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Thinking in pictures: And other reports from my life with autism by Temple Grandin reviewed by tutor, John Toker

◦Temple’s Characteristics of Autism

Grandin has visual images for facts not just concrete examples; it is like a language that instantly translates from spoken word or written ones. Temple is able to think in 3-D pictures and movies in order to understand concepts that were taught to her in school, which includes her time in graduate school, and to design animal farm equipment.

Grandin can recall each work design that she has ever made in head page; she can then mix and match to make new ones.

Temple can see animal perspective on what frightens them; this is especially the case when analyzing cattle. Grandin had a squeeze machine for own anxiety, which helps her understand what kind of closed in spaces are particularly stressful. Temple takes into account the wide eye angles of cows and how this changes their points of views (Grandin 2006).

Temple looks to not reinvent the wheel by researching out what is already understood or invented in her farm equipment field.

◦Differences Between Temple and Other Individuals with ASD

Temple can get back on task where as most with ASD keep free associating without focus. Most people with ASD can not make something new out of a mix of memories. Temple brings up many videos in her mind, and must sort through them. ASD can bring up still photos, rather than with movement; further, they often lack judgment on what to do with the information. People with ASD, as Grandin conveys, usually only focus on details, rather than big picture (Grandin 2006).

Philosophy, and for example cattle futures, are problematic subjects for Temple, because she struggles with making pictures or videos of them in her mind. Also, subjects that inherently lack single right answers are too vague and therefore, in part, cannot be pictured even with her imagination (Grandin 2006).

Temple at age six liked the word prosecution so said it when she flew a kite that hit the ground; albeit, she quickly connects one type of animal chute to many variations of it. Dove’s in Temple’s mind represent peace; this example is an intuitively obvious association for those who can think on an abstract level. Temple has logical and illogical association where as individuals with ASD, according to Grandin, tend to have illogical connections only. Many people with ASD would not understand, “We will play it by ear.”

Specific information is used by Grandin to make generalizations; she associates, rather than processes chronological order of events; this is why cattle futures does not work for her analytic methodology (Grandin 2006).

Generic or synthesis concepts require different neurological patterns than what is the case for Temple. Rather, she remembers each example either seen or pictured from being described to her. Conversely to Temple, many with ASD make wrong correlations so that they often misattribute causality; for example, a toy plane can fly high because there is no fear of them.

Grandin acquired engineer style and skills in drawing by watching an advanced skilled person illustrate it, rather than needing class work in it and respective supervision. Most with ASD would need intensive formal instruction on how to draw with advanced skill (Grandin 2006).

◦Temple’s Struggles in School and School-based Interventions

Temple, at age 2.5, was enrolled in a special school. Grandin if left alone would not learn enough to function in society. Albeit, if overloaded with attention was quick to scream and then shut down. Grandin’s nanny kept her active outdoors with many activities and provided indoor art time, which helped her invent animal systems. Grandin’s mother tutored Temple five days a week for language at age 3; she was able to make essential progress in milestone development because of this. Teachers learned to not get angry at Grandin during elementary school and to take her out of noisy places; this would allow her to cope with stress (Grandin 2006).

Abstract concepts taught in school were initially beyond Grandin’s grasp; she learned to associate pictures that were symbolic of concepts and store them.  For example, she thought of peace in the form of a dove; she was able to develop this process because of a general encouragement from her science teacher in particular and other educators. Psychotherapist and psychiatrist encouraged Temple to stop with metaphorical thinking with pictures and instead be language based; she new they were wrong and ignored them (Grandin 2006).

Personal relationships were not important during elementary school through high school. Albeit, she learned the value of relationships with picture imagery of windows and doors.

Grandin, while in high school was made front of for being like a tape recorder when she spoke; this meant that there was a mechanical meter to her speech.

After graduating from high school, Temple realized that this way of speaking would be odd to them.

Grandin found that rehearsing change while going through windows and doors only in     her mind helped emotionally prepare her for college. A new roof seen in real life facilitated picture imagery for going to college as well.

