Saturday, May 29, 2021

"Your Child Doesn’t Belong in My Classroom"

Outstanding illustration (pardon the pun.)


I am going to quote from a remarkably clear and direct article concerning students in Special Education. Parents and teachers, both, would benefit from giving thought to this analysis of what parents may believe teachers are saying.

 "Your Child Doesn’t Belong in My Classroom"
 by Doug Goldberg

Here are Mr. Golgberg's main points.

  1. "Your child doesn’t belong in my classroom because the school will not provide the appropriate aides and supports necessary to educate your child;
  2. Your child doesn’t belong in my classroom because I am not capable of educating your child;
  3. Your child doesn’t belong in my classroom because I don’t want to take the time to differentiate my instruction and find the method that your child learns;
  4. Your child doesn’t belong in my classroom because the District has increased my class size to 45 students and has not provided me with a paraprofessional to help lessen my load;
  5. Your child doesn’t belong in my classroom because I don’t want to follow his IEP because it takes too much time and energy;
  6. Your child doesn’t belong in my classroom because the School District refuses to spend money on children with special needs; and
  7. Your child doesn’t belong in my classroom because I am a bad teacher."
Any of these points could be in play when the teacher or IEP team balks at having a placement into a classroom. I have observed (though not participated in) IEPs that resulted in students being transferred from the school or program just so Gen. Ed. did not have to teach the students. Sometimes a different placement is appropriate, but too frequently, the District conveniently will not include placements in an IEP that may incur more resources. That addition could be paraprofessionals, curriculum, methods, or instructional time.

Parents need to empower themselves with knowledge, and if necessary, advocates. The law provides a Free and Appropriate Education for all children. Sadly, there are school sites that want to refuse the appropriate services.


What Is Up With That Kid?

 



Classroom problems are obvious: the student is not successful academically or has behavior issues. The solutions are not so obvious. Here is how GenEd and SpecEd can work together for solutions for the student (and the classroom.) Honesty, transparency, clarity between colleagues will produce true solutions for students. Be ready for candid interaction, my GenEd and SpecEd colleagues! There will be questions!

Scenario #1: The student makes an effort, but remains well below standards despite effective interventions.

SpecEd will ask (or should) for documentation of the intervention. The parent should already know how many hours per day for how many weeks the student has been in the intervention--and have products of the work accomplished. The data of the student's further need should not be a mystery to anyone. Parent contact should be regular.  GenEd needs to be organized for this. Hopefully, the intervention classes at the school site are coordinating and use the same result templates so a parent or SpecEd teacher can readily identify the strengths and needs of the student during a specific time period. If there is other, more unusual input over a period of time about the student, GeEd needs to document this with type of behavior, date, and class activity.

An anecdotal report might go like this:

10/5/-- Margaret began classwork, but after 10 minutes was drawing rather than writing the assignment. The picture was of a child, but it was one big circle with a smile. She did this for 10 minutes, then sat still, not working, despite many prompts to write.

With accurate data, Admin, GenEd and SpecEd should meet with the parents and may then suggest Special Education testing to the parent, if the parent has not already requested it.

A situation once arose at a Middle School where I was RSP for Grade 6. The structure was four teachers on a team, and I worked in the classrooms of Math and ELA. A Soc. Science teacher clued me into two transfer students she noticed may be SpecEd but perhaps their paperwork hadn't arrived yet.

One student had created an illustration for an essay that struck the teacher as disturbing. She showed it to me, I was able to observe and speak to the student. I contacted the Ed. Psychologist, and the Grade 6 Counselor. After getting contact info from his previous school across country, we discovered the parent had not informed us the student had been identified as ED (Emotionally Disturbed) and had a serious incident the previous school year. We couldn't clarify why the parents did not inform us, but because the Social Science teacher actually checked and read her classes' assignments every day we could get him to the proper placement quickly.

Another student was not able to understand the work at all, but was very popular despite a stutter. Again, the team of Counselor, Ed. Psychologist, SpecEd and GenEd did a search of his records, spoke to the parents (who needed a translator, the Ed. Psychologist was fluent in Spanish) and we found that due to frequent school changes, he had never been tested for SpecEd, or Speech Therapy. I tested him from my end, the Speech Therapist from his end, the Ed. Psychologist from her end, and we were prepared for a meeting which resulted in a better placement.

Scenario #2: The student has shown grade level ability, but is too disorganized to function in the class.

Again, do we have a record of  this behavior?
An anecdotal report might go like this:

Luis does well when he has his supplies and brings his homework and outside reading book. But he is missing important items at least 3 times a week. Dates of missing work for March: 3/3, 3/5, 3/9, 3/10, 3/14 etc.

