"My Irish student teaching experience has been a very interesting one. I was placed in a junior infant class in a special needs school for children with physical and mental disabilities. The class contained four 5 year old boys and one 7 year old boy. The students were taught by the regular special needs teacher along with two special needs assistants. All of the children had varying degrees of cerebral palsy, one of which was non-verbal as well. The four verbal students followed a slow pace education curriculum. All of the students were given special services which included speech/language and physiotherapy. The students enjoyed their time and gained a lot from their experiences.

During this experience, I was given very little responsibilities because of the liabilities involved. I was not allowed to lift the students (remove them from their wheelchairs) nor was I allowed to be alone in the classroom with the students. There were other restrictions as well. These restrictions made me feel helpless. I felt as if I was not achieving a "real" student teaching experience. I understood the rationale for the restrictions mentioned so I made the best of the experience as a whole. I was given the responsibility of working individually with the students. This student teaching experience was similar, in my opinion, to a practicum experience, but better.

The Ireland experience, as a whole, was "lovely." The land is so beautiful and green, but the weather is rainy most of the time. Ireland is a small country, but there is so much to do and see. I was not able to see everything in the six weeks that I was there, but I tried my best. I am so glad I was given the this opportunity and I encourage others to do their student teaching or practicum in Ireland. It will be an experience that you will never forget and you will learn so much."

Mia is captured on film while looking at the thatch huts in the town of Adare.