After graduating from college, she no longer needed windows, gates, roofs or the like for transition,.

Self induced pressure physical pressure allowed Temple to lower her own anxiety. Worries, by Grandin, centered on being teased at school. Temple as she got older took prescribed medication, and at this point was helped by psychiatrists.

Grandin’s mother felt that Temple did not appreciate the hard work that was put forth to help her with school. Grandin feels that she is less motivated by emotions than her mother; Temple relates to engineers and scientists because they are fact first and emotion second. Ultimately, Grandin accepted that her mother saw her as ungrateful for all the help and sacrifices made for her. Albeit, Temple dedicated this book with gratitude for all her dedication and support, in part, to her mother (Grandin 2006).

Temple was expelled for throwing a book at someone who was teasing her; she in turn went to special boarding school. Temple’s science teacher encouraged her to apply symbolic windows toward reading philosophy books, and laws of science in order to understand squeeze machines; psychiatrists and psychotherapists discouraged her from applying personal interests and learning style toward understanding such subjects. Further, research skills at the library were developed because of the inspiration of the science teacher. Skill in library research were essential because her time in high school and preparing for college was prior to the Internet.

Grandin had support from several teachers, in college, which included psychological encouragement and tutoring page. Permission for Temple to do a thesis on animal chutes was initially met with resistance; finally she sought out some professors who would let her do so (Grandin 2006).

◦Temple’s Struggles and Triumphs in the Workplace

Grandin argued with other engineers about how to construct a cattle chute and was fired due to this, albeit she proved to be right months later. Temple learned that her engineer peers were not trying to be difficult, being stupid or too lazy to understand her ideas. Rather, Grandin pointed out that they could not visualize what she was trying to tell them (Grandin 2006).

Temple learned to not get frustrated with verbal thinkers, whom often had vague pictures in mind when listening to her descriptions of cattle systems. Temple learned to criticize tactfully when confronting a co-workers about gaps in their designs or the implementation of them; this allowed her to keep working in the field of work.

Grandin was told to improve her personal hygiene; she learned to shower more often and to where clean clothes (Grandin 2006).

Grandin sent her portfolio for freelance work to potential employers instead of attending formal interviews; she knew that her affect of poor eye contact and being nervous would weaken the impressions of her during interviewers.

◦My Personal Growth and Learning

My personal growth and learning stem from knowing that the more I see from an ASD point of view, the more I can help those with related issues.

Temple modeled reinforced for me a teaching technique when tutoring people with ASD issues by slowing down when doing work and in turn helping them improve quality of it. Although I have had my students slow down in order to produce their best work, my understanding of this is now at a higher level than before reading this book. Further, in order to have a more vivid analysis of their strengths and weaknesses, my pace in assessing students is slowed down to even further.

My plan as a tutor is to give individuals with ASD more pictures that reflect words; for example “is” or ‘to be.” will have pictures that the students while guided by me will select for themselves. Some may chose an image of  something that “is” to be a camera: it symbolizes whatever is in the eye of a lens as simply being what it is. Others may chose Shakespeare who is known for, “To be or not to be, that is the question.”

I have learned that some people with ASD can have cognitive and emotional break through even in their twenties and onward; I will avoid type casting even if it looks like the individuals are destined to be the same for the rest of their lives. I realize to a greater degree that different types of ASD thinkers include those who visualize in pictures, imagine in music, see life through the lens of math or process the meaning of life and all other aspects of it in written or spoken language form

I realize to a greater extent that children with ASD avoid social conflicts that relate to lack of eye contact and verbal mono tone by socializing through the Internet; texting allows the many who have these issues to escape harassment .

My fortitude to help students with ASD apply their strengths more, rather than focusing on their weaknesses is greater now that I have read this book.

References

Grandin, T. (2006). Thinking in pictures: And other reports from my life with autism (2nd Vintage Books ed.). New York: Vintage Books.

