Key Question: What are the best tips/resources you would provide to new teachers regarding special needs accommodations?
As a follow-up to the last virtual mentor exploration, we were asked to do another (what I would consider) diversity blog post! For as many special needs accommodations that there are, there are a ton more ways to help these learners!
A big point that my mentors came up with was use your special education teachers. They may have worked with your particular students before which would help you to know what accommodations are needed. The special education teachers also know the school district. They can point you in the right direction towards other resources within or outside of your school district.
Even though this isn't from a virtual mentor of mine, I attended a workshop on special education at the National Association for Agricultural Educators conference last week in San Antonio. Ms. Becky Haddad was the workshop facilitator. Thank you!
*side note: the 80 degree weather was super awesome compared to the 11 degree windchill I heard there was at home!*
An accommodation is a change in how a student learns. Some very common accommodations are guided notes, provide formulas/steps, word banks, etc. As I think back to some of the lesson plans that I have already completed, I know I use vocabulary handouts and guided notes a lot. While that is good, I need to remember that that won't work for everybody and that I shouldn't do that all the time if I can help it.
As a teacher, a really cool resource to have was a sheet that keeps track of your students with needs and what accommodations they need. It keeps all of this information organized, especially if you have a class with a large number of students with special needs. Below is a picture of this pretty cool sheet!
A big point that my mentors came up with was use your special education teachers. They may have worked with your particular students before which would help you to know what accommodations are needed. The special education teachers also know the school district. They can point you in the right direction towards other resources within or outside of your school district.
Even though this isn't from a virtual mentor of mine, I attended a workshop on special education at the National Association for Agricultural Educators conference last week in San Antonio. Ms. Becky Haddad was the workshop facilitator. Thank you!
*side note: the 80 degree weather was super awesome compared to the 11 degree windchill I heard there was at home!*
An accommodation is a change in how a student learns. Some very common accommodations are guided notes, provide formulas/steps, word banks, etc. As I think back to some of the lesson plans that I have already completed, I know I use vocabulary handouts and guided notes a lot. While that is good, I need to remember that that won't work for everybody and that I shouldn't do that all the time if I can help it.
As a teacher, a really cool resource to have was a sheet that keeps track of your students with needs and what accommodations they need. It keeps all of this information organized, especially if you have a class with a large number of students with special needs. Below is a picture of this pretty cool sheet!
Sara, that is awesome that you were able to attend a workshop on special education students in the classroom while at NAAE, and that it was led by one of our virtual mentors. You got some great advice not only from her, but from your team, especially the organization sheet, which will be a lifesaver in the classroom!
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