Integrating the Core Curriculum & the Expanded Core

CurriculumSharon Zell Sacks, Ph.D

Director of Curriculum, Assessment, & Staff Development

California School for the Blind

Why Standards-based Curriculum? Legislative Mandates

Elementary & Secondary Education Act: No Child Left Behind (2001)

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004)

Evidence-based Student Outcomes Emphasis on assessment & formal testing Preparation for a technologically advanced

society

Why the Expanded Core Curriculum Students with visual impairments require a

disability-specific-curriculum to develop skills in the following areas: Independent travel (Orientation & Mobility) Use of specialized technology (Assistive Technology) Ability to interact with others & be a self-advocate (Social

Skills/Self-Determination) Ability to take care of oneself (Activities of Daily Living) Preparation for work (Career Development) Knowledge of sports & leisure (Recreational Skills)

Barriers to the ECC High Stakes Testing

Caseload Size & Time

Administrative push toward less direct service & more consultation

Commitment to the ECC TVIs & O&Ms have knowledge of the ECC

& view it as important

Families have moderate commitment. Academic success is essential Families want support to teach the ECC Alternate ways to teach the ECC

AREAS OF THE EXPANDED CORE

Assistive Technology Computer Skills Screen Readers Scanners Braille Note-Takers Magnification Software Using the Internet Scientific Calculator & Math Software

Career Development Career Awareness Work Experience Work Behaviors Volunteer Work Knowledge of Jobs & Job Skills Work Alternatives Department of Rehabilitation

Compensatory Skills Instruction in Braille Reading & Writing

Communication Skills

Instruction in Concept Development

Adaptations & Modifications to Academics

Daily Living Skills Personal Care Dressing & Clothing Personal Management Money Manangement Cooking Cleaning & Home Management

Orientation & Mobility Body Concepts Orientation Skills Human Guide Travel in School Route Planning Neighborhood Travel Community Travel Public Transportation Paratransit Services

Recreation & Leisure Skills Develop of Play Skills Awareness of age-appropriate activities Board Games Hobbies Aerobic Activities Sports Community Recreation Computer Games & Social Networks

Self-Determination Awareness of self & Abilities Understanding of visual impairment Self-Advocacy Skills

Sensory Efficiency Use of Functional Vision Visual Perception Skills Listening Skills Auditory Awareness & Processing Tactile Awareness Use of Olfactory & Taste Senses

Social Interaction Social Awareness skills Social Interaction Skills Development of Friendships & Social

Relationships Social Perspective Taking Social Etiquette

How to Integrate ECC with the Core

Assessment Assistive Technology

Functional Vision Assessment

Assessment of Learning Media Reading Assessments Mathematics Assessment

IEP Development Assessment drives IEP content Group Process Goals & objectives must be measureable &

based on evidence-based outcomes Progress monitoring Checklists Rubrics Work samples/ Portfolios

California Braille Reading & Math Standards

Structure of the Standards Content standard for reading, language arts, &

mathematics Braille standard Alternative standard & activities for students with visual

impairments & additional disabilities (taken from Special Education Administrators of County Offices of Education (SEACO) Curriculum

CSB Activities: Additional Activities for students with visual impairments that allign with the ECC

Example of Grade 4 English Language Arts Standard

Comprehension & Analysis

2.3 Make and confirm predictions about text by using prior knowledge and ideas presented in the text itself, including illustrations, titles, topic sentences, important words, and foreshadowing clues.*

Braille Standard Braille Standard

Make and confirm predictions about text by using prior knowledge and ideas presented in the text itself, including illustrations (adapted) or transcriber's note, titles, topic sentences, important words, and foreshadowing clues.

Alternative Standard SEACO Standard 8/9 - Follow one-step written

instructions/ Follow two-step written instructions follow schedule(s) (FPI 8.2/9.2) follow community symbol directions (FPI 8.3/9.3) follow written or pictorial recipe (FPI 8.5/9.5)

CSB Activities CSB Activities Discuss multiple ways predictions are made through the use

of textual materials. (Compensatory/Braille) After reading grade-level texts or literature, have student

predict the conclusion of a story by using information gathered from the story. Encourage students to use clues from the title, the text itself, pictures, or transcriber's notes. (Compensatory/ /Braille)

When reading news magazines or specific news articles, encourage students to predict the outcome of an issue by citing quotes from the text as a predictive indicator. (Compensatory)

More CSB Activities During a current events activity, read and discuss newspaper

articles. Encourage students to predict the outcome of the story by reviewing the title of the news story or from passages within the news story. (Compensatory)

Read and discuss work-related scenarios to students. Ask students to predict the outcome of the scenario by using the information from the story, or their own personal experiences. (Career/Vocational)

During an orientation and mobility lesson provide students with a set of directions to a spot on campus. Ask students to predict their destination through the use of context clues

Example of a Grade 7 Math Standard Measurement and Geometry

1.0 Students choose appropriate units of measure and use ratios to convert within and between measurement systems to solve problems:

1.1 Compare weights, capacities, geometric measures, times, and temperatures within and between measurement systems (e.g., miles per hour and feet per second, cubic inches to cubic centimeters).

Braille Standard Using accepted Braille mathematics code and

formatting and measurement and geometric materials designed for blind users, compare weights, capacities, geometric measures, times, and temperatures within and between measurement systems (e.g., miles per hour and feet per second, cubic inches to cubic centimeters).

Alternative Standard Standard 15 - Identify and describe common geometric

objects.

relate shapes to common objects (i.e., cone to ice cream cone; sphere to ball; cube to block (FPI 15.4)

Stnadard 16- Compare the length, width, and volume of two or more objects by using direct comparison or a non-standard unit.

CSB Activities Have students keep track of the weather according to the

time of day. Keep a log. (Compensatory/ADL)

Have students keep an individual log of their height and weight, and compare it to other peers or to charts of standard weight and heights by age and gender. (ADL/Recreation & Leisure)

Have students estimate the wight and measurements of a variety of objects and compare them. (ADL/Compensatory)

Solutions for Integrating the ECC Collaboration with Special Purpose Schools or

Programs

Clearing House for ECC Materials

Increased Emphasis in Pre-Service & Inservice Training

Training for School Administrators