I agree Tracy. Not only do some of our gen ed teachers not follow IEPs, but neither do some of the special ed teachers! I am trying to fix this at my school. I am looking for suggestions.
Don't know if that is the only issue. I have heard general education teachers say that they do not want special needs students as part of their class because they do not have the training to deal with them. How sad is that.
True. But more and more teachers are finding that they are having the same difficulty with gen ed students and teachers are having to differentiate instruction for all kids.
Cindy, unfortunately there are two major trends happening in special education. First, special education teachers are losing their specialty endorsements like emotional disturbance. Next, administrators are now feeling like in most cases the general education teacher should be able to make adjustments to learning levels without special education teachers. Are you noticing this trend?
Yes, I am noticing this trend. Some administrators are even getting rid of all resource classes and including those kids in the gen ed classes. Schools now get points for including kids in gen ed with the new growth model. What ever happened to "children first"?
Cindy I wish I had more insight into Special Educations but unfortunately I don't. I recently took the class that discusses accessibility in the classroom and I not only learned more than I every intended but I think I grew as a person. I think this is an area that if you are not personally affected it's hard to connect. Also, as a mother its hard to face the reality that your own child may require special needs. I an anxious to view your posts and hope to gain valuable information and insight.
Gen ed teachers are also having the same issues. They have only taken one to two classes about special ed, yet these students are in their classrooms every day! One teacher that I co-teach with has 17 special ed kids in his room and only 15 gen ed. We work very well with each other. As I always tell the staff at my school when I am making presentations, "good teachers make accommodations and modifications for all students!"
I think the biggest issue that I deal with is time. My special ed students need and deserve my time, but not to the detriment of my other students. With budgets so tightly stretched, the support needed is not always available.
Cindy, I enjoyed looking at your blog. Because we have like interest in education, I look forward to following you and looking at your future posts. Thanks for sharing....
Thanks Mark. One thing new that special ed teachers have to do now id progress monitor. We have to make sure our students are showing growth. Never a dull moment!
One of the concerns I am having is with our Co-taught (CC) classes. The problem is with some of the special ed teachers who are going into the gen ed classes. Sometimes they do not show up or are very late. One of our special ed teachers told me last month that he just realized that there were no special ed kids in his 6th period class the whole year. Although I am the special ed department chair and district liaision, I do not have the power to make them do their jobs. I do have administrative support, but these issues have continued for 3 years and the gen ed teachers hate having to do the CC classes. I was thinking of having a sign in and out sheet for the special ed teachers and the gen ed teacher will submit it to our supervisor weekly. Any other suggestions?
I think that's an excellent way to document. I bet there is an online tool that you could use for check in check out. I know there is an online scheduling tool. HUMMMM you got me curious.
I will have to look. We were supposed to get iPads for special ed teachers to keep track of students goals. We are hesitant to use them because the same special ed teacher who read books in the back of the gen ed classrooms would be playing games. Sad we have to monitor adults more than the students!
For all the special ed teachers in Clark County School District: we will no longer have self-contained Emotionally Disturbed, or Servere Learning Disabled classes. They will now be combined into a SDC class: Severe Diversely Challenged. It will also include other disabilities like autism. Good luck to us all!
Unfortunately Cindy, this is the kind of crap special education teachers have to endure all of the time. A school district would never create one room and call it math and or another room called science with all types of learners housed in one learning environment. Yet, because there is high need and low number applicants, they are going to force teachers in roles that they are not qualified for. Why don't they come up with a better plan like more money and incentive's for these programs.
I agree Mark. A lot of people still think we get paid to deal with the kids we work with. Things will change when a parent sues because her sweet little autstic chiled was harmed by the emotionally disturbed student who just got out of the psych ward!
My biggest SPED issue is my co-teacher :) She is great! I worry that even though her and I work so well together, that instead of keeping us together to coteach next year, they will have me co-teach with another teacher. It seems like whenever something is working, they change it and try something else.
Thanks! I will be making our schedules next year so I will be with you again! I am warning you about the kids ahead of time. We might have to have two CC classes since there are 18 kids. Whew!
