SPED 3000 Chapter 9 Week 7

Technology in the classroom can be extremely useful if used when appropriate and not overly done. I think that it is important for children to know that there are other ways to get answers, take notes, or compute equations than just using technology. They may not always have the technology at their side so it is important for student to develop the skills they need to be independent from technology, while it is also important for them master certain tech items. I think that technology can be an integral part of special services for children with disabilities. In our class a few weeks ago, Jason mentioned that his wife records her students on a Ipod doing activities in the appropriate manner, then if the child begins acting inappropriately she gives them the Ipod with the video of the appropriate behavior playing to show them the correct way. This method has worked with her special needs students. Another incorporation of technology for special services could be allowing a student to use headphones to listen to music when they need a few calm moments. The assistive technology can be the students main mode of communication also. I watched an interview with a teenage girl that has severe autism. She has an Ipad of some kind that she used to communicate with those around her. She cannot talk or write, but after research she is finally able to communicate for the first time through technology. Inventions like that make incorporating technology so much more important. In cases such as hers, using the technology is greatly important. It is less severe cases that educators need to be careful in making sure the students do not become too dependent.

SPED Chapter 8 Week 6

When a student walks into their classroom the immediate atmosphere of the room begins to either damper or simulate their mind. The teacher needs to not be afraid of decorating their classes. Even if the wall space is limited due to boards or fire codes, there are other ways to make the classroom an inviting learning environment. Color can be incorporated into the classroom in a variety of ways to make it more inviting for young kids. When the students sit down for the day the placement of their desk as well as the other students around them affects their outlook for the day. As a teacher it is important to assess your students and their needs and design the classroom layout to best fit that group of students. What works one year may not work the next. Each group that walks through the classroom door has different needs. It is also important for a teacher to remain organized within the paperwork required. I think teachers need to be as prepared as possible because you never know what may happen to throw you off schedule. Children with certain specials needs do not take well to change and if the teacher tries to be prepared the changes that do take place may go over more smoothly. Having rules set in place in your classroom is also a good practice. Children do succeed and learn better if they have a limits and boundaries as well as a schedule. Overall, the environment as a whole in the classroom affects the students not only in their school performance but in their performances outside of school as well.

SPED Chapter 5 Week 5

I think this chapter gives great information on individualizing students' education needs. I think as a classroom teacher it may be difficult to not just modify all of the lessons, but to make sure to modify them in such a way that it helps the student learn without making it too easy for them. The goal is that the work be challenging for the child but not so hard that they become frustrated and give up. Students may have academic problems in any of the three learning stages. The teacher needs to figure out exactly where the modifications need to take place. Teachers need to begin the modification process in stages. Choose the least intrusive tactic first and assess the results of the change before moving on to more intrusive modifications. I would think that finding the best modification can be challenging for the teacher but also an adventure if they want to look at it that way. Each child is different and I will be excited to try to figure out just how to help them learn the concepts.

SPED 3000 Week 4

It takes a team of professionals to ensure that a child with spherical needs receives the care and education that they deserve. I have set in on a team meeting with my mom about my brother before. I was truly blessed to witness the love that his educators had for him. He was in 2nd grade at this time and his teacher was so awesome with him. She sat in the meeting surrounded by other school officials and cried as she talked about the progress that my brother had made that year. Bringing the parents, family members, and educators together can allow each of those people to view the child in a different light. However, it is very important for every one of the IEP team to communicate regularly and effectively. I have seen that some teachers are do not follow the IEP as they should, feeling like the modifications make their work too easy. The parents need to make sure their child is getting the modifications that they need, and the school officials need to respond immediately when a teacher is not following the IEP.

Chapter 4

As the years pass, the population is school systems are becoming more diverse. At the school where my mom works, they have seen many more ELL students enroll. With ELL students the teacher also need to consider the parents and whether or not they speak English. With the growing number of ELL students, the teachers have had to dig deeper in their teaching and curriculum to ensure all students are presented the material in a ways they can learn. The language barrier is becoming smaller and smaller the more teachers and students work together.
Family diversity is another characteristic that teachers need to keep in mind in their classroom. Again, at the school my mom works in, this had become more prominent over the last five years. The students may not live with mom or dad anymore. Many are living with grandparents, where there is a great gap in the education from their youth and the education system of today. The grandparents may not be able to help the children with school work because they may not have went to school themselves. It is hard to really know the child's home life. I think the teacher should try to find out as much important information as possible to ensure the children all have equal opportunities.
It does not matter what characteristic of a child sets them apart from others, as a teacher I will do everything I can to make sure when that child walks out of my room they know someone cares.

SPED Week 2 Chapter 3

Chapter three goes into detail about the possible disabilities and special needs that teachers might encounter in their classroom. I think that this chapter did a good job of explaining the different needs and how they are included in the general education classroom. My ten year old brother has special needs and he is in a general classroom room the majority of the school week. He does not have a particular disability that the doctors can diagnose. Up until this school year, he was "labeled" as having a developmental delay. However, the school system does not recognize developmental delay after third grade so the doctor finally decided to say he has Asperger's Syndrome. I am able to watch him from an educator's viewpoint now instead of a sister's and I can see the challenge it may be for some. I think that the fact that he doesn't learn like everyone else, and that he has different needs than others is what would make being his teacher so much more rewarding. When he cannot understand a new concept, it is amazing to see his eyes light up when that part clicks into place. He loves to learn and wants to learn, and he CAN learn. I wish that more teachers would accept that they are now special education teachers as well as general education teachers. Some of the children may be challenging at times, but doesn't that make the reward so much sweeter?

SPED 3000 Week 1

The first chapter of this book talks about the beginnings of special education and the reforms that have came about since. I have studied special education before and I have experience with children with special needs. However, this chapter opened my eyes up even more to the progress that special education has made in America. I feel sympathy for the students that were barred from school and the teachers that wished to see change and did not know where to begin. I am glad that the reforms began and that America is well on its way to reaching as many kids as possible. I know that there could still be improvements but things today are much better than they were 30 years ago.