Modifications for learners who are exceptional

One of the things that I have been able to observe are the different computer programs that the children in Kindergarten have. They spend a half an hour each day in the computer lab. Monday through Thursday the students work on a program called Waterford. It has two applications to help with Reading and Math. What is really nice about this program is that the student advances as fast or slow as learning and knowledge permit. These modifications help each student with his individual needs. At the beginning of the year all the students start at the beginning of the alphabet in the reading section. They go through all their letters, capital and lowercase, and activities that emphasize that letter. Activities like writing, matching, nursery rhymes with music, and picking out sight words. This gradually leads into reading.With the math application it begins with the number one and moves through all the numbers. Then it advances on to counting, addition, and subtraction. It even throws in science. Activities like a calendar, weather, whether something is real, alive, or not. Our Special Class Kindergarten also works on this same program and it adapts nicely to their needs.

Another program that the students use every Friday, and can also use at home, is called RAZKIDS. It is a reading program that can adapt to a students individual reading level. It begins with the teacher placing the students reading level, after testing, in the program. The program then sets up books for each students appropriate level. As they open the screen there are numerous books for them to go through. Under each book there are 3 icons for the students to click on. One is a book with an ear, another is a book with an eye, and the last is a question mark. With the ear they click to have the story read to them. With the eye they go through the story again and read it themselves. With the question mark they take a short 5 question quiz. As they complete each activity under the book a green checkmark will appear and they also get stars as rewards when they complete each part of reading the book. This program is very individualized and meets the needs of all students from exceptional to special needs. One of the nice things about this program is that they can get the passwords and usernames from the teacher and continue to read and advance at home. I have seen a lot of happy parents who love this program!

Why I like this activity so much in Kindergarten is that it is a time for individualized learning to help each student with their individual needs. The teacher can then go into each program to see how their students are progressing. What a great tool!

Working with small groups

So far, in my experiences with observing a 5th grade small group for double dosing, it has been a lot of fun. The teacher spends 2 days with mathematics and 1 day with literacy. I believe that the children in this class respond so much better with a small group. Less intimidation for them compared to the large group of their general ed classroom. The children that come seem to be really hard workers and good at following directions. This could be the result of having a small group situation where they don't feel the need to impress anyone, or fall into silence because of the fear of their inadequacies. One of the things that I have noticed after talking about the history of education is that all of the children in this double dosing situation are of Hispanic descent. I have found no prejudices or unequal education for these children. It is so refreshing!

I am also observing a Kindergarten class with 30 students. In this class they have small group activities twice a week with centers. The class is divided into 6 smaller groups and given work activities, which rotate each of the days. There are six centers that the children are able to rotate through over a three week period. Then the teacher switches out for six new ones. The teacher also switches out the children so they are in a new group for the next three weeks. Centers last a total of 30 minutes for each of the two days. Here is a chart similar to the one the teacher uses.

Group 1   Group 2    Group 3        Group 4        Group 5    Group 6

Blue Table Red Table Yellow Table Orange Table Pink Table Green Table

At the tables the children are assigned the same color boxes with their assignment in it.

It is a work assignment that has to do with what they are currently learning. 

When they finish their work assignment they get to do a play/active center with the time left.

Mrs. Wright'sApple Box Puzzles    Mrs. Wright's    Listening   Sandbox

Room **       Art activity                Room**            Center        Blocks or Legos

**This play activity is mainstreaming with the Special Class Kindergarten which is my job. This gives an opportunity for the general ed students and the special ed students to interact with one another. Some of the play activities in Mrs. Wright's classroom are an art table, a rice table, a game table, a puzzle table, toys, books, and a movie. I see great benefits in mainstreaming! It really helps the general ed children to see the special education students as children just like them.