Case Study 1

Many beginning teachers become overwhelmed when they discover they have numerous students in their class with special needs. First year teacher Paige Morris was no exception. Of her 25 students, seven were identified as needing special education services. While Paige was certified in special education and elementary education, she felt ill-equipped to write and implement so many Individualized Education Plans. To make matters more concerning, three of her students were identified as ADHD. Miss Morris began to imagine herself trying to control a chaotic classroom without the tools she needed to succeed.

 1)   List the parts of an IEP which must be in writing, Identify the aspects of the IEP for which Paige is responsible.

2) Which parts of  each child’s program would assist Miss Morris in better understanding her students before they begin the school year.

 

Answers

 

1. The parts of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that must be in writing are as follows: 

• present levels of academic achievement and functional performance
• the progress of the child
• special education and related services along with supplementary aids and services
• program modifications or supports for school personnel
• extent, if any, to which the child will not participate with nondisabled children
• individual accommodations
• projected date for plan along with frequency, location, and duration of project

Paige would be responsible for the progress of the child, program modifications, individual accommodations, and the projected date, frequency, location and duration.

     2. Each child's entre program will not only give Ms. Morris a sense of what to expect throughout the year, but will also make her better prepared in terms of creating a curriculum to better fit the needs of the class as a whole. Better preparation means she can be ready for almost anything and know to stay calm and handle the situation efficiently.