1. Push-in teaching strategies in a small school
PITS
Push-in teaching strategies in a small school
Jennifer Kay Stone, Amanda Barton,
Federal Programs Director Special Education Teacher/Evaluator

2. Special Education is a Service, not a place.
~jks
Everyone has To Be Flexible

3. What Push-In Teaching Looks Like?
Collaboration Not Co-teaching
Alternative for strict guidelines of Co-teaching
Alternative for Small Student Populations
1-2 special education teachers services a variety of grade levels or content areas
Work with multiple teachers during the same period of day
No regular schedule of being in classrooms
Push-In teaching minutes are not services provided
Supports LRE Goals (Least Restrictive Environment)

4. 3 Branches of Special Education
School Building
Special Education
Teacher
Director
Paraprofessional

5. SpEd Teacher Communication is Key Admin GenEd Para Teacher Student
Cycle of Meetings

6. Role of Special Education Teacher
Learning Expert
Content Supporter
Co-teacher
Helps differentiate instruction
Levels the playing field
Monitors accommodations and modifications implementation
Monitors IEP goal progression
Fosters relationship between general education teacher and paraprofessional
Weekly meetings
General education teacher
Paraprofessionals
Administrator
Interpret evaluation information and how it affects learning

7. Weekly Meeting Log Week of ­­­______________________________________
Staff member(s)
Student / Updates
Staff Concerns
Outcome

8. Staff Contact Log
Staff member(s)
Date / Admin
Topic / Student
Notes

9. Role of Administration
Support Everyone
Require it
Accountability
Work with building principals
Liaison between teacher, special education teacher, students, parents, and outside community resources

10. Role of Para-Professional
Knows Responsibilities
Works Closely with Special Education Teacher
Daily discussions
Weekly meetings
Monitors Progress in the General education classroom
Paraprofessional Log
Monitors IEP goals to report progression to SPED teacher
Assist with accommodations and modifications
Open and interactive with general education teacher and special education teacher

11. Paraprofessional Log Week of ­­­______________________________________
Class
Students / Updates
Concerns
Assignments

12. Role of Content Teacher
Content Expert
Weekly meetings with special education teacher
Open classroom to special education teacher and paraprofessional
Co-teaching atmosphere
Comfortable with SPED teacher and para coming in at anytime
Treat all students equally in the classroom
Assist in accommodations and modifications with IEP students
Let Special Education teacher know of lesson plan changes
Understand responsibilities and expectations with PITS

13. Role of Students
Work appropriately with general education teacher, special education teacher, and paraprofessional
Treat special education students as equals in the classroom
Viking Character Development
Group work
Accommodations/modifications
Complete grade-level curriculum

14. Modification and Accommodations
Special education teacher oversees the implementation in the general education classroom
General education teacher accommodates and modifies assignments with guidance from SPED teacher and IEP
Paraprofessional implements acc/mod from instructions given by special education teacher
Students have a responsibility to know and understand their own acc/mod
Documentation for initial conversation should be signed and dated by both teachers
Special education teacher keeps documentation done by the implementation team in student working file
General education teacher and paraprofessional document their contribution as needed and share at weekly meetings

15. Schedule…. I have no schedule
Let all stakeholders know that the special education staff schedules are tentative.
Issues arise that cause us to not be where our schedule says.
Create tentative calendar/schedule for meetings
Again everyone understands possibility of change
Communication, Communication, Communication
Let teachers know of change if possible

16. Schedule…. Tell me where to go Paraprofessional Schedule
Schedule is less flexible
Based on greatest student need
Follows schedule created by SPED teacher
SPED teacher will change schedule if requests are made by general education teachers.

17. This is how we roll….
This is what we do at La Monte R-IV. Every school is different, and it is finding what works for you.
PITS will not work for every teacher.
Modifying things as you roll along.
BE FLEXIBLE

18. Q & A
Don’t be afraid to ask!