Tutor John Toker web site to help people with ADHD, ADD, Dyslexia, Autism, Asperger, Executive Function Disorder

http://www.learndifferentlytutor.com/

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Austism, ASD, impact on families discussion by tutor, John Toker

The impact of autism on each member of the family:

Family dynamics vary in a home that has someone with ASD, in part, due to how many children within their system, their gender, their ages, and personalities; girls have shown, in lower grades, to be more depressed with a sibling that has the common need for an inordinate amounts of time and attention. Males have well documented cases of feeling neglected and have negative outlooks on life, also. Albeit, their are exceptions to both males and females. Parents’ coping skills and ability to negotiate and be composed while interacting with each other and their children sets the tone for how boys and girls feel about their siblings with ASD; if parents are positive, and are still focused on the other children’s needs, then it is more likely that the offsprings will feel like their lives matter, and therefore not be inclined to be morose in affect. Naturally, more research needs to be done on family dynamics as it applies to those who have people with ASD in their families (Boutot, & Myles 2011).

Discussion of the impact on siblings:

Siblings of people with ASD are more likely to feel depressed than mainstream society; albeit a relative few studies do not substantiate this and more research on the subject needs to take place. People with ASD take up a disproportionate amount of time by their parents. Consequently, brothers and sisters feel ignored about their problems, and feelings often go ignored in the process. Parents often argue more because of the stress of raising children with ASD, so siblings are exposed to a greater degree of emotional tension in the family; they in turn feel bad by being in such an environment. Once parents of people with ASD pass away, there is a great deal of pressure on siblings to find appropriate living arrangements for those with ASD; they often feel guilty about not finding better housing for them and about the paucity of time they have for them (Boutot, & Myles 2011).

Discussion on the impact of parents:

Mother’s regardless of culture, in the vast majority of cases, feel the most responsibility to care for their children who are on the spectrum of autism. Albeit, father’s, especially in the US and relatively few other countries, feel pressure to do more for their children who have issues with ASD. Parents are more likely to have greater marital problems because they start blaming each other for why their kids have learning and emotional issues. Albeit, there are some few exceptions when mothers and fathers refer to their sons and sometimes daughters with ASD as gifts to their families; their added struggles made them focus more on the emotional well being of their families as a whole (Boutot, & Myles 2011).

Importance of communication and collaboration with families:

Parents have mistrust toward teachers and school administers, and often feel that they are unsupported in their efforts to encounter ASD issues for their boys and girls; teachers and professionals should not take it personally. Communication among instructors, mothers, fathers, and guardians is core to effectively addressing students’ ASD ongoing needs. Many progenitors lack financial means, emotional support, respite via babysitting, respective educational resources, and access to extra curricular activities within the community.

Strategies for communicating with parents:

1. Provide a comprehensive needs assessment for parents who have ASD issues in their families; allow them to  feel comfortable about which questions they answer in it. Give mothers and fathers information about resources in their school districts, state, including Federal funding, and outside in general society that will serve as emotional support, edification about ASD, and in some case financial support.

2. Parent night is used by some teachers so that information about resources for ASD may be disseminated to mothers, fathers and guardians. Teachers can in so delegate support that would not be financially feasible, and go beyond the bounds of their role in helping such children (Boutot, & Myles 2011).

3. Post on school hall bulletin boards information about ASD sources of support that parents may use in their community; it should include what is explained, as best possible, during parent night.

References

Boutot, A., & Myles, B. (2011). Overview of Autism Spectrum Disorders. In Autism Spectrum Disorders Foundations, Characteristics, and Effective Strategies (pp. 93-115). Pearson.

Tutor John Toker web site to help people with ADHD, ADD, Dyslexia,

Tutor John Toker, Autism, Asperger, ADHD, Dyslexia, Executive Function Disorder

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Unstrange Minds by Dr. Richard Grinker discussion about why Austism and Asperger are diagnosed in the USA compared to some other countries by tutor, John Toker

The impact of culture and location on a family’s response to ASD.

