3/26/2020
Topic:
Students with Disabilities
Ethan Stofer
|
I have a class with multiple students who are hard of hearing. Several of these students have hearing aids, which also come equipped with the ability to be connected to a speaker worn by the teacher. In this case, one part of the solution came to my class, and only required me to wear the device. However, I teach in a classroom with another teacher. As only one teacher can wear the device, we must be conscious of who is wearing it, and how the other teacher will continue to reach the students who are hard of hearing.
The solution we came up with was that one teacher would wear the device, and the other teacher would wear a headset with a speaker attached. Any instruction given to these students required one of these amplification solutions, as well as regular check-ins to ensure there were no difficulties in receiving instruction.
The only other way accommodation that was required was to allow the students to move to be closer to the source of sound as they deemed necessary. |
3/26/2020
Topic:
Tools and Strategies
Ethan Stofer
|
Option 1:
A strategy that is almost always beneficial to incorporate more of is Self-Evaluation and Reflection. By providing a student feedback, there is less of an opportunity for a teacher to uncover the level of understanding a student has. By telling a student to fix this, or do that differently, the possibility for the student to demonstrate their level of understanding is taken away. Rather, if a teacher allows a student to identify the problems and what is needed to be corrected, the teacher will find out whether the student understood the content. When playing recorders, allowing the student to show whether they know what was correct and what is needed to be fixed will demonstrate their understanding. If the student is simply told where a mistake was made, the student cannot demonstrate their understanding.
Another strategy that would be beneficial would be Cooperative Learning. To go along with the concept of self-evaluation and reflection, students could be put to work in groups to help support each other as learners. Once again, while playing recorders, a group of students could work to the common goal of playing a song together. The students who have not yet achieved the goal of successful self-evaluation will benefit from the group's ability to provide them feedback on what was done well or what could be improved. For students that are more successful, they will benefit by being able to practice the skills of critiquing and evaluating others. A student who is very proficient in playing the recorder may not have as much practice critiquing themselves or others. Through Cooperative Learning, all student will have the opportunity to improve skills in at least one area, if not more. |
3/26/2020
Topic:
Assessment of Learning
Ethan Stofer
|
In a general music setting, I used recorders to teach pitch reading and performance. One of my students had an orthopedic impairment that did not allow the use of her left hand. I gave her the option of playing the recorder with her right hand for GAB and C, or the option of using a keyboard (her choice with or without headphones) at any time she chose. This allowed her to show her mastery of reading pitches and rhythms, and provided her choice in the manner she decided to be assessed. |