Adaptations

Being a special education major, this was an article that hit close to home. I really enjoy reading about the different accommodations that are out there for the students to use. In classrooms that
I have worked in, I have seen the picture system that is described in this chapter.
This picture system is very beneficial to students who are non-verbal, and it can be key in having a classroom run smoothly on a day to day basis. It rids a lot of the frustration that a student may have while being in school. I could not imagine not being able to communicate with my teachers, and these picture books make it possible for communication (even though its brief) to occur.
Mike and I did a project over this past week incorporating accommodations into a lesson plan, and ways to work it in during everyday classroom life. I think that this really meant a lot to me because I was able to put myself in the shoes of an ELL student, and see what it is like to not have any idea what is going on. It is a really scary and lonely feeling, and that was just how I felt about a worksheet that my own group created.
Even though thinking of and making accommodations to lessons everyday can be time consuming, it is 100% necessary for the success of special education students in the general education classroom. A few more minutes of preparation the day before a lesson can save tears and frustration, for both the teacher and student.