In contrast to the United States and other countries, for example England, India has relatively little educational intervention for those with ASD. In general, those diagnosed on the spectrum are either referred to as retarded or labeled with a euphemism as such by calling them Autistic. Pediatricians and other doctors either acknowledge that they do not know what the ASD includes or they assert that their patients lack sufficient education to understand the ramifications and techniques to help their children with this diagnosis.

Mothers, also in India, are usually blamed for their children being Autistic; relatives claim that they are overprotective of them and in so deprive such individuals of opportunities to socialize. Realistically, mothers in India are under tremendous pressure and strain due to the lack of support that is essential for anyone raising children with ASD; the fathers almost always abstain from directly caring for such individuals. Albeit, Grinker suggests that access to the Internet may lead to a progressive approach in aiding those with Autism.

The impact of autism on the siblings and parents of a child with ASD.

Despite having a relatively high level of professional help in the US when compared to many other parts of the world, parents often feel frustrated that they are not able to help their children with ASD at an adequate level; they often do not see themselves and professionals as having the appropriate training or correct ratio between student and teacher. Albeit, some areas of the United States disproportionately have superior resources for those with such learning issues; they tend to be relatively wealthy districts.

Siblings often feel ignored by their parents because those with ASD require an inordinate amount of attention. They usually have to be quite around siblings with ASD because outburst from being over stimulated are likely to happen otherwise. Olivia, Isabel’s sister was unusual in that she was able to cope far better than most siblings in such situation; typically, they will be stressed out and feel isolated in facing their own problems and worries.

The experiences of the Grinker family had in dealing with their child’s autism and the school system

Roy Grinker found Applied Behavioral Analysis, ABA, to be too expensive and tried with his wife to create structure that would be similar to it. Grinker and his wife, Joyce, found it exhausting and too difficult to do. Floortime, by Dr. Stanley Greenspan required Roy and Joyce to engage in a social exchange with Isabel; they sat on the floor and increased length and complexity of interacting with her. Grinker and his wife found this to tiring and that Isabel wound up crying about it.

Although Isabel had marked gaps in speech and language, her visual and spatial skills were relatively strong for her. Pre-school at the Smithsonian’s Institution’s Early Enrichment center helped Isabel with some added sense of structure and especially socialization; albeit, issues with ASD, sensory integration, being hypersensitive to environmental sounds, while lacking sufficient sensitivity to pain continued to be problematic for her.

Grinker learned that Isabel was able to  connect her visual and tactile learning skills to her verbal gaps; museums were especially edifying for her. Classifications in biology were particularly interesting and an area of strength for Isabel; this was partly a result of going see them at a zoo and in a museum and to a some extent being part of  the social dynamic of it all. Language for Isabel and people in general, as the author discovered, could only be developed on the ‘scaffolding’ of social interaction; this began with Isabel developing eye contact skills.

Once Isabel started kindergarten, she was in a Montgomery County public school, which was one in Maryland. Her first teacher lacked patience and skill to educate Isabel; the principal did not support one on one teaching and could not articulate the meaning of ASD. Albeit, other educators as the years progressed were highly praised by Grinker because they were competent and effective in helping Isabel learn in school.

Isabel excelled particularly in zoology.

John Toker has a Master’s Degree in Education with a Concentration in LD K-12, and a Master’s Degree in Psychological Services with a Concentration in Counseling with a Post Master’s in Counseling. John is a tutor for Autism, Asperger’s, Dyslexia, ADHD, ADD, Executive Function Disorder and other learning issues. John taught in FCPS, and MCPS; he is usually a tutor in Northern Virginia, especially Fairfax County including McLean, Vienna, Reston VA and other areas in Fairfax County and sometimes a tutor in MCPS, in particular Potomac MD, Bethesda MD, and Rockville MD within Montgomery County.