Has GenEd contacted the parents about this lack of functioning? Is there something unusual at home that might be the cause of the disorganization? Now I'm going to get personal, only because I have had to ask myself this question. How organized is the class? How's your classroom management? Are enough cues and directives given to end one activity and start another? Is the class tidy and organized so this student has an appropriate amount of space to function? If the lack of function is not the result of parents or teacher--there could be a Special Ed. reason. Executive functions (ability to be organized) can be impaired by learning disabilities. But not always. If the student's previous teachers are available for comment, ask how little George did last year. So if previous answers to these questions show a need for testing, the SpecEd team will find out--is it ADHD? a learning disability? or just a future Absent Minded Professor who needs a personal assistant? (Kind of kidding about the last, but sometimes parents and teachers feel like they are in that role.)

In my experience as RSP (Resource Specialist) we tested many more students for learning disabilities than qualified for Special Education programs, particularly in Grade 6. That is due to the fact that the huge change in schedule created a perfect storm of confusion for awhile until the kids got their sea legs. But a lack of executive function could well show a need for Special Education support, so please document the need so the student can be fairly evaluated.

Scenario #3: The student is a behavior problem.

Now we are to the real issue to solve. Why do students act up? For attention, for control of the class, or to escape the class through disciplinary action that takes them to the office or maybe to the ramp outside the door (btw, that last strategy is an illegal move and should not happen. Students need supervision.) 
 
Again, do we have a record of  this behavior?
An anecdotal report might go like this, and not necessarily only in a referral:

Student (Kayleigh) got out of seat three times in fifteen minutes, and moved around the classroom. She then whacked Angelica on the back of the head, disrupting class.

For a behavior referral for Special Education, you record all instances, and contact with the parents. The team of professionals that is your school and includes you, will research everything about the student, test the student, while effectively managing a positive behavior contract. 

At the first, and I mean first, sign of defiance, contact the parent and document. The most effective teachers I worked with, and later emulated, did this simple thing, and ran a peaceful classroom. Also, document the conversation. Is this tedious? Yes, GenEd, it is. I know, I was GenEd, too. But a behavior issue is the most vital to document. If, deep in your heart, you feel this student has an emotional or serious behavioral issue--contact SpecEd, the Counselor, or the Ed. Psychologist. Maybe the student doesn't have serious problems that may lead to self injury or injuries to others. But maybe so, and you could save injuries and lives if the student gets help early.

In one high school class during a reading intervention, a student was doodling on his work one day. We discovered it was a rather graphic picture of  two young people, one threatening the other with a knife. Taking the picture to the Ed. Psychologist, and having a meeting with the parent led to counseling for the student who had been bullied and assaulted the previous year. His uncle had been murdered in a gang initiation 18 months before. The student was affected. He received counseling.

To be transparent, a positive behavior plan is the most challenging to coordinate with a team of teachers for effective implementation. Really hard. But we don't give up. Good results help everyone. 

When GenEd and SpecEd collaboration really works, there's nothing finer in the school system.

 

Friday, May 28, 2021

Educational Links 5/29/21

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As the name suggests, mood disorders are associated with persistent emotional dysregulation. Moodiness is common with bipolar disorder, but it’s also common with ADHD, ODD, DMDD, and other neurobehavioral conditions. Differentiating one condition’s symptoms of moodiness from another is critical in accurately diagnosing patients and determining a helpful treatment and management route.

Thursday, May 27, 2021

Educational Links 5/28/2021

 


A High School Turns to Former Students to Address Racism on Campus


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Educational Links 5/27/21

 

Recognizing When It's Time for a Change



“The Most Dynamic Learning Experiences Favor Passion Over Penmanship”




The difference between accommodations and modifications



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https://www.smartclassroommanagement.com/


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Why summer school in California will prioritize fun and reconnecting students



The biggest change this year is that everything is free. In past years, families had to pay for some programs provided by nonprofit or for-profit private camps, although fees were often based on a family’s income.

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Educational Links 5/26/21

Through Ethnic Studies, Schools Push to Include Marginalized Perspectives


 What Technology Can & Cannot Replace In The Classroom

https://www.teachthought.com/the-future-of-learning/what-technology-can-and-cannot-replace-in-the-classroom/?fbclid=IwAR2Q9vaFjPJf2SOpAoecyXhxxbSab5AoVar8b8MuEeBBxlauxhZvQqpijdg

INFOGRAPHIC: “15 WRITING LESSONS FROM SUCCESSFUL AUTHORS”


How to begin positive relationships with families: 8 tips to try



Why you need to lose your school reward system


Tips for Proactive Classroom Management


From Lizard Brain to Wizard Brain: Teaching (and Learning) Emotional Regulation



You can’t teach your child calming strategies when you are triggered yourself. Instead, follow these simple, effective steps.

Monday, May 24, 2021

Educational Links 5/25/21

 How Can We Help Every Student Tap Their Inner Genius?

https://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/5-strategies-creating-genius-mindset-students/?fbclid=IwAR0WL3eWvK5RuxRU7xOHhjPzFwPcMOZIPRC48L_MxGvzNSg7mGscIy6vZe4

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Sunday, May 23, 2021

Educational Links 5/24/21

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