Great video Mark. I never knew Autism in Greek means self-ness. Being from Chicago, I knew about The Second City, but I like how they have the Player's workshop and people with Aspergers (now Autism spectrum disorder) participate in the worshops. Improv and role playing are important for these people. Thanks!
Amazing and sad that as we near the end of school year, some of our special ed teachers are alacking off even more. Our special ed administrator and I have come up with a great idea though. We are going to create a check list to make sure every IEP is in compliance. They will do a self check, and then someone else will check it again. Our administrator will get a copy, the special ed teacher will get a copy, and so will the liaisian (currently me). We will watch for negative patterns and the teacher who are consistently having issues, will have to deal with administration. It is one way we can be accountable as Tracy stated in her post on 3-8.
Did you find an online checklist that you could use? You could always use Google Docs and have a checklist developed that people could sing off on and make comments.
I just attending a meeting about how to create a master schedule to more fully support our students with disabilities. Nothing like telling me all this useful information after 7 years!
I guess so. Now I just have to talk to my principal and see what her ideas are. She does the master schedule but it affects what I do next year. I would like to know who I am co-teaching with and what subjects.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get my middle school students to practice reading? I suggest to the parents that they put at least one show a night on closed caption so their kids have to read it to watch it. It really helps with fluency. How many parents really make their kids do this though?
My school use to have Stop-Drop-Read (SDR)for 15 minutes everyday during the last period of the day. It helped many students. Many of our students do not have the opportunity to read at home. I tell them to get in bed and read themselves to sleep. If the book is good you will not put it down.
Our principal stopped that at our school. Each classroom was supposed to read for the first 5 minutes of every period. I think some teachers were abusing it. Instead of reading for 5 minutes every day, one science teacher had them read twice a week for 15 minutes.
Maybe you could have them read a portion of a book in a different accent, voice, pitch, tone etc. and record it into a podcast or video. They could even add background music or sound effects. Each student could read a different section and you could combined it at the end.
Here is a list of 20 tool sites that encourage reading. Hopefully you will find something helpful. http://literacylaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/11/20-sites-and-tools-to-encourage.html
I know that our school uses a mentor program as a way to have educators become open and enthusiastic about classroom collaboration. New educators are mentored by tenured faculty in their department. This may be a good way to draw people in to co-teaching.
Thanks Krystal. I am department chair, so I usually mentor the new teachers. Unfortunatly, I think they need to hear from higher ups to explain the laws and why we must follow them. I am just a fellow teacher.
Our special education teacher does not see the kids as the IEP requires. The teachers continue to voice this to the principal but little is done to make a change.
Thank you for that little bit of vomit I just experienced Mark. You know that is probably what will happen and our academic culture will be no better for it.
Me too! I went out with my husband for the first time since this class started. It was like a blind date since I havn't had time for us! We went to the movies to see a movie of a Grateful dead concert from 1989. It was nice to do something different other than computers. We had a great time only to be ruined today by finding out I need a root canal and having the dentist drain the infection. After losing 40lbs I was upset that my face is fat again!
Now that I'm done I am going to take a NAP. I haven't taken a nap in over a year because when my daughter sleeps I do homework. I have enjoyed working with all of you and hope to stay in touch. Thanks and Congratulations!
Ineffective inclusion practices and no accountability.
ReplyDeleteI agree Tracy. Not only do some of our gen ed teachers not follow IEPs, but neither do some of the special ed teachers! I am trying to fix this at my school. I am looking for suggestions.
DeleteDon't know if that is the only issue. I have heard general education teachers say that they do not want special needs students as part of their class because they do not have the training to deal with them. How sad is that.
DeleteTrue. But more and more teachers are finding that they are having the same difficulty with gen ed students and teachers are having to differentiate instruction for all kids.
DeleteCindy, unfortunately there are two major trends happening in special education. First, special education teachers are losing their specialty endorsements like emotional disturbance. Next, administrators are now feeling like in most cases the general education teacher should be able to make adjustments to learning levels without special education teachers. Are you noticing this trend?