Tutor John Toker web site to help people with ADHD, ADD, Dyslexia, Autism, Asperger, Executive Function Disorder

http://www.learndifferentlytutor.com/

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Tutor explains DSM V brings Autism, Aspergers, ASD under one diagnostic umbrella

Previously a tutor would expect children to have different diagnoses whether Autism or Asperger’s Disorder in the DSM IV. The DSM V is a statistical manual that reflects the criteria in which people may be diagnosed as being on the spectrum of Autism. Students who need a tutor, IEP services at school and other educational assistance among professionals are no longer diagnosed separately with Asperger’s, rather anyone on the spectrum of Autism, ASD, is diagnosed as being Autistic; albeit, there are types of autism delineated in any given diagnosis of it. Core illustrations of Autistic behavior or paucity in affect in order to meet the criteria are as follows: poor social communication and related interpersonal skills, repetitive kinesthetic actions and narrow scope of interests, gaps in interacting with others and obsessive behavior present at early age. The following links delineates the specific details of Autism as reflected as a diagnosis in the DSM V:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/hcp-dsm.html

https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/diagnosis/dsm-5-diagnostic-criteria

Asperger’s Disorder is not a diagnosis in the DSM V; tutors, teachers and other educational professionals should be aware of this. Naturally as a tutor, I understand that students with Asperger’s may not want to be under one ASD diagnosis of Autism.

John Toker has a Master’s Degree in Education with a Concentration in LD K-12, and a Master’s Degree in Psychological Services with a Concentration in Counseling with a Post Master’s in Counseling. John is a tutor for Autism, Asperger’s, Dyslexia, ADHD, ADD, Executive Function Disorder and other learning issues. John taught in FCPS, and MCPS; he is usually a tutor in Northern Virginia, especially Fairfax County including McLean, Vienna, Reston VA and other areas in Fairfax County and sometimes a tutor in MCPS, in particular Potomac MD, Bethesda MD, and Rockville MD within Montgomery County.

 http://www.learndifferentlytutor.com/

http://www.johntoker.com/

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Breaking Stereotypes about Learning Issues

Learning issues are too often connected to assumptions about respective abilities; ordinary people assume that those with them have too many obstacles to succeed in life. Albeit, many biographies reflect those with problems in school as part of their history to be highly accomplished in the work world. Business people, scientists artist and of many other professions learned to make their learning problems assets to excelling well beyond their peers. Ironically, many of those who teased people for having learning issues were simply good at memorizing school curriculum; they often had far less ability than those subject to criticism. It is essential that biographies of accomplished people are studied by those with learning challenges and those helping them. My tutoring services help students free themselves from stereotypes.

http://www.learndifferentlytutor.com/

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Team teaching collaborative education by tutor John Toker

Five advantages and Issues with collaborative class settings:

1. Students with special needs benefit from mainstream students by experiencing curriculum that is maintained at a competitive level. Albeit, there may be cases when the curriculum does not need to be modified in its explanation, rather it may be too difficult for some with special needs (Vaughn, & Bos 2007).

2. Educators gain greater skills in balancing the learning needs of those who do and do not need accommodations. Effectiveness may not be consistent, so result data must be analyzed by both teachers (Vaughn, & Bos 2007).

3.  Learners with special needs may feel more included in a general classroom setting. Co-teachers have more issues to resolve, and therefore must have greater communication in order to resolve them (Vaughn, & Bos 2007).

4. If  both collaborative teachers know course curriculum well, then they can fill in the gaps of subject matter by explaining given material in different ways. Albeit, if special education teachers are only prepared to refine explanations of the general education teachers, then mainstream lesson material may not be taught when general education teachers are unavailable (Ripley, 1997).

5. Student answers that are evaluated by both teachers allow for feedback about what students are learning, and whether the rubrics reflect the intended lessons. If only one teacher in each class analyzes student answers, then the other teacher will not be contributing to how best to teach students on given subject matters; one teacher may well have an informed opinion on how to adjust the class lessons, while another may be insistent on presenting lessons as they have been in the past (Dunne 2000).

