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.