Teaching Today: An Introduction to Education 7 th edition Part 2: Learners and Their Needs Chapter 6: Meeting the Needs of Exceptional Learners Armstrong, Henson, & Savage Teaching Today, 7 th Edition Copyright ©2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved. 6-1

Meeting the Needs of Exceptional Students The video states that one in eight adolescents suffers from depression and that it is the third leading cause of death among Americans age 15–24. This means that high school teachers are likely to have a least a couple of students suffering from depression in their classrooms. What can the teacher in a regular classroom do to meet the needs of these students? Armstrong, Henson, & Savage Teaching Today, 7 th Edition Copyright ©2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved. 6-3

Exceptional Students (cont.) In this segment the students often had trouble relating to other students. How can a teacher prepare other students for working with special needs students included in the regular classroom? Are there limits to full inclusion of students with special needs in regular classrooms? What should be the determining factors? LINK: What do you think you need to know in order to teach in an inclusive classroom? Armstrong, Henson, & Savage Teaching Today, 7 th Edition Copyright ©2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved. 6-4

Schools’ Exceptional Learners Exceptional learners have characteristics that differentiate them from the general population of young people. Generally thought of as: those with disabilities those who are gifted or talented in some way Armstrong, Henson, & Savage Teaching Today, 7 th Edition Copyright ©2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved. 6-5

Federal Legislation Before 1975, children with disabilities were segregated from other learners. Many did not attend school at all. 1975—P.L – Education for All Handicapped Children Act 1990—Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 1992—Americans with Disabilities Act 2001—No Child Left Behind Act Armstrong, Henson, & Savage Teaching Today, 7 th Edition Copyright ©2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved. 6-6

Key principles from recent legislation: Policy of zero rejects Commitment to nondiscriminatory testing Provision of appropriate education—Individualized Education Programs (IEP) Instruction in the least-restrictive environment Due process rights of young people and their parents/guardians IEPs must be made with parental/guardian participation Beyond mainstreaming to inclusion Armstrong, Henson, & Savage Teaching Today, 7 th Edition Copyright ©2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved. 6-7

Educational Settings Traditional classroom Resource room Self-contained special class Separate school facility Residential setting Homebound Hospital setting Place students in the “least-restrictive” environment. Armstrong, Henson, & Savage Teaching Today, 7 th Edition Copyright ©2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved. 6-8

What do you think? What initial reactions do you expect from other members of the class? Specifically, what will you do to welcome these newcomers? What ideas do you have for encouraging present class members to make these new learners feel like a part of the group? Armstrong, Henson, & Savage Teaching Today, 7 th Edition Copyright ©2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved. 6-9

Learners with Specific Disabilities Speech Impairments Visual Impairments Hearing Impairments Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and other Specific Learning Disabilities Orthopedic Impairments Emotional Disturbances Mental Retardation Armstrong, Henson, & Savage Teaching Today, 7 th Edition Copyright ©2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved. 6-10

Armstrong, Henson, & Savage Teaching Today, 7 th Edition Copyright ©2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved. 6-11

Gifted Learners “Children who have outstanding intellectual ability or creative talent, the development of which requires special activities or services not ordinarily provided by local education agencies” P.L. 91– 230 Armstrong, Henson, & Savage Teaching Today, 7 th Edition Copyright ©2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved. 6-12

Issues Surrounding Gifted Learners Selection Peer Pressures Enrichment Programs Acceleration Programs Learner Potential Armstrong, Henson, & Savage Teaching Today, 7 th Edition Copyright ©2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved. 6-13