Current skills in co-teaching;

I tend to be flexible, and a good listener if put in team teaching situations. Given that I do not team teach at current, I would need to build back my skills in doing so.

My present day collaborative skills area for improvement:

Co-teaching planning periods need to be used to analyze student answers; this would offer better feedback to both of us as to how we may better approach teaching subjects. We should look closely at the types of answers students are providing, and assess whether lesson material needs to be taught differently, or if rubrics should be adjusted for courses (Dunne 2000).

Five Collaborative teaching techniques:

1. Model A involves two distinct roles between teachers; one is leading as the lecturer, while the other is assessing what people do not understand and clarifying how best to understand curriculum concepts. If the lead teacher explains in lecture form, for example, that their are neutrons and protons in the nucleus of the atom, and that electrons fly around them, the other teacher can clarify to those who have questions about them (Vaughn, & Bos 2007).

2. Model B classes have full classes split into smaller groups, while both teachers lecture, and elucidate subject matter; this in effect makes for smaller class sizes. For example, calculating degrees of interior angles for geometry would be taught as a general concept, specific steps to do so, and clarifications would be run side by side by the two teachers at the same time; each of them would speak to a smaller group than the whole class (Vaughn, & Bos 2007).

3. Model C teachers have different groups in which the learners are taught aspects of curriculum. For example, those who struggle with the meaning of a pronoun will receive added instruction about them. Albeit, others in the same class who understand what pronouns are, albeit need reinforcement of the concept, would write examples of them (Vaughn, & Bos 2007).

4. Model D of co-teaching: Class leaders vary from one teacher to the other, while students lead in some cases. Other lessons include independent work being completed by the students. Teaching stations reflect different portions of course curriculum; various students work on different parts depending on what they find challenging and how they learn. Some students may need manipulatives or alternative forms of explanation, while others may not need added accommodations to their exercises (Vaughn, & Bos 2007).

5. Model E includes collaborative teachers who are both responsible for equally lecturing, illustrating, and modeling the taking notes on what the other instructor is presenting for a given lesson. For example, mind maps may be taught by one teacher, while the other instructor completes it with the students; this could be done for writing a fiction story with an omniscient narrator (Vaughn, & Bos 2007).

References

Ripley, S. (1997) The art of teaching: Collaboration between general and special education teachers. ERIC EC Digest

Dunne, D. W. (2000). Teachers learn from looking together at student work.

Vaughn, S., & Bos, C. (2007). Response to Intervention: Developing Success for All Learners. In Teaching students who are exceptional, diverse, and at risk in the general education classroom (4th ed., p. 71 to 81). Boston: Pearson Allyn & Bacon.

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Dyslexia, Autism, ADHD, Executive Function Disorder and Being a Tutor

Students often vary as to what they need to meet school grade level requirements; ADHD, Dyslexia, Executive Function Disorder, Autism are some of the reasons many people do not learn in the same way. My tutoring people over the past many years has shown me that individuals vary greatly even within one diagnosis that relates to thought process. Naturally, it is key to see the person getting tutoring services as for who they are, and not simply as a stereotype.

My students to tutor are mostly from Vienna VA, McLean VA, Arlington VA, other areas of Northern VA, Potomac MD, and Bethesda MD. Albeit, some learners are from New England, while others are from the West coast.

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Tutoring Bridges Learning Gaps with Scholastic Strengths

Tutoring increases the odds of parents’ children being accepted at universities, and most importantly graduating from the schools. Too often homework, extra credit assignments, minimal math, science and writing requirements in high school leave aspiring college students unprepared for curriculum that is required at the college level. I find that those whom I tutor prefer to learn their assigned subject matter in a more comprehensive way, rather than through wrote memorization; in turn, they tend to form an ability to answer abstract questions that are tightly associated with university level of academic work.
Many of my students are misunderstood as simply ADHD, ADD, Dyslexic, Autistic, Executive Function Disorder, while they can often excel in school by being taught an individualized method or custom to their thinking way of learning curriculum.

