Special Education Program Portfolio

 Module 7 Final Reflection We covered many topics this term, including assessments and preparing students for tests, the roles of various stakeholders in the IEP process, the Universal Design for Learning framework, growth mindset, differentiated instruction, and strategies to support students across the curriculum.   Shutterstock 2037345572 In elementary school, formal tests are few and far between but they do happen, and after completing module 1, I realized I do not pay enough attention to preparing students for tests.  Key points in this module that resonated with me are the importance of teaching students how to work through a variety of testing formats and providing students with the necessary strategies needed to be successful with test formats and language. I often read questions aloud for students to assist them but had not considered this to be a supportive strategy until now.  In hindsight it makes sense that reading questions aloud would remove readi...

 Module 6 Effective Teaching Skills Module 6 discussed the importance of Universal Design for Learning and implementing growth mindset practices into classrooms to promote engagement, and success for all students. Developing a growth mindset in students develops resilience, perseverance, and motivation when faced with challenges and adversity. Students with fixed mindsets think their skills and intelligence are fixed and beyond their control whereas  Jigsaw with magnifying glass with concept of growth mindset Shutterstock, n.d. students with a growth mindset believe their intelligence and skills can grow and develop (Standford, 2015) . They are open to learning, and trying new things and recognize that they can learn from their mistakes. Carol Dweck demonstrated that teachers can foster a growth mindset environment where students can develop the strategies they need to overcome obstacles and persevere (2015). Studies have shown that students with a growth mindset will per...

 Module 5 Science, SS, and More  When I think of learning disabilities, my mind immediately goes to reading, writing, and mathematics. In module 5, we learned about how students with exceptionalities may face challenges in other areas of the curriculum and strategies to support them. In elementary school, subjects such as science, social studies, french, and music do not receive as much attention as math, reading, and writing and I suspect supports fall short in these subjects as a result. Because these subjects are often only taught once or twice per week, they are not usually viewed as academically necessary or challenging and as a result, students with diverse needs may not be receiving the support they need to be optimally successful across the curriculum. Miracles of Chemistry, AdobeStock, n.d.a Some subjects like music, drama, or art may be especially challenging for students with motor or processing disorders. My experience has been it is in these subjects certified ed...

 Module 4 Mathematics  Module 4 focused on mathematics, differentiated instruction, and strategies for assisting students with dyscalculia. I explored valuable resources including Edutopia , The Teaching Channel, British Columbia Association of Math Teachers , and Dyscalculia.org as well as a plethora of resources shared and recommended by my classmates. At the end of this module, we examined a case study of a student who struggles with math and developed some strategies to support this student in the classroom.   Learning Objects (AdobeStock, n.d.) The case study involved a grade 3 student named Annie who struggled with math engagement, learning difficulties and difficulties with focus and organization.  Her mother voiced concerns her daughter may have ADHD.  The following is an overview of the strategies I would suggest for Annie.  These strategies, while aimed towards Annie, are suitable for many students. Case Study 7 -Annie Student Profile: Annie G...

Personal Bitmoji, 2022  Module 3 Module 3 focuses on literacy skills development, including reading strategies, reading comprehension, and writing skills. This module was personally significant to me as I was a struggling reader as a child. I did not enjoy reading and did not understand why people did. I was able to decode fluently, but could not remember anything I read, even seconds after I finished. I dreaded round robins because I knew they would be followed by questions but I learned very quickly how to scan the text for correct answers and because I could decode fluently, I fell under the radar. I thought I did not enjoy reading because I was just "bad at it" until I was in my 30s and my brother told me about how he saw movies in his head as he read.  I did not know what he was talking about but thought that could explain why some people enjoyed reading! After entering the education program we learned about visualization and I realized what was wrong, that I did n...

 Module 1 Module 1 focused primarily on assessment and ways to make assessment more inclusive. This included addressing the differences between equity and equality, adapting and preparing assessments for students with exceptionalities, and considering the need for multiple forms of assessment through triangulation assessment, or collecting information from students through written output, observational evidence and conversational evidence to ensure a more balanced approach to capturing students' understanding (Cooper, n.d.).    Equity vs Equality The first image that comes to mind when I reflect on the difference between equity and equality and how this impacts student success is perhaps the most popular image representing equity vs equality. Equality suggests treating everyone exactly the same, whereas equity takes into consideration an individual's needs and ensures that each person receives what they need.  This can be a challenging concept for young children who...