Students placed in the general class are expected to achieve without support and assistance. At our school we have two special edication teachers and four paras. We go to the students classes with them and know what they are doing in class, so if they are strugling with that assignment we know how to do it.
We are a small school with one special ed. teachers and three paras at present. But we are able to give the accommodations they need and help them in the areas they struggle with. Taking notes along with them and helping them get their assignments in on time is something that I think is really helpful to them.
I agree with you Pam some of our students are expected to do their work without para support. Then thats when their grades start going down because they don't know how to do it. So thats were we come in and assist them so they don't fall behind.
Being a former teacher I have seen so many different learning levels. We as teachers and paras have to be able to accommodate those learning levels and better assist the students that struggle more than others so they don't fall behind and fail.
I agree with this because if we didn't go to the classrooms with the students, then we wouldn't know how to accomidate assignments or homework when needed.
With my kids that I do I will do the work sheets or homework that we do and when they come to ask for help I am on top of it and know where to find it and help them along to find the answer so they don't spend a whole class hour on it but I think is has helped them a bunch
Yes, I agree that it is very important to assist our students with their needs, but we also have to keep in mind that some students don't like to have a para next to them; they want their space. I think as adults we know when it's the appropriate time to be around them or when we should just observe from a distance.
We have students that we cut down there work to make it easier for them to understand it. I have students say why don't they have to do the hard stuff like us. So then I'm having to explain that all kids don't learn the same way and thats why they do different work from them.
I know what you mean Erica. Sometimes a general ed student will question why our student gets a "lesser" assignment than the rest of the class. But they accept the fact that special needs students need a little extra help.
I hear that comment quite often but if you just explain to the student who doesn't need the extra help why the student is receiving extra help they usually back off and understand. You have to make sure you don't belittle the special ed. Student when explaining.
Sometimes I have regular students ask me why I am helping the sped students more than them. I usually reply that if they also have a question or need help that I would be happy to help them also, if needed.
As to the myth that curriculum is watered down for special needs students... We do make adaptations and modifications for our special needs students. Some of the other students (few) have commented about this but none seem to get really upset with it.
John, your comment is very appropriate and true. I think if we continue to emphasise that all students are learning the same concepts, just in different ways, then others will see that we are not watering down assignments
As I said in some of my replies....I too hear general ed. Students complain that they have to do way more work than a special ed. Student. I feel we modify their work to fit that students learning level...not let them have less work to do.
I can see where this myth is in the forefront. This is my first year in the school system(HS) and i have not heard any of the students complain. I'm sure they do though. What the students don't realize is that the teacher's and/or para's will do anything to help them. It is all about learning to ask for help.
I see that even though the SPED students have their work cut down to their level they still struggle to learn it just like the other students. It makes the playing field level for all.
I don’t see any myths that are prevalent in our school. I assist a partially blind student and the assignments for each class might be modified to encourage as much independence as possible. For example, we scan the assignment and project it onto a white board. We enlarge the assignment and the student is one step closer to working more independently.
I dont think there is any myth that is prevalent in my school. General ed students understand that everyone learns in a different way and its easier for some than others. Every teacher helps as much as possible and provides adaptations and modification for sped students.
Our teachers give us sheets to see what is coming up next in the lesson and we modify it to there level where they are at in class put there name on it and pass it out with the regular class papers so the Ed kids think they get papers as everyone else it works well they like it it makes them feel important too to learn it like it gives them a boost
When I first began as a para at the high school, the teachers and students had the idea that we gave all of the answers to out students. I do not know what went on before I started, but I can say that I do not believe in just giving anwers. No learning is happening when we just give the answers out. I will help my students understand the work and will teach them to how and where to find the answer. I have worked very hard to dispell the myth that we just give our students the answers. We teach them the tools to be successful so they can carry this success into their lives after high school.
I strongly agree with you about teaching the SPED students good study & work habits. If we set a good foundation in the beginning we are giving them good tools they can use everyday. As we all know - giving out the answers is not the answer.
I agree with you. We are not teaching life skills that these students no matter what level they are will need to live a better life. Directing them to the right answer is much better than just giving it to them. We enable them to fail by giving them the answers.
I hear a lot of this at the school I work at too. A lot of the general education kids think that I just give the SPED kids the answers on their papers. I tell them that I make them figure out the answer on their own first just like any other kid, but if they are still having problems, then I will help.
