modifications

[Guest guest]

,

Decide what you want him to learn from the class and what you think he can

learn. Then look at the curriculum to see where and how modifications can be

made. Or you can look at the curriculum first and decide what is valuable for

him,. Things can be modified down to pictures, if needed.

I would focus on the basics like: government, 3 branches, President and

Congress powers of), voting. I would only include what you think is meaningful

and available for your child. It may be familiarity with vocabulary or actually

understanding the concepts. Hope that helps.

Kathy Everett

[Guest guest]

You are not supose to be making the modifications...a sped teacher is.  I would

call an IEP meeting to discuss what needs to be done.

 

Loree

modifications

  I'm shocked at Karrie's Physical Science classwork that is coming home!

She is in a cross-category freshman level class. The teacher is a first

year teacher.When I asked if she could please modify the work per

Karrie's IEP, this is what she did...she took the original assignment of

20 questions (that were all 2-3 sentences long) that had a list of vocab

words listed at the top. It was fill in the blank. The teacher scrambled

each vocab word!! She made it harder!!!

This is the second year that Karrie has actually been exposed to

academics. (long story of fighting tooth and nail to finally get her out

of a classroom setting where she colored and shredded paper all day).

This is the first year she's had actual science class. Here are her

study questions for her test:

The amount of space that matter occupies is called its _______(volume).

The measurement of how much mass is contained in a given volume is its

______(density).

The measurement of how much matter it contains is called its

______(mass).

A measure of the force of gravity on an object is called its

_______(weight).

I'm at a loss on how to do modifications for her. Karrie is very

frustrated. Help!!!!

Sue mom to Karrie 15 w/ds and mild autism

[Guest guest]

Loree is correct

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

modifications

  I'm shocked at Karrie's Physical Science classwork that is coming home!

She is in a cross-category freshman level class. The teacher is a first

year teacher.When I asked if she could please modify the work per

Karrie's IEP, this is what she did...she took the original assignment of

20 questions (that were all 2-3 sentences long) that had a list of vocab

words listed at the top. It was fill in the blank. The teacher scrambled

each vocab word!! She made it harder!!!

This is the second year that Karrie has actually been exposed to

academics. (long story of fighting tooth and nail to finally get her out

of a classroom setting where she colored and shredded paper all day).

This is the first year she's had actual science class. Here are her

study questions for her test:

The amount of space that matter occupies is called its_______(volume).

The measurement of how much mass is contained in a given volume is its

______(density).

The measurement of how much matter it contains is called its

______(mass).

A measure of the force of gravity on an object is called its

_______(weight).

I'm at a loss on how to do modifications for her. Karrie is very

frustrated. Help!!!!

Sue mom to Karrie 15 w/ds and mild autism

[Guest guest]

I am lucky in that Micah's teacher is very willing to do the modifications he

needs while in the Gen Ed Classroom.? That being said, we have a team meeting

once a month to go over everything and I share my idea's as well for mods,

behavior,?any problems etc.? This works very well in helping Micah to get the

optimal education.? Of course next year when he goes to the middle school things

may change...we will see.?? I think being your child's biggest cheerleader and

help is of course, always, the way to help your child but sometimes moms and

dads themselves really?don't know how to help make modifications to curriculum

and this is when the SPED teacher MUST step up to the plate and do what needs to

be done.? In a perfect world all teachers would be advocates and all parents

would know how to help their child but unfortunately it is far from a perfect

world.? As I have been sitting in on CSE meetings as the parent member (and I do

speak up trust me!!) I am getting a look at the other side and it is amazing how

many parents don't even show up to the annual meetings.? Also many that come

just say yes to anything because they don't understand there are options.? Or on

the opposite end of the spectrum parents whose children are very?handicapped and

they expect them to get a Regents diploma (New York State) not just a school

diploma and forget a certificate of attendance.? As you all know I fought tooth

and nail for Micah to be included but I am also realistic in what he will gain

and not gain and also WHY I have him included.? He is not godeing to get the

same education in GEN Ed as he does in the 15:1:1 class and that is why his math

and reading (English) are done in 15:1:1 and social studies and science in Gen

Ed.? First the modifications are easier with hands on stuff.? But mostly he is

in their for the socialization skills.? I have always said that Micah is never

going to get a job due to his reading or math skills.? But He WILL get a job if

his social skills are acceptable.? And so my decision for inclusion has been

about the social skills he will gain and the acceptance his peers will learn.?

