12/23/2018
Topic:
Students with Disabilities
Jessica Russell
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I have been teaching band classes for thirteen years. For several years, I had a student who had high-end autism. He was very prone to outbursts in class, which included tears, bad language, and disruptions to the learning environment. I spoke with his mother, did some reading, and conferred with a few colleagues. With time, we were able to diffuse potentially inflammatory situations, but he continued to derail his own progress by shutting down when frustrations occurred. With the help of a private instructor, the student continued to make progress, and develop strategies for dealing with frustration. The student also began to interact more socially, as opposed to playing games on his cell phone constantly. |
1/1/2019
Topic:
Tools And Strategies
Jessica Russell
|
2. Describe at least one way you have used technology to meet the needs of a student with a disability in your classroom. Be sure to identify or describe the specific technology and the student's disability. Share your response in the threaded discussion.
I had a blind student enroll in my band class a few years ago. The student had a learned to play the trumpet by ear in her previous band program. I worked with the family and aids to develop a stratetgy for the student to learn how to read braille. It was difficult for the student to transition from the ease of learning by ear to braille, and she became discouraged. Speaking with the family and aides, we agreed that incorporating some wrote playing would help the student regain some enjoyment of the instrument. We used cell phone technology (audible response app) to record a solo piece that had been selected for the student. I played the piece and the student was responsible for recording. The student then took the recording home to learn the piece over a school break. |
1/1/2019
Topic:
Assessment of Learning
Jessica Russell
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Option 1: Provide/Describe one or more examples of adapted or alternative assessments you have successfully used in the music classroom for students with disabilities. Be sure to identify the student's disability. Share your response in the threaded discussion.
There was student in my high school band class that had severe emotional difficulties related to anxiety/depression. He refused to complete any of his recorded playing assessments. I arranged to meet with the student once a week to have her play for me. During that time, the focus became addressing his resistence to recorded assignments and addressing the problem. This helped us develop a better rapport, and increased his enjoyment of my class. |