How do schools help students who have singular needs?

Unfortunately, these students are often overlooked. The do not qualify for special education classes if they do have a disability as defined by IDEA. The best thing that can happen for these students is the right teacher. Many teachers will go out of their way to inspire a help a child in need, and many will not. A good teacher can determine where the problem is…lack of challenge, boredom, problems outside of school, lack of understanding, etc. and can help the student with the problems, or lead them to a person who can. A good teacher, with heart and insight, needs to intervene for these children.

Due to changes in Special Ed law, there are very few students with disabilities in self-contained classrooms. All students are required to have access to the general education curriculum, so the presumption is that the regular classroom is the best placement for all children, unless it can be shown otherwise.

This does not mean that your child cannot get help. All teachers should be able to adapt curriculum so that every child can learn. One way to do this is to present material in several different ways: orally, visually, computer programs, through hands-on activities, etc. Teachers may also provide accommodations for testing, such as extended time or the use of a scribe, or even provide ways for students to show what they know in ways other than writing. Check out Universal Design for Learning on the web for further info.

Like “Loves to Teach”, most school districts are looking at those students who fall between the cracks – I teach special ed students who are fully included in the regular ed classroom. I also help all students in the classroom when possible. This coming year I will also be taking “at risk” kids into my groups to do some remediation work during center time so this will take place in the classroom with an eclectic group. Now that NCLB is putting the screws to schools, they are addressing these children who don’t qualify for special ed but still need more help. Schools are also going to be given more flexibility in looking at the children. As well as working on a student assistance team where we give teachers ideas to help them work with struggling students; the LAW now states that if testing doesn’t show the discrepancy that is needed (such as for LD), yet the TEAM still sees that the child is having extreme difficulty, that they can now give services to the child. Go to your state education web site and look into this. Or try to plod through the NCLB legislation. Often teachers also tutor after school and you may want to look into this. Good luck – Melanie (I teach in Illinois)

Most schools have specific programs for children who are not successful in one area or another. Many often after-school or before-school tutoring. Some offer tutoring on Saturdays. As a teacher, it is always a concern when otherwise able students are UNable to grasp a concept or a specific area of study. Most all schools have “Child Study Teams” which meet regularly to talk about concerns such as the question you are asking.

I would want to know if you have gone to the school with your concern. Have you spoken to the teacher about your concerns, or has the teacher communicated with you?

I child without a disability would not (in my opinion) be instructed in a self-contained classroom. Children with disabilities and I.E.P.’s signed by the parents give them persmission for such a placement.

However, it IS within a teacher’s duty to assign work according to the student’s abilities.

The school system has to provide whatever service needed for the student. If that kind of teacher is not a school system employee then the school system must contract out to provide the service. My son receives occupational therapy. His OT is contracted out by our school system because the system doesn’t have one hired full time.

To answer your question, if a student doesn’t have that label of “special needs” attached to him, then there are things like tutoring that can help. Also, any teacher worth his salt would give the extra help anyway if the kid asks or if he sees the need there. Its hard to find the time though when there’s 25-29 kids in the classroom. Tutoring offers one on one help.

Can’t do that. If a child does not fit a special education category they cannot get special help. Self-contained classrooms are only used in the most severe cases. PL 94-142 requires that kids be in the least restrictive environment.

actually, based on my own expiriences, techers just keep on scolding those students, some just don’t try to speak because they know, that some of those students would just give difficulties if they try to discipline them because, they won’t listen. some students w/ disabilities try to improve, many do improve, some can’t pretend being smart. teachers advices those students to have their tutorial . many do help. but sometimes, we just have to say to ourselves that there are things that cant be change just because