Observe this week how your cooperating teacher effectively (or ineffectively) teaches the students with special needs in the classroom. Reflect upon the following questions as you post your blog entry.
What modifications or adoptions are made wtihin the course content or curriculum to meet the needs of the individual learner? How does the teacher utilize large group, small group, and/or individualized instruction to meet the learning needs of students? How are student interests and student choice incorporated in to the students' learning opportunities?
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In my first grade class, I would consider 3 students who need a little more attention inside the class room. The only way i have seen them get extra assistance is by other teachers comming into the class room to grab these students and work outside of the class room. When the children work in small to large groups, she uses this time to work with everyone one on one in their reading skills.
ReplyDeleteIn the 6th gr. science classes I've observed, one of the teachers showed me specifically how she modified one particular worksheet that was going home to be finished. The students were supposed to read the information about a science experiment and then determine what the independent and dependent variables were, and where they belonged in an if/then hypothesis statement. She highlighted the definition of the IV and the DV in yellow and pink at the top and highlighted the corresponding blanks to give these students a visual cue as to where the info should go. This same teacher also made copies of the class notes that all the students were to copy into their science journals for the students who need extra help or are slower at copying notes, or just cannot see the board as well as they need to.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of class, the students usually have few minutes to work on their assignments. During this time, some of the students are helping their classmates to understand the concepts they've just covered.
There was also a day when they were reviewing the if/then hypothesis statement. The students were split into teams and had a relay race to put the parts of the statement into the correct order using index cards. The teacher explained to me later that it gave the kids who were having trouble understanding or remembering how to write the if/then statement by watching their peers go first, plus it was fun.
In my years of school i never had a seriously disabled student in one of my classes. The reason for this is my school district had a great program for kids with special needs. However i have had classes with people who have the smallest cases of Autism. In these cases the teacher will usually meet with the individual after class to make sure they get the notes they needed to complete the homework to the best of their ability. The teacher will always have their notes printed out to give them after class although the teacher would like for them to try and take notes.
ReplyDeleteThe teacher will also check up on the student during class at least once if they are not giving a lecture or presentation. The teachers in our school district have always done a good job of being there for the student when they needed help, but also letting do their own thing so they dont feel like they stand out from everyone in the class.
Okay, so I should have proofread that last sentence... I meant that it would give those students a chance to see how their peers were doing it and hopefully get a chance to learn it for themselves.
ReplyDeleteIve got a cousin who is a special needs student and I have found that he relly does well if he can get one on one time with a person who is there just for him. At his public school there is a person tht comes all day three times a week just to help him understand what is going on during class and keep him on task. It would be great if this could be used in all schools.
ReplyDeleteI also think that it is very imortant for the specal needs kids to be incorperated in daily class life. They should not be denied a normal school experience. Most classes that I ever had seemed to do this.
ReplyDeleteWell, I am in observing 5-6 physical education classes and there is not much done with students with special needs. They have a totally differnt education class called adaptive PE where studetns with disabilities can still participate in physical activity. They are doing the some of the same things as the regular PE class, but just modified, such things include helping the students climbing rope, or playing the same game as the other class, just in a smaller area.
ReplyDeleteMy teacher likes to include everyone in her games and there is not usually very much small group activities (that I have seen so far) She usually walks around when the game is playing and trying to add positive commments. I feel like the students interests are taken account of when my teacher figures out what they are doing for the day. Usually if a new game doesnt work well for the class it is changed, or not used again.
when I was talking with one of my old high school teachers about how he works with children with special needs, he told me that one on one instruction really does help most students for some reason. he felt maybe it allows the students to feel more comfortable when he can break down the information and get the students to relax and see that they can accomplish their work and receive good grades. i believe one on one instruction is very effective, especially if the teacher has the ability to talk with the students and find a way to speak to them that will help them learn.
ReplyDeleteWhen I taught it was in a Special Needs classroom. Every student in there had different aspects about them. I remember that we had to individually talk with each student in a different way about the same thing in order to better reach and teach them. I also remember that my teacher had the right to change what other teachers assign them when she felt it would benefit the student to change it.
ReplyDeleteIn this class there would be specific time when everyone was expected to be doing the same thing and all focused on one thing. Aside from this, most of the time was spent on individual work and assignments. Like I have said, each student in there was in there because of their own specific needs.