It is important to dispel the myth that paras are "answer givers" because even though assignments are modified the student is still doing the work that is required for his or her learning level. For many special education students that do go on to higher learning, there are no paras in college which is why it is so important to give them the skills to succeed on their own.
I agree Elizabeth,the myth that paras just give the answers is WRONG,and my students know that. So when they get an A on a paper I always say "look what you can do without just waiting for answers.
I agree with this, That is something that some think and I try to dispell it as well because I don't work with the students just to give them the answer. They will NEVER learn that way and grow academically. My goal is to eventually get the student out of SPED if at all possible and giving them the answer gets me no where close to this goal.
sometimes I see the myth All students with disabilities must complete each assignment in the same manner as the students in the general education classroom. I understand that teachers have deadlines on certain things, but some kids learn at a different pace. I just don't want these kids to feel stressed, which I know sometimes they do. I work with a few kids that don't learn as fast as the others in their grade.
The IEP will accommodate the needs of the SPED student. The teacher knows this too, so the teacher shouldn't be putting pressure on the SPED student to get it completed.
I think that by including the disabled/handicapped it helps general education students be more compassionate toward those who are different. Having them in the classroom may be distracting at times nevertheless I think it helps general education students have a different perspective of how we are all so unique yet similar. First & foremost, it helps benefit the disabled/handicapped to feel they are accepted & belong in some small way. I have the best job ever!
I agree. It is very important for the sped to be in with gen ed. Even in kindergarten, there are a lot of students that cannot understand a special needs, but there are some that can and are compassionate towards them, they realize that they are human too just like everyone within the classroom.
I really don't see any of the myths I read, but I do see the fact that we do give extra time for tests, extra time for assignments, and read aloud to the students when needed. I also like the fact that I can see the progress of the students I work with in the regular classrooms.
We to give extra time for tests, but we pull our kids out of the class room. Then we go to our classroom, the other students in the classroom really don't know. They treat our kids just the same as other classmates.
I honestly can't say as I have heard anyone believing any of these myths to be true in my school. The one I hear most often outside of school, however, is that gen-ed curriculum is watered-down to compensate for the SpEd kids in the room. I can say for certain that this is not the case. The curriculum is very fast-paced and the teachers expect a lot out of all of the kids.
*Christy, I think we put all the blame on the school but sometimes we, as parents want the school to do all the work and forget to do our job at home. We need to encourage our children to go the extra step do the work and look for extra things to do with the subject. We need to help better our children.
Since i don't go in the classroom only to work with language, I dont hear any myth. But i loved the comment para's dont go to college why it is important to give the skills that they need now. But extra time for a test or reading out loud will always help the students progress easier.
Students in the GEN ED class need help at times too and just because I am in the room for one certain student, doesn't mean I can't help the other students. This provides inclusion as well so my student doesn't feel so excluded from the others. By helping other students, as well as my student, this dispells this myth because that is not the case at my school. We are a team and help one another no matter what the job description may be.
Having a SPED teacher a GEN ED classroom not only helps the children but also the teacher. The other children look to you as a teacher in their classroom to help them as well. Every child in the classroom will need some help with a certain subject, and with another person to help they are getting that one on one attention they will need to understand.
The myth that seems most prevalent is that general ed students recieve a watered-down curriculum. I haven't actually had the opportunity to defend, but how I would is to say that the students that are special needs have different instruction and curriculum to meet their needs, allowing the general education to teach the regular curriculum.
The only thing we have watered-down is their tests they have to take. I get them on paper and modify them so they can understand them better. All other assignments they sit in class and I help them if they dont understand them.
The regular education teacher wants to put any student in special education, if they have any kind of academic trouble. Special education is not a fix for every student in need, is just added help for the student to do the work to the best of his ability. Special education is not for every student that is behind. This is only for student that really have a special need and are mentally not able to think they way other students do.
Students placed in the general class are expected to achieve without support and assistance . At our school we have one special ed. teacher and two paras. We go to our students rooms. We the paras switch with a kid that needs someone with him at all times. But the other kids we move around to their rooms so we know what their doing. So its easier to help them with their assignments.
