The Exceptional Child
Spring 2006
Course Number: ECE 200Credits: 3
Instructor: Char O’Gara-MoeClass Hours: Thursday 7-9:45
Phone: (Home)753-6806 (Cell) 934-0512E-mail:
Class Description: The characteristics, training, and educational needs of disabled and gifted children. Explores the existing educational agencies, programs, and instructional methods designed for the disabled and the gifted.
Course Objectives:
•Demonstrate an understanding of the rationale for early intervention based on historical, legal, philosophical, and research based influences.
•Demonstrate knowledge of state and federal laws and guidelines as they relate to services for young children with disabilities and their families.
•Demonstrate knowledge of the impact of disabilities such as mental retardation, learning disabilities, behavior disorders, and physical/sensory impairments.
•Demonstrate understanding of how exceptionality affects placement, assessment, and appropriate teaching strategies
Assignments and Evaluation:
1. Attendance and Participation are required at each class. If you are present and participate fully, you will receive full credit If you have an emergency that
prevents you from attending class, please let me know in advance by leaving a message at either of the listed phone numbers.
Attendance and participation are worth 150 points
2. Reading Responses/Reflections: You will be asked to submit a one page summary
of assigned readings at the beginning of each class period. Summaries should be typed
and should discuss key points you have learned, ideas you have formulated, or
questions about the assigned readings. Entries will not be accepted after they are collectedat the beginning of class. Reading Responses are worth 150 points
3. Observation Reports: You will be asked to spend two 60 minute sessions observing a child with special needs. One observation should be of a child birth to 4 years of age;
the other observation should be of a child between the ages of 5 and 8. You need to
select a particular child with special needs to observe and complete the provided
observation form. The observations should be submitted February 23 and April 13.
Observations are worth 25 points each for a total of 50 points.
4. Group Research Project: You may choose to work in groups of not less than 2 and not more than 4 students. Each group will present their project on May 4. You will first select a disability to research. Your project will be oral, but an outline must be submitted to me prior to the presentation. This project should include: a description of the disability, potential causal factors, preventative measures, equipment or
medications which can reduce the disabling effects, modifications or accommodations, potential family issues which may result, etc.. Presentations will be limited to 15 minutes. You are encouraged to use a variety of resources (interviews, internet, professional journals, books, magazine articles) as well as a creative approach
to your presentation (props, video, power point, photos, handouts). The presentation should be educational as well as appealing to your classmates. Progress from factual information to application in the classroom. Each person in the group will receive the same grade; each person should be involved in the presentation. The group research project is worth 50 points.
5. Mid-Term Exam: This exam will tentatively happen as part of our March 16th class.
It will consist of short answer questions. The test will be worth 100 points.
6. Final Exam: The structure of the final exam will be announced prior to testing.
The test will be worth 100 points.
GRADING POLICY
ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION150 POINTS
READING RESPONSES/REFLECTIONS150 POINTS
OBSERVATION REPORTS 50 POINTS
GROUP RESEARCH PROJECT 50 POINTS
MID-TERM EXAM100 POINTS
FINAL EXAM100 POINTS
600 POINTS TOTAL
540-600 POINTS= A
480-539 POINTS= B
420-479 POINTS = C
360-419 POINTS= D
THE EXCEPTIONAL CHILD
ECE 200, SPRING 2006
CALENDAR OF ASSIGNMENTS
Session 1: 1-26-Introductions
-Introduce syllabus
-Social skills program for class
-TRIBES activities
-Reading reflection due on Chapter 1 next week
Session 2: 2-2-INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION
-Divide into groups for research project
-Reading reflection due on Chapter 2 next week
Session 3: 2-9-RISK FACTORS AND EARLY INTERVENTION
-Reading reflection due on Chapter 3 next week
Session 4: 2-16-FAMILIES AND CULTURE
-Reading reflection due on Chapter 4 next week
-Observation due next week
Session 5: 2-23-CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES
-Birth to 4 observation due
Session 6: 3-2-CONTINUE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES
-Mel Levine
-Reading reflection due on Chapter 5 next week
Session 7: 3-9-CHILDREN WITH MENTAL RETARDATION
-Discuss/Review for Midterm
-Reading reflection due on Chapter 6 next week
Session 8: 3-16-MIDTERM
-CHILDREN WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES
-Reading reflection due on Chapter 7 in 2 weeks
3-23ENJOY SPRING BREAK!
Session 9: 3-30-CHILDREN WITH BEHAVIOR DISORDERS
-Don’t forget research project and observation
-Reading reflection due on Chapter 8 next week
Session 10: 4-6-CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AND RELATED DISORDERS
-Reading reflection due on Chapter 9 next week
- Observation of 5-8 year old due next week
Session 11: 4-13-CHILDREN WITH COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
-Observation of 5-8 year old due
-Read Chapters 10 and 11 for next week. No Reflection due!
Session 12: 4-20-CHILDREN WHO ARE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING
-CHILDREN WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION
-Reading reflection due on Chapter 13 next week
Session 13: 4-27-CHILDREN WHO ARE GIFTED AND TALENTED
Session 14: 5-4-GROUP RESEARCH PROJECTS DUE
Session 15: 5-11-TYING THINGS TOGETHER
-Review for final
Session 16: 5-18-FINAL EXAM