Individual Differences and Special Educational Needs

WHAT?

This weeks class was about teaching students with individual differences and special needs. When I am a teacher I will be responsible for a variety of students with variety of needs. In class we discussed the IDEA (individuals with disabilities education act). It is act passed in legislation that grants educational rights to people with cognitive, emotional, or physical disabilities from birth to 21 years of age. This act includes a free and appropriate education, fair and nondiscriminatory evaluation, education in the least restrictive environment, IEP, and due process.

An IEP is an Individualized Educational Plan. An IEP is not something that can be developed easily. It must go through the teacher, parents, principle, and anyone in charge of special education. This "team" can make recommendations for things that can be done to help students; they can also send them to get tested if necessary.

We discussed inclusion, which is putting disabled students into the main student population, and the least restrictive environment, which is an environment where a child can thrive and reach their full potential. We learned that occasionally the least restrictive environment is to keep the student out of the regular classroom.

While talking about students with special needs, we also discussed that the terms retarded and gifted are words that describe those at opposite ends of the IQ curve. Retarded means a slow down of cognitive and social functions, while gifted students are those that are more advanced cognitively and often socially as well.

We discussed individual differences in intelligence as well. We learned about five different theories of intelligence. We talked about Spearman's g which is a general intelligence. It was initially a way to sort people not to define them. Catell's Fluid and Crystallized theory says that some types of intelligence are set in stone and others are changing. Sternberg's Triarchic Theory breaks intelligence into three parts, analytical, creative, and practical. Sternberg really likes pyramids! Distributed intelligence is basically using tools (technology, artifacts, language) to make us more intelligent. The last theory we discussed was Gardner's Multiple Intelligences that says that people have different strengths. He breaks down intelligence into visual, interpersonal, intrapersonal, kinesthetic, logical, musical, linguistic, and naturalistic.

SO WHAT?

Basically I learned that with all of the different types of special needs and the different types of intelligences, I will have my hands full. Even without students with disabilities, I will have to tailor all of my lessons to my students. I also realized that I will have to deal with a lot more than just different learning preferences; I will have to deal with the learning preferences parents! When working with students with special needs, I feel relieved to know that I will not be entirely in charge of how to accommodate the kids. I will be part of a team that is much more informed on how to make these accommodations.

NOW WHAT?

Now before I get into a classroom, I need to learn as much as I can on these subjects! I think that observing more in classrooms will help me a lot by seeing how other teachers deal with different students and situations. I also need to find ways to involve many different types of intelligence in my lesson plans. If I can make my lessons in way that includes as many different students as possible, I will be a better, more efficient teacher.