In the case study, “Is This Child Mislabeled?” the reader is introduced to Serge Romanich, who is a third-grade Serbian refugee. Upon Serge’s enrollment in Oakwood Elementary, it was said that he barely knew any English and never started school due to his mother’s hospitalization and the Serbian war. Serge was placed into the Limited English Proficiency (LEP) program at his school, where he was soon labeled as a non-reader with no aptitude. Adding onto that, due to Serge’s inability to make academic progression and catch up, the faculty at Oakwood Elementary suggested to his mother, Byona Romanich, that Serge had a learning disability. According to the article, “On the Woodcock-Johnson Test of Cognitive Abilities, he scored at least 2 standard …show more content…
deviations below the means in the areas of auditory processing, short term memory, comprehension knowledge, and fluid reasoning” (pg. 2). Ultimately, these results provided the school psychologist with the means to classify Serge with a learning disability. With that being said, I do not believe that Serge’s skills were assessed adequately and am consequently unconvinced that he has a learning disability.
During this examination, the administration did not take into account that Serge was not proficient enough in English to fully comprehend the test. Serge was tested in English for the majority of the questions and was unable to successfully answer them due to his language barrier. When Serge was placed into the third-grade class, he had just gone through a traumatic experience wand was undergoing both a cultural and language shock. These events should have played a more prominent role in his assessment. Moreover, Serge was not correctly identified as learning disabled, because of the language barrier present in these tests. Since he was tested in mainly English, it was not that he was disabled, it was because he lacked the understanding of the English language. As specified by Salend and Salinas (2003), in their six recommendations for multidisciplinary teams, students should be assessed in both their native and secondary languages. These results should then be compared in order to determine results (Salend & Salinas, 2003, …show more content…
pg. 4). This statement helps emphasize that Serge was not disabled, but mislabeled. 2.
A special education setting is based on educational needs of those with learning disabilities. Students should not be immediately placed in a special education classroom, but instead should be taught strategies that are appropriate to their educational needs. Notwithstanding, Serge did not have a learning disability and as a result, should not have been placed in a special education setting. This was inappropriate placement for him as his only problem was his inability to speak English. Although he eventually did thrive with the instruction he received from Mrs. Evans, a resource teacher, his placement was not appropriate. In correlation with Ortiz (2001), “Early Invention for English Languages who are having difficulty in school needs to be implemented by general eduction teachers. Supportive school climates and instruction tailored to meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students (Ortiz, 2001, pg. 4). Also, if Serge was placed into a general education setting with individualized instruction, he would have been barely able to perform at all. He would not understand anything that is going on and would have been completely lost. In order to grasp material, Serge should have both Serbian and English material provided for
him. 3. Being culturally responsive allows teachers to recognize and acknowledge all students’ cultural backgrounds in their learning. In this case study, Mrs. Evans learns about the cultural background of all of her students. This knowledge help provide her with material to teach and ensure that Serge (as well as all her other students) is reaching his full potential. Schoen & Schoen (2003), argue, “Understanding cultural differences is important not only to learn about the student, but also to gain insight why a student responds in certain ways. For example, cultural differences may impact how a student reacts to classroom rules” (Schoen & Schoen, 2003, pg. 4). This information helps the reader identify that by recognizing cultures, teachers are ensuring that the educational needs of their students are met. Ultimately, Mrs. Evans interventions and interest in Serge’s cultural background, allowed her to form a relationship with him that enabled to make educational strides.
The specialist noticed that Lupita had a hard time answering test items that she did not understand. The specialist allowed the examinee to use scratch paper and pencil to eliminate test anxiety. The specialist also did away with the time requirements of the test and used accurate context vocabulary. It was evident that Lupita’s stress level went down; in addition, her new IQ score of 100 reflected it. In my opinion, the strategies that the specialist utilized reflected appropriate course of action to use with a child from culturally or linguistically diverse background
Eve... ... middle of paper ... ..., K., Milczarski, E., & Raby, C. (2011). The Assessment of English Language Learners with Learning Disabilities: Issues, Concerns, and Implications. Education, 131(4), 732-739.
Alison’s story is the perfect example of what many families must go through when faced with the possibility of having a child diagnosed with a learning disability. Alison was not diagnosed with visual and auditory dyslexia until the summer before entering college. However, while still a toddler, her symptoms had been brought to her mother’s attention by her sister’s teacher. Alison’s mother then noticed her habits in repeating words incorrectly and how Alison would need tactile clues to follow directions. At the recommendation of her kindergarten teacher, Alison was tested for learning disabilities and the results from the school psychologists were that she was acting stubborn or disobedient. Her family did not stop with the school’s diagnosis. They had private testing completed that confirmed Alison did not have a specific learning disability. The final word came from a relative that happened to be a psychologist. He insisted Alison would grow out of her difficulties. So Alison continued on with her entire elementary, middle and high school journey as a student and daughter with an undiagnosed learning disability.
If this plan does not achieve improvement in Carlos Learning disability then re-assessment will be prepared. He will continue in a separate classroom and teacher will be focused on Carlos precision potential only.