Since most of the students struggled in more than one subject, a lot of the times we allowed them to express there views on what they wanted to do first, homework and assignment wise. Obviously, we would determine if it was in their best interest to follow through with their plan, and then tell them if we are fine with that or tell them to work on something we believed needed more attention at the time.
Chris, was the person that was with your cousin a Para?
ReplyDeleteI think the Para program is awesome! When I taught last year, there was a Para in particular that really helped one of my students out a ton! I think this would help special needs students become a lot more organized and be able to focus much better.
Chris- I have noticed that people in my high school who had severe cases of their disability have been assigned a special tutor or helper that goes everywhere with them and is always there for them. I think this is a fantastic system!
ReplyDeleteRuss
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way because that is what my school did too. We have a great program so I never really had any disabled students in my class. But i did always see them around school and they know how to put a smile on your face. They are great people and that is why I am going into Special Education. It is a really great system because they get the help they need, but I would like to see them in an everyday classroom.
The class that i'm watching is mostly freshmen and there are two or three in that class that it seems have a learning disability. They can keep up with the work, they just need a little extra help to get it. The teacher tells them that they can come in before of after school any day he'll help them out. There are also a few other students that i noticed have a lot of trouble keeping up with the work. They have a special teacher that goes to each class with them to make sure they are doing they're work. I think it's a great idea
ReplyDeleteJohn- i really agree that the one on one sessions with students can help them the most. If you're working with an individual then you can tell what helps them learn the best and how you can help them.
ReplyDeleteIn my first grade classroom we only have one little boy with special needs. Now the little time he is in the classroom my teacher does not really have to change anything because a para is with him all the time. She is there everyday with him and he is the only student she works with. I would say that my teacher will give him fun stuff to do when he is in the classroom because it is kinda like his time away from all the hard work he does in his special classes. When he is in the classroom though his fellow classmates really take to him. They want to help him and are always wondering what he is doing. I feel that having his para there really helps but at the same time he gets to be in a normal classroom setting.
ReplyDeleteJohn,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to hear that you talked with a teacher friend of yours (sorry you still aren't placed in a classroom!) You made the best of the situation and asked someone in teaching what they think. This professional dialogue is excellent!
Anna,
I was confused and concerned by your comment - "We have a great program so I never really had any disabled students in my class." Are you saying that because you have a good self-contained program that the disabled students were not in the regular ed classroom? Much research indicates that many students with special needs do better when they are in the regular education classroom. We will talk about this more in class in a few weeks. It is important for educators to put children in their Least Restrictive Envirnment. You will hear teachers talk about LRE. It means that you should put all children in the environment that restricts them the least based on their ability levels. For some students that means they need to be in a self-contained class all day because that is their LRE. But some students may only need to go to resource class one hour a day so the LRE for them is the regular ed classroom. All of this is determined in a special education student's IEP- Individualized Education Plan.
I also want you guys to think about how ALL students have special needs. All students have diverse learning styles. Teachers need to modify their instruction to meet the needs of the diversity in learning styles.
Leo - so the teacher tells them they can come in before and after class. What do you guys think about this? Is this the best modification? Would something else be more effective?
Just some things for you to think about.
Chris- I do know that in the Fort Zumwalt school district they have A+ Tutors come in to take kids out in the hall to help with spelling or reading skills or vocabulary. Im curious to know what school district you are in. I think that there should be more than just the other teachers coming into the classroom.
ReplyDeleteIn the classroom I am observing there is one girl who keeps going back and forth between what prof. bishop is talking about. she was doing her homework and getting her grades up while in it, but then once taken out she falls back into her old returns. The teachers there are tring to find something that works for her.
