4/14/2019
Topic:
Students With Disabilities
Kassandra Cochran
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I currently teach an IND group integrated into my GenEd Art class one period each day. There are a variety of disabilities at varying levels. Some of the challenges I have come across this year include: difficulty processing detailed and lengthy directions, difficulty with use of standard art tools, students "finishing" their work very quickly because they don't quite understand the next step, difficulty with projects requiring use of fine motor skills, etc. Some of the accommodations I have implemented in my room to help these struggles are: Assigning a GenEd "buddy" to each of my IND students to assist as needed, breaking down directions (written and verbal) into smaller "chunks" and having the students seek help from myself, the Aide, or their buddy when they are ready for the next step, using adaptive tools as necessary, assisting students with the steps that are physically too demanding, but still allowing them to make the artistic decisions, and more! |
4/15/2019
Topic:
Tools and Strategies
Kassandra Cochran
|
I currently teach an IND class that is integrated with my GenEd students. Peer Partners is a strategy that I use daily with all of my students, but specifically my IND students. I find that not only does it help support these students in the areas in which they feel challenged, it reinforces the concepts for my GenEd students because they are teaching the skills as well as practicing them. Having them buddied up has also created a positive culture for learning for all of my students inside and outside of the classroom because they have made new friends with students who they may not have had the opportunity to interact with otherwise. The social and academic rewards using peer partners is incredible!
Task analysis/chaining is another tool I use regularly as my students really respond well to having complex instructions broken down into smaller chunks and tasks with the ability to check in with their peer partner, myself, or their aide for their next step or direction. |
4/21/2019
Topic:
Assessment of Learning
Kassandra Cochran
|
I teach students who are in the IND unit at our school. One of the alternate assessment accommodations that I have found helpful for a couple of my students is having a scribe. They are assigned a GenEd buddy and those who are unable to write will verbally express their thoughts while completing an art criticism, and their buddy will write it down for them in their sketchbook. Another accommodation I have found helpful, combines note-taking assistance with highlighting. This works in helping students to identify key words/phrases on a copy of my powerpoint presentations. Then they glue them directly into their sketchbook with the help of their GenEd buddy. |