The Exceptional School Adapting Lessons to Meet Your

The Exceptional School: Adapting Lessons to Meet Your Students’ Needs Katie Kier, Librarian Wilder Middle School kakier@henrico. k 12. va. us Rachel Brown, Librarian Colonial Trail Elementary School rpbrown@henrico. k 12. va. us

Definitions - www. imdetermined. org - http: //www. doe. virginia. gov/special_ed/ 1. ASD- Autism Spectrum Disorder 2. EBD- Emotional and Behavioral Disorders 3. ED- Emotionally Disturbed; Emotional Disorders 4. ID- Intellectual Disability 5. OHI- Other Health Impairments 6. SLD- Specific Learning Disability

Quick Tips… - Routine. - seating assignments/partner work - songs - book parts - Consistency - Collaboration is key! - teachers - librarians - big books - videos - room parents - donations - Don’t say what you don’t mean - Be calm. - Be prepared to repeat yourself - Expect the (un)expected. - Exude excitement!

…and tricks - Reading buddies - picture walk - sit and enjoy - Assessments - thumbs up or thumbs down - smiley faces - sticky notes (one word) - Specific students = specific skills - Carry a camera - documentation - Parent Nights - blog - Try something new - smaller classes - Include a note - how are you helping their students?

IEP Breakdown - Access to the Present Level of Performance and Goals of SWD (students with disabilities) - a present level paints a picture of each child so you know their strengths and weaknesses - Binder of IEP forms - quick reference - pacing guides

Sample Lesson Ideas 1. Severe and Profound - music/sound - bright colors - textures 2. Autism/Nonverbal - music or follow along - interactive books and crafts 3. ID - simple games - repetition 4. ED - single and group activities - be careful with competitions

1. Severe and Profound - Jingle Bells - craft sticks - glue - glitter - bells - Ziploc baggies

1. Severe and Profound - The Very Hungry Caterpillar - paper plates - dotters - glue

1. Severe and Profound

1. Severe and Profound - Porcupining: a prickly love story - porcupine outline - red and pink paint - plastic forks - small cups - small red hearts

1. Severe and Profound SOLs 1. Jingle Bells English K. 1 b The student will demonstrate growth in the use of oral language by participating in a variety of oral language activities including choral and echo speaking and recitation of short poems, rhymes, songs, and stories with repeated word order patterns. 2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Science K. 7 a The student will investigate and understand basic needs and life processes of plants and animals including that animals need adequate food, water, shelter, air, and space to survive. 3. Porcupining English K. 9 b The student will demonstrate comprehension of fictional texts including relating previous experiences to what is read.

2. Autism/Nonverbal - There Was an Old Lady Who… - tissue box - construction paper - Sorting (color, size) - Discovery bottles - empty container - beans or rice - hidden items - Leonardo the Terrible Monster - lunch bags

2. Autism/Nonverbal SOLs 1. Old Lady English K. 1 a-b The student will demonstrate growth in the use of oral language by a) listening to a variety of literary forms, including stories and poems. b) participating in a variety of oral language activities including choral and echo speaking and recitation of short poems, rhymes, songs, and stories with repeated word order patterns. 2. Sorting Math K. 15 The student will sort and classify objects according to attributes. 3. Discovery bottles Science 1. 1 c The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific reasoning in which objects or events are classified and arranged according to characteristics or properties. 4. Leonardo English K. 9 e The student will demonstrate comprehension of fictional texts by using story language in discussions and retellings.

3. ID - Patty’s Pumpkin Patch - paper plates - tissue paper - glue

3. ID - The Magic Hat bingo game - clip art - sight words - pictures and words - different versions - laminate - Reader’s Theatre with The Hat by Jan Brett - paper plates - craft sticks

3. ID SOLs 1. Patty’s Pumpkin Patch English K. 4 Students will identify, say, segment, and blend various units of speech sounds by identifying and producing words that rhyme. 2. Magic Hat English K. 9 c Students will demonstrate comprehension of fictional texts by using pictures to make predictions. 3. Reader’s Theater English 2. 1 b The student will demonstrate an understanding of oral language structure by creating and participating in oral dramatic activities.

