Learners with Exceptionalities

Learners with exceptionalities More than 6.5 million students are diagnosed as having exceptionalities – learning or emotional needs that result in requiring special help to succeed & reach full potential 95% general education classrooms (2009) Gifted and talented – learners with the abilities at the upper end of the continuum Intelligence – ability to acquire & use knowledge, solve problems & reason in the abstract and adapt to new situations in our environments You will encounter students with various degrees of intelligences

Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligences – overall intelligence is composed of eight relatively independent dimensions Linguistic - words/language Logical-mathematical – reasoning/patterns Musical – sensitivity to pitch, melody, & tone Spatial – perceive the visual world accurately Bodily-kinesthetic – fine-tuned ability to use body/handle objects Interpersonal intelligence – other people Intrapersonal intelligence – knowing one’s self Naturalist – knowing the physical world

Emotional Intelligence Ability to manage our emotions so we can cope with our world and accomplish goals Students who can manage their emotions: Happier Better adjusted Better able to make & keep friends Better students – focus their emotions of the learning task You can help!!! Openly talk about emotions & discussing strategies for dealing with them Literature – read & discuss stories – Goals – students to become aware of their emotions , how they influence behavior & learn how to control them

Learning Styles Our preferred way learning, studying or thinking about the world

Special Education & the Law Historically, students with exceptionalities – separate classes U.S. Congressed passed Public Law 94-12, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975 Guarantee of a free appropriate public education for all students with exceptionalities was central to this act This act (combined with later amendments) Guarantees an appropriate education for all students with exceptionalities Identifies the needs of students with exceptionalities through assessment that doesn’t discriminate against any students Involves parents in decisions about each child’s educational program Creates an environment that doesn’t restrict learning opportunities for students with exceptionalities Develops an individualized education program (IEP) of study for each student

Special Education & the Law The move toward inclusion Main-streaming – practice of placing students with exceptionalities in general education classrooms, often for selected activities only, was their first effort Usually without adequate support & services Unsatisfactory Inclusion - a comprehension approach to educating students with exceptionalities that incorporates a total, systematic and coordinated web of services Support of special educators to assist you students

Individualized Education Program (IEP) An assessment of the student’s current level of performance Long and long term objectives Strategies to ensure that the student is making academic progress Schedules for implementing the plan Criteria for evaluating the plan’s success Provides sufficient detail to guide general education classroom teachers & special education personnel

Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) Provides the same type of planned care as an IEP, but targets developmentally delayed preschool children 2 big differences: Targets the child’s family & provides supplemental services to the family as well as the child Includes interventions & services from a variety of health & human services agencies

Categories of Exceptionalities Learning Disabilities Difficulties in acquiring & using listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning or mathematical abilities Communication Disabilities Interfere with students’ abilities to receive & understand information form others & to express their own ideas or questions Intellectual Disabilities Limitations in intellectual functioning & problems, as indicated by difficulties in learning & problems with adaptive skills (communication, self-care, & social interaction Behavior Disorders Display of serious and persistent age inappropriate behaviors that result in social conflict, personal unhappiness, & school failure

Students who are Gifted & Talented Over 3 million students (slightly more than 6%) Early identification & instructional modifications Programs have declined over the years Acceleration – keeps the curriculum the same but allows students to move through it more quickly Enrichment – provides richer and varied content through strategies that supplement usual grade-level work Failure to provide for: Gifted underachievers Social & emotional problems linked to boredom & lack of motivation

More demanding, but one of the most rewarding experiences You as the TEACHER Identify students you suspect have exceptionalities Collaborate with other professionals Modify instruction to meet students’ needs More demanding, but one of the most rewarding experiences

Identify students you suspect have exceptionalities You work directly with them therefore you are in the best position Discrepancy model Response to Intervention (RTI) model of identification Early screenings What should be done to correct it Teacher adapts instruction to meet student’s need Working with student one on one Small-group work Developing strategies (reading material aloud)

Collaborate with other professionals Involves communication with parents and other professionals (special education specialist, school psychologists & guidance counselors) to create the best environment for students Work closely with special education teacher to ensure learning experiences are integrated into the general education class

Modify instruction to meet students’ needs Not than different as far as teaching method – you simply do it better Small steps, detailed feedback on home work Calling on students as often Carefully model solutions to problems Provide outlines, charts, rubrics Increase time Use technology Teach learning strategies Provide additional support SUCCESS – essential for struggling learner Positive reinforcement & support Peer tutoring Home based tutoring

Assistive technology Set of adaptive tools that support students with disabilities in learning activities & daily life tasks Required by IDEA