And thus far it has worked extremely well.? When we hit Junior High and High

School I don't know where we will be at but I know the long term goal is for him

to gain his reading and Math skills so that he can function in the world.?

Science and Social Studies I don't worry about so much.? We can keep working on

those all throughout his life (as I am sure we will with reading and Math)?but

they are not priority for being a young adult and perhaps working.? So he gets

what is Really important for his functional skills in a special ed classroom and

he gets what is really important for his social skills in the gen ed setting.?

Is it perfect..Not..but nothing is.

I agree with everything you said and I also do whatever I can to help the

teachers but sometimes the teachers...being teachers after all...need to help

the students and the parents both.

?

?

Re: modifications

While it is correct that the sped teacher is supposed to be making the

modifications, most of them are not aware of HOW to make the modifications (esp

when we have our children in a school that has RESOURCE teachers as opposed to

SPED teachers).? They know how to work with a child with sp needs if you take

them OUT of the classroom and put them in a room of kids with sp needs but most

of them (in my experience, hopefully it's different elsewhere) do not know how

to take the work that the reg ed class is doing and make it into meaningful work

that is working on the IEP goals at the same time.

I have learned how to do that and I feel that as part of my children's

educational team I should step in and help support them by doing the

modifications, or working WITH them on the modifications or TEACHING them how o

do the modifications.

Because, the fact is, if I take that pressure off of them my CHILD is getting a

better, more well rounded, positive educational experience.

AND BTW, I am as involved in the rest of my children's academics also.. I sit

with them while they do their homework, I communicate with the teachers when

they have difficulty with the work, I drill them on math facts and spelling

words.?I work with them on different methods of learning when they have

difficulty. ? and I are in the classrooms to help at least one day a week.

?The teachers are in charge of teaching, but I am responsible for supporting

them in every way that I can.? It can only enhance our children's education.?

I am aware that there are many differing opinions on this and there is no RIGHT

fit for all... this is just how we choose to do it in our household.? I am

fortunate that I have the time and resources to do this and I enjoy it.

?

[Guest guest]

A point that should be made about middle and especially high school level

modification.your child can have as many as 6-7 different classes and

teachers in high school-logistically, a parent is going to be overwhelmed if

that one parent is put in the position of having to do a significant amount

of the modification for all those classes. Parents are also not in the

position to be able to follow the day to day lesson plan and respond timely

unless teachers are giving them information well in advance of presenting

different curriculum in class.

I'm all for supporting the teachers and providing insight and reasonable

assistance to them in understanding the child's needs and getting training

and support from the school to work with the child. BUT. At the end of the

day, teachers do have a professional and ethical obligation to get the

skills they need and use them to teach every child whether the parents are

assisting them or not (of course you always get better teaching if you're

interacting positively whether the child has special needs, giftedness, or

is " average " ). Parents most definitely should not be doing the modifications

for the teacher as a routine thing.

Sue, you should meet with the teacher and maybe move on to an IEP meeting to

go over the IEP and get some shared understanding of what Karrie's

modifications look like in practice and how the team can work together to

effectively teach her. That is more difficult in high school because

teachers tend to be more about their individual courses and subject

specialties than an individual students education plan. Even so, if you

establish a good dialogue it can be pretty exciting to see different

teachers offer up tips and strategies that they are using successfully and

see other less successful teachers adapt those to a different classroom and

subject-and have them work.

It isn't easy sometimes, but it can be done. It has to, because a frustrated

student isn't going to learn.

Judi

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf

Of Loree5@...

Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 12:19 PM

michdock@...; northnr@...; ;

karriemom@...