John Toker, M.Ed. LD K-12, M.A.

http://learndifferentlytutor.com/

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Communication with parents at teacher meetings by tutor John Toker

Parent Communication Plan

Listen to parents

Be sure to let them finish what they are saying.

  • This lets the parents know that you respect their views, and believe that they are able to contribute to the analysis of how best to formulate plans to help their respective children in school.
  • Let parents establish their views every time you have a meeting. Albeit, if the parents are repeating their points many times during a given meeting, and you have offered feed back that you understand their points, you may use judgment as to then interject, and establish that such points have already been made by the parents.

Parent Communication Plan

Listen to parents

· Be sure to let them finish what they are saying.
· This lets the parents know that you respect their views, and believe that they are able to contribute to the analysis of how best to formulate plans to help their respective children in school.
· Let parents establish their views every time you have a meeting. Albeit, if the parents are repeating their points many times during a given meeting, and you have offered feed back that you understand their points, you may use judgment as to then interject, and establish that such points have already been made by the parents.

Take notes on what is being conveyed in the meeting.

· Parents see the care in which you are trying to be accurate about what happens during meetings with them is a priority for you as the teacher.
· Take notes sparingly so that you can also offer eye contact, and not just look like a court room stenographer.

Summarize what parents have explained, so that it is clear that you have synthesized what they have related to you; simply, you understand what they are trying explain to about their children’s learning needs on a ‘Big Picture’ scale.

· Once parents offer feedback that they know you, as the teacher, are understanding them about their children’s scholastic needs, refrain from added feedback until truly new ideas are brought forth by the respective parents.

Establish your stance on addressing students’ needs with their parents with a calm
demeanor.

This allows you, as the teacher, to present as thoughtful about the special needs of their children; it dispels a feeling that your responses are inflexible and ‘one size fits all.’ Give your views only after listening to the parents views. Teachers should state their positions as it relates to students’ scholastic needs enough so that the parents know what they are; try not to repeat them when they are clear to them.

Come to an agreement about a plan to help the parents’ children.

· Teachers should be as flexible as possible, while still meeting the school requirements, so that parents feel that they should show the same flexibility, while continuing to meet their children’s learning needs. Implementations of steps to help students cannot be applied unless there is closure between parents and teachers as to what may best help them. An agreement should be made one time after each meeting in which agreements need to be made; avoid aiming for agreements at the beginning or middle of meetings; otherwise you will have too many changes to agreements to avoid confusion over what the final

Take notes on what is being conveyed in the meeting.

Parents see the care in which you are trying to be accurate about what happens during meetings with them is a priority for you as the teacher.

  • Take notes sparingly so that you can also offer eye contact, and not just look like a court room stenographer.

Summarize what parents have explained, so that it is clear that you have synthesized what they have related to you; simply, you understand what they are trying explain to about their children’s learning needs on a  ‘Big Picture’ scale.

Once parents offer feedback that they know you, as the teacher, are understanding them about their children’s scholastic needs, refrain from added feedback until truly new ideas are brought forth by the respective parents.

Establish your stance on addressing students’ needs with their parents with a calm

demeanor.

This allows you, as the teacher, to present as thoughtful about the special needs of their children; it dispels a feeling that your responses are inflexible and ‘one size fits all.’ Give your views only after listening to the parents views. Teachers should state their positions as it relates to students’ scholastic needs enough so that the parents know what they are; try not to repeat them when they are clear to them.

Come to an agreement about a plan to help the parents’ children.

Teachers should be as flexible as possible, while still meeting the school requirements, so that parents feel that they should show the same flexibility, while continuing to meet their children’s learning needs. Implementations of steps to help students cannot be applied unless there is closure between parents and teachers as to what may best help them. An agreement should be made one time after each meeting in which agreements need to be made; avoid aiming for agreements at the beginning or middle of meetings; otherwise you will have too many changes to agreements to avoid confusion over what the final agreement will be.

