Education
Instructional Design I

For Exceptional Children

Instructional Designs I for Exceptional Children

This Portfolio Narrative will present my combined ten years of field work as an educator of special needs and special education students in an inclusion setting. I have had the privilege of acquiring all these experiences in a private school, as opposed to a public or pre-school, setting. The private school experience has furnished me with a plethora of unique and delightfully interesting insights into the educational process while also providing me with an outlet for what I truly love. I appreciate the fact that over the past ten years I have worked side by side with individuals that truly love what they do.

The shared vigor for molding young minds in a positive way has allowed me to make great long-lasting friendships but has also provided me with a chance to gain new knowledge from other teachers and administrators who were…...

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References

Cranton, Patricia A. (2000). Exploring the Scholarship of Teaching. Journal of Higher Education, July 1.

Murray, Bonnie (2002). The New Teacher's Complete Sourcebook. New York: Scholastic Inc.

Williamson, Bonnie, & Thornton, Sandy (1998). A First-Year Teacher's Guidebook (2nd Ed.). New York: Catalogue In Publication.

Experience

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Hong Kong
The prevalence of mental health problems in people with disabilities is estimated at between thirty and fifty percent, in Hong Kong (Vasa & oy, 2013). Anxiety disorders are the most common mental problems occurring during adolescent and childhood, at least one in ten people having anxiety disorders. In addition, anxiety disorders are the most common manifestations of psychological distress among people with autism. People with autism are much likely to be anxious than their non-autistic peers. Oftentimes, they are described as highly anxious. The co-morbidity of separation anxiety is frequent in people with autism. Similarly, epidemiological studies indicate that approximately eighty percent of people with autism have separation anxieties. This study concentrates on discussing the treatment method or way of Autism and Separation Anxiety Disorder among children and adolescents in Hong Kong.

isk factors owing autism

Young people with autism are more prone to separation anxiety…...

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References

Mash, E.J., & Barkley, R.A. (2013). Child psychopathology. New York: Guilford Press.

Ozonoff, S., Rogers, S.J., & Hendren, R.L. (2013). Autism spectrum disorders: A research review for practitioners. Washington, D.C: American Psychiatric Pub.

Saklofske, DH, & Schwean, V.L. (2009). Handbook of psychosocial characteristics of exceptional children. New York [u.a.: Kluwer [u.a..

Vasa, R.A., & Roy, A.K. (2013). Pediatric anxiety disorders: A clinical guide. New York, NY: Humana Press.

fifth of all Americans have some type of disability (United States Census Bureau, 2000).
Alarming? Yes, however, disabilities do not discriminate and people of all ages, race, and socioeconomic backgrounds can be affected or have a family member who has a disability. Disabilities in children may include, but are not limited to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, Autism, Central Auditory Processing Disorder, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dysprazia, Learning Disabilities, and Nonverbal Learning Disability. While these are only a few of the ever-growing list of disabilities discovered in children, the list continues to grow as additional research is conducted to identify more disabilities in children. This paper will discuss the issues, concepts, and findings of recent literature on the important issue of children with disabilities. It will also include information on how a disabled child and the parents search for help and resources with an emphasis being on treatment and educational…...

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References

Administration for Children and Families. (2004). Head Start Bureau.

Accessed March 30, 2004, from, http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/hsb/index.htm

American Dietetic Association. (2004). Position of the American Dietetic Association: providing nutrition services for infants, children, and adults with developmental disabilities and special health care needs. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 104 (1) 97-108.

Bayerl, C., Ries J., Bettencourt M., & Fisher P. (1993). Nutrition issues of children in early intervention programs: primary care team approach. Semin Pediatric Gastroenterol Nutrition 4:11-15.

