M2 U3 Activity 1: Students with Learning Difficulties
Project Description
Overview Classroom teachers have an integral role in creating an inclusive classroom for students with disabilities. They need to identify and monitor struggling students and intervene with teaching strategies for improving students' academic and behavioral performance. Teachers are critical in the process of identifying students who may need special services. Therefore, it is important to understand the special education referral process and signs to look for in a struggling student. In this activity, you will have the opportunity to interview regular and special education teachers about the referral process in their schools. Performance outcomes
Candidates identify signs that a student is struggling and discuss possible ways to help students with disabilities or refer them for special education services.
What will you do?
1. Interview two teachers or administrators at your school or in your cohort to find out how the needs of students with learning disabilities are identified and met in your school. If you can, include in your interviews a special education teacher or school counselor, preferably one who has experience with students with special needs.
2. Through your interviews and interactions with the cohort determine the following:
What are the signs of a struggling student?
How can differentiated instruction be used to assist students who are struggling?
How do teachers involve parents in helping struggling students?
How do you determine if a student should be referred to special education services?
What is the school administration's directive for special education?
3. Share a summary of the interviews with your cohort in the Discussion Forum to understand varying perspectives. Include any differentiated instruction strategies that you have researched separately or discovered during the interview, including ones from your own experiences.
4. Create a flowchart illustrating the process that you would like to follow in your own classroom to identify and help a struggling student. You can use the special education referral process followed by your school, if one is already in place. Use a mind mapping tool such as Coggle or MindMaple to create and share your flowchart. Be sure to include your first name and last name on the mind map.
Activity requirements
Post summary of teacher interviews in the Discussion Forum, including strategies for differentiated instruction.
Create a flowchart illustrating the special education process in your classroom using Coggle or MindMaple with your name on the flowchart.
My flowchart illustrates
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