Planning Instruction by Analyzing Classroom and Student Needs

This week we learned about planning instruction by analyzing classroom and student needs. I honestly hadn't really thought about teachers ever doing this but after reading the material and watching the videos for this week teachers do this quite often.

Before a student even steps into the room a teacher has to look at his or her classroom and "manage the classroom." Meaning, they need consider physical organization of the room itself, routines for academic and non-academic activities, classroom climate, or attitudes toward individual differences, and note the use of time for instructional and non-instructional activities.

Once the student walks in the room the teacher has to consider academics for them so he or she can document progress. Some of the things teachers consider with their students are basic learning skills (reading, math, oral and written language), cognitive and learning strategies "learning how to learn"- memorization, textbook reading, note taking, test taking, and general problem solving, and survival skills- (skills practiced by students regularly) attending school regularly, being organized, completing tasks in and out of school, being independent, taking an interest in school, and displaying positive interpersonal skills.

I honestly didn't realize teachers considered all of these factors when a child with disabilities. When I was in high school I was in "study skills" and had an IEP but I don't remember any of my teachers every doing any of these things.

I learned a lot this week, there are a lot to consider when you are working with special needs children and you need to make sure you are prepared each and every day.

~Kolbey