Classroom Respect and Classroom Respect and AccommodationsAccommodations

Daniel ConnerDaniel Conner

Denver Public SchoolsDenver Public Schools

Positive Classroom Climate and Positive Classroom Climate and CultureCulture

• To provide a positive classroom To provide a positive classroom climate and culture, we must climate and culture, we must foster a learning environment foster a learning environment which is:which is:– supportivesupportive– and respectful and respectful – among all studentsamong all students

Students have different Students have different abilities and skill sets!abilities and skill sets!

• It is a challenge for any classroom to It is a challenge for any classroom to have a culture which is supportive have a culture which is supportive and respectful to everyone.and respectful to everyone.

• Special education students will be in Special education students will be in classes with a range of ability levels.classes with a range of ability levels.– Whether these are classes that provide Whether these are classes that provide

direct, indirect, or integrated sped direct, indirect, or integrated sped services.services.

Students have different Students have different abilities and skill sets!abilities and skill sets!

• How can we, as special educators, How can we, as special educators, set a precedence for students who set a precedence for students who have disabilities to be respected and have disabilities to be respected and be supported?be supported?– The honest truth is that some people The honest truth is that some people

find it difficult to work with others who find it difficult to work with others who have skill sets which are different from have skill sets which are different from their own.their own.

What can bridge the gap?What can bridge the gap?

• How can students, who have special How can students, who have special needs, be successful in classes in needs, be successful in classes in their areas of concern?their areas of concern?

• Is there something in place which Is there something in place which students can utilize that will help students can utilize that will help them contribute to their classroom them contribute to their classroom activities? activities? – [hint: yes, there is!][hint: yes, there is!]

Modifications & Modifications & AccommodationsAccommodations

• Modifications and Accommodations Modifications and Accommodations are very important parts of an IEP.are very important parts of an IEP.– Too often they are overlooked.Too often they are overlooked.– An IEP team determines that these are An IEP team determines that these are

supports which will enable a student’s supports which will enable a student’s success.success.

– If they are in an IEP, which is legal If they are in an IEP, which is legal document, they must be in place in the document, they must be in place in the classroom.classroom.

Modifications & Modifications & AccommodationsAccommodations

• A student’s modifications and A student’s modifications and accommodations should be in place accommodations should be in place starting on the first day of class.starting on the first day of class.

• If a teacher finds that a student is If a teacher finds that a student is not having the anticipated success, not having the anticipated success, the accommodations and the accommodations and modifications are the first things to modifications are the first things to consider.consider.

Are they appropriate?Are they appropriate?

• High school students may find that High school students may find that they would benefit from a different set they would benefit from a different set of accommodations and modifications of accommodations and modifications than they did in previous years.than they did in previous years.– Course responsibilities are different.Course responsibilities are different.– Skills may have improved during years Skills may have improved during years

when revising accommodations was not when revising accommodations was not considered.considered.

Remember…Remember…

• If a student needs an If a student needs an accommodation or modification to be accommodation or modification to be successful in a class, it should be successful in a class, it should be included on an IEP.included on an IEP.

• If a student does not need an If a student does not need an accommodation or modification, it accommodation or modification, it should not be included on an IEP.should not be included on an IEP.

Post SecondaryPost Secondary

• Many colleges will allow students to Many colleges will allow students to have accommodations for their have accommodations for their college classes which are similar to college classes which are similar to the ones they had in high school.the ones they had in high school.

• If they need it now, make sure to If they need it now, make sure to document it, so that they can have it document it, so that they can have it in the future!in the future!

Accommodation RealitiesAccommodation Realities

• Let’s face it-Let’s face it-– Accommodations can seem time Accommodations can seem time

consuming or even intimidating to consuming or even intimidating to teachers who are not used to teachers who are not used to implementing them.implementing them.

– There are teachers who prefer to not There are teachers who prefer to not provide them.provide them.

– It is not good if a student was not It is not good if a student was not offered their accommodations and is offered their accommodations and is having trouble passing a class.having trouble passing a class.

Work as a Campus TeamWork as a Campus Team

• Work with other teachers to provide Work with other teachers to provide accommodations!accommodations!– Show how implementing Show how implementing

accommodations initially can encourage accommodations initially can encourage students to not get behind on work.students to not get behind on work.

– Remind them that providing Remind them that providing accommodations is not an option!accommodations is not an option!

Work as a Campus TeamWork as a Campus Team

• Initially providing AccommodationsInitially providing Accommodations– Prevents having to do more remediation Prevents having to do more remediation

after an initial lessonafter an initial lesson– Allows students who are keeping up with Allows students who are keeping up with

their lessons to contribute to class their lessons to contribute to class activities with the rest of the class.activities with the rest of the class.

Less is More!Less is More!

• Too often students have many more Too often students have many more accommodations than are neededaccommodations than are needed– Perhaps an IEP team wanted to provide Perhaps an IEP team wanted to provide

them with every support possible.them with every support possible.– While that could sound good in theory, it While that could sound good in theory, it

may be giving students supports they do may be giving students supports they do not need.not need.•This could be more of a hindrance than a This could be more of a hindrance than a

help.help.

Less is More!Less is More!

• If a teacher sees a large amount of If a teacher sees a large amount of accommodations on an IEP, that accommodations on an IEP, that teacher may be less likely to teacher may be less likely to implement any of them.implement any of them.