One teaching model that seems to be very effective within the portfolio framework is the "Process Model."
The process model is, at its most simple, a method of writing in which the "process" of writing and revision is emphasized. Perhaps one of the easiest ways to express its essence is that it is the method of using progressive "drafts" to arrive at a final product. Of course, this model can do much to alleviate the motivation and morale issues previously addressed, simply because it alleviates much of the "performance anxiety" that plagues many exceptional learners. Further, key supportive activities on the part of the instructor, including "conferencing, prompting, modeling, and dialoguing," serve to create a "writing environment designed to encourage the creative process and to reduce the fear that students often associate with writing (Newcomer, Nodine, Barenbaum, 1988)."

Of course, this process model is in direct opposition to the "product" model…...

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Works Cited

Alber, Sheila. (1999). I don't' like to write, but I love to get published. Reading and Writing Quarterly, Oct-Dec 1999, Vol. 15 Issue 4, p. 355.

Hansen, C. Bobbi. (1998). Using portfolios as a tool to teach writing to students with learning disabilities. Reading and Writing Quarterly, Jul-Sep 1998, Vol. 14 Issue 3, p307.

Karge, Belinda. (1998). Knowing what to teach: Using authentic assessment to improve classroom instruction. Reading and Writing Quarterly, Jul-Sep 1998, Vol. 14 Issue 3, p319.

Newcomer, Phillis. Nodine, Barbara. Barenbaum, Edna. (1988).Teaching Writing to Exceptional Children. Exceptional Children, April 1988 Vol. 54 No. 6 p559.

Ultimately, Osborn succeeds in using idiom of the period that is immediately accessible through various venues of popular culture (she describes Crockett as seeming to "be half varmint") and weaves the language of the legend into the story. This differs significantly from Fritz' work in that the story of Pocahontas involves primarily third person language and modern idiom with none of the tall-tale style phrasing. Overall, this story differs significantly from that of Fritz' work in that it challenges the reader to simultaneously deal with the fact and the legend - something that might be confusing for younger readers, but remains quite effective.
Finally, there is Julius Lester's John Henry. John Henry was a purportedly actual (his reality has been up for debate) rail-road worker who was certainly larger in physical stature and stronger than most people, but he certainly could not have accomplished what legend would credit him with.…...

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References

Fritz, Jean. The Double Life of Pocahontas. New York: Putnam Juvenile, 2002.

Lester, Julius. John Henry. New York: Puffin, 1999.

Osborn, Mary Pope. American Tall Tales. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers, 1991.

Students who are gifted need to be challenged in their area of giftedness and their social and emotional needs must also be addressed.

One of the most important management skills a teacher can have when it comes to a gifted student is to encourage higher level thinking ability and divergent thinking patterns.

In addition the teacher can provide the gifted student with enrichment work as opposed to more busy work so that the child's mind is challenged and exercised.

A teacher who encourages the gifted child to challenge him or herself will provide the student with a strong educational environment while at the same time conveying to the student that his or her abilities and desires are valued.

Gifted children often face opposition and have a difficult time fitting in socially at school. The teacher of a gifted child should work to include and incorporate the child into activities with non-gifted peers so the…...

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References

Bea, H.L., Barnard, K.E., Eyres, S.J., Gray, C.A., Hamond, M.A., Spietz, a.L., Snyder, C., & Clark, B. (1982). Prediction of IQ and language skill from perinatal stimulus, child performance, family characteristics and mother-infant interaction. Child Development, 53, 1134-1156.

Christian, Linda G. (1999) Parenting the Young Gifted Child: Supportive Behaviors.

Roeper Review

Landau, Erika (1993) Characteristics of families with no, one, or more than one gifted child. The Journal of Psychology

A to increase academic engagement and achievement in math, reading, and spelling for general education and at-risk students;

to increase spelling achievement for general education elementary students and for students with mild disabilities in self-contained classrooms;

to increase social studies comprehension for junior high students with mild disabilities in a resource room setting;

and to increase reading achievement for high-functioning students with autism and their typical peers in an inclusive, general education classroom

Advantages and Disadvantages of Peer Tutoring

ased from the effects of peer tutoring that have been mentioned in the previous section, and from the number of studies conducted on peer tutoring, it is apparent that this teaching method for students with disabilities and special needs are beneficial and can support the improvement of their learning process and acquisition of knowledge and skills. Following is a summary of the advantages from peer tutoring.