Subject: Re: modifications

I am lucky in that Micah's teacher is very willing to do the modifications

he needs while in the Gen Ed Classroom.? That being said, we have a team

meeting once a month to go over everything and I share my idea's as well for

mods, behavior,?any problems etc.? This works very well in helping Micah to

get the optimal education.? Of course next year when he goes to the middle

school things may change...we will see.?? I think being your child's biggest

cheerleader and help is of course, always, the way to help your child but

sometimes moms and dads themselves really?don't know how to help make

modifications to curriculum and this is when the SPED teacher MUST step up

to the plate and do what needs to be done.? In a perfect world all teachers

would be advocates and all parents would know how to help their child but

unfortunately it is far from a perfect world.? As I have been sitting in on

CSE meetings as the parent member (and I do speak up trust me!!) I am

getting a look at the other side and it is amazing how many parents don't

even show up to the annual meetings.? Also many that come just say yes to

anything because they don't understand there are options.? Or on the

opposite end of the spectrum parents whose children are very?handicapped and

they expect them to get a Regents diploma (New York State) not just a school

diploma and forget a certificate of attendance.? As you all know I fought

tooth and nail for Micah to be included but I am also realistic in what he

will gain and not gain and also WHY I have him included.? He is not godeing

to get the same education in GEN Ed as he does in the 15:1:1 class and that

is why his math and reading (English) are done in 15:1:1 and social studies

and science in Gen Ed.? First the modifications are easier with hands on

stuff.? But mostly he is in their for the socialization skills.? I have

always said that Micah is never going to get a job due to his reading or

math skills.? But He WILL get a job if his social skills are acceptable.?

And so my decision for inclusion has been about the social skills he will

gain and the acceptance his peers will learn.? And thus far it has worked

extremely well.? When we hit Junior High and High School I don't know where

we will be at but I know the long term goal is for him to gain his reading

and Math skills so that he can function in the world.? Science and Social

Studies I don't worry about so much.? We can keep working on those all

throughout his life (as I am sure we will with reading and Math)?but they

are not priority for being a young adult and perhaps working.? So he gets

what is Really important for his functional skills in a special ed classroom

and he gets what is really important for his social skills in the gen ed

setting.? Is it perfect..Not..but nothing is.

I agree with everything you said and I also do whatever I can to help

the teachers but sometimes the teachers...being teachers after all...need to

help the students and the parents both.

?

?

Re: modifications

While it is correct that the sped teacher is supposed to be making the

modifications, most of them are not aware of HOW to make the modifications

(esp when we have our children in a school that has RESOURCE teachers as

opposed to SPED teachers).? They know how to work with a child with sp needs

if you take them OUT of the classroom and put them in a room of kids with sp

needs but most of them (in my experience, hopefully it's different

elsewhere) do not know how to take the work that the reg ed class is doing

and make it into meaningful work that is working on the IEP goals at the

same time.

I have learned how to do that and I feel that as part of my children's

educational team I should step in and help support them by doing the

modifications, or working WITH them on the modifications or TEACHING them

how o do the modifications.

Because, the fact is, if I take that pressure off of them my CHILD is

getting a better, more well rounded, positive educational experience.

AND BTW, I am as involved in the rest of my children's academics also.. I

sit with them while they do their homework, I communicate with the teachers

when they have difficulty with the work, I drill them on math facts and

spelling words.?I work with them on different methods of learning when they

have difficulty. ? and I are in the classrooms to help at least one day

a week. ?The teachers are in charge of teaching, but I am responsible for

supporting them in every way that I can.? It can only enhance our children's

education.?

I am aware that there are many differing opinions on this and there is no

RIGHT fit for all... this is just how we choose to do it in our household.?

I am fortunate that I have the time and resources to do this and I enjoy it.

?

[Guest guest]

I just want to reiterate this---As the parent of a young adult, the social

skills they learn during school are far more important to job opportunities in

the future are far more important than a particular math school--- I see more

people fail in employment because they are inappropriate during lunch or breaks

than any other things----- This is why I never regret my fight for her to be

included (as tiring as it was)