Myth: All students with disabilities must complete each assignment in the same manner as the students in the general education classroom. Most of our students are held to this standard. We have two that need a little extra help. We have one special ed. teacher and two paras. Which can be difficult at times since we have a kid that need a para at all times.
The general education class are expected to achieve without support and assistance. in my school we have teachers and paras to help those children that need assistance to understand the lesson. we have couple that need one on one but I believe if we work as a team we can help those children
I feel that some students feel as if we are giving them the answers by modifying the test for special needs children when in all reality we are simply making it easier for them to take the exam. What we have to teach others is that these children need extra help and by us guiding them it helps them with there confidence and makes them feel good when they achieve a good grade on thier homework or test. Some myths are that we provide the answers but we dont do that we simply make it easier for them to be able to answer those homework assignment but I feel its not a big deal here at my job everyone is very accomadating to everyone who has a specal needs child.
Myth: students placed in the general education class are expected to achieve without support and assistance. Our Special Ed teacher and Para's go into the class with our students and review assingments, change it up a little or have them do certain problems and then guide the student through the steps to understand their lesson.
Students placed in the general class are expected to achieve without support and assistance. At our school we have two special edication teachers and four paras. We go to the students classes with them and know what they are doing in class, so if they are strugling with that assignment we know how to do it.
ReplyDeleteWe are a small school with one special ed. teachers and three paras at present. But we are able to give the accommodations they need and help them in the areas they struggle with. Taking notes along with them and helping them get their assignments in on time is something that I think is really helpful to them.
DeleteI agree with you Pam some of our students are expected to do their work without para support. Then thats when their grades start going down because they don't know how to do it. So thats were we come in and assist them so they don't fall behind.
DeleteBeing a former teacher I have seen so many different learning levels. We as teachers and paras have to be able to accommodate those learning levels and better assist the students that struggle more than others so they don't fall behind and fail.
DeleteI agree with this because if we didn't go to the classrooms with the students, then we wouldn't know how to accomidate assignments or homework when needed.
DeleteWith my kids that I do I will do the work sheets or homework that we do and when they come to ask for help I am on top of it and know where to find it and help them along to find the answer so they don't spend a whole class hour on it but I think is has helped them a bunch
DeleteYes, I agree that it is very important to assist our students with their needs, but we also have to keep in mind that some students don't like to have a para next to them; they want their space. I think as adults we know when it's the appropriate time to be around them or when we should just observe from a distance.
DeleteI agree with this. It very important to go to classrooms and see the environment our kids are in and relearn what they are being taught.
DeleteWe have students that we cut down there work to make it easier for them to understand it. I have students say why don't they have to do the hard stuff like us. So then I'm having to explain that all kids don't learn the same way and thats why they do different work from them.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean Erica. Sometimes a general ed student will question why our student gets a "lesser" assignment than the rest of the class. But they accept the fact that special needs students need a little extra help.
DeleteI hear that comment quite often but if you just explain to the student who doesn't need the extra help why the student is receiving extra help they usually back off and understand. You have to make sure you don't belittle the special ed. Student when explaining.
DeleteSometimes I have regular students ask me why I am helping the sped students more than them. I usually reply that if they also have a question or need help that I would be happy to help them also, if needed.
DeleteI agree Eric's I have also used this technique and some gereral ed kids don't undrerstand but eventually they form these lasting relationships.
DeleteI agree with you. We have a couple students we have to do the same thing with.
DeleteAs to the myth that curriculum is watered down for special needs students... We do make adaptations and modifications for our special needs students. Some of the other students (few) have commented about this but none seem to get really upset with it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you John we modify the work for our special needs students but we do it because they learn much slower than our other students.
DeleteJohn, your comment is very appropriate and true. I think if we continue to emphasise that all students are learning the same concepts, just in different ways, then others will see that we are not watering down assignments
DeleteI have not heard or seen any of the general ed students make a big deal about assignment modifications.
DeleteI also have not seen this one as an issue at my school. Most of our kids are doing the entire assignment, so that might be why.
DeleteYes, modifications are very necessary for our students,some need extra time on their assignments.
DeleteAs I said in some of my replies....I too hear general ed. Students complain that they have to do way more work than a special ed. Student. I feel we modify their work to fit that students learning level...not let them have less work to do.
