How do students' development and experiences affect learning?

How can I tell if a student's language difficulties are because English is his second language or because he has a language disability? I chose this question because I went through the same process that many children face in this current educational system: learning a second language. I know it is hard and it is not something that it can be learned in one year, or two, or three. It is a constant process of acquiring new words,etc. I have felt how people have though that I am stupid or slow because I can't speak sometimes. Many kids feel the same way and I love this article because it focuses in sensitiveness and how teachers should be sensitive about this issue. http://serge.ccsso.org/question_6_4.html

What are effective ways to assess what my students are learning?

How should I grade a student who has a disability? I have never been in favor of grading students with numbers. I think is horrible that this system is based on numbers to show how good a student is. But going along with the system this website has a really good point about how grades should be part of the student's progress. http://serge.ccsso.org/question_4_4.html

What instructional methods will help me make sure that all my students learn?

How can I design lessons that meet the needs of all my students? In my opinion, one of the biggest challenges that a teacher faces when she goes into a classroom is to fulfill the students' needs. This is a very useful website with different pages with resources that help the educator to plan and design good lessons. http://serge.ccsso.org/question_2_2.html

Dictionary & Thesaurus

This is a great app for any language class. It has a variety of words that can be very helpful in class. For example in Spanish I can give a word and Students have to look for a translation and the meaning. The students can also work with word maps where they have to apply the meaning of the word into different context.

Garage Band

Although, many Mac computers already come with this app, I think it is very useful to mention it, especially if you are a music teacher. This app is designed to create and record music. It comes with different instruments and sounds but to ensure that works best, it is good to have a keyboard that connects to the computer so it is easy to record a melody. Then in the computer the instruments that are meant to be used can be assigned. It comes with a metronome to guide the recording and to keep the rhythm throughout the melody. Another cool feature is that musical staff can be uploaded to the program, so students can hear the melody and follow the rhythm easily. In my opinion this app is really good and can make a difference in the music class. At the beginning it is tricky to use and requires a lot of practice to get used to it, however, the results are almost as good as a record studio.

Pandora radio

Pandora radio is an excellent app for the Spanish Class. It is easy to use and to look for songs in Spanish. Even though Pandora uses the format of the radio you have the option to listen the song again, to stop or to pause a song so students can listen the song again. The only drawback is that you need Internet connection so if the school is not connected it will be impossible to use, but nowadays most of the schools have Internet.http://www.pandora.com/

links

All the links below can be found in this website: http://mindstepsinc.com/Differentiation/

Differentiation-and-4-type-of-students

This is a good template to have a complete picture of the different students and their learning styles so educators can modify or accommodate strategies to ensure understanding.

Differentiation- Sample English Unit Plan

This is a sample of an English unit plan with differentiation. I was thinking since we learned the Understanding by design template we should add this example to that one to make it more complete.

Differentiated unit planning template

This is a really good template for future classes. It helps you to guide your planning differentiating per students and what is the best way to deliver the information.

Wheelchair

Thanks to the UCAT's, many people are receiving wheelchair that helps to have a better life. I think this has a big impact in people who do not have the resources to buy expensive equipment that sometimes it is necessary for people with disabilities. The UCAT's provides them to people for free.

http://ucat.usor.utah.gov/making-a-difference-with-donated-medical-equipment/

Computer center

This is a really good service because not only they help people with disabilities about softwares and programs they can use, but also teachers who wants to know more about programs that can help students with disabilities in the classroom.

http://ucat.usor.utah.gov/cccd/

Adapted Headsets!

I just love this little piece of technology I think it would be great for my subjects (Spanish and Music)
http://ucat.usor.utah.gov/adapted-headset/

This section talks about the accommodations or modifications we have to do in order to meet the students needs. 

The Short Story on Supplementary Aids and Services

Supplementary aids and services are often critical elements in supporting the education of children with disabilities in regular classes and their participation in a range of another school activities. IDEA’s definition of this term (at §300.42)reads:

Supplementary aids and services means aids, services, and other supports that are provided in regular education classes, other education-related settings, and in extracurricular and nonacademic settings, to enable children with disabilities to be educated with nondisabled children to the maximum extent appropriate …

Speaking practically, supplementary aids and services can be accommodations and modifications to the curriculum under study or the manner in which that content is presented or a child’s progress is measured. But that’s not all they are or can be. Supplementary aids and services can also include direct services and supports to the child, as well as support and training for staff who work with that child. That’s why determining what supplementary aids and services are appropriate for a particular child must be done on an individual basis.

IDEA's Exact Words

I think this section is self explanatory about how IDEA works.

IDEA’s Exact Words

Again, let’s start with IDEA’s full requirement for identifying the supplementary aids and services a child will need and specifying them in his or her IEP. This appears at §300.320(a)(4) and stipulates that each child’s IEP must contain:

(4) A statement of the special education and related services and supplementary aids and services, based on peer-reviewed research to the extent practicable, to be provided to the child, or on behalf of the child, and a statement of the program modifications or supports for school personnel that will be provided to enable the child—

(i) To advance appropriately toward attaining the annual goals;

(ii) To be involved in and make progress in the general education curriculum in accordance with paragraph (a)(1) of this section, and to participate in extracurricular and other nonacademic activities; and

(iii) To be educated and participate with other children with disabilities and nondisabled children in the activities described in this section… [§300.320(a)(4)]

We’ve bolded the part of IDEA’s regulation that specifically mentions supplementary aids and services, because it’s important to see the context in which this term is used. It is that context, and IDEA’s own definition of supplementary aids and services, that will guide how a child’s IEP team considers what services the child needs and the detail with which the team specifies them in the IEP.

Is Co-Teaching Effective?

I really liked this article because it is related to the chapter we read for this class, chapter 3 from the book. According to the book there are 6 major co-teaching approaches. This article is more specific and gives a more detailed idea about co-teaching and if is fictive or not.

http://www.cec.sped.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=7504

How Do Secondary Students Feel about Co-teaching?

I think it is very important that we know what our students think or feel about the strategies we are doing in the class. This is a very good article that shows how they feel about having another teaching in the classroom. There are many responses about it.

http://www.cec.sped.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=8635&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm

Addressing Bumps in the Collaboration Road

This article is really good in terms of what to do when there is a problem with communication and collaboration. I think it's useful because not only can help with the communication between parents and teachers, but also in the school and any environment that have large group of people.

http://www.cec.sped.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=11277&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm