SPED 310 Week 6

This week was very eye opening to how I can advocate and really help change the environment in my classroom to help my students. We talked about Classroom Management and assessments that help our students. I liked how in each chapter we read on these, we could use each topic in different categories. Classroom management can help with how we assess our students, and our assessments can help us see how to better manage our classrooms.
In conjunction with these topics we did a case study on a boy named Mark. Mark was diagnosed with a specific learning disability and as we read his teacher's opinions on teaching and how to deal with Mark, they made it seem like they are set in their ways and if he is just being lazy or falling behind then it is his fault. I loved looking for ways using and INCLUDE method that helps us use different ways to manage our classroom than can not only help our student with the LD, but it can benefit all students. My consensus to help mark as the mock music teacher, was to put him in a place where I can individually assess him. I this decision I decided to group all of the students in their instruments and keep Mark in a smaller group where I can watch him. I also decided to give him specific responsibilities to help me in the classroom, and help him stay focused. Another thing I thought would be fun for the class would be to do a beginning activity of freeze dance. Within the first few minutes of class I can assess and calm the class, and see what Mark's attention span is for the day. This activity gave me a lot of insight into how I can be an advocate for all of my students and find ways to help the entire class at a time.
Our last class this week was a presentation given about ADHD. It helped me realize that there is still a lot of controversy about the topic even with all of the technology we have today. ADHD as a disability shows that it is not just a child who can't focus, they have a hard time getting work done and paying attention in class because of genetics or a chemical imbalance. Medication does help. This is something I was not as open to until this class. As a parent I would be apprehensive, but I see now if it is the best chance for my child I should take the chance. We also did a simulation that shows how a person with ADHD can have a wondering mind without being able to control it. They can't control it and as my group and I discussed it, we need to be open minded to helping students who can't help themselves.
My group this week got smaller as a member of our group dropped the class. However, we have been working hard and our discussions push us to think deeper on the topics and as we come prepared to class we are able to bring new insights to each other. We are always asking questions to each other and furthering conversation to more depth.