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cooperation, take time to speak with them, and communicate your expectations in a respectful manner. If the situation persists, you may wish to take it up with the head of special services or your building principal.
What can you do if a student’ s paraprofessional is not assigned to music class? Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question. Of course, if the child’ s IEP mandates an individual paraprofessional throughout the day, it is in violation of the law not to provide one. However, this is not always the case, and sometimes aides are split among students in other classes, so that there are none to spare during music, art, and physical education. However, administrators are not always aware of the student’ s needs in every situation, and it may be helpful to network with the other special subject teachers in your school to present a rationale to administrators. If parents are made aware of difficulties their children are having without assistance in your class, they can be a support for you in reaching this goal. Some music teachers wisely ask to be included in IEP meetings so that parents and case managers will hear their concerns.
Working With Other Staff Members How can other staff members help?
Related therapists can help you be educated when you have questions about the special learners in your care. They are usually willing to consult with you by observing a child in your class and making recommendations. They may also be able to work collaboratively with you, assisting a student as you work with the class and interjecting as needed. Remember that if you’ re seeing certain behaviors in your class, it’ s a good bet that other staff members see it as well.
What are itinerant teachers of the deaf?
These teachers are certified teachers of the deaf who travel among schools to reinforce classroom learning. If you have questions about the hearing levels of your students; how their hearing aids or cochlear implants affect their perception of music; whether or not they will be able to match pitch; or what instrument would be best for them to learn, these teachers can help answer them.
What can occupational and physical therapists help with?
These therapists have a thorough understanding of how motor issues affect learning in all areas. They can help students who may be having a hard time sensing where the holes are on a recorder, coordinating fingering, sequencing steps to complete an activity, executing dance movements, and writing and reading notation. Consult them if children have embouchure problems, or for advice on the best choice of an instrument. They also can teach you how to adapt your activities for students who have sensory processing disorders.
What about speech / language therapists?
These staff members work with a variety of students who have speech and language delays or other communication issues. They can help you answer some questions about a student’ s hearing loss, instruct you how to use augmentative and alternative communication systems, and explain how oral-motor issues may be causing embouchure problems.
What role does the special education teacher play? When special learners spend much of their time in a classroom with a designated special education teacher, that teacher becomes expert in how the students learns, and what difficulties are faced. These professionals will be able to provide you with strategies that work for each of their students that may apply to your class. They’ ll be able to tell you about specific events that may be triggering misbehaviors that you see, such as family situations, sensory processing disorders, or issues with medication.
What kind of information can a mental health professional give me?
While social workers and school psychologists must maintain the confidentiality of certain kinds of information about the children they counsel, they can give you strategies that will help you work with and understand specific students. They may be able to tell you if children have trouble getting along with others, and how to help. They will be able to help you structure a behavior modification plan for your class or for specific students, or help you continue one that is being used in other settings.
Lastly, two of the most essential staff members we work with are secretaries and custodians. Although they are not involved in direct instruction of students, we rely on them for a lot of the details that make our jobs more manageable. When we remember to be compassionate, treating them with kindness and respect will ensure that we are treated the same way.
When working with students with special needs, let’ s take advantage of the wealth of knowledge and insight that is available to us, ight in our own school buildings, and we’ ll be able to cope with whatever situations may arise this year.
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