DeleteYes, I am noticing this trend. Some administrators are even getting rid of all resource classes and including those kids in the gen ed classes. Schools now get points for including kids in gen ed with the new growth model. What ever happened to "children first"?
DeleteCindy I wish I had more insight into Special Educations but unfortunately I don't. I recently took the class that discusses accessibility in the classroom and I not only learned more than I every intended but I think I grew as a person. I think this is an area that if you are not personally affected it's hard to connect. Also, as a mother its hard to face the reality that your own child may require special needs. I an anxious to view your posts and hope to gain valuable information and insight.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Krystal
Gen ed teachers are also having the same issues. They have only taken one to two classes about special ed, yet these students are in their classrooms every day! One teacher that I co-teach with has 17 special ed kids in his room and only 15 gen ed. We work very well with each other. As I always tell the staff at my school when I am making presentations, "good teachers make accommodations and modifications for all students!"
DeleteI think the biggest issue that I deal with is time. My special ed students need and deserve my time, but not to the detriment of my other students. With budgets so tightly stretched, the support needed is not always available.
ReplyDeleteCindy, I enjoyed looking at your blog. Because we have like interest in education, I look forward to following you and looking at your future posts. Thanks for sharing....
ReplyDeleteThanks Mark. One thing new that special ed teachers have to do now id progress monitor. We have to make sure our students are showing growth. Never a dull moment!
DeleteOne of the concerns I am having is with our Co-taught (CC) classes. The problem is with some of the special ed teachers who are going into the gen ed classes. Sometimes they do not show up or are very late. One of our special ed teachers told me last month that he just realized that there were no special ed kids in his 6th period class the whole year. Although I am the special ed department chair and district liaision, I do not have the power to make them do their jobs. I do have administrative support, but these issues have continued for 3 years and the gen ed teachers hate having to do the CC classes. I was thinking of having a sign in and out sheet for the special ed teachers and the gen ed teacher will submit it to our supervisor weekly. Any other suggestions?
ReplyDeleteI think that's an excellent way to document. I bet there is an online tool that you could use for check in check out. I know there is an online scheduling tool. HUMMMM you got me curious.
DeleteI will have to look. We were supposed to get iPads for special ed teachers to keep track of students goals. We are hesitant to use them because the same special ed teacher who read books in the back of the gen ed classrooms would be playing games. Sad we have to monitor adults more than the students!
DeleteFor all the special ed teachers in Clark County School District: we will no longer have self-contained Emotionally Disturbed, or Servere Learning Disabled classes. They will now be combined into a SDC class: Severe Diversely Challenged. It will also include other disabilities like autism. Good luck to us all!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately Cindy, this is the kind of crap special education teachers have to endure all of the time. A school district would never create one room and call it math and or another room called science with all types of learners housed in one learning environment. Yet, because there is high need and low number applicants, they are going to force teachers in roles that they are not qualified for. Why don't they come up with a better plan like more money and incentive's for these programs.
DeleteI agree Mark. A lot of people still think we get paid to deal with the kids we work with. Things will change when a parent sues because her sweet little autstic chiled was harmed by the emotionally disturbed student who just got out of the psych ward!
DeleteMy biggest SPED issue is my co-teacher :) She is great! I worry that even though her and I work so well together, that instead of keeping us together to coteach next year, they will have me co-teach with another teacher. It seems like whenever something is working, they change it and try something else.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I will be making our schedules next year so I will be with you again! I am warning you about the kids ahead of time. We might have to have two CC classes since there are 18 kids. Whew!
ReplyDeleteGreat Website!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wrightslaw.com/
Wrightslaw is the leading website about special education law and advocacy. It has many articles, cases, and free resources.
Thanks for the website. This will be a create resource for our Learning Enhancement Center Coordinator, and all other faculty.
DeleteThanks,
Krystal
Cindy, I just found a great video on Autism I would love to share with you. http://youtu.be/WN1bKV5nxy0
ReplyDeleteGreat video Mark. I never knew Autism in Greek means self-ness. Being from Chicago, I knew about The Second City, but I like how they have the Player's workshop and people with Aspergers (now Autism spectrum disorder) participate in the worshops. Improv and role playing are important for these people. Thanks!
