Special Education and Referrals 1. What do you believe are the two major challenges facing special education today? How would you make a difference?


2. As a teacher how do you manage paperwork and documentation demands while teaching, including recording information for student’s IEP, evaluation report?


3. What is IEP? What is a 504 plan? How does each differ?





NCLB
No child left behind 1. What is NCLB and what does it mean for teachers and or students?





2. Besides testing, what are other ways to provide assessments to show what a child learns?





3. What is adequate yearly progress? What elements are considered in determining whether a child has made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)?









Inclusion




1. What is your opinion on inclusion based learning versus segregated special needs classrooms?


2. What are two major concerns of an inclusive education? What are the major benefits of inclusion?

3. What ratio of special education students to general education students do you think works best? Can you have too many students with special needs in an inclusion class?

Name : ________________________________

Grade level:___________________

Date:________________________

What answers have you come up with so far?

This is a questionnaire to ask professional teachers, I am a junior in an undergrad education program and must ask at least 4 teachers these questions. I don't know any teachers as of yet.

You visit a few schools and meet some real-life teachers and interview them.

You visit a few schools and meet some real-life teachers and interview them.

I have been to several schools here in Baltimore I have 7 teahcers so far I have talked to but I also need 4 professional teachers that don't work here in Maryland.Thanks!!

How does your teacher expect you to find four out-of-state special-ed teachers?

How does your teacher expect you to find four out-of-state special-ed teachers?

Being creative... using resources... and taking initiative to network and find professionals in my field. Why does it sound impossible? Will you answer my questions?

I was a teacher, but not special ed. How about visiting the reference librarian at your school library to get the names of some special-ed teachers you can call or email?

I can help you with this! I am a regular education teacher, with special education students in my classroom due to funding issues and LRE (least restrictive environment).
1. Challenges= Class size and funding. Too many students and not enough money to cover the expenses it takes to manage a special education program. I would make a difference by streamlining the paperwork and cutting funding from other state programs and return that money to education.
2. I keep a file for each student and read their IEP's regularly to make sure I know what their accommodations are and their goals for the year.
3.IEP= Individualized Educational Plan. It is part of Special Education. 504= a plan for students who don't qualify for an IEP, but are still struggling due to a disability. It may include physical things like a microphone system for the teacher, modifications in classwork, etc. The difference is there are no goals for a 504, and it is not monitored by the Special Ed. dept. It is monitored by the teacher and school principal.
1. NCLB- No Child Left Behind. (you can look the whole Act from 2001 up online for total definition). For teachers and students, it means more testing and more help for those struggling. The burden of proof of paperwork for funding from the Federal Govt. lies at the school level.
2. Other types of assessment:quizzes, writing prompts, short answers, essays, question and answers. For younger students: tell a story, draw a picture, answer questions from teacher.
3.AYP is not individualized, but school-wide and district-wide where I work. It takes into account student demographics, prior years scores, similar school scores, etc. It is a part of NCLB and it ensures growth and accountability.
Inclusion
1. It works fine in many instances, but sometimes inclusion can disrupt a classroom. It should always be a goal, in my opinion, but not a necessity for every student.
2. Problems: disruptions and amount of time that student takes away from general education students. Benefits: It teaches other students compassion, differences in others, acceptance, and tolerance.
3. My opinion is 90% general ed. 10% special education. Depending on the grade level, more than that is asking a lot of a teacher with too many students already and no help (aides).

Name: Jennifer
Grade Level: Kindergarten
8/29/12

I can help you with this! I am a regular education teacher, with special education students in my classroom due to funding issues and LRE (least restrictive environment).
1. Challenges= Class size and funding. Too many students and not enough money to cover the expenses it takes to manage a special education program. I would make a difference by streamlining the paperwork and cutting funding from other state programs and return that money to education.
2. I keep a file for each student and read their IEP's regularly to make sure I know what their accomodations are and their goals for the year.
3.IEP= Individualized Educational Plan. It is part of Special Education. 504= a plan for students who don't qualify for an IEP, but are still struggling due to a disability. It may include physical things like a microphone system for the teacher, modifications in classwork, etc. The difference is there are no goals for a 504, and it is not monitored by the Special Ed. dept. It is monitored by the teacher and school principal.
1. NCLB- No Child Left Behind. (you can look the whole Act from 2001 up online for total definition). For teachers and students, it means more testing and more help for those struggling. The burden of proof of paperwork for funding from the Federal Govt. lies at the school level.
2. Other types of assessment:quizzes, writing prompts, short answers, essays, question and answers. For younger students: tell a story, draw a picture, answer questions from teacher.
3.AYP is not individualized, but school-wide and district-wide where I work. It takes into account student demographics, prior years scores, similar school scores, etc. It is a part of NCLB and it ensures growth and accountability.
Inclusion
1. It works fine in many instances, but sometimes inclusion can disrupt a classroom. It should always be a goal, in my opinion, but not a necessity for every student.
2. Problems: disruptions and amount of time that student takes away from general education students. Benefits: It teaches other students compassion, differences in others, acceptance, and tolerance.
3. My opinion is 90% general ed. 10% special education. Depending on the grade level, more than that is asking a lot of a teacher with too many students already and no help (aides).

Name: Jennifer
Grade Level: Kindergarten
8/29/12

Thanks! So much you have been a great help!!

I was a teacher, but not special ed. How about visiting the reference librarian at your school library to get the names of some special-ed teachers you can call or email?

If you were a teacher you can answer my questionnaire. If you are not familiar with the terms or concepts I amd using I can understand if you cannot complete the questionnaire. But what I don’t understand is why you would not try to help a perspective teacher get the view of education from your eyes. :(

I was a teacher during the '60s and '70s. American education has changed greatly since then. I have no idea what some of your terms mean. There was no such thing as "special education" back then.

I was a teacher during the '60s and '70s. American education has changed greatly since then. I have no idea what some of your terms mean. There was no such thing as "special education" back then.

You are correct sprecial education ideas were not adopted until around the late 60's early 70's. Thanks! For the input.