Special Education Paper

Words: 2016
Pages: 9

Special Education “The shortage of special education teachers is greater than teacher shortages in any other area, including mathematics and science.” (McLeskey, Tyler, & Flippin, 2004, p. 17) Special education teachers who are committed to servicing students are in high demand. This shortage and my passion are amongst the top reasons I have been a teacher in a special education classroom for over 6 years. The decision to remain in special education for so long came when I discovered my son was experiencing developmental challenges and would need specialized services. These experiences as a mother of a child who receives special education and one who educates has equally shaped my views and accountability within the classroom and in my home …show more content…
It has caused me to work hard to avoid some of the pitfalls teacher make when assessing student’s abilities. As a teacher it allows me to fully understand the needs of the parent and how best to incorporate my administrator’s expectations, parent concerns, and my obligation to the student. “There is a need to embrace a systemic paradigm which offers an alternative strengths and resourced based approach” (Esbersohn, et al., 2010, p. 185) The following paper will address my beliefs as it relates to the purpose behind special education, the nature of learners, curriculum, instructional methods, classroom management, assessment and community …show more content…
Many students who have weakened abilities in certain areas may receive an accommodation in order to give them the same advantage as peers without. For instance, I have several students in my class who cannot read. When it comes time for them to read a passage and answer question either my co-teacher or I will read it to them. On other occasions they are placed on the computer to listen to an oral version of the passage while given the same questions to answer as their peers who can read. Modification is where the expectation is altered. A modified reading assignment could include the students being required to only read a paragraph and answering questions based on what was given. Standardized testing allows students room for various accommodations. “The accommodations can be curriculum, assignment, organizational, scheduling, timing, setting, response and presentation. These accommodation provides students with achievement” (Kurth, Gross, Lovinger, & Catalano, 2011). A modification for standardize testing would be an alternate assessment. This assessment tests the student in order to show their growth from year to year but not based upon their actual grade level. Diverse learners grading should be based on how well they complete their modified lessons and the improvement made. There should be a modified grading scale. Special education student is unable to receive a