1. Special Ed Classifications

2. Week Two Agenda: Review Portfolio Project Writing Prompt (attendance)
Special Ed Categories—PowerPoint
FAT City video
LD Simulations
Questions/Comments? Discussion

3. What is a Learning Disability?
A neurological disorder
A person’s brain is wired differently
Kids w/ LDs are as smart or smarter than peers
A LD can’t be cured or fixed; it’s a lifelong issue
With the right support and intervention, these kids with LDs can succeed in school!

4. Facts about Learning Disabilities
15% of the population, or 1 in 7 Americans, have an LD
Difficulty w/ basic reading and language skills are most common LDs
As many as 80% of students w/LDs have reading problems
Learning Disabilities often run in families
LDs should not be confused with other disabilities such as mental retardation, autism, ADHD, etc.

5. Students with LDs
Must be a severe discrepancy between the student’s ability and achievement.
This discrepancy can not be due to emotional impairments, cognitive impairment, cultural disadvantage, etc…

6. Learning Disabilities
Oral expression
Listening comprehension
Written expression
Basic reading skill
Reading comprehension
Mathematics calculation
Mathematics reasoning

7. Common Characteristics of LD Students
Short term memory
Easily distracted
May have difficulty copying information from the board/lectures
Lack of planning and organizational skills
May have difficulty expressing themselves verbally or in writing
May be able to do something one day, but not the next
Low self-esteem

8. Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder
Condition that becomes apparent in some children in preschool and early school years
Hard for these kids to control their behavior and/or pay attention
3-5% of kids have ADHD, so in class of it’s likely you’ll have at least one

9. Emotional Impairment Manifest problems in the affective domain
Behavior problems associated with an EI are:
Demonstrated over a period of time
Interfere with educational performance
To the extent that Spec. Ed. services are needed

10. Emotional Impairment
Behavior problems manifested through one or more of the following characteristics:
An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships within the school environment
Inappropriate types of behaviors or feelings under normal circumstances
General mood of unhappiness or depression
A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears in association with personal or school problems

11. Autism Spectrum Disorder
Wide variation in symptoms
Seems to be on the rise, but could be result of improved detection
Early diagnosis is important

12. Asperger’s syndrome Type of pervasive development disorder
Involves delays in development of basic skills, namely, ability to socialize, to communicate, & to use imagination
Typically these students will function better than those with Autism
Children w/Asperger’s generally have normal intelligence and near-normal language development, although they may develop problems communicating as they get older

13. More on Asperger’s… Problems with social skills
Eccentric or repetitive behaviors
Unusual preoccupations or rituals
Communication difficulties
Limited range of interests
Coordination problems
Skilled or talented

14. A few more to mention… Visual Impairment Hearing Impairment
Cognitive Impairment

15. The “Hidden” Impairment
Specific learning disabilities are often called “hidden impairments” because from looking at the person and talking to the person, they appear “normal” (whatever normal is….)
The fact that their disability is hidden can actually be a HUGE disadvantage to the child, since others may erroneously think that the child is lazy, not trying, etc…..

16. Fair does not equal Same
Being fair means providing what each student NEEDS.
Being fair does not mean treating everyone the same, since not everyone needs the same things.
Giving equal treatment means leveling the playing field so all students have an equal opportunity to grow, learn and be successful.

17. LD Instructional Strategies
Allow more time for student to complete work
Break assignments up into manageable chunks
Allow student to utilize technology (audio books/speech recording software/computer access etc…)
Teach using multiple formats that allow each student to learn through their particular learning style
Use mnemonics and other memory tricks
Model steps as you teach
Allow guided practice before asking student to show mastery independently
Give SPECIFIC Praise OFTEN!
Have consistent routines and procedures
Allow students to correct errors on assignments and tests to ensure mastery and to earn some points back
Accept late work – even if only for ½ credit – zeroes KILL

18. Learning Disabilities
Bottom line = Instructional strategies that are good for special ed students are good for ALL students.
Special ed/At-risk/ELL students MAY need more intensive versions of the strategies.

19. The BIG Idea You will have special ed students in your classes
It is your job to teach them and help them become successful individuals
Diversity is good = all will benefit
Don't assume you know everything about the student - especially if you weren't that kind of learner
BE FLEXIBLE
BE FAIR
Fair = give what is NEEDED
What is good for special ed students is what is good for ALL students

20. F.A.T. City Video
A brief introduction to what LD students experience daily to help develop some empathy and understanding
Understand the reasons for some accommodations

21. LD Simulation Activities
If you don’t really feel up to it today, or find as you are going that you don’t want to do these activities – TOO BAD!
LD students are expected to perform tasks daily that cause them to experience frustrations, anxiety and tension.

22. ACTIVITY 1 p d q b Reading and Decoding– how hard can it be?
This activity shows what it is like to read as a LD child
Even if you can decode something, it doesn’t mean comprehension is there.

23. ACTIVITY 2 Perceiving vs. Seeing
You can see the picture but you can’t perceive it. You need direct instruction from the teacher.
There’s a difference b/w vision and perception. You can see it but you can’t bring meaning to it until I tell you what it is.

24. ACTIVITY 3 ORAL EXPRESSION
GROUP STORY – Generating Ideas, Thinking of the right words, Organizing and Expressing thoughts
Experience shows how speaking can be a cognitive task for a LD child

25. ACTIVITY 4 Auditory and Visual Capabilities
What it’s like to be unable to understand something visually but it makes sense when you hear it aloud