Allows the student to participate. With the usual one-to-one peer-mediated teaching…...

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Bibliography

Ryan, J. et. al, (2004). Peer-mediated intervention studies on academic achievement for students with EBD: a review. (Emotional and Behavior Disorders)

Remedial and Special Education, Vol. 25, Issue 6, pp 330-341.

Hunt, P., et. al. (2004). Collaborative teaming to support preschoolers with severe disabilities who are placed in general education early childhood programs.

A ics in Early Childhood Special Education, Vol. 24, Issue 3, pp 123-142.

African-American Children in Special Education Programs
The large amount of minority children, specifically African-American children, who have ended up in special education programs for students who have learning disabilities, behavioral disabilities, emotional disabilities, or mental disabilities, has remained a very strong reality even though it has been recognized for more than 20 years (Townsend, Thomas, itty, & Lee, 1996). After looking at many of these patterns and how often they recur, it is important to look at the assumptions, beliefs, worldviews, and epistemologies that are often used by many who work in special education in order to determine what is causing the disproportionate amount of these individuals in special education programs throughout the country (Townsend, Thomas, itty, & Lee, 1996).

This problem, being extremely persistent, is affecting large groups of African-American individuals and their families in a negative way (Townsend, Thomas, itty, & Lee, 1996). It also affects society in general…...

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Works Cited

Apple, M. (1990). Ideology and curriculum. New York: Routledge.

Aronowitz, S., & Giroux, H.A. (1991). Postmodern education: Politics, culture, and social criticism. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota.

Artiles, A.J., & Trent, S.C. (1994). Overrepresentation of minority students in special education: A continuing debate. The Journal of Special Education, 22, 410-436.

Gordon, E.W., Miller, F., & Rollock, D. (1990). Coping with communicentric bias in knowledge production in the social sciences. Educational Researcher, 19(3), 14-19.

These generally viewed race in terms of superior or inferior throughout history.
The time frame family studies explored involved biological and pathology theories dating from the 1899 through the twentieth century. Interestingly, these researchers found that in early history, race was more likely to negatively impact child education than socio-economic status, especially during times in history when most people were at a disadvantage economically (as in during the depression). As researchers moved into the twentieth century however, there seems to be a trend in research leaning toward less emphasis on race and minority status, with many researchers turning away from terms like "morons" or "inferior" or "degenerates" and more focusing on terms like "poverty" and "poor" or "welfare status" (Block, Balcazar & Keys, 2001, p. 18). Historical data gathering included a review of researchers and psychologist reports and collection as described in a comparison table which the researcher then reviewed…...

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References

Anderson, E. (1990). Streetwise: Race, class, and change in an urban community.

Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Block, P., Balcazar, F. & Keys, C. (2001). From pathology to power: Rethinking race, poverty and disability. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 12(1): 18.

Deyhle, D., Parker, L. & Villenas, S. (1999). Race is - Race isn't: Critical race theory and qualitative studies in education. Boulder: Westview Press.

Special Education Classrooom
Special Education

Observations of Special Education Classroom

The paper is a description of an observation conducted at a center that provides special education services to children and teens. The observation duration was three hours in a secondary education classroom. I was invited to participate as little or as much as I wanted during the observation. The students were at grade levels 9 -- 11.

Observations of Special Education Classroom

For the purposes of this paper, I gained permission to observe a secondary school-aged classroom at the Association for Metro Area Autistic Children. Children as young as two years old to students aged twenty-one attend the center. There are also adult services provided, at the center and at the private residence. The school is in session from 8am -- 2:30pm, Monday through Friday. I asked to attend on a day and during a timeblock where the students would learn in multiple settings.…...