ReplyDeleteOn the Monday they made a fraction book. The teacher explained it a different way everytime. she explained it 3 times. Once they watched, then they did it together, and if they got lost they stopped and she went though it again. I think that this helped the kids understand it better. she was very understanding of the kids. I think that she helped every kid in the class to their ability. I'm having so much fun in my class! I have a great story to tell of what not to do when you sub. when we get back to class! :-)
The class I am observing there are only 2 students that need more attention than others. One students never pays attention in class and is off in his own world most of every lesson. The teacher gets him focused by calling his name and then he realizes he is not paying attention and gets out his textbook. After about 2 minutes she will call on him to answer the question. After the lesson the teacher will pull the student behind and explain what they just went over and sometimes he will go to a resource class. The girl's situation is somewhat similar, but she has problems reading. I am observing a fourth grade class and the student is on a second grade reading level. The student has outside help, but the teacher helps by calling on the student somewhat. She will give the the student less to read , than the other students. The teacher knows to take it slow, whenever the student is reading. She needs the time and the help from the teacher and the class.
ReplyDeleteJohn M- Yes, instruction is what the students need. That is all my teacher needed to give them for the students to understand what they needed to do. In fourth grade, the students feel more comfortable when the teacher gives instruction; it makes them feel less nervous and anxious in the class of what is coming next.
ReplyDeleteIn my second grade class, I have noticed that there are four children who need special attention. Three of them are pulled out during the day for reading and writing and the other has a push-in teacher who comes in during reading. All of them receive modified tests for math so that they are able to answer all of the questions in the alotted time. I don't really know if this is the best way to modify lessons only because I've looked at the tests and they are much much easier than the original. If one of the students who don't get a modified test get a bad grade, it kinda stinks because could they have done just as well if they would have had a modified test too. I know that the children who get modified tests need the extra help, but sometimes I think it is unfair to the children who aren't doing as well on regular tests. With the push-in teacher....she is very intimidating. I can see the teacher at the front of the room and she just wants her to get out. She is disruptive because she will always turn and start talking to the student. Not loudly, but loud enough to disrupt. I know that when I was younger, I needed it to be quiet to stay on task so I wonder if this is bothering the other students, but maybe it's just me.
ReplyDeleteI do think it is absolutely wonderful to incorporate all types of learners in the classroom. I also think that my teacher really tries her best to involve everybody in discussion and other classroom involvements.
Jamie-I think that it is great that your teacher is trying to help her student to do well and trying a lot of different options to help her to do her best. When she does find a solution that works though she really should stick with it..or take her off of it and then put her right back on the plan if she returns to her old way.
ReplyDeleteLauren-
ReplyDeleteI like your observation about how the solution to one person's problem becomes yet another problem for the other students, and sometimes the teacher.
In my second grade class, there is a little girl with autism who has a resource teacher. I've never had any experience with autistic children so it was a new experience for me. The resource teacher had to get her attention a lot because the little girl wouldn't focus. The resource teacher just came out and told me that the girl was autistic. I didn't think you were supposed to do that. But she did. This class does a lot of group work. Everything they do is in groups. IN my fourth grade class, a lot of the students go to different rooms for additional support.
ReplyDeleteBrittany- I like how your teacher pulls the student aside at the end of class in order to go over everything that was taught. That seems like the teacher actually understands that the kid has an attention problem. I like that she can understand that and doesn't ignore it.
ReplyDeletei am observing a few art classes and all of them besides an advanced ceramics class are rather large. among the three teachers, they all do a great job maintaining control of the class and and make sure the students are staying productive. in one class, ceramics one, their is a teacher helper that works with the kids who need extra assistance. the teachers provide an equal opportunity for all of the students. they never sit at their desk... they are always pacing around the room, helping the kids one on one, and giving helpful instruction and or feedback. i was interested in the classroom discussions, too. they keep the environment fun, yet productive at the same time.
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ReplyDeletebrittany-
ReplyDeletei also agree.. i like how that teacher understands the importance of not leaving any student behind. there needs to be more of them out there!
In the class I observe there are no students with learning disabilities but there are students who need extra attention in certain subjects that their teacher last year did not emphasize on.
ReplyDeleteThe teacher I am observing however will give a lesson infront of the whole class then give an in class assignment where she can walk around and answer questions or if she see's something wrong on the students paper she will correct them.
When there was a mentally or physically disabled student in my past classes in Parkway they would usually have a teachers assistant with the student.
Jessi
ReplyDeleteI think that it is good that you are getting some observation with autistic children, because autism is such on the rise these days. I would almost garantee that whatever grade you teach there will be one if not more than one autistic child in the classroom. They can be difficult to work with ranging on the high or low part of the spectrum, but I feel knowledge is power, and its good to have this prior knowledge and experience.
