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10 Critical Components for Success in the Special Education Classroom
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10 Critical Components for Success in the Special Education Classroom



March 2014 | 232 pages | Corwin

Your blueprint for building structure, consistency, and accountability year-round!

Often teachers of all experience levels struggle to effectively manage special education classrooms. In this must-have guide, Rohrer and Sampson provide a solid, workable action plan to ensure measurable success for even your most challenging student.

 Discover a variety of research-based instructional strategies to:

  • Support all students, including those with autism and severe learning disabilities
  • Organize your classroom, materials, and staff and student schedules for optimal teaching and learning
  • Execute well-planned standards-based lessons, annual IEP’s, PLAALP’s, behavioral interventions, and visual supports
  • Develop communication and social skills within a language-rich environment
  • Foster parent communication and staff collaboration

Packed with real-world examples, free tools to use and share, a list of resources and a helpful glossary, this dynamic resource will inspire you, develop your teacher toolbox, and ensure your students are on the path to achievement!

10 Critical Components for Success in the Special Education Classroom offers practical and easy-to-use ideas for organizing your physical classroom space, materials, student and staff schedules. Readers will also receive well thought out strategies that will definitely aid in the ultimate end result—student success!”
—Avis Canty, Special Education Teacher
Tanglewood Middle School, Greenville, SC

“The path to success for students with autism and intellectual disabilities starts here, when their teachers implement the essential critical components outlined in this book.”
—Renee Bernhardt, Learning Support for Special Education and RTI
Cherokee County School District, Canton, GA


 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
Introduction
 
1. Physical Arrangement of the Classroom
Rationale

 
Benefits of a Well-Designed Classroom

 
Well-Defined Areas Clarify Student Expectations

 
The 10-Minute Rule

 
Arranging Your Classroom

 
Required Areas

 
Home Base

 
Group Instruction Area

 
Teacher Work Area

 
Transition Area

 
Student Schedule Area

 
Work Station

 
Technology Area

 
Additional Areas

 
Arts and Crafts, Eating, and Cooking Areas

 
Personal Hygiene

 
Sensory Area

 
Recreation and Leisure Activity Area

 
Getting Started

 
Summary

 
Real-Life Applications

 
 
2. Organization of Materials
Rationale

 
Organizing Classroom Materials

 
What supplies will you need?

 
What stays and what goes?

 
Where will materials be located?

 
Group by academic subject

 
Group by frequency of use

 
Safety considerations

 
Organizing Student’s Materials

 
Summary

 
Real Life Applications

 
 
3. Schedules
Rationale

 
The Three Types of Schedules

 
Building a Foundation for Your Schedules

 
Daily Classroom Schedule

 
Creating Your Classroom Schedule

 
Posting the Classroom Schedule

 
Using the Daily Classroom Schedule

 
Staff Assignment Schedule

 
Individual Student Schedules

 
The Importance of Symbolic Communication Forms

 
Creating Student Schedules

 
Student Schedule Formats and Locations

 
Teaching Students to Use Schedules

 
Summary

 
Real-Life Applications

 
 
4. Visual Strategies
Rationale

 
What Are Visual Strategies?

 
The Importance and Benefits of Visual Strategies

 
Creating Visual Strategies

 
Consider the Student's Communication Level

 
Using Visual Strategies

 
As Reminders

 
Schedules

 
Calendars

 
Behavioral Cues

 
Communication Supports

 
Summary

 
Real-Life Expectations

 
 
5. Behavioral Strategies
Rationale

 
Determing the Need for Behavioral Inteventions

 
Conducting a Functional Behavior Assessment

 
Define the Behavior

 
Gather Information About the Behavior

 
Review Records

 
Conduct Interviews

 
Collect Baseline Data

 
Look for Patterns of Behavior

 
Make a Hypothesis about the Function of the Behavior

 
Identifying Behavioral Goals and Objectives

 
Developing a Behavioral Intevention Plan

 
Defining Consequences

 
Meaningful Reinforcers

 
Edibles as Reinforcers

 
Nonedibles as Reinforcers

 
Punishment

 
Strategies to Change Behavior

 
Implementing the Behavioral Intervention Plan

 
Summary

 
Real-Life Applications

 
 
