Standard 1 - Teaching Diverse Students – The competent teacher understands the diverse characteristics and abilities of each student and how individuals develop and learn within the context of their social, economic, cultural, linguistic, and academic experiences. The teacher uses these experiences to create instructional opportunities that maximize student learning.
ARTIFACT #3
In my course , Intro to exceptional children, I researched on developmental delays and demonstrated my findings by writing two research papers and creating a power point on the topic.
The research paper "Strategies, Accommodations and Modifications for Developmental Delays " was a learning experience for myself. I learned that when a teacher is educated on learning disabilities they have a tremendous positive impact not only on children with no disability, but also on those with a disability , or even ones that have not yet been identify. There are many strategies, accommodations and modifications that can be done to support a child with a learning disability. The accommodations and modifications can range from minimal to complex ones depending on the child, no child is the same. A teacher can do a simple accommodation such as giving a student extra time to finish school work or exams in order to obtain a positive result. Another modification can be with a child who might have a hard time writing, the teacher can accommodate them by letting the students use a computer to replace pen and paper format. Those are just examples of how simple changes can make a big difference towards a child’s education. It is also very important to develop an IEP, once a disability has been identify. It is extremely needed to develop an individualized plan for the child and to have a good communication with the parents or caregivers. Staying informed is crucial for parents and teachers, it is a team job to support the child towards success.
The research paper "Characteristics and Causes of Developmental Delays" gave me insight and knowledge on the different possible causes of developmental delays on children and some of the characteristics children with developmental delays might have. A child might be a delay in Physical, Cognitive, Communication, Social, Emotional, or Adaptive development. The causes for developmental delays can be different from child to child. According to Centers for Disease Control and prevention around 15% of children ages 3 to 17 have a developmental delay. Most disabilities are present even before a child is born, but others can take place after due to sickness or an injury. It can be very difficult to specify as to the why of developmental delays. One of the biggest factors of developmental delay is due to genetics. Infections or challenges during pregnancy and premature birth can be one of the primary causes of developmental delays in children. A child might also be having developmental delays due to other health conditions such as cerebral palsy,fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, muscular dystrophies, or genetic disorders such as down syndrome. It can be hard to specify the cause of developmental delay, but it is important to understand that regardless of the causes there are services to aid children .
Developing the power point on developmental delays was a connection to both above mentioned papers. I was able to share with classmates my findings and a general overview of developmental delays . I also explained the IEP process to support such students . Lastly I did an interactive activity to demonstrate to classmates how a child with developmental delays might feel when given a test. I also gave a handout that gives a few tips on how to identify a possible developmental delay.
As educators we should truly understand and have knowledge along with strategies to teach effectively diverse students such as those with special needs. It is important that we individualize and personalize a students learning plan for a valuable education, all children deserve an accommodate learning experience.
SELF EVALUATION
I have acquire knowledge on characteristics and causes for children with disabilities. I have also gained knowledge on the IEP process and the Acts that protect diverse students. I also learned about accommodations, strategies and modifications. The course and assignments made me more aware of the importance of been informed on developmental delays and about exceptional children in general. Presenting is not my strong point and I believe I can make progress.