• If we have a few strategic and highly If we have a few strategic and highly needed accommodations, they will needed accommodations, they will be much easier to implement be much easier to implement consistently.consistently.

Challenge Students!Challenge Students!

• Do not give students Do not give students accommodations which allow them to accommodations which allow them to not apply themselves to their work.not apply themselves to their work.– This is especially important in high level This is especially important in high level

courses where they have to contribute to courses where they have to contribute to group work with their peers.group work with their peers.

– We do not want students to learn less We do not want students to learn less since they have accommodations which since they have accommodations which allow it!allow it!

Teach Self AdvocacyTeach Self Advocacy

• We need to not only provide students We need to not only provide students with accommodations, but have with accommodations, but have them in place so that students can them in place so that students can seek these accommodations.seek these accommodations.

• This is crucial for their success after This is crucial for their success after high school.high school.

Example- Extended TimeExample- Extended Time

• If a student has an accommodation If a student has an accommodation of extended time for assignments:of extended time for assignments:– Set up the parameters for this when the Set up the parameters for this when the

assignment is given, not after, when the assignment is given, not after, when the assignment is already late.assignment is already late.

– Students may not need extended time Students may not need extended time for every assignment.for every assignment.

Example- Extended TimeExample- Extended Time

• If a student has an accommodation If a student has an accommodation of extended time for assignments:of extended time for assignments:– Give realistic time extensions. Maybe Give realistic time extensions. Maybe

they have a few days longer- not a few they have a few days longer- not a few weeks!weeks!

– Encourage students to ask their Encourage students to ask their teachers to extend the timeframe for teachers to extend the timeframe for their assignments and not to wait for the their assignments and not to wait for the teacher to initiate this.teacher to initiate this.

Example- Classroom NotesExample- Classroom Notes

• Providing notes of a lesson is an Providing notes of a lesson is an accommodation which has a accommodation which has a tendency to be overlooked.tendency to be overlooked.– Many teachers do not teach from a full Many teachers do not teach from a full

outline of notes.outline of notes.– They may not give notes to students They may not give notes to students

because they do not have them.because they do not have them.– They may not want to generate them on They may not want to generate them on

their own.their own.

Example- Classroom NotesExample- Classroom Notes

• Special Education teachers may not Special Education teachers may not have the opportunity to meet with other have the opportunity to meet with other teachers to make these notes outside of teachers to make these notes outside of class.class.

• Another student could provide their Another student could provide their notes to be copied for a student with notes to be copied for a student with this accommodation.this accommodation.– You may want to remove the note taking You may want to remove the note taking

student’s identifying information [name, student’s identifying information [name, etc.]etc.]

Example- Classroom NotesExample- Classroom Notes

• Students sharing notes could be a great Students sharing notes could be a great way for collaborative learning.way for collaborative learning.

• Encourage students with this Encourage students with this accommodation to share their skills with accommodation to share their skills with other students in other circumstances.other students in other circumstances.

• Encourage students to politely ask for Encourage students to politely ask for notes.notes.– This is good for self advocacy and social This is good for self advocacy and social

skills.skills.

Remember!Remember!

• While modifications affect the course While modifications affect the course and credit a student is learning, and credit a student is learning, accommodations do not.accommodations do not.

• Accommodations allow students to Accommodations allow students to learn the same material, and meet learn the same material, and meet the same requirements, in a way the same requirements, in a way which meets their needs.which meets their needs.

Share with other teachersShare with other teachers

• Think of it like this:Think of it like this:– If an assignment is to write a one page If an assignment is to write a one page

reflection on a topic, students can reflection on a topic, students can demonstrate this knowledge whether it demonstrate this knowledge whether it is hand written or typed [or maybe even is hand written or typed [or maybe even spoken orally!].spoken orally!].

– The assignment is not changed, only the The assignment is not changed, only the function of expressing their knowledge.function of expressing their knowledge.

Benefits of accommodationsBenefits of accommodations

• If students with special needs have If students with special needs have measures in place to be successful, measures in place to be successful, they will be able to contribute to they will be able to contribute to their classes in much greater ways.their classes in much greater ways.

• They will be more confident.They will be more confident.

• They will earn respect from their They will earn respect from their classmates.classmates.

When successful…When successful…

• Students are more likely to take Students are more likely to take academic risks and tackle new academic risks and tackle new challenges when they have been challenges when they have been successful with their initial successful with their initial assignments.assignments.

• We need students to be exploratory We need students to be exploratory learners, making connections with learners, making connections with their content and class members.their content and class members.

In summary…In summary…

• Accommodations allow students to be Accommodations allow students to be successful in ways which are designated successful in ways which are designated by their most recent IEP team.by their most recent IEP team.

• When students are successful, their When students are successful, their academic confidence grows and they academic confidence grows and they feel much more supported and feel much more supported and respected.respected.

• They are also more likely to support and They are also more likely to support and respect others!respect others!

Further questions?Further questions?

• If you have any specific questions If you have any specific questions about accommodations for high about accommodations for high school students, or would like to school students, or would like to comment on any of this, feel free to comment on any of this, feel free to e-mail:e-mail:– daniel_conner@dpsk12.orgdaniel_conner@dpsk12.org

• Thank you!Thank you!