Ideas on developing a curriculum with little or no resources? I am a career changer, year two special ed teacher who will be teaching several 9th grade intervention literacy skills courses for students who are more at a fifth grade level. Our district does not have any intervention curriculum for this class- - I have to design everything from scrat...See MoreIdeas on developing a curriculum with little or no resources? I am a career changer, year two special ed teacher who will be teaching several 9th grade intervention literacy skills courses for students who are more at a fifth grade level. Our district does not have any intervention curriculum for this class- - I have to design everything from scratch. I have access to a book room but at most there are maybe 10 copies of certain novels and I will have 15 to 18 kids. There might be a few old Read 180 workbooks but that's about it. I thought about teaching some of the KU Learning Strategies like the Self Questioning Strategy and the Visualize strategy. I might print off some high interest leveled news articles from http://www.Newsela.com to use as well. Also I want to work on vocabulary - affixes, and of course fluency. Does anyone have any ideas for building these classes from scratch? Good resources, lesson plan resources, teacher books, etc? I'm familiar with Teachers Pay Teachers, and similar stuff etc. but curious what other good resources or ideas people suggest. For instance I love Newsela and found out about that last year. I'm feeling a little stressed
I am a parent and our youngest now young adult daughter has a cognitive disability and reads between a 3rd/4th grade level. So I am thinking a bit beyond her level and assuming that many, if not all, of these students come from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Also that for varying reasons these students have little family interest in their education - so everything is OK because no one bothers to ask OR is afraid to ask!!!
OK - You want to try to give these students a number of modalities through which they might continue to extend their reading skills AND HOPEFULLY see the importance of reading i their future lives and even get to enjoy it. Also you will probably need to break the class down into groups and to give different activities at least some days so you can concentrate on reading skills in smaller groups. I am not sure what teens would be comfortable doing in that vein.
I do think trying to relate it to interest they may have in reading in one aspect as a balance/reward to doing things which are more skills based that you develop. Also to give them reading and writing that will help them as in perhaps finding a job, being ready to pass a learner's permit test, being able to cook etc.
I will try to give ideas:
1- Ask relatives, friends, teen sitters, church groups to donate to you any sort of magazine that they might be done with as current as possible that would appeal to a range of teens: People, InTouch, Sports Illustrated, Fashion Magazine, Car Magazines, Cooking Magazine etc.
2- Also ask for any paper backs that folks might be done with of their children that might be series that would be of interest to one reading 4-7th grade. Sorry it has been too long for me to know of such books. Tell them you want to set up an in-class reading library.
3- Go to your public library and ask the librarians for help and suggestions on what might be high interest/lower reading level books and see about signing these out at times for in-class reading. Also perhaps develop a list of books from the local library that your students might consider signing out at some point in time. **There are definitely lows of High Interest/Low Reading web site resources.
4- Research web sites on line with reading for young adult/adults with low reading skills. You might look at Adult Education web sites. This might give you a resource assuming you will have computer access or could assign our students to do so out of class.
5- ON resources, I would see if there is a reading specialist in your school division who could guide you to "reproducible" materials, any extra reading texts - maybe just even 6/6 on various levels because you may well do best by breaking down your class and having a couple of groups doing different things.
6- The other person I would consult in your area is the closest Adult Education Center or Literacy Program or Literacy for ESL students. for materials that they would recommend using out in the public domain which might be copies. **One site I just found at [link removed]
7- Working with your area newspaper using different sections is also possible to help engage various students. Again, if you break up the class into say 3 groups some days - one could be focused on a newspaper task. You could design a template of questions per section to find out.
a- Political news with the coming elections might be great
b- Sports sections on those following certain sports or teams
c- Food, travel, health section - read and summarize key points in an article.
d- Job's Section - look through for a job of possible interest and give an assignment.
8- You would also be wise to have the student develop some basic writing skills - not super high level, but basic. Maybe have them read something and summarize or write a paragraph about what they learned from it? Response could be on a computer if possible.
9- There must be word lists that you could also build into the curriculum to help their spelling and word knowledge.
10- Relate your literacy skills to the job world - finding job application forms that they can learn to fill out on paper to have a basic format to follow when they apply for a job.
a- Also teach them how to set up a resume b- As mentioned to fill out a basic job applicaiton letter with complete information c- How to write a basic letter applying for a job with an application form and/or resume
11- Make reading "REAL" to them by relating also to aspects of:
12- Early in the year give them an assignment and points to going to the local library and getting a library card, taking out book and seeing there are computers there.
Also on resources, if you go to Barnes and Noble stores, you will see there are reading skills books all the way up to 6th grade so maybe buying some of these and just making copies without a page saying 5th or 6th grade is a way to go
I have it in a form but I can't seem to upload it to this post so I will copy it into this thread.
Thank you so much!
