Special Education Apex Friendship Middle School Program Michael McColgan, M.A.T., NBCT

A Guiding Thought… “Much education today is monumentally ineffective. All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plant.” John W. Gardner

Typical 6th Grade Schedule 7:45 Enter Building to Gym 7:55 Homeroom 8:15-9:13 Core Period 1 9:17-9:47 SMART Block 9:51-10:48 Core Period 2 10:51-11:48 Core Period 3 11:52-12:22 Lunch 12:25-1:22 Core Period 4 1:27-2:10 Elective Period I 2:13-2:56 Elective Period 2 3:00 Dismissal

ICR Classes In-Class Resource Math and Language Arts Classes are learning Grade Level SCOS Students taking Regular EOG tests Taught by a certified Math or Language Arts teacher with a special education teacher to assist in the room.

Special Education Core Classes Math, Language Arts and Social Studies & Science Smaller class sizes Teacher is dual certified in special education and math or language arts There can be teaching assistant in the classroom to help Students are being supported for Grade Level SCOS Students working on basic math and language arts skills

Reading Class For students identified with significant reading delays Small class size Research based direct/explicit instructional format to teach reading decoding and comprehension on student’s assessed reading level

Curriculum Assistance A class designed to work on and monitor IEP goals. Through IEP goal work, we will remediate and assist SCOS Is used in place of an elective Can be used for half year or all year depending on student need

Social Studies and Science Taught by certified social studies or science teacher No additional help in room Larger class sizes The curriculum can be modified to an extent, at teacher discretion, to help with understanding

Healthful Living Health and PE class Very large classes in PE, up to three teachers worth Health is one class of 30+ students All students expected to dress out and participate in PE Mandatory elective class daily Health has text book, curriculum and tests.

Electives Meet Daily Electives: Band, Computer Applications, Technology Systems, Art, Life Skills, Chorus, Spanish

High School Prep High school might seem far away, but…. Everything we do in 6th grade correlates with high school prep The three years of middle school are necessary to prepare students for independent work necessary in high school To succeed at the SCOS in high school, we must focus on accommodations that are necessary, not just helpful The time to be honest and thoughtful about your child’s future education begins now

Accommodations Only add accommodations a child needs to succeed independently In middle school we are preparing for independence, do not list accommodations that might help, only that are needed Middle school students don’t like to be singled out for separate setting “Read aloud upon request”; “Computer read aloud” use this instead of “read aloud all” when applicable Avoid accommodations that preclude students from realizing their potential

Accommodations Testing in the classroom, which has the expert (teacher(s)) and ambiance of the subject should be first option, not separate setting Extended time only if necessary, most middle school students can finish on time.

Modifications Modifications to the curriculum compromise the curriculum We are preparing for high school which in many cases does not allow changes to NCSCOS curriculum If a student requires significant modifications then they might need different services.

EOG Accommodations For students served through ESL, please add LEP tests and Modifications to IEP Same as classroom accommodations

IEP Notes Resource Classes not listed on IEP for modifications, can modify as needed Elective classes are 42 minutes long Core classes are 58 minutes long Accommodations on EOG must match what is used in the classroom on a daily basis

Contact Michael McColgan mmccolgan@wcpss.net 919-694-8960 Apex Friendship Middle School 7701 Humie Olive Road Apex, NC 27502