Ann Hardin SPE 550 Wilmington College April 12, 2010

Observations From My Practice  North Adams Elementary Seaman, Ohio – Adams County 614 students – 64.7% free or reduced lunch EXCELLENT RATING – st new elementary building-Jan “Stay on Green” school wide behavior

Observations con’t.  Cross-Categorical Classroom- “Emotionally Disturbed” Unit Seven Students Grades 2-6 All students are serviced by an IEP Poor socio-economic environment

Student Background  5 th grade male student  2 nd year in ED classroom ○ Spends time in regular education classroom ○ IEP includes a behavior plan ○ Raised by his grandmother Allows IEP team to make decisions regarding placement/education goals

Student Behavior  K-3 rd grade Minimal problems Identified as a student with a learning disability during this time  4 th grade Problems surfaced ○ Individualized setting-led to negative behavior ○ Primary behavioral meeting-behavior plan put into place

Behavior con’t  After plan was established behavior escalated (negatively) Physical contact now an issue Negative comments to peers Academic skills suffering  Secondary meeting Change of placement ○ Least restrictive environment

Student’s Current Plan  Partial Inclusion Science/Language Arts Required to take grade level OAA with accommodations Goal is to be in regular classroom setting at all times.

Conclusion  Special Education Laws have made education better for all  Goals need to be reasonable yet challenging Leaders need to be aware of differences in abilities  Problems still need to be addressed

Citations  McDermott, P.A., Goldberg,M.M., Stanley, J.L., & Gutting, J.J. (2006). A Nationwide Epidemiologic Modeling study of LD: Risk, Protection and Unintended Impact. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 39 (3),  Mostert, M.P. & Crockett, J.B. (2000). Reclaiming the History of Special Education for More Effective Practice. Exceptionality, 8 (2), pp  Siegel, L.S. (1999). Issues in the Definition and Diagnosis of Learning Disabilities: A Perspective on Guckenberger v. Boston University. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 32,  Spafford, C.D. & Grosser, G.S. (1993). The Social Misperception Syndrome in Children with Learning Disabilities: Social Cause versus Neurological Variables. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 26(3),  Ysseldyke, J. (2005). Reflections on a Research Career: Generalizations from 25 Years of Research on Assessment and Instructional Decision Making. Exceptional Children, 67(3),