4. ED - Poetry bag - bag or container - small items - eye cover - paper - marker

4. ED - March Madness geography - blank notecards - USA map - ribbon - markers - computers - list of NCAA teams - push pins

4. ED

4. ED - “I Wonder” - photos - paper - essential questions

4. ED SOLs 1. Poetry Bag English 4. 7 e The student will write cohesively for a variety of purposes by recognizing different modes of writing have different patterns of organization. Science K. 4 c The student will investigate and understand that the position, motion, and physical properties of an object can be described by the texture and feel of objects. 2. March Madness Geography 1. 4 d The student will develop map skills by a) recognizing basic map symbols, including references to land, water, cities, and roads d) locating Richmond, the capital of Virginia, on a United States map. 3. “I Wonder” English 4. 6 a The student will read and demonstrate comprehension of nonfiction texts by using text structures, such as type, headings, and graphics, to predict and categorize information in both print and digital texts.

Lesson Topics - Seasons - Holidays - Classic books The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Author studies Jan Brett (winter) - Animals - Food/Clothing/Home - Special events (March Madness)

Checklist for Library Projects - Title - Author - Date - Activity Description

Idea Inspiration - Pinterest (www. pinterest. com) - Dollar Store/Target/Michaels - Etsy - Mailbox magazine - Google - e-books (Tumblebooks) - Other teachers - Facebook pages - We. Are. Teachers - Teaching Ideas - The Teacher’s Corner - Surviving a Teacher’s Salary - Library Patch - Special Education Resources for Kids - Other librarians - Blogs - conferences

Supply List - Paper plates - Foam art brushes - Pipe cleaners - Glue sticks - Nursery rhyme CDs - Googly eyes - Craft sticks - Single hole punch - paint - Jumbo crayons - pre-cut foam shapes - Dollar Store trinkets - Construction paper - Plastic silverware - Pom poms - Yarn - Lunch bags - Jingle bells - Magnets - DOT art markers - Cotton balls - Ziploc baggies - glitter - Coffee filters

Online Resources - “ 100 Best Video Sites for Teachers” http: //www. edudemic. com/best-video-sites-for-teachers/ - Bingo Cards https: //bingobaker. com/ - “ 25 Books with Crafts to Match” http: //www. notimeforflashcards. com/2013/05/25 books-with-crafts-to-match. html - “A Year of Preschool Books and Activities” http: //www. readingconfetti. com/2013/08/a-year-of-preschool-books-activities. html - Dollar Store Items to Use in Play http: //www. growingajeweledrose. com/2012/05/100 things-you-can-purchase-from-dollar. html? m=1 - AASL Best Apps http: //www. ala. org/aasl/standards-guidelines/best-apps

What do the teachers say? - Patience. Make the library a fun place, since most of our kids do not prefer reading or reading for enjoyment. Allow them to earn rewards for doing exceptional work/activities. - Be open, be prepared, be kind, be firm. - Be flexible to their individual learning needs. - Many exceptional education students have difficulty reading, therefore dislike to read. I recommend stocking up on HIGH INTEREST/LOW VOCAB books, graphic novels, and older looking books with less words. These type of books are less intimidating to the students.

What do the teachers say? - Sometimes the florescent lighting can be irritating to the students either because of the noise it makes or just the brightness. - It is important to have natural barriers (bookshelves, rolling carts, chairs) to designate an area for kids with moderate to severe disabilities. They are more likely to stay in a clearly defined place. I have many times simply placed a piece of colored duct tape (different colors for each student) on the floor where each student is supposed to sit. - Start small with a short, bright book, things that make noises or have textures. Interactive books where they are doing the same thing as the characters in the book.