ReplyDeleteI can see where this myth is in the forefront. This is my first year in the school system(HS) and i have not heard any of the students complain. I'm sure they do though. What the students don't realize is that the teacher's and/or para's will do anything to help them. It is all about learning to ask for help.
DeleteI see that even though the SPED students have their work cut down to their level they still struggle to learn it just like the other students. It makes the playing field level for all.
DeleteI don’t see any myths that are prevalent in our school. I assist a partially blind student and the assignments for each class might be modified to encourage as much independence as possible. For example, we scan the assignment and project it onto a white board. We enlarge the assignment and the student is one step closer to working more independently.
ReplyDeleteI love your post. Thank you for not taking mine. :) You do very good work with all of your students.
DeleteI think this is a great way to help the student to get their work done just as everyone else does, but in the way they need to do it.
DeleteI dont think there is any myth that is prevalent in my school. General ed students understand that everyone learns in a different way and its easier for some than others. Every teacher helps as much as possible and provides adaptations and modification for sped students.
ReplyDeleteOur teachers give us sheets to see what is coming up next in the lesson and we modify it to there level where they are at in class put there name on it and pass it out with the regular class papers so the Ed kids think they get papers as everyone else it works well they like it it makes them feel important too to learn it like it gives them a boost
DeleteWhen I first began as a para at the high school, the teachers and students had the idea that we gave all of the answers to out students. I do not know what went on before I started, but I can say that I do not believe in just giving anwers. No learning is happening when we just give the answers out. I will help my students understand the work and will teach them to how and where to find the answer. I have worked very hard to dispell the myth that we just give our students the answers. We teach them the tools to be successful so they can carry this success into their lives after high school.
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with you about teaching the SPED students good study & work habits. If we set a good foundation in the beginning we are giving them good tools they can use everyday. As we all know - giving out the answers is not the answer.
DeleteI agree with you. We are not teaching life skills that these students no matter what level they are will need to live a better life. Directing them to the right answer is much better than just giving it to them. We enable them to fail by giving them the answers.
DeleteI hear a lot of this at the school I work at too. A lot of the general education kids think that I just give the SPED kids the answers on their papers. I tell them that I make them figure out the answer on their own first just like any other kid, but if they are still having problems, then I will help.
DeleteIt is important to dispel the myth that paras are "answer givers" because even though assignments are modified the student is still doing the work that is required for his or her learning level. For many special education students that do go on to higher learning, there are no paras in college which is why it is so important to give them the skills to succeed on their own.
DeleteI agree Elizabeth,the myth that paras just give the answers is WRONG,and my students know that. So when they get an A on a paper I always say "look what you can do without just waiting for answers.
DeleteI agree with this, That is something that some think and I try to dispell it as well because I don't work with the students just to give them the answer. They will NEVER learn that way and grow academically. My goal is to eventually get the student out of SPED if at all possible and giving them the answer gets me no where close to this goal.
Deletesometimes I see the myth All students with disabilities must complete each assignment in the same manner as the students in the general education classroom. I understand that teachers have deadlines on certain things, but some kids learn at a different pace. I just don't want these kids to feel stressed, which I know sometimes they do. I work with a few kids that don't learn as fast as the others in their grade.
ReplyDeleteThe IEP will accommodate the needs of the SPED student. The teacher knows this too, so the teacher shouldn't be putting pressure on the SPED student to get it completed.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think that by including the disabled/handicapped it helps general education students be more compassionate toward those who are different. Having them in the classroom may be distracting at times nevertheless I think it helps general education students have a different perspective of how we are all so unique yet similar. First & foremost, it helps benefit the disabled/handicapped to feel they are accepted & belong in some small way. I have the best job ever!
ReplyDeleteI agree. It is very important for the sped to be in with gen ed. Even in kindergarten, there are a lot of students that cannot understand a special needs, but there are some that can and are compassionate towards them, they realize that they are human too just like everyone within the classroom.
DeleteDenise
Deleteyes i also agree. it teaches gen ed to accept everyone for who they are.
I really don't see any of the myths I read, but I do see the fact that we do give extra time for tests, extra time for assignments, and read aloud to the students when needed. I also like the fact that I can see the progress of the students I work with in the regular classrooms.
ReplyDeleteWe to give extra time for tests, but we pull our kids out of the class room. Then we go to our classroom, the other students in the classroom really don't know. They treat our kids just the same as other classmates.