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References:

Forness, S.R., & Esveldt, K.C. (1975) Classroom Observation of Children with Learning and Behavior Problems. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 8(6), 382 -- 385.

Lam, S.F. (2001) Educators opinions on classroom observation as a practice of staff development and appraisal. Teaching and Teacher Education, 17(2), 161 -- 173.

Martin, J.E., Van Dycke, J.L., Greene, B.A., Gardner, J.E., Christensen, W.R., Woods, L.L., & Lovett, D.L. (2006) Direct Observation of Teacher-Directed IEP Meetings: Establishing the Need for Student IEP Meeting Instruction. Exceptional Children, 72(2), 187 -- 200.

Additionally, it is apparent that the nature of the phenomenon makes it amiable to a qualitative approach. The literature did identify notable exceptions to the qualitative approach that were useful interrogators of the theoretical basis for practice.
Throughout the literature presented in this work, there is a tacit acceptance of the transition age. The researchers have not challenged this position though many of them did allude to the variation that exists within the population of special education students. This variation is a factor in many of the challenges that special education students experience, so that the past failure to give attention to this factor presents an opportunity for present research to fill this void.

As a proxy for age, Abbot & Heslop (2009) identified timing as an essential factor in the success of the transition program. While in their research timing was connected to multiple concepts, within the framework alluded to…...

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References

Abbott, D., & Heslop, P. (2009). Out of sight, out of mind? Transition for young people with learning difficulties in out-of-area residential special schools and colleges. British Journal of Special Education, 36(1), 45-56.

Carter, E.W., Lane, K.L., Pierson, M.R., & Stang, K.K. (2008). Promoting self-determination for transition-age youth: Views of high school general and special educators. Career Development for Exceptional Individuals, 31(2), 115-125.

Guy, B.A., Sitlington, P.L., Larsen, M, D., & Frank, a.R. (2009). What are high schools offering as preparation for employment? Career Development for Exceptional

Individuals, 32(1), 30-41.

16).
In comparing a number of literary elements in one story, Smith and Wiese (2006) contend that at times, when attempting to transform an old story into a modern multicultural version, cultural meanings of the original story may be lost. In turn, the literature does not subject the reader to another culture. For instance, in the story about the fisherman, that Smith and Wiese access, the plot remains similar plot, however, significant changes transform the reported intent to make the story multicultural. Changes included the fisherman's daughter's stated name, being changed from one common to her culture to Maha. Instead of God, as written in the original version, the reference notes "Allah." Other changes Smith and Wiese point out include:

& #8230;The admonition to retrieve the fish or "be sorry" instead of the threatened curse, the reference to the golden shoe as a sandal instead of a clog;

the proposed groom is…...

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REFERENCES

Anderson, Connie Wilson. (2006). Examining Historical Events through Children's Literature.

Multicultural Education. Caddo Gap Press. 2006. Retrieved May 03, 2009 from HighBeam Research:  http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1229798181.html 

Banned Book Quiz. (2009). Retrieved May 03, 2009 from  http://www.shetland-library.gov.uk/documents/BannedBooksWBD09quiz.pdf 

Bottigheimer, Ruth B. (2008). Stories of heaven and earth: Bible heroes in contemporary

classroom instruction and are these ideas/strategies feasible for a particular classroom, can they be adapted, alter, or incorporated to benefit students with disabilities?
A Critique of the Journal Article 'Cultural Models of Transition: Latina Mothers of Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities' and Implications for Classroom Instruction

The journal article Cultural models of transition: Latina mothers of young adults with developmental disabilities was a qualitative examination of attitudes of Latina mothers of young adults with disabilities, toward approaches to the transitions of those young adults from school-age activities to more independent living. According to the authors: "Sixteen Latina mothers of young adults with disabilities participated in the study, recruited from an agency

serving low-income, predominantly Spanish-speaking communities" (Rueda,

Monzo, Shapiro, Gomez, & Blacher, Summer 2005). The qualitative study emphasized five themes: life skills and social adaptation; importance of family and home vs. individualism and independence; mothers' roles and decision-making expertise; information access; and dangers…...

