According to the Council for Exceptional Children “Mental retardation is a disability characterized by many limitations both in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills.” There are three components when diagnosis these individuals with mental retardation's. First off their IQ score must be 70 or below. Must have deficits in adaptive behavior. And lastly origins of this disability must be present before the age of 18 years old. Mental retardation is broken down into four different levels from most mild form to the most severe. A child’s IQ score of 70 to 55 is considered to have mild retardation. Mild retardation makes up approximately 70 percent of their population. The individuals who fall into this group may be able to live on their own. Moderate retardation is a IQ score from 55 to 35. This group includes about 10 percent of the total mental retardation population. These individuals depending on the severity can often live a somewhat normal life. They usually live in group homes. Severe retardation is having an IQ score of 35 to 20. This group makes up 3 to 4 percent of the mental retardation population. The people in this groups usually live in group homes, but can perform the simple skills in life such as getting dress or cleaning. And the last form of mental retardation is the most severe form and it is known as profound mental retardation. Its IQ score ranges anywhere below 25. The profound level makes up 1 to 2 percents of all mental retardation population. These individuals often have more than one mental disability. They usually have self care skills and basic communication skills.
People whom suffer from mental retardation are less efficient at learning than others. Some areas that suffer deficits are in memory, attention, or language. People who have severe mental retardation are more effect with brain damage that can lead to other physical disabilities. Individuals who have mild mental retardation typically do not have any specific physical or medical cause for limitation in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. These cases are to me more likely linked to heredity, early environment, or some combination of both. There is an exception to this, fetal alcohol syndrome these babies are at significantly high risk to be born with mild to severe intellectual impairments as well as other problems. Overall, the more severe the mental retardation is the more likely to have a medical or physical cause.
Implications and Modifications
Implications of teaching Students whom suffer from mental retardation have the ability to learn, to develop , and to grow. Most of the mild population can go on the live a productive life. Appropriate educational services that begin in infancy and continue throughout the developmental period and beyond will enable children with mental retardation to develop to their fullest potential
I’m sure that teaching children who suffer from some sort of mental retardation isn’t easy but this shouldn’t make them any less of a student to teach. As a teacher there are many different criteria and planning the must go into helping these individuals learn. As an Regular Kindergarten Elementary Educator I feel that is extremely important to first identify what the student knows and what areas the student needs help with. I feel that this must be done not by assessments but by following the student’s routine to find those skills that can be applied and those that need more attention.
As the IDEA state all children with Mental Retardation age 3 to 21 is entitled to a free and appropriate education through and IEP. As a teacher I will have to provide the student with general education curriculum. I think this is great so they can learn from typical classmates. The curriculum of course will have to be modified to fit their level. Different instructions will also have to have modifications made to them.
When teaching these children I think it is important to have many visual aids. Although you may say it and they will hear you I think seeing it will stick with them and go farther than just hearing it. A child whom had mild retardation can do well in school but will need individual help. Children with mental retardation will need help in adaptive skills that will help them work, play and live in the community. There are many ways that I can help a individual whom suffers from this disability as well as some of these skills can be worked on at home with the parents. It is important to help the student communicate. Communication is so important in life so working with them on these skills will be very important as the go throughout life. Social skills also fall into this category. Some them how to play a game, working with in a group or even working on knowing the rules of conversation is very important.
I think a very important way of teaching would be to present the information and instructions in small chronological steps and review each step frequently. Say for instance you were teaching the child how to learn the alphabet. First you would say it whole alphabet a couple of times. Then break it down say 5 letters of the alphabet such as ABCDE and repeat until they can remember and understand that this is the first 5 letters of the alphabet. Move on to the next 5 letters FGHIJ and then once they are understanding these go back and the first five and go through the ten of them together. Once they are understand this much add 5 letters at a time and then always go back and add in what they have already learn. I think I would use this maybe even with all my students as a Elementary kindergarten teacher. But I think it is specifically important to make sure they mentally challenged kids get the progress of taking it a little at a time then adding more and more and keep going back and repeating what they’ve already acquired.
