As a general education teacher, you will encounter students with a wide range of abilities, needs, and skills. The ability to apply specific strategies for supporting students with exceptionalities in the academic environment is essential for meeting the diverse needs of students in the inclusive classroom.
create two mind maps that illustrate the effects of two high incidence disabilities and potential accommodations that can be implemented in the inclusive classroom to address the challenges these students experience.
Part 1: Conduct Research
Use the topic Resources and conduct your own research about the cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional patterns of learning and development for students with each disability below. Conduct additional research about specific research-based accommodations that can be applied to address these challenges in the inclusive classroom environment.
Specific Learning Disability in Dyslexia and Dyscalculia
Other Health Impairment ADD/ADHD
Part 2: Mind Maps
After completing the research, use a free tool of your choice, such as Canva or MindMeister, to create an individual mind map for each of the two disabilities you have researched. Each mind map should contain the following information.
Title
Central node that specifically names the disability.
Four main branches are cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional. Each branch should explain briefly how the disability affects the student (i.e., The cognitive effects of ASD on a student are….).
Sub-branches for each of the four main branches explaining/providing examples of what the effects look like/sound like in the classroom (i.e., Cognitive effects of ASD look like… and sound like… in the classroom).
Accommodations for each of the four main branches. Select one research-based accommodation and explain how it supports the students in the inclusive classroom and addresses the challenges identified on each sub-branch (i.e., XYZ accommodation addresses the cognitive effects of ASD by …).
See the “SPD-508 Sample Mind Map” for a basic idea of how this information can be arranged.
Part 3: Reflection
Review the “Through Your Child’s Eyes” topic Resources and think about what you learned from viewing the selected grade level videos. In a 250 word reflection, address the following:
Identify the grade level you focused on and summarize the challenges the students faced.
Describe what viewing the videos taught you about how various disabilities affect students in and away from the educational environment. When summarizing the challenges students faced in the videos, consider how students from different linguistic, cultural, or family backgrounds may experience additional layers of difficulty. Explain how teachers can ensure that instructional strategies are both culturally responsive and inclusive for students with exceptionalities. Include a discussion about how linguistic, cultural, or family differences might influence the way students experience disabilities and discuss specific ways to adapt your teaching to support diverse learners in the classroom.
Consider the “Model Code of Ethics for Educators (MCEE),” and discuss the ethical responsibilities you have as a general education teacher to ensure that the needs of students with exceptionalities are met in the inclusive classroom environment.