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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 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.

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

16. 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

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