Applied Key Concept Assignments
EDSP 423B
Rick Phelan
Application of Key Concepts #1: Field Work Curriculum Materials
Due: Feb 15
Consider the special needs population served at the school you plan to carry out your case study activities. What curriculum materials are available for intervention, re-teaching, and remediation in reading, writing and mathematics? List the materials by subject, publisher, date of publication, and intended audience (i.e. Read 180, Scholastic, 1999, reading intervention groups).
What materials do teachers, resource specialists and special day class teachers favor for the purposes of remediation and intervention? If no materials are available, describe how teachers find and develop daily lessons to meet IEP requirements. Choose one of the materials and examine it more closely to see how it correlates to State standards in reading. How does a teacher “place a student” in this program and evaluate progress? What materials are on teachers’ “wish lists” for re-teaching concepts, remediation and intervention activities at this school?
Application of Key Concepts #2: Assessment Plan
Due: Mar 1
Choose a student has special needs and one that you will have access to for the entire semester. Identify the essential information about the student (e.g. name- no last names, gender, grade, age, description of school setting, current living situation). What are the student’s strengths and current challenges? Develop at least three questions you have about this student pertaining to their academic achievement (i.e. How can this student gain access to the grade 6 core curriculum? What decoding skills does this student have in reading? Where would this student be placed in the Houghton Mifflin Math Intervention program? Would this student qualify for special education services through a resource specialist program?)
Develop an assessment plan which lists the tools and informal assessment strategies you will use to assess the student. This plan will inform your work for Key Concept #3 and would be the basis from which an IEP team would make decisions and form academic goals. List the proposed tests and informal assessments (include at least one formal assessment and three informal assessments) clearly stating your purposes for each (i.e. WIAT- to determine eligibility for special services; SRA Rewards Placement- to understand starting point for instruction; development of academic goals).
Application of Key Concepts #3: Carrying Out the Work of Your Assessment Plan
Due: Mar 15
Assess your student using the plan outlined in Key Concept #2. Enclose and clearly label the protocols (or Xerox copies) from these assessments (teacher made protocols are acceptable for the informal assessments). List the assessment results and your interpretation of the data. How did assessment results answer the questions you put forth in the assessment plan? What new academic questions do you have about this student?
Application of Key Concepts #4: Instructional Plan
Due: Apr 12
Based on assessment results from KC #3 and the school’s instructional materials collection (KC #1) develop an instructional plan for the student that helps remediate academic deficiencies, provides access to core curriculum and develops compensatory skills. Your plan should specify at least one curriculum program along with three teaching goals (if curriculum materials are inadequate at the school, please state the material that you would recommend using). Identify the appropriate instructional objectives (at least 3 for each goal) that you would recommend for this student. Explain and rationalize the instructional plan you would develop for this student using best practices and standards based/core curriculum.
Application of Key Concepts #5: Adaptation/Accommodation Assignment
Due: May 3
Using the instructional plan developed in KC #4 describe at least three adaptations/accommodations that can be used to facilitate your student’s access to learning. Please include a brief description of the adaptation/accommodation, the content area it adapts or accommodates, and your rationale for each. (Note: Your adaptations/accommodations cannot be costly or purchased from a specialized catalogue or store; they must be easy to make, inexpensive, and available to teacher ingenuity, not wealth.)
Application of Key Concepts #6: Transition Planning
Due: May 3
Transition is part of the educational process. Some students are at the point where they are graduating from one grade to another, others are moving from elementary school to a secondary setting, and still others are moving from high school to a post secondary learning opportunity. Transition involves planning and coordinating for future needs. Please describe the academic transition(s) that your student will be facing in next school year. Present a three point plan that addresses these needs and works to assure your student’s success at the next stage of learning. Consider suggestions and ideas from the Bos and Vaughn text along with best practices you’ve learned from veteran teachers.