Special Relationship

While the system of holding educators accountable in Delaware’s public schools probably did improve due to the settlement of the lawsuit filed by Red Clay School District again the State of Delaware, the fact remains that the 35 special needs children in this case study were left behind. This case was the first legal controversy regarding the No Child Left Behind Act in Delaware, but certainly will not be the last. Essex (2012) states, “The act has and continues to be hotly contested…

Music in Special Education Music education is one of the most important aspects in the grand arena that is education. Yet, it is one of the most neglected. This seems to be backwards due to the mass benefits to include: better average scores on standardized tests, less drug use, better time management/organizational skills, as well as multitasking. Instituting music education can help all aspects of education, including all varieties of education. This includes special education. Most people…

Special education works best with effective collaboration among members of the special education program (IEP) team. The collaboration must be more than the IEP meeting itself. It insures the team continues to communicate and work together to meet the student’s needs. The goal is for the team is for the student to be successful. When general education teachers and special education teachers work together along with the IEP team, the student becomes, our student, and the goals of the IEP drive…

and thus comprises four basic characteristics” (Tremblay, 2013, p. 251). These four characteristics are two licensed, qualified instructors, most often a general education instructor and a special education instructor; a heterogeneous collection of students, meaning both general education and students with special needs; instruction being done by both instructors; and a shared setting, or a classroom. While this collaboration can consist of permanent, yearlong co-teaching, it can also be…

I have always aspired to be a special education teacher. Being able to help students with exceptionalities follow their life-long dream is what I want to do. With being a special education teacher, there are a lot of requirements and responsibilities that we have to follow so that our students are receiving the best education. There are a lot of standards and principles that special educators are committed to and I have picked three that are important to me and that I want to follow. First is…

complex that it is without definition in key special educational literature, such as the Education Act (1998) or the ESPEN Act (2004). Principally, it is a culture, which provides the student with additional needs; the child with socio-economic disadvantage or socio-cultural differences access to a holistic education. Baileys view lies under Peck, Donaldson & Pezzoli (1990) of the ‘umbrella concept’ where the specific group of children labelled as having special educational needs, merely work…

much about my chosen career throughout the last few months, including relationship building skills, team decision making, how different schools implement different levels of student supports. These skills came more easily than others, but with the help of my supervisor and old-fashioned practice, I am becoming the school psychologist I want to be. The first skill I had to learn pretty quickly was building working relationships with the multiple professionals at North Middle School. North…

Reflection Over the course of the last seven weeks of class, we discussed a wide range of topics in relationship to Special Education Law, including: adequate progress, discipline, FAPE, and more. Below I will synthesize and integrate some key points from the reading, reflect on an “aha” moment that made me think and evaluate what was being said, discuss my professional progress in relationship to my coursework and education thus far, discuss my prior believes about adequate progress and how…

cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt” (Special Olympics). The athletes oath is quoted at the beginning of every Special Olympic event. Special Olympics is a competition in which mentally and physically disabled athletes compete in many different types of sports, such as basketball, golf, cheerleading, and bocce ball. It changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance, and inclusion among people with intellectual disabilities. Special olympics provides the athletes with…

SPECIAL EDUCATION: MAINSTREAMING VS INCLUSION Introduction Although the terms “mainstreaming” and “inclusion” are used interchangeably in special education, they are actually two different programs designed for students with disabilities. Mainstreaming can be described as a program through which is a special needs child attends a regular classroom for their academic and social benefit. The students are usually expected to learn the same things as their peers, but with certain modifications in…