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Test modification for children with special needs such as cerebral palsy by John Toker, tutor

A student of mine has cerebral palsy. I modified his tests, during the school year, to do two of each type of math problem; he passed the SOL without any accommodations for it. Some students without learning issues, scored at the A level during the normal school year, failed the same SOL as my noted student. In certain cases, there are people who can memorize an inordinate amount of information for a few days, while having a substandard understanding of a given set of material.

Pupils with intellectual characteristics that are indicative of intellectual disabilities are as follow:

1. They generally learn at a slower pace as relative to their mainstream peers.

2. Relevant aspects of lessons often go unnoticed by them.

3. Spontaneous illustration of learned skills is usually lacking.

4. Abstract concepts and complex curriculum is often too difficult for them to understand.

5. Generalizations from specific lesson material are frequently absent from their conclusions concerning respective course material (Vaughn, & Bos 2007).

IDEA, IDEIA and other Federal laws protect students with intellectual disabilities in the following ways:

1. IDEA requires that all children receive education; it mandates that special education services start at the age of a toddler are in place. students are to be given psychometric testing in or order to identify their specific gaps in learning.

2. IDEIA requires that general education curriculum is afforded to these pupils (Vaughn, & Bos 2007).

General Education teacher’s four roles when working with those who have who deficits in intellectual processing:

1. Such students need to their teachers to make them feel as if they are part of the class.

2. IEP goals of  learners should be familiar to the instructors.

3. Modifications to general education lessons should be made when feasible in order to meet the needs of those with deficits. Creativity and analysis should be applied to lesson plans when collaborating with special education teachers during planning periods.

4. Mainstream students should be encouraged to provide peer support in general and when completing coursework; general education teachers should collaborate with special education instructors in order to facilitate such dynamics (Vaughn, & Bos 2007).

Five strategies or activities for instructors to facilitate success of students with deficits in their intellect:

1. Prepare students, ahead of time, for what they need to be doing during a given class periods; this includes taking turns when communicating about a subject matter, handing out materials for class and other events. Such students are then much more likely to follow directions by the teacher and thus fit in more among their peers.

2. Safety is essential and needs more reinforcement of steps to keep people safe than the general population; review fire drill procedures, verbally rehearse getting on the correct bus that takes them to their homes, safely crossing streets, and knowing how to call their parents or guardians.

3. Acceptance that learning goals should be varied in order to accommodate different learning needs; for example, a student may need fewer of any given type of question on exams or not as many types of them.

4. Cooperative learning: subgroups are formed for students to work as a team in order to complete assigned goals. Interdependence facilitates positive interactions with those who have special needs, and whom may otherwise be ignored by mainstream peers.

5. Providing hands on, known as experiential instructions includes familiarizing oneself as to what students already know from life experience and helping them apply such life lessons to class work. Manipulatives and other learning tools in the classroom are used to create first hand learning experiences; this often streamlines learning as a process (Vaughn, & Bos 2007).

References

Vaughn, S., & Bos, C. (2007). Response to Intervention: Developing Success for All Learners. In Teaching students who are exceptional, diverse, and at risk in the general education classroom (4th ed., p. 262 to 263). Boston: Pearson Allyn & Bacon.

Vaughn, S., & Bos, C. (2007). Response to Intervention: Developing Success for All Learners. In Teaching students who are exceptional, diverse, and at risk in the general education classroom (4th ed., p. 264 to 265). Boston: Pearson Allyn & Bacon.

Vaughn, S., & Bos, C. (2007). Response to Intervention: Developing Success for All Learners. In Teaching students who are exceptional, diverse, and at risk in the general education classroom (4th ed., p. 266 to 268). Boston: Pearson Allyn & Bacon.

Vaughn, S., & Bos, C. (2007). Response to Intervention: Developing Success for All Learners. In Teaching students who are exceptional, diverse, and at risk in the general education classroom (4th ed., p. 269 to 271). Boston: Pearson Allyn & Bacon.

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