10 Critical Components for Success in the Special Education Classroom

How do we ensure success for all students in special education settings? The 10 Critical Components was developed so that educators could have a framework for success for their students. The components are:

• The Physical Arrangement of the Classroom
• Organisation of Classroom Materials
• Staff and Student Schedules
• Visual Strategies
• Behavioural Strategies
• Goals, Objectives, and Lesson Plans
• Instructional Strategies
• Communication Systems and Strategies
• Communication with Parents
• Related Services and Other School Staff

Many research-based best practices for working with students with special needs are found in each of the components. Numerous strategies discussed in this book are highly relevant for use with students with more severe learning disabilities, behavioural challenges, cognitive impairments, and with those who are on the autism spectrum as well. This is a perfect resource for co-teachers, novice teachers, and school wishing to establish a collaborative and consistent setting where their students feel safe and successful.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments Preface 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 Stations
• Technology Area
• Additional Areas
• Arts Crafts, Eating, and Cooking Areas
• Personal Hygiene
• Sensory Area
• Recreation and Leisure Activity Area
• Getting Started
• Summary
• Real Life Application
2. Organisation 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 Students 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 Forms to Use Schedules
• 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
• Non-Edibles 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 PLAALP
• The need for Data Collection
• Methods for Collecting Data
• Special Factors and the IEP
• 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
• Intructional Considerations
• Age-appropriate Materials and Activities
• Variety Increases Interest
• Sensory Needs
• Instructional Methods and Strategies
• Direct Instruction
• Applied Behavior Analysis
• Grouping Students
• Social Stories
• 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 vs. Indirect Services
• Service Delivery Models
• Other School Staff
• Summary
• Real Life Applications
• Putting it all Together

Resources

Glossary

Forms

Index