Resources for a Challenging Teaching Environment

"Learning is finding out what

we already know. Doing is

demonstrating that you know

it. Teaching is reminding

others that they know just as

well as you. You are all

learners, doers, and teachers."

-- Richard Bach

According to US Department of EducationIn fall 2008, some 95 percent of 6- to 21-year-old students with disabilities were served in regular schools; 3 percent were served in a separate school for students with disabilities; 1 percent

were placed in regular private schools by their parents; and less than 1 percent each were served in one of the following environments: in a separate residential facility, homebound or in a hospital, or in a correctional facility.

Federal Regulations for Special Education

“The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law enacted in 1990 and reauthorized in 1997 and 2004. It is designed to protect the rights of students with disabilities by ensuring that everyone receives a free appropriate public education (FAPE), regardless of ability. Furthermore, IDEA strives not only to grant equal access to students with disabilities, but also to provide additional special education services and procedural safeguards.”

Defining Special Needs0Definition- A student that may have a difficulty learning

and functioning in the classroom.0Different Types of Special Needs:

0Medical Issues such as cancer and heart defects, muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis; chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes; congenital conditions like cerebral palsy and dwarfism; and health threats like food allergies and obesity

0Behavior Issues such as ADHD, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Dysfunction of Sensory Integration, and Tourette Syndrome

0Developmental Issues such as like autism, Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities

0Learning Issues such as dyslexia and Central Auditory Processing Disorder

Ways to Enhance Their Education

0Individualized Education Programs (IEP)0Scholastic Enhancement Tools 0Assistive Technology

0Non-Technological Activities

Individualized Education ProgramThe Individualized Education Program is a program offered by the public school system, free of charge, that provides struggling and disabled students the extra help needed in the regular classroom.

0 IEP is dedicated to determining the students ability to continue in the regular education curriculum. “Comprehensive planning by the IEP Team is the key to determining the least restrictive environment (LRE). The IEP team must assess whether students with disabilities can participate and progress in the general education curriculum.”

0 Services of the IEP when they participate in general education curriculum:0 Individual attention with school work from specific teacher.0 Resource Room to serve a group of students with similar needs.0 Class time dedicated for the special need students while others students work on other

material.

0 “Proponents of placement is the assumption that a student must "earn" his or her opportunity to be placed in regular classes by demonstrating an ability to "keep up" with the work assigned by the regular classroom teacher.”

0 Remember teachers are responsible for inclusion in the classroom which means that we will “express commitment to educate each child, to the maximum extent appropriate, in the school and classroom he or she would otherwise attend.”

Assistive Technology for the Classroom

0 Computers can be used for all Special Needs Students especially ADHD students. Such activities can be used:0 Internet Based Activities such as blogging, online publications, school run chat

rooms, education programs/games, etc. These activities can be used to include all students in the classroom.

0 Multimedia Tools such as “text, speech, graphics, pictures, audio, and video in reference-based software is especially effective in meeting the heterogeneous learning needs of students with mild disabilities.”

0 E-books are great for students with hearing, attention, and undeveloped reading skills.

0 Hearing Assistive Technology are devices that can help the student with hearing difficulties function better in their day-to-day communication situations.0 Closed Captioning can be placed on any information or video being watched.0 Text Telephones are used to allow the students to communicate with others in the

classroom.0 Hearing aid may be a great device for the student with severe loss of hearing.

Assistive Technology cont.0Student with physical disabilities can use high technology

environmental aids in controlling electronic appliances within the school and home. They can also use mobility aids include canes, crutches, walkers, scooters, and wheelchairs.

0For the visually impaired, there are many visual aids including talking dictionaries, adapted tape player/recorders, large print and talking calculators, braille writers, closed circuit televisions (CCTV), and software such as screen reading and text enlargement programs.

Non-technological Activities0 Lessons can be modified to special needs students.

0Many websites that contain lesson plans provide a modified lesson plan that is geared towards special needs students. These are just two examples:

0 http://www.internet4classrooms.com/exceptional_children/special_education_school_inclusion_strategies_resources.htm

0 http://www.do2learn.com/Side Note: Most websites can be found by typing “lesson plans for special needs students” into any search engine.

0 Strategies for an Inclusive Classroom:0 Provide the use of a study carrel when necessary.0 Seat student in area free from distractions.0 Eliminate all unnecessary materials from student desk to reduce distractions.0 Use a checklist to help student get organized.0 Keep an extra supply of pencils, pens, books and paper in the classroom.0 You may have to allow the student frequent breaks.0 Have an agreed upon cue for student to leave the classroom.0 Reduce visual distractions in the classroom.0 Modify expectations based on students needs0 Space short work periods with breaks.0 Provide additional time to complete assignment

How Do Teachers Serve Linguistically Diverse Learners and Those with Special Needs

Non-technological Ideas from Teachers

Resources0 http://www.parentednet.org/publicationPDF/LRE.pdf0 http://www.weac.org/Issues_Advocacy/Resource_Pages_On

_Issues_one/Special_Education/special_education_inclusion.aspx

0 http://specialchildren.about.com/od/gettingadiagnosis/p/whatare.htm

0 http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/learning/iep.html0 http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=590 http://

www.axistive.com/assistive-technology-for-hearing-impaired-students.html

0 http://specialed.about.com/cs/teacherstrategies/a/Strategies.htm

0 http://www.help4adhd.org/education/rights/idea0 http://www.gpat.org/devices.aspx