7 Essential Questions from SERGE

I have  many questions to say the least about student's with disabilities. I have worked with few throughout my life working with my mother who was a preschool teacher, my own experiences with coaching student athletes with severe developmental issues.  Nonetheless, this website asked and gave answers to many questions that I would have.

Should students with disabilities be taught the same curriculum as other students?

• You are probably aware that Federal law, specifically the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), requires that students who have disabilities "be involved in and progress in the general education curriculum" [614 (d)(1)(A)(i)(1)(aa)]. This means that each student's IEP (Individual Education Plan) must include information about specific accommodations needed to assure that students who have disabilities meet the same curricular expectations and standards as their peers.

How can I develop lessons that will be good for all my students?

• While there are many different opinions and theories about lesson planning, most effective lessons contain the following components: (a) clearly stated objectives that you want students to learn; (b) an introduction to the lesson; (c) the engagement of students in learning activities designed to help them learn the desired content or skill; (d) opportunities for students to practice while you provide them with feedback on their progress; (e) a summary or closing to the lesson, and (f) assessments of what the students have learned.

What are some strategies for building a more positive sense of community in my classroom?

• "Inclusion is not trying to fit students with special needs into a mainstream; instead it is creating a mainstream where everyone fits." - R. Stronsnider
• We all would rather spend time in places in which we feel a sense of belonging and are accepted by the people who surround us. In order to support all students in their learning and development, teachers must build a classroom environment in which all children experience a sense of belonging and have their needs met.

Yeah... There's an App for that

iTunes U

iTunes U is an app created by Apple that is ran through their media player iTunes this app is downloadable through the iTunes store and allows for a way to download and subscribe to University and other educational programs. Many Universities from around the world have created stations that you can join allowing you (the viewer) to learn from courses with out paying. Obviously you can't correspond with the professors or people with out emailing OR get a grade or credit for said classes but you can indeed learn which is the cornerstone of growing as a group of citizens becoming better informed.  You want to go to Harvard Kennedy School? Yeah... there's an App for that.

Mind Steps Inc.

Reference Guide

Differentiation in the four types of students. the information provided gives explanation on their differences in the categories of content, process, environment, and  product.

Planning Sheet

The above is a tool to map a plan of how to work with the four types of learners.

US HISTORY UNIT PLAN

This is an example of a planning sheet that has been completed. It is focused on US history and it shows the different ways to approach each type of student.

adaptive technology

http://ucat.usor.utah.gov/adapted-signal-modification/

A cool way to allow for technology to allow for people with disabilities the chance to drive and get around.

http://ucat.usor.utah.gov/adapted-headset/

A neat technology

http://ucat.usor.utah.gov/testimonial-of-the-sicare-environmental-control-unit-ecu/

The Short Story on Supplementary Aids and Services

Supplementary aids and services are often critical elements in supporting the education of children with disabilities in regular classes and their participation in a range of another school activities. IDEA’s definition of this term (at §300.42)reads:

Supplementary aids and services means aids, services, and other supports that are provided in regular education classes, other education-related settings, and in extracurricular and nonacademic settings, to enable children with disabilities to be educated with nondisabled children to the maximum extent appropriate…

Speaking practically, supplementary aids and services can be accommodations and modifications to the curriculum under study or the manner in which that content is presented or a child’s progress is measured. But that’s not all they are or can be. Supplementary aids and services can also include direct services and supports to the child, as well as support and training for staff who work with that child. That’s why determining what supplementary aids and services are appropriate for a particular child must be done on an individual basis.

IDEA Exact Words

IDEA’s Exact Words Again, let’s start with IDEA’s full requirement for identifying the supplementary aids and services a child will need and specifying them in his or her IEP. This appears at §300.320(a)(4) and stipulates that each child’s IEP must contain:
       
 (4) A statement of the special education and related services and supplementary aids and services, based on peer-reviewed research to the extent practicable, to be provided to the child, or on behalf of the child, and a statement of the program modifications or supports for school personnel that will be provided to enable the child—
(i) To advance appropriately toward attaining the annual goals;
(ii) To be involved in and make progress in the general education curriculum in accordance with paragraph (a)(1) of this section, and to participate in extracurricular and other nonacademic activities; and
(iii) To be educated and participate with other children with disabilities and nondisabled children in the activities described in this section… [§300.320(a)(4)]

We’ve bolded the part of IDEA’s regulation that specifically mentions supplementary aids and services, because it’s important to see the context in which this term is used. It is that context, and IDEA’s own definition of supplementary aids and services, that will guide how a child’s IEP team considers what services the child needs and the detail with which the team specifies them in the IEP.

POWERPOINT

WELCOME TO MEDIA

10 Tips for PREZI

Top 10 tips for Prezi teaching

11.)    Watch the instructional videos

22.)    Play around with the different themes

33.)    Don’t be afraid to use the templates that were already made

44.)    Change the colors so they are easy to read

55.)    Have fun with it

66.)    Don’t worry if there is a mistake just jump back in and edit it

77.)    Resize text so it fits in the frame

88.)    Try and work with pictures to liven up the presentation

99.)    Upload pictures that will work in multiple sizes

110.) Put in the time and you’ll be satisfied with the result

Support for teachers

 (3) Post at least 3 resources that you find beneficial for your blog.
The Support  for Teachers link  is one that talks on what  special education teachers face great challenges - school reform opportunities coupled with No Child Left Behind and the new Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; diverse role expectations from administrators, general education teachers, and parents; demanding case loads; increased amounts of paperwork; and lack of resources. Despite these challenges, special educators continue to give of themselves and ensure their students receive the best education possible.

Addressing Bumps in the Collaboration Road
Collaboration is characterized by subtlety, and seldom does just one factor contribute to a problem in the relationship. Perhaps participants have differing views on the value of reading instruction in middle school. This difference of opinion is magnified when one person has a negative experience with a general education teacher over a reading assignment. this article is great in the idea that it touches on the fact that though collaboration can be great but at the same time it can also hinder learning and teaching. 
CES releases New Standards
CEC’s recently developed standards for advanced roles in special education break new ground. The standards outline the knowledge and skills special educators who are experienced, seeking an advanced degree or certification, or going into administration or higher education should know.

Lessons from the trenches

Co teaching and the harshness that come with it and how some teachers preview it in the high school level and everything.  Interesting aspect of how some schools handle the idea of two teachers in the classroom.