DeleteAmazing and sad that as we near the end of school year, some of our special ed teachers are alacking off even more. Our special ed administrator and I have come up with a great idea though. We are going to create a check list to make sure every IEP is in compliance. They will do a self check, and then someone else will check it again. Our administrator will get a copy, the special ed teacher will get a copy, and so will the liaisian (currently me). We will watch for negative patterns and the teacher who are consistently having issues, will have to deal with administration. It is one way we can be accountable as Tracy stated in her post on 3-8.
ReplyDeleteCindy,
ReplyDeleteDid you find an online checklist that you could use? You could always use Google Docs and have a checklist developed that people could sing off on and make comments.
Thanks,
Krystal
Thanks Krystal. I think this would be a great idea. I never thought of the comment section.
ReplyDeleteI just attending a meeting about how to create a master schedule to more fully support our students with disabilities. Nothing like telling me all this useful information after 7 years!
ReplyDeleteBetter late than never :)
ReplyDeleteI guess so. Now I just have to talk to my principal and see what her ideas are. She does the master schedule but it affects what I do next year. I would like to know who I am co-teaching with and what subjects.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have any suggestions on how to get my middle school students to practice reading? I suggest to the parents that they put at least one show a night on closed caption so their kids have to read it to watch it. It really helps with fluency. How many parents really make their kids do this though?
ReplyDeleteMy school use to have Stop-Drop-Read (SDR)for 15 minutes everyday during the last period of the day. It helped many students. Many of our students do not have the opportunity to read at home. I tell them to get in bed and read themselves to sleep. If the book is good you will not put it down.
DeleteOur principal stopped that at our school. Each classroom was supposed to read for the first 5 minutes of every period. I think some teachers were abusing it. Instead of reading for 5 minutes every day, one science teacher had them read twice a week for 15 minutes.
DeleteThis is a great idea, I never thought of it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could have them read a portion of a book in a different accent, voice, pitch, tone etc. and record it into a podcast or video. They could even add background music or sound effects. Each student could read a different section and you could combined it at the end.
Here is a list of 20 tool sites that encourage reading. Hopefully you will find something helpful.
http://literacylaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/11/20-sites-and-tools-to-encourage.html
I never thought about having them read in a different accent. they will love it! Thanks for the site. It will be very useful.
ReplyDeleteAnyone have any ideas for great co-teaching classes? Are they effective?
ReplyDeleteI know that our school uses a mentor program as a way to have educators become open and enthusiastic about classroom collaboration. New educators are mentored by tenured faculty in their department. This may be a good way to draw people in to co-teaching.
ReplyDeleteThanks Krystal. I am department chair, so I usually mentor the new teachers. Unfortunatly, I think they need to hear from higher ups to explain the laws and why we must follow them. I am just a fellow teacher.
DeleteOur special education teacher does not see the kids as the IEP requires. The teachers continue to voice this to the principal but little is done to make a change.
ReplyDeleteThe teacher will probably become an administrator.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that little bit of vomit I just experienced Mark. You know that is probably what will happen and our academic culture will be no better for it.
ReplyDeletePost a new topic :)
ReplyDeleteHow about the topic of what are we going to do now that we are done with our masters? Go for Phd? HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMy computer has been complaining that I run it day and night. It wants a vacation and I am giving it one right after the class is over!
ReplyDeleteMe too! I went out with my husband for the first time since this class started. It was like a blind date since I havn't had time for us! We went to the movies to see a movie of a Grateful dead concert from 1989. It was nice to do something different other than computers. We had a great time only to be ruined today by finding out I need a root canal and having the dentist drain the infection. After losing 40lbs I was upset that my face is fat again!
ReplyDeleteI think instead of having a graduation party I may call it an "I'm Back!" party as I will have the chance to re-enter society. :)
ReplyDeleteNow that I'm done I am going to take a NAP. I haven't taken a nap in over a year because when my daughter sleeps I do homework. I have enjoyed working with all of you and hope to stay in touch. Thanks and Congratulations!
ReplyDelete