Specific Technology
Using bright coloring when teaching, Reward system, A checklist ( must easier for MR student to go through the checklist than to read instructions and follow. Must easier to follow) I’ve also heard of IKEY that is an easier keyboard to use whiling on the computer. Possible a audio recorder and playback. There are endless technologies that can help in teaching these student these are just a few to name.
Annotated References
http://www.people1.org/articles/asst_tech_about.htm - an overview of assistive technology for people with mental retardation
http://www.aamr.org/- give a great definition
www.bestbuddies.com- great website that incorporate person with MR into society.
www.webmd.com- get place to get basic foundation of the mental retardation.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Learning Disabilities
To many of the public, learning disability is defined as a general definition, but to professionals it is much more. There are different definitions that professionals use in defining a learning disability. There are many children who suffer from a learning disability. Defined by IDEA a “learning disability is a disorder in 1 or more of the psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written which disorder may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or to do mathematical calculations.” These disorders include conditions as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunctions, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. If a person has a learning problem that is a result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities or mental retardation of emotional disturbance, or environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage it is not including in the learning disability definition. Students with a learning disability have a very hard time acquiring the basic skills or academic content. Reading, writing, mathematics, and speaking are usually learning disabilities which are a inconsistency with the students ability and their achievement.
In determining if a student has a learning disability is a multi step process. Usually it is noticed first by the parents or the teacher in seeing that the child is having a complicated time in learning skills or understand content that is being taught. After this has been determined then the teacher is to gather information on the students’ performance on certain areas and then meet with teams within the school to help develop a plan within the classroom to help the individual. If this plan is successful and gives a positive effect then they continue out with the plan and the case closes within the team. If perhaps this strategy isn’t successful then the teacher, parent, or even the student can be referred to special education for a evaluation. Then the schools must take the approach within the IDEA and follow the guidelines and procedures. The evaluation that is given assesses on intellectual potential, academic achievement, emotional functioning, hearing and vision, social functioning, and performance in the classroom. After this assessment is complete then it is reviewed with the parents to determine if the child meets the requirements to have a learning disability.
Implications and Teaching Modifications
As a Elementary teacher which one day I will be in kindergarten, I think it is very important in making sure these student whom have a learning disability get the appropriate help and communication they need in receiving their education. All though this is a critical time in these children’s live this is the time that learning disabilities become apparent. As a teacher it is my responsibility to look and evaluate these children’s individual achievements, process, and learning. If I see that a student is falling behind I need to take the appropriate steps in helping this individual getting the achievement needed in education.
I think all parents should be a part of their child’s education but when a child has a learning disability parent involvement is a must! I think one great tool in helping me as a teacher and also keeping the parent involved in knowing what the child has done during the day and also what the child needs to do is a planner. We had these when I went to elementary school and the parent had to sign them every night after reviewing what their child had done that day. I think this is an excellent way of getting the parent involved and having that communication with the teacher. As, I will be teaching kindergarten it is expected that children won’t be able to write in their planner when starting but I think it is extremely important that as a teacher I have these planners especially for the students whom have a learning disability and that I need to communicate with the parents regularly. This will allow me to write what the child has experienced that day, what was accomplished, what they did great on, and also, areas that need to be worked on. Planners are a great communication tool, especially when you require that the child must share with their parent and take them back the next day signed in order to receive a reward, say you would doing stars or a reward system for it.
Let’s say that that I’m having a child whom has a learning disability and is struggling in spelling. As a teacher I think it is all about repetition. I think seeing, saying, writing, and rewriting is very important that a student must do when struggling on spelling. A child will hear you say it, and will see it but writing it and rewriting it is repetition that will stick. I think for all student I will make them write their spelling words say 3 times but for a child with a learning disability in spelling maybe they should have special one on one help and possibly have to write them say 5 or 7 times each to they are seeing, saying, and writing it more.
