Exploring Best Practices in Early Learning:
One Teacher’s Journey Through the Land of the Littles
By Jill Rafter
EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER
PALOS CCSD 118
As I looked around my new classroom, I was overwhelmed by how small everything seemed. I had spent the last twelve years teaching older students with special needs, but I have always believed that significant change can lead to profound learning. My new journey was about to begin as an early childhood special education teacher, and I felt a nervous excitement and a sense of honor to be the teacher to welcome our youngest learners to their first school experience.