Question

Interview a certified special education teacher at the educational level (PK- 12) of your program, about the following:

What are some similarities and differences among students with and without exceptionalities?
What are some characteristics of various exceptionalities and the educational implications for students with exceptionalities?
What is the effect an exceptionality can have on a student's academic and social development, attitudes, interests, and values?
How do you collaborate with general education teachers?
In what ways do you address the unique learning needs of the individuals with exceptionalities in the classroom, including for those students with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds?
How do you protect the privacy of students with exceptionalities? What are some dilemmas you have experienced with this?

In 250-500 words, summarize and reflect upon your interview and on the professionalism and integrity of protecting student privacy. In addition, be sure to explain how you will use your findings in your future professional practice, citing two recommended strategies for differentiating instruction based on learning differences.

Answer 1

1. What are some similarities and differences among students with and without exceptionalities?

Students who are placed in Special Education need more from their teachers. All students need to be seen as individuals and need to feel that they are cared about. Students have to understand that they everyone has unique strengths and weaknesses. I have found through the years that patience and a sense of humor work with most. As for differences, just like everyone, some learn faster than others, some are strong in math but have trouble reading, and vise versa, many are insecure about their abilities and have social issues. I think there are many more similarities than differences, especially in middle school.

2. What are some characteristics of various exceptionalities and the educational implications for students with exceptionalities?

Students with social disabilities have the most trouble overall because it impacts all their interpersonal relationships including those with their families, teacher, and peers. Students who have reading deficits have the most trouble academically because this limitation can be felt in every discipline.

3. What is the effect an exceptionality can have on a student's academic and social development, attitudes, interests, and values?

The effects can be minimal or they can be all consuming. Depending on a student's class placement, their peer group can be altered both positively or negatively. Their life choices can be limited for further education, training, or job accessibility. Student's in general can be strongly influenced by their social groups interests, but students with special needs can be influenced by tasks that are to labor intensive for them as well.  

4. How do you collaborate with general education teachers?

We meet regularly to discuss curriculum choice and modifications for special needs students.  

5. In what ways do you address the unique learning needs of the individuals with exceptionalities in the classroom, including for those students with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds?

Specifically, I have used modified work load, extra time, behavior charts, detailed broken down steps for long assignments, peer learning, alternative assignments, etc.

6. How do you protect the privacy of students with exceptionalities? What are some dilemmas you have experienced with this?

The biggest problem we have had is communicating on e-mail. I like to speak directly to teachers and school personnel, but documentation is important too, hence email is required to be sent to them since we try to keep parents notified of changes and problems and stay on the same page.