DeleteI honestly can't say as I have heard anyone believing any of these myths to be true in my school. The one I hear most often outside of school, however, is that gen-ed curriculum is watered-down to compensate for the SpEd kids in the room. I can say for certain that this is not the case. The curriculum is very fast-paced and the teachers expect a lot out of all of the kids.
ReplyDelete*Christy,
DeleteI think we put all the blame on the school but sometimes we, as parents want the school to do all the work and forget to do our job at home. We need to encourage our children to go the extra step do the work and look for extra things to do with the subject. We need to help better our children.
Myths in my school are "All students with disabilities must complete the homework just as general ed students.
ReplyDeleteIt is so important for the SPED student to be in with his peer's, that its ok if a SPED student is working on a different level.
Yes i agree they should be with peer's and it is fine if they work in different levels.
DeleteI agree that very essential for the students so they can learn better
DeleteSince i don't go in the classroom only to work with language, I dont hear any myth. But i loved the comment para's dont go to college why it is important to give the skills that they need now. But extra time for a test or reading out loud will always help the students progress easier.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteStudents in the GEN ED class need help at times too and just because I am in the room for one certain student, doesn't mean I can't help the other students. This provides inclusion as well so my student doesn't feel so excluded from the others. By helping other students, as well as my student, this dispells this myth because that is not the case at my school. We are a team and help one another no matter what the job description may be.
ReplyDeleteI agree, helping one another and others in the class.
DeleteI agree as well that's how our school is too.
DeleteHaving a SPED teacher a GEN ED classroom not only helps the children but also the teacher. The other children look to you as a teacher in their classroom to help them as well. Every child in the classroom will need some help with a certain subject, and with another person to help they are getting that one on one attention they will need to understand.
ReplyDelete*Diane,
DeleteYes, every student benefits from an extra person in the classroom, teacher, as well as the students in the class.
I agree children need that extra help and it also helps the teacher because she has more students to teach.
DeleteI agree, it benefits both students and the teacher to have extra help in the general classroom.
DeleteThe myth that seems most prevalent is that general ed students recieve a watered-down curriculum. I haven't actually had the opportunity to defend, but how I would is to say that the students that are special needs have different instruction and curriculum to meet their needs, allowing the general education to teach the regular curriculum.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing we have watered-down is their tests they have to take. I get them on paper and modify them so they can understand them better. All other assignments they sit in class and I help them if they dont understand them.
DeleteThe regular education teacher wants to put any student in special education, if they have any kind of academic trouble. Special education is not a fix for every student in need, is just added help for the student to do the work to the best of his ability. Special education is not for every student that is behind. This is only for student that really have a special need and are mentally not able to think they way other students do.
ReplyDeleteI agree and that's how our school is too.
DeleteStudents placed in the general class are expected to achieve without support and assistance . At our school we have one special ed. teacher and two paras. We go to our students rooms. We the paras switch with a kid that needs someone with him at all times. But the other kids we move around to their rooms so we know what their doing. So its easier to help them with their assignments.
ReplyDeleteMyth: All students with disabilities must complete each assignment in the same manner as the students in the general education classroom. Most of our students are held to this standard. We have two that need a little extra help. We have one special ed. teacher and two paras. Which can be difficult at times since we have a kid that need a para at all times.
ReplyDeleteThe general education class are expected to achieve without support and assistance. in my school we have teachers and paras to help those children that need assistance to understand the lesson. we have couple that need one on one but I believe if we work as a team we can help those children
ReplyDeleteI feel that some students feel as if we are giving them the answers by modifying the test for special needs children when in all reality we are simply making it easier for them to take the exam. What we have to teach others is that these children need extra help and by us guiding them it helps them with there confidence and makes them feel good when they achieve a good grade on thier homework or test. Some myths are that we provide the answers but we dont do that we simply make it easier for them to be able to answer those homework assignment but I feel its not a big deal here at my job everyone is very accomadating to everyone who has a specal needs child.
ReplyDeleteMyth: students placed in the general education class are expected to achieve without support and assistance.
ReplyDeleteOur Special Ed teacher and Para's go into the class with our students and review assingments, change it up a little or have them do certain problems and then guide the student through the steps to understand their lesson.