6. Goals, Objectives, and Lesson Plans
Rationale

 
Legal Foundation

 
Annual Goals and Objectives

 
Develop a Present Level of Academic Achievement

 
The Need for Data Collection

 
Methods for Collecting Data

 
Special Factors and the Individualized Education Program

 
Write the Annual Goals and Objectives

 
Lesson Plans

 
Lesson Plan Elements

 
Monitoring Student Progress: Your Grading System

 
Summary

 
Real-Life Applications

 
 
7. Instructional Strategies
Rationale

 
Instructional Considerations

 
Age-Appropriate Materials and Activities

 
Variety Increases Interest

 
Sensory Needs

 
Instructional Methods and Strategies

 
Direct Instruction

 
Applied Behavior Analysis

 
Grouping Students

 
Social Stories

 
Having a Substitute Teacher

 
Work Stations

 
Station Rotation

 
Community-Based Instruction

 
Summary

 
Real-Life Applications

 
 
8. Communication Systems and Strategies
Rationale

 
The Speech and Language Pathologist

 
Communication Throughout the Day

 
Teaching Social Skills

 
The Use of Schedules and Communication

 
Communication and Assistive Technology

 
Communication and Behavior

 
Summary

 
Real-Life Applications

 
 
9. Communication with Parents
Rationale

 
Setting Up a System for Parent Communication

 
Student-Generated Daily Communication to Parents

 
Keeping Communication Meaningful and Helpful

 
Documentation

 
Parental Involvement

 
Summary

 
Real-Life Applications

 
 
10. Related Services and Other School Staff
Rationale

 
Important Information About Related Services

 
Related Services Defined

 
Who Qualifies for Related Services?

 
Direct Versus Indirect Services

 
Service Delivery Models

 
Other School Staff

 
Summary

 
Real-Life Applications

 
 
Putting It All Together
 
Resources
 
Glossary and Acronym Guide
 
Forms
 
Index

"10 Critical Components for Success in the Special Education Classroom is a must have resource for experienced as well as new special education teachers as well as school administration. The book offers easy to use and practical ideas for organizing your physical classroom space, materials, student and staff schedules. Readers will also receive well thought out strategies that will definitely aid in the ultimate end result; student success!"

Avis Canty, Special Education Teacher
Tanglewood Middle School, Greenville, SC

"Finally, the book that should be consulted when new ESE classrooms are created!  This book provides the blueprint to setting up a successful self-contained classroom for both beginning teachers and experienced teachers."

Karen Kozy-Landress, Speech/Language Pathologist
MILA Elementary School, Merritt Island, FL

"The path to success for students with autism and intellectual disabilities starts here, when their teachers implement the essential critical components outlined in 10 Critical Components for Success in the Special Education Classroom."

Renee Bernhardt, Learning Support for Special Education and RTI
Cherokee County School District, Canton, GA

"Raising expectations is what the 10 Critical Components is all about!  Not only does this system provide a 'map' for teachers to provide appropriate instruction with high expectations for students, it also gives a systematic and clear method for administrators to evaluate teachers in the Special Education classrooms. Put it all together, and you have a system that will ensure students are receiving structured and meaningful instruction that will prepare them for the future."

Bonnie Haecker, Director of Special Education
Santa Fe Independent School District, Santa Fe, TX

"I have had the pleasure of working with Marcia and Nannette in two school districts.  I first met them while working as Dean of Instruction at a high school campus.  These two ladies were hired by our Special Education Director to come in and 're-haul' our Life Skills programs.  I sat back and watched in amazement as they worked their 'magic.'  The classrooms transformed into learning environments right before my eyes.  As the 10 Critical Components were taught to the teachers, a significant impact was made not only on the staff, but most importantly, the students and their parents.  The 10 Critical Components encompass the needs of the whole child from the necessary physical arrangement of the classroom to individualized IEP's as well as parent communication.  After leaving that district and becoming a Special Education Director in a neighboring district, I realized my Life Skills classes were in need of a "makeover," not only in classroom arrangements, but also in instruction, communication, individualized behavior plans, and curriculum.  I immediately called upon Marcia and Nannette, and they began the process.  I am currently in year two of the 10 Critical Components.  The teachers who have begun this process are amazed at the progress of their students along with the simplicity of the components.  Once the components are in place in the classroom, everything comes together, and the students thrive.  We still have a lot of work to do to fully implement the 10 Critical Components in my district, but with Marcia and Nannette by my side, the classrooms will be instructional learning environments where all students in this district will experience success and reach their full potential.  I cannot begin to thank Marcia and Nannette for all of their hard work in working with my district."