It is required that the student be placed in the setting most like that of typical peers in which they can succeed when provided with needed supports and services (Friend, 2014). In other words, children with disabilities are to be educated with children who are not disabled to the maximum extent appropriate. Removal may only occur when education in regular classes, with the use of supplementary aids and services, cannot be achieved satisfactorily (Yell, 2006).
The situation is worsened when students who do not speak English are thrown into the schooling system and are expected to keep up with their English-speaking counterparts. Kristina Rizga describes a situation in her article titled “Everything You’ve Heard about Failing Schools is Wrong” where Maria, a high school student, is faced with difficulty learning because English is not her first language. But despite the daunting task ahead of her, she didn’t give up. She became very proficient in English and earned top grades in all of her classes. However, once standardized tests rolled around, the story changed. Rizga states, “But on the big state tests--the days-long multiple-choice exams that students in California take once a year—Maria scored poorly” (Rizga 253). By receiving high marks in her classes, Maria was given a false sense of security. Maria attended Mission High, a school in a troubled community that was far from the best school in the state. It has been known for decades that students, such as minority students and the learning disabled, are not challenged and are often stuck in underfunded schools (Rizga 258). This explains why Maria scored poorly on the standardized tests even though she scored very well in all of her classes. She was not challenged to the same degree that other students were, and thus was not exposed to the level of
Students with disabilities have several delivery models that are made available to them. These students that have been identified as having a disability are to be given an equal opportunity to be the recipients of a fair and public education just as their non-disabled classmates. It is a legal requirement that the students are placed in an LRE (Least Restrictive Environment). The needs of the students and the resources available to them play an important factor in the placement of those individuals who has been identified as disabled. The following information was derived through classroom
Build on learners' prior knowledge; (4.) Provide constant review; (5.) Simplify language; (6.) Build other skills while developing English. The use of standardized testing to identify and assess the progress of English language learners with special needs is problematic. Normally designed for native English speakers, many assessment instruments do not reliably assess speakers of other languages because they ignore differences among linguistic and cultural groups (Schwarz & Burt, 1995). Assessment of English language learners with special needs should...
Instruction. These two strategies are approaches that address classroom diversity in general education settings, and inclusion classroom settings. The idea of UDL is that instructional lessons, strategies, and assessments are planned with supports, which are more likely to be well-suited for students with special needs. The supports minimize the need for adaptations at a later time. Properly designed classrooms require fewer adaptations for students with special needs, is an ass...
What is special education? The common belief is that it a program only dedicated to helping students with disabilities, whether physical or mentally. This is not entirely accurate in regards of what special education is. While special education does provide assistance to students with disabilities ns meet their needs in quality education (Küpper 2009)—the program extends to all students facing difficulties keeping up with the pace of learning (Huerta 2009). This brings the next question onto the table: the importance of special education. Before 1970s, majority of students with disabilities were shun into isolation with little to no education in general classes (Bradley 2016). However, with the passage of Education for All Handicapped Children
The classroom is a diverse place where learners from all different genres of life meet. Included in these learners are those that display learning disabilities. According to the British Columbia School Superintendent’s Association, ‘learning disabilities refer to a number of conditions that might affect the acquisition, organization, retention, understanding or use of verbal or nonverbal information. These disorders affect learning in individuals who otherwise demonstrate at least average abilities essential for thinking and/or reasoning’. They also posit that ‘learning disabilities result from impairments in one or more processes related to perceiving, thinking, remembering or learning. These include, but are not limited to language processing,
The types of education, regular, special, and inclusive all have different, yet very similar, meanings. Based off of Jude MacArthur and Berni Kelly’s article, “Inclusion from the perspectives of students with disabilities”, regular education refers to, “education in a classroom where students with disabilities are taught alongside their non-disabled peers” (MacArthur and Kelly, 44). Regular...
During the late 1980’s and 1990’s the number of children with learning disabilities receiving special education services grew rapidly, but during 1998 and 2007 the number of children classified as having a LD has declined by 7% (Cortiella, 2009). “In 2007, 59% of students with LD spent 80% or more of their in-school time in general education classrooms. In 2000, that figure was just 40%” (Cortiella, 2009). In addition, students with disabilities are spending more time with students in traditional classroom settings. According to the Department of Education, “approximately 6 million children (roughly 10 percent of all school-aged children) receive special education services” (Pardini, 2011).
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation. (1994). The Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action on Special Needs Education. Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/education/pdf/SALAMA_E.PDF
Over the last eight weeks this writer has learned a monument amount of knowledge in a short period of time. Each module and activity clearly defined each objective covered in the readings. Reflection plays a huge part in increasing one's self awareness, after having reflected on the course assignments writer is prepared to use the knowledge that they have attained. Having taken this course one feel comfortable utilizes the materials in the professional world successfully. Before taking this course many things about the laws and right guaranteed to students with disabilities were unclear. Knowledge is power and knowing has opened this writer up to understanding how a special educator a...