Grade Group of Children: Level of Disability (mild/moderate, moderate/severe): Are you a Self Contained Classroom Teacher? or a General Education Teacher with children with IEPs within your classroom?:
*For each of the following discipline techniques, please indicate the frequency with which you use the process (rarely (1), sometimes (2), half the time (3), often (4), or very often(5)) . Please also indicate how useful you find these techniques (1- not effective- 5-very effective) -Encourage Positive Behavior -Comment on Bad Behavior -Reward target behavior with incentives -Praise positive behavior -Use Time Out -Single out child for bad behavior -Use physical restraint -Reprimand in loud voice -in-house suspension (principal's office) -Warn or threaten to send the child out of the classroom -Send child home -Call Parents to report bad behavior -Ignore misbehavior that is not disruptive to class -Send notes home regarding child's behavior -Other (Please indicate):
If you are a special education teacher, what advice would you give to general education about disciplining children with special needs who mainstream in their classroom?:
DOn 8/05/15, Jacki wrote: > Hi! > My name is Jacki and I am paraprofessional in a self > contained special needs classroom. > I am also in the process of getting my Master's in > Education and my Mild/Moderate Education Specialist > credentials. > As part of my coursework, I am writng a research paper > about the best way to ...See MoreOn 8/05/15, Jacki wrote: > Hi! > My name is Jacki and I am paraprofessional in a self > contained special needs classroom. > I am also in the process of getting my Master's in > Education and my Mild/Moderate Education Specialist > credentials. > As part of my coursework, I am writng a research paper > about the best way to discipline children with special > needs. > I am interested in getting the perspective of both general > and special needs teachers. > > I have it in a form but I can't seem to upload it to this post > so I will copy it into this po post > so I will copy it into this post > so I will copy it into this thread. > > Thank you so much! > > Grade Group of Children: > Level of Disability (mild/moderate, moderate/severe): > Are you a Self Contained Classroom Teacher? or a General > Education Teacher with children with IEPs within your > classroom?: > > *For each of the following discipline techniques, please > indicate the frequency with which you use the process > (rarely (1), sometimes (2), half the time (3), often (4), or very > often(5)) .
or very > often(5)) . or very > often(5)) . Please also indicate how useful you find these > techniques (1- not effective- 5-very effective) > -Encourage Positive Behavior > -Comment on Bad Behavior > -Reward target behavior with incentives > -Praise positive behavior > -Use Time Out > -Single out child for bad behavior > -Use physical restraint > -Reprimand in loud voice > -in-house suspension (principal's office) > -Warn or threaten to send the child out of the classroom > -Send child home > -Call Parents to report bad behavior > -Ignore misbehavior that is not disruptive to class > -Send notes home regarding child's behavior > -Other (Please indicate): > > > If you are a special education teacher, what advice would > you give to general education about disciplining children > with special needs who mainstream in their classroom?:
I'm new to special education and have had some interviews for elementary schools. My experience has been in an RSP classroom and I'm curious about your experiences in a SDC class. I'd really love to hear from anyone who works in an SDC and what you like about it, the stress level, etc. as well as anyone working as an RSP. Thanks so much!
I have been leaning towards a electronic one for the same reasons. :)
Thank you for your input!
On 7/23/15, Beth Special Needs wrote: > I assume you are asking what calendar I use for my > information, not for my students. > I like an electronic calendar. I don't lose it. I don't need to > scrounge for something to write with. I can share events with > others who need to attend meetings. I can set it to remind me > of events. If I put an address in, the maps app can tell me > where to go and how long it will take to get there. > > > > On 7/23/15, ChvyLov3 wrote: >> I am starting at a new school this year and have a >> question for Special Education Teachers. >> >> Which do you prefer and why? Hard-copy or electronic >> calendars?
On 7/23/15, rovarose wrote: > On 7/23/15, ChvyLov3 wrote: >> I am starting at a new school this year and have a >> question for Special Education Teachers. >> >> Which do you prefer and why? Hard-copy or electronic >> calendars? > > Which type of calendar doesn't matter. The only thing that > counts is to know that the single trait shared by all > successful K-1 teachers is that they stress handwriting > practice; that most kids can't write the whole alphabet after > the first-grade; and that all kids who practice writing the > alphabet until they can write the whole thing in 40 seconds or > less are successful readers, meaning that "dyslexia" does not > exist as a biological condition.
On 7/07/15, Jenn wrote: > Hi Valerie ~ unfortunately, it probably comes down to > money. if they don't have the means to do the testing in- > house, it will mean paying for an expensive outside > evaluation, which it sounds like the school is reluctant to > do. If the parents understand the depth of their child's > learning disability, you may be able to encourage them > ask for an evaluation, but realize you are walking a fine > line between going against your administration and > working with the parents. If you truly suspect the student > has dyslexia, research methods and programs to > remediate it, and do your best to incorporate those into > your time with the student. If you provide the correct > instruction the "label" you provide that under isn't as > important. One program I like that is relatively > inexpensive and has great customer service is > Abecedarian ([link removed].
On 7/07/15, Bob Rose wrote:...See MoreThis seems to be your answer for every problem from reading to not being able to shower in a timely fashion. What is it you are working on or doing that you want everyone to try this same thing for every challenge? It might help us understand why you suggest this for everything if we understood your motivation.
On 7/07/15, Bob Rose wrote:
> > We find that ALL children with problems learning to read are > less than fluent at handwriting the alphabet, though with > sufficient practice this problem is easily resolved. > > Just have your student practice handwriting the whole alphabet > once daily until he or she can write the whole 26 letters in > 40 seconds or less. This will enable the mental visualization > and familiarization or written entities, and will then be able > to read well with good comprehension. > > Please let me know how this works for you. My email addres > here in Georgia is [email removed]
Hello, I would love to find my students some Pen Pals. I teach 10-12 grade low level English. We are located here in Tampa Fl. Would like to start any time after September. I would prefer another country or at least the other coast. Thank you Becki
I am a parent and our youngest now young adult daughter has a cognitive disab...See More