Unit Considerations for a Variety of Learners

As a special education teacher, modifying units/lessons and general classroom activities is second nature to me. At any given time I will have students in the same class, whose reading levels vary from pre-primer through 8th grade level. All of my lessons need to be structured so that all students can participate and be successful. Sometimes all it requires is reading directions verbally and providing more feedback. Other times it requires several different versions of the same task. Any test I give has at least three modified versions. For me the more difficult task is making sure that higher level learners are being challenged to work at the top of their performance ability. Often it is easy to let them slide by while I am working to involve the other lower level functioning students.

Week 3

As a follow up to last week's topic...I have had personal experience with the "Digital Divide." Due to an issue with my wireless Internet at home, the only Internet access I have had is at my school. To widen the "divide" my district's filter is so tight that I can't access the class WIKI, Moodle, or Blog. This glitch in my normally connected life has made it difficult for me to upload/post assignments, and complete even the most basic assignment. Tonight, I am joining my fellow "disconnecteds" at the local Starbuck's for coffee at 8pm (guess I won't be sleeping tonight).

Now, on to the topic of the week....Assessment. This module reminds me of how much I diversify all of my student assessments on a routine basis. The nature of Special Education, mandates that assessment be student centered. Any time I plan an assessment, be it formal or informal, I have to plan a variety of designs to meet the needs and ability levels of all of my students. It is rare that I would give a straight forward, pencil/paper assessment. In many situations, the informal, day to day assessments provide me with the most reliable indication of my student's mastery of skills and/or content.

Week 2- The Digital Divide

Due to the middle class, suburban nature of my school district, I would guess that more of my students have computer/internet access in their homes, than in many other districts. From talking with the students in my classes, the only students who don't currently have computer access, are kids whose computers are in need of repairs. That being said, there are still many issues to be considered when planning lessons.

Many kids have to share one computer with multiple siblings, who also have homework assignments to complete on them. Also, students have older operating systems that won't allow them to access certain web tools, or even parts of the school's website. Lately, I have been hearing that students do not have Microsoft Office, because the package no longer comes with most new computers and their parents didn't spend the extra couple of hundred dollars to purchase it. The thing that really surprises me is the occasional kid who says they still have dial-up internet access, which causes problems with downloading/uploading work. Along with that issue is the situation when Internet service is disrupted, due to a parent being out of work and the bills not being paid.