-grade material in a way they understand?
We can create smaller goals along the way where they see themselves succeeding or can identify challenges. Seeing progress is motivating for young people and adults alike. Eventually, as they improve, we can empower them to take ownership of the learning process.
Advizer Personal Links
Not yet