Observation/Interview Date(s)
1.Related Services/FMD – This will include information from an hour-long observation with a speech therapist, school counselor, OT, PT, or any other related service personnel. It will also include information from an hour-long FMD observation.
With the related service person, talk about the importance of related services for students with disabilities. Mention the law governing related services. Give specifics about your experiences. Discuss screenings and tests used for diagnostic/qualifying purposes.
What types of strategies/therapy were used? Discuss the specific duties of the counselor emphasizing what they do to help children with disabilities and those at risk. What services do they provide?
With which agencies does he/she collaborate? Remember, you must make connections to our class discussions and/or our textbook. For the FMD reflection, explain why, for some children, this self-contained classroom is the LRE. Give specifics about your experience including different disabilities you saw and what type of curriculum was being taught.
How is this classroom different from a regular classroom? What types of behavior management techniques are used? Remember, you must make connections to our class discussions and/or our textbook.
2. Diversities/Differing Abilities – Observe cultural and economic diversities. Do students interact with other students of different cultures, or students who come from different socioeconomic backgrounds? Does the teacher make a difference in these students? It isn’t very hard to tell which students come from families that are well-off and those that don’t.
Describe those differences you see in the classroom you observe. How will you use what you have observed in your future classroom? Also, name all of the different disabilities the students you are observing have. Discuss their characteristics.
Explain how their disabilities limit their access to FAPE. What types of accommodations and/or modifications does the teacher use for them? Give some of the student’s strengths. Are the students being taught in the regular classroom (collaboration/Co-Teaching) or in a resource setting? Remember, you must make connections to our class discussions and/or our text.
3.The Classroom Environment For this reflection, discuss the organization of the physical space. Is it appropriate for students with physical disabilities?
Does it encourage inclusive interaction with non-disabled students? How is student behavior managed? How do classroom procedures play into creating the classroom environment? Is there respect between the teacher and students? Is there evidence of a Universal Design for Learning?
4.Lesson Plan/IEP Implementation For this reflection, discuss how the lesson plan was adjusted or modified to meet the needs of the student with an IEP. Was the implementation of the lesson successful? Did the learner need an extension to the lesson or a simplification? Was the student’s goal/objective the same as the others? What accommodations were put in place to help the student to meet the goal?