Cynthia Peltier, Director of Special Education
Texas City ISD, Texas City, Texas

"Our teachers have been very happy with the training on the Ten Critical Components and feel that it has assisted them in being better prepared to meet the needs of their students.  In fact, the question I get most often from teachers is, 'When can they come back?'"

Laurie Goforth, Director of Special Programs
Dickinson Independent School District, Dickinson, Texas

"I will never forget my first year as a Life Skills Special Education teacher!  I had two brand new empty classrooms and absolutely no idea how to set them up for success when the students arrived.  Thank goodness my director sent Marcia and Nannette and their 10 Components!  They taught me how color coding makes the classroom structure come together.  Now each year the first thing I do is choose a color and appropriate icon/picture for each student.  I label everything 'theirs'- desks, work boxes, place in line, picture schedule, etc. with that color and icon.  It makes the first days and lessons so much easier!  Students identify what’s theirs, and learn to respect what belongs to others.   Excellent and 'essential' for the Special Education Classroom."

Shelley Hyde, Life Skills Teacher
Pearland ISD, Pearland, Texas

"I was excited to attend Marcia and Nannette's workshop on the 10 critical components when I found out who the presenters were. They both have so much to offer teachers and parents of ALL students with learning differences. My first year as a self-contained special education teacher would have ended very differently, and much sooner, had they not been there to 'reorganize' the way the classroom was set up, as well as the way I approached teaching. That was an extremely difficult year, but they got better. I do believe I learned from the best."

Laurie Moreno, Special Education Teacher

"This is a formal thank you for introducing me to the 10 Components.  Before I was introduced to Marcia and Nannette's methodology, my self-contained classroom, in my opinion, was running smoothly, as I was receiving excellent appraisals from my principal.  Although it was taking me 10 to 11 hours a day, I was 'juggling' my classroom pretty successfully one would say. My initial introduction to the 10 components was not readily accepted.  In fact you might say I resisted change.  One day I received a new student with behavioral issues, and consequently the behaviors of my current students changed as well and not for the better. Marcia and Nannette revisited my classroom and refocused me on the methodology of the 10 components. That refocusing literally saved my school year, and everyone reaped the benefits.  My students were totally happy to have a dependable schedule, my paraprofessionals were more at ease and comfortable, and of course the classroom ran more smoothly.  Various other aspects of the 10 components were equally as important, but the one mentioned above was very key to my classroom situation at the time.  I am happy to report that I ended the year working from 8 to 9 hours per day including getting administrative tasks completed as well. You made me a believer in the 10 Components."

Portia J Bogaert, Special Education Teacher
Dickinson ISD, Dickinson, Texas

"Marcia Rohrer and Nannette Samson have provided the Special Services department with outstanding services through the years. The training they provide on the 10 Critical Components enable teachers to structure their classrooms in such a way that behavioral concerns are minimized and time on task is increased. This outstanding training is then coupled with individualized assistance with classroom arrangement, staff and student scheduling, behavioral management, and delivery of instruction to maximize student progress.  These specialists have also provided our parents with thorough and in depth evaluations and targeted goals for in-home and parent training. These comprehensive services enable staff to increase their positive energy and productivity so that students attain maximum educational benefit."

Gloria Roach, Special Services Director
Channelview ISD, Channelview, Texas
Key features
  • Sets the stage for each student to achieve, increase positive behaviors, establish effective communication with parents, and enhance teacher effectiveness for all students.
  • Each chapter contains numerous educational best practices around the component discussed.
  • The practices, ideas, and suggestions also benefit students in resource and inclusion settings.

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