Orientations to Teaching and Learning

Janis Braue

New Survivor Show

Greatest Challenges Facing Special Educators Today

Special Education Today

• The number of special education students who spend the majority of their day in general education classes is increasing every year.

• Some of these classes have the support of a consultant or a special education teacher.

Special Education Today

• 15%-25% of all students have a learning or behavior problem.

• Specific Learning Disabilities continues to be the most prevalent disability.

• SLD is 5 times more prevalent that Emotional Disturbance.

Special Education Today

• Students with Autism increased from 10,000 in 1992 to 65,000 in 2001.

• 1 out of every 110 births • 1 out of every 70 males• 57% increase from 2002 to 2006• 600% increase in 20 years

Theories• Better evaluations • Increasing environmental risks• Misidentification/have not been

taught• Children living in poverty• Medical science keeps children

alive

Types of Disabilities• 11% of all students between the

ages of 6-13 have a disability.• 75% SLD or SLI• 9% MR• 6% ED• 5% OHI• Other disabilities <2%

Student Problems• Academics• Attention• Hyperactivity• Memory• Language• Aggression• Withdrawn behavior• Bizarre behavior

Questions to Consider• Length of time?• How severe?• Is progress being made?• Motivation?• Instruction?• Relationship with teacher?

Response to Intervention

• Multi-tiered interventions• Data collection system• Ongoing progress monitoring• Preventative approach to special

education• Early intervention

Special Education• Specialized instruction• Related services• Assistive technology• Student goals• Research-based methods• Program is driven by student

performance

IDEA• IDEA ‘97 mandated greater

access to the general curriculum for students with special needs.

• IDEA ‘04 emphasized academic performance goals and accountability consistent with the standards for non-disabled peers.

Learning Environments

• Mainstreaming - placing students with disabilities part-time in the regular classroom

• Inclusion- placing students with disabilities full-time in the regular classroom

Do special education students receive the

academic and behavioral support

that they require in a regular classroom?

Instructional Cycle• Set instructional goals

• Plan instruction

• Instruct, evaluate, modify instruction based on evaluation

Assessment• Formal• Informal• Reading inventories• Observations• Work Samples

Graphs, Charts & Records

• Graphs & Charts used to measure progress on one behavior or skill (Figures 1.4 & 1.5)

• Performance Records measure a set of skills for a long length of time (Figure 1.7)

• Process Records: Portfolios, Learning Logs, & Dialogue Journals measure performance over time (Figure 1.8)

Design Instruction• Use assessment data• Group students• Set instructional targets• Prepare a schedule• Set up a system• Identify students who need more

help

Scaffolding• Apply the Concept 1.2 p. 23

• Teach new information in small steps

• Use systematic instruction• Practice until the student can

complete the activity independently.