Specific Technology:
Audio recording are an excellent way for student to hear and also read along with the text. Videos on the material, Electronic Games, Organizers, Overheads projectors, Rhyming, Handouts, Signs, large and colorful posters throughout the room, Computers, tape recorders so they can tape themselves and then play over and over. There are few but I’m sure there is a tons of different specific technology that can be used in helping implementing learning disabilities.
Annotated Reference Materials
Exceptional Children Ninth Edition Textbook- helpful in getting the definition and leading me in the direction to the different learning disabilities.
http://www.cldinternational.org/ - great for learning
www.dldcec.org –great resources on helping student with their homework.
http://www.teachingld.org/understanding/default.htm- very helpful in different questions and answers.
In determining if a student has a learning disability is a multi step process. Usually it is noticed first by the parents or the teacher in seeing that the child is having a complicated time in learning skills or understand content that is being taught. After this has been determined then the teacher is to gather information on the students’ performance on certain areas and then meet with teams within the school to help develop a plan within the classroom to help the individual. If this plan is successful and gives a positive effect then they continue out with the plan and the case closes within the team. If perhaps this strategy isn’t successful then the teacher, parent, or even the student can be referred to special education for a evaluation. Then the schools must take the approach within the IDEA and follow the guidelines and procedures. The evaluation that is given assesses on intellectual potential, academic achievement, emotional functioning, hearing and vision, social functioning, and performance in the classroom. After this assessment is complete then it is reviewed with the parents to determine if the child meets the requirements to have a learning disability.
Implications and Teaching Modifications
As a Elementary teacher which one day I will be in kindergarten, I think it is very important in making sure these student whom have a learning disability get the appropriate help and communication they need in receiving their education. All though this is a critical time in these children’s live this is the time that learning disabilities become apparent. As a teacher it is my responsibility to look and evaluate these children’s individual achievements, process, and learning. If I see that a student is falling behind I need to take the appropriate steps in helping this individual getting the achievement needed in education.
I think all parents should be a part of their child’s education but when a child has a learning disability parent involvement is a must! I think one great tool in helping me as a teacher and also keeping the parent involved in knowing what the child has done during the day and also what the child needs to do is a planner. We had these when I went to elementary school and the parent had to sign them every night after reviewing what their child had done that day. I think this is an excellent way of getting the parent involved and having that communication with the teacher. As, I will be teaching kindergarten it is expected that children won’t be able to write in their planner when starting but I think it is extremely important that as a teacher I have these planners especially for the students whom have a learning disability and that I need to communicate with the parents regularly. This will allow me to write what the child has experienced that day, what was accomplished, what they did great on, and also, areas that need to be worked on. Planners are a great communication tool, especially when you require that the child must share with their parent and take them back the next day signed in order to receive a reward, say you would doing stars or a reward system for it.
Let’s say that that I’m having a child whom has a learning disability and is struggling in spelling. As a teacher I think it is all about repetition. I think seeing, saying, writing, and rewriting is very important that a student must do when struggling on spelling. A child will hear you say it, and will see it but writing it and rewriting it is repetition that will stick. I think for all student I will make them write their spelling words say 3 times but for a child with a learning disability in spelling maybe they should have special one on one help and possibly have to write them say 5 or 7 times each to they are seeing, saying, and writing it more.
Specific Technology:
Audio recording are an excellent way for student to hear and also read along with the text. Videos on the material, Electronic Games, Organizers, Overheads projectors, Rhyming, Handouts, Signs, large and colorful posters throughout the room, Computers, tape recorders so they can tape themselves and then play over and over. There are few but I’m sure there is a tons of different specific technology that can be used in helping implementing learning disabilities.
Annotated Reference Materials
Exceptional Children Ninth Edition Textbook- helpful in getting the definition and leading me in the direction to the different learning disabilities.
http://www.cldinternational.org/ - great for learning
www.dldcec.org –great resources on helping student with their homework.
http://www.teachingld.org/understanding/default.htm- very helpful in different questions and answers.
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