Student Guide Corner

Math Minute Copying from the Board Reading Out Loud Paper/Pencil Tasks Textbooks What do these all have in common? They present obstacles to success for students with disabilities. Do you realize that tasks you present to your students have unintended consequences? Do you consider the fact that some students can not achieve success because you have placed obstacles before them which they can not overcome? Have you really thought about that possibility? If not, it's time to think about the educational rationale for the instructional methods you incorporate into your teaching practice. Why do you do what you do? And what obstacles are you presenting by the choices you make? Question everything. Let's start with the Math Minute . During a recent IEP meeting, the issue of the Math Minute (a common practice in many classrooms) arose. A student's parents brought up the point their son was only able to complete about half of the problems on the Math Minute sheet. He completed the...

Via twitter, I learned about a blog post written by a mother of a child with special needs. She directed it specifically to "special needs professionals." I believe all educators are "special needs professionals" and encourage you to read this heartfelt, humbling and powerful post. Hello? New teacher, or therapist, or doctor? Is that you? Oh hello... I just wanted to chat with you a second. To caution you. Or warn you. Please, tread carefully. You see, what you might not realize as you look at me, talk to me, tell me your opinions, our options, our lack of options, and your predictions of our outcomes is that; well ... you see that heart? continued...