My name is Bonnie Mattson. This is my second semester in my
pursuit of a Technology Specialist endorsement and eventual Masters in Education with Dominican University.
I have been teaching off and
on for 15 years in special education. Currently, I work for ECHO Joint
Agreement and teach 3rd & 4th grade for their Communication Development
(CD) program. CD serves students with language processing disorders which
includes students with autism, severe learning disabilities, and or significant
speech impediments. My classroom is housed at Nathan Hale Elementary in
Lansing, Illinois.
My dad was my inspiration for going into special education. He had a severe stroke
at the young age of 36 (I was 8 years old) and had to learn how to talk,
walk, and do practically everything all over again. Thanks to my dad and other great people I have gotten to know over the years, I can say that serving people with special needs is a true love and passion of mine!
Outside of teaching, I have been married for 22 yrs. to my wonderful husband Bob. I have 3 crazy kids. Abbie is 19 and attending her first year of college at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. Shaun is soon to be 18 and a senior in high school. He is passionate about soccer and loves to play chess. Lindsay is 16 and wants to be an ER nurse. And of course our 60lb dog Chance who tries really hard to be a lap dog.
Special needs has also touched my immediate family. My son Shaun has a rare form of muscular dystrophy called Emery-Driefuss. The disease also affected his heart which resulted in his needing to get a pacemaker at the age of 10. Lindsay has ADHD ........And I am going blind. I have a rare retinal disease which is causing me to lose all of my peripheral vision. We are all doing well, thriving, and have gotten pretty good at learning how to roll with the curve balls life can throw at you.
My Twitter profile says. “I am a wife, mother, a special education teacher, I love dancing, and I just like to have fun”. That describes me pretty well. I am looking forward to getting to know all of you as we travel through EDU 790 together.
Some family pictures........
Special needs has also touched my immediate family. My son Shaun has a rare form of muscular dystrophy called Emery-Driefuss. The disease also affected his heart which resulted in his needing to get a pacemaker at the age of 10. Lindsay has ADHD ........And I am going blind. I have a rare retinal disease which is causing me to lose all of my peripheral vision. We are all doing well, thriving, and have gotten pretty good at learning how to roll with the curve balls life can throw at you.
My Twitter profile says. “I am a wife, mother, a special education teacher, I love dancing, and I just like to have fun”. That describes me pretty well. I am looking forward to getting to know all of you as we travel through EDU 790 together.
Some family pictures........
 |
Shaun, Lindsay, & Abbie
Facebook album picture
|
 |
Chance the Dog
Personal Photograph
|
Happy to learn with you again, Bonnie!
ReplyDeleteNot sure why I can't see my reply from yesterday. Happy to learn with you again this semester Bonnie!
DeleteHi Bonnie, What a great combination SPED and Instructional Technology can make. I am sure this program will help enable you to teach 21st century skills and find accommodations and modifications to help your students grow as communicators.
ReplyDeleteYou have a very powerful story surrounding your decision to become an educator. Thank you sharing it. I am looking forward to learning from you this quarter!