Directions Don’t turn your paper over until instructed. You will have a certain amount of time to fully complete the assignment. Keep your eyes on your own paper No talking, or distracting behavior Turn your paper over when you have completed the assignment. Turn your paper over when you have completed the assignment.

Teaching ALL learners Teachers are introduced to a span of students with special needs. What would be some instances where a student may need additional help in school? What are 3 things teachers can do to help the exceptional learner?

Who Receives Special Education? There are many different estimates regarding the number of school-age children who have learning disabilities. A reasonable estimate is between 5% and 10%, with 90% of those identified considered mildly disabled. A reasonable estimate is between 5% and 10%, with 90% of those identified considered mildly disabled. Reading disability accounts for about 80% of all learning disabilities. Reading disability accounts for about 80% of all learning disabilities. Children from age 3 to 21 years old may qualify for special educational services because of an intellectual, emotional, or physical condition. Children from age 3 to 21 years old may qualify for special educational services because of an intellectual, emotional, or physical condition.

Intellectual: Both ends, high and low IQ: Low IQ students are classified as severely, moderately, or mildly mentally retarded. They usually learn basic academic subjects (mainly reading) and survival skills in resource rooms and, to a limited extent, in regular classrooms. Students with normal intelligence can experience academic difficulties due to a specific learning disability (LD), caused by some disorder within the central nervous system (brain).

Some disorders occur while the brain is forming during the early stages of pregnancy, at which time any disruption can cause cell damage. Therefore, young women should be acutely aware of the impact using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs during their childbearing years. A Learning Disability is hidden. It can’t be seen like blindness or paralysis. It is observed in behavior, such as difficulties with speech and language, coordination, or self- control/attention.

A well-known learning disability example is Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Students with ADD have trouble focusing attention, listening, completing work, waiting turns, etc. Gifted and talented students (high IQ) possess a high degree of ability, creativity, and motivation. They may ask difficult questions, complete work fast, get bored, and act up. The word “gifted” refers to their intellectual ability; “talented” is more diverse, including musical, artistic, or other talents.

Physical: There are a wide variety of physical disabilities in regular classrooms. Some students with normal intelligence, and good health, need physical adjustments or considerations in the learning environment, such as sign language translators, large print books, and ramps or special equipment. Other students are “medically fragile.” They have health issues, such as diabetes, epilepsy, anemia, and asthma that may require regular medication, limited activities, or cause high absenteeism.

Emotional: This disorder is the most challenging for most teachers and other students. Behavior disorders (BD) adversely affect a student’s social and emotional functioning. They are manifested by: Conduct disorders: overt aggression, verbal and physical, disruptive, negative, irresponsible, defiant. Anxiety-withdrawal: overanxious, socially withdrawn, reclusive, shy, sensitive. Immaturity: short attention span, passive, daydreaming, sluggish. BD students disrupt the basic stability and order of the classroom. This interferes with not only their own learning but also that of other students. One or two BD students can take up a very large percentage of a teacher’s time, attention and energy.

Video: “Fat City” Questions 1. How did you feel after watching this video? 2. What does this video make you think about? 3. What new learning did you get from the video? 4. How would you feel if you were one of the members of the panel? 5. What should teachers be thinking about while teaching?