Jessi
ReplyDeleteI also think that it is good that you are working with autistic children. My brother has autism and I feel that not all the teachers he has had over the years have really helped him as much as they should have. It's good that you are getting these experiences.
In my classroom that i am observing there are students that need special attention to work on their projects.I had noticed one student who was really struggling with his art project so i asked if i could help. The teacher said yes so for the rest of the class period i got to help him. Later before i left she told me that he had a para the year before, but this year he did not. Also she said that he was not going to get another one. I think that if he was to have a para though it would help him a lot.
ReplyDeleteI have had the chance to observe multiple teachers at my high school and each of them teach in different ways. One teacher really does not stop and help, he just wants them to ask questions after the lesson. Another one works a problem them ask if any question then goes back through and answers each one then. I think the second way is the best way. If a person does not understand something they will just stop paying attention so they won't understand the rest of the lesson. Both teachers allow the students to work in small groups while doing their homework. I know I loved small group and got a lot out of them and the kids seem to be doing the same. The teachers will walk around the classroom and check to make sure they are working on math and not other subjects.
ReplyDeleteAndrew- One of my teachers and your teachers seem to teach the same way. I think this is the most productive way of teaching.
in the kindergarten class i have been observing, i have noticed that their classroom sizes are fairly large so meeting the needs of the individual learning could be challenging. one way the teacher copes with such large groups is by sending me to do one-on-one activities with the students. ill take the kids in a separate room and help them read or look at numbers. they seem to really respond to this. each time they get better!
ReplyDeletejessi...
ReplyDeletejust like everyone else, i am so happy for you! i am jealous that you get to work with autistic kids, because that is my major and unfortunately i do not have any kids with disabilities! its awesome that you get to make a difference with kids like that! :)
I still cannot go to the classroom, but i can tell you that in highschool special kids usually have thier own seperate classes and therefore teachers don't nesesarily have to specialize for them.
ReplyDeleteI can say that in my experience teachers will usually let groups choose thier own projects. This allows the kids to pick something that won't bore them to death and therefore do a good jobs nd perhaps even have fun doing it.
kayla...
ReplyDeleteI'm not really sure what a para is, however i assume it is some kind of helper that keeps the student in better shape learning wise.
I think that such a thing (private tutors as well) can be very important and even pivital in student learning.
In the class I am observing the one kid that need a little extra attention has not acted out. I believe that without an Aid in the class that he would act a little differently though.
ReplyDeleteMy teacher in his junior and senior classes does many things to meet the needs of the individual learner. One instance that comes to mind was when the junior class was taking their weekly vocab quiz. The teacher and a student had worked out a deal that he could come in 10 minutes before class started so that he could have extra time on his quiz because it took him longer than the other students. He also provides a ton of extra help outside of the classroom and one thing I have noticed is that the students really take advantage of this extra help. My teacher never has a free moment, students are always in his room before classes, during lunch, and after school. But the teacher never minds, he really enjoys helping the students.
ReplyDeleteAlex-
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is better to let students as questions throughout a lecture because if a student is confused he or she will lose interest and if they have to wait until the end to ask their question they may have forgotten it. I think it is really important for the students to be engaged in the lesson, which involves them being able to ask questions and discuss their thoughts.
Andrew, That is how the class is that I am observing. In my high school there was a classroom for all the special needs students though.
ReplyDeleteLeigh-Anne- I would definatley agree with this. there are about three kids in my class that i am observing that go to a special aid about two times a week and prior to them leaving the class, they seem to act up but once they leave and spend time with the aid, for the rest of the time i am there, they seem more atentive and calm. in my opinion, i think there is for sure one, if not two more i think they need to go to an aid, even for just once a week. i think it would help quite significantly.
ReplyDeleteIn my classroom, the teacher really doesnt meet the needs of the individual learner. She mainly grades the art projects different according to their ability, every child is expected to work on an art project though. She has a lot of students to help everyday so it is hard for her to sit down with each student who needs help. However i feel that she could do a better job at watching students who may need extra help. In the past three weeks i have been helping a student who really needs a para and he really does need the help, but the school will not provide him one. Anyways i think that the teacher i am observing does a good job at accomidating each student i think she could do a lot better.
ReplyDelete