Teaching Students with Special Needs Chapter 5

Chapter five talks about how many students need instruction modification.  Many people believe that only students with special needs are the ones who need additional help or modified lessons, but the truth is that many students need some minor adjustment, or even sometimes just simplification of instructions to help them to tackle the lesson they are having difficulties with.  I myself could have benefited from simplified math instruction.  The student just may require manipulative to help them to better understand the problem.  Many factors play on the success of the student, and they are addressed in this chapter as it speaks of evaluating and giving feedback to students.  Modifying materials and activities, and making sure that directions are clear and easily understandable.  All of these will help the student reach the goals that are being addressed without stressing them out.

Teaching Students with Special Needs Chapter 2

This chapter was very interesting. In the first story about Marvin and Jake, I actually thought that they would both benefit from specialized classes. As I read further, I realized that Marvin was actually the one with issues that would better benefit from counseling and specialized classes. I can see that Jake is better suited to stay in a regular class setting. His issues would be better addressed by a general education teacher. It does not take much to fall behind in classes. A child could be having home problems that causes him to daydream or even sleep in class. This would cause them to fall behind quickly because they would be missing bits and pieces of information that may be critical in understanding their work. Intervention would be the best idea that is if you are able to get them the help they need before they require an IEP.

Teaching Students with Special Needs Chapter 4

The classroom has changed dramatically from the 1950's to present day.  In the 50's, there was segregation, and in the classroom there were still the small rural schools that taught in a one room class where all grade levels were together.  now, in today's time, we have a diverse group of students.  When students come from other countries, they are faced with new customs and traditions that are far from what they are used to.  This brings a challenge to teachers to reach a SLL that may also be suffering from the shock of their new surroundings.  Patience is the best friend of a teacher in this situation.  A gradual progression into the new surrounds is idea, but students are, for the most part, pushed into an often frightening new surroundings. There are also other factors that may interfere with the students education, such as, parental involvement or poverty.  A teacher should always take into account that they are unaware of a students home situation that may affect a students work and behavior.

Teaching Students with Special Needs Chapter 3

In this chapter, it talks about the different types of learning disabilities.  Many students are very bright, but only suffer in a certain subject.  They may need tutoring, or they may need to be coached on how to organize, or how to properly study the subject they are finding difficult.  There are the students that have behavioral disorders which keep them from focusing on learning.  They will need to address their learning gradually.  By doing this, it will eliminate some frustration with difficulties, and they may not act out as often. This chapter addresses several disabilities from mild to severe, and it also addresses the gifted and talented.  Each one of these have requirements in academic, behavioral, social, physical, and special needs.