Business Plan
Enfant is a children's clothing boutique in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The business model is to bring in unique lines of children's clothing, sourced from around the world if need be. Unique items, coupled with a focus on customer relationship management and social media promotion form the differentiation strategy. The target market is fairly wealthy, educated and stylish. They are willing to spend on their children's clothing as they see their children as reflections of their own style.

The shop will lose some money in the first year, but will be profitable in subsequent years, and be able to pay the proprietor a salary. The proprietor is 30% owner, with the uncle as a silent partner who contributes all of the capital in exchange for a 70% cut.

The clothing will be high end, not made in sweatshops, stylish in design and unique to the store in most cases. This allows the…...

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References

NetMBA (2010). Pricing strategy. NetMBA.com. Retrieved November 13, 2015 from  http://www.netmba.com/marketing/pricing/ 

Statista (2015). Leading U.S. retail stores by segment in 2012, based on highest sales per square foot. Statista. Retrieved November 13, 2015 from  http://www.statista.com/statistics/247319/us-retail-stores-by-segment-based-on-highest-sales-per-square-foot/ 

Property Shark.com (2010). Retail space on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. PropertyShark.com. Retrieved November 13, 2015 from  http://www.propertyshark.com/mason/text/infopages/Retail-Space-Flatbush-Avenue-Brooklyn.html 

Investopedia (2015). Restrictive covenant. Investopedia. Retrieved November 13, 2015 from  http://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/restrictive-covenant.asp

1) Connor (2002) states that studies report findings that mothers of children with Autism "who showed greater satisfaction" in life were those "who made the clearest redefinitions and who were most willing to follow alternative ways of gaining self-fulfillment." (p. 1)
II. EFFECTS on LIFE of FAMILY in NORMAL ACTIVITIES

In the work entitled: 'Autism and the Family" reported is a study conducted in a 12th grade classroom at 'Our Lady of Loures High School through survey instruments completed by the children of mothers with autistic children in the age range of 4 to 36 years of age. This study reports that family outings "can be quite an ordeal for these families." (Hart, nd, p.1) for instance, when these families go on an outing, in families where it is possible two cars travel to the outing in case the child needs to be suddenly removed from the public setting due to tantrums…...

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Greenspan, Stanley I. (2008) Understanding Autism. Parent & Child. 2008. Online available at: http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=10118

Parents of Autistic Children Twice as Likely to be Mentally Ill (2008) Fox News 5 May 2008. Online available at:  http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,354192,00.html?sPage=fnc/health/mentalhealth 

Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Best Practice Guidelines for Screening, Diagnosis and Assessment (2002) California Department of Developmental Services: 2002. Online available at:  http://www.athealth.com/Consumer/disorders/Autism.html 

Gold N. 1993 Depression and social adjustment in siblings of boys with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 23 147-163

Historical special education funding has shaped the current landscape in several ways 1. Laws such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) have provided federal funding for special education programs, which has helped to improve access to services for students with disabilities. This funding has enabled schools to hire special education teachers, provide specialized equipment and resources, and offer related services such as speech therapy and counseling. 2. State and local funding for special education programs has varied over time, leading to disparities in resources and services available to students with disabilities. In some cases, limited funding has resulted....

Understanding Special Education Funding: A Historical Perspective Introduction Special education funding has been a contentious issue in the United States for decades. The current landscape of special education funding is the result of a long and complex history. This essay will provide a historical perspective on special education funding, examining how it has shaped the current landscape. The Early Years The first special education programs in the United States were established in the late 1800s. These programs were typically private and served students with severe disabilities. By the early 1900s, some public schools began to offer special education services. However, these services....