Lesson 1: Understanding How You LearnThis is a guidance lesson that will teach students the meaning and importance of personal responsibility and self-awareness in planning for their future. Students will also be completing Language Arts and Information Technology requirements. They will use technology responsibly in order to do research about the learning disability they have been diagnosed with and the different accommodations that are available to them. They will have to write and answer several open-ended questions using critical thinking skills.
In order to self-advocate, it is important for students to think about how they learn. This lesson will encourage students to ask themselves what it is they need to help themselves better learn and how learning is different for them personally. Schools have resources to help students find out what they need to know about themselves. Every student's IEP (Individualized Education Plan) has a summary of his or her strengths and weaknesses. They should review it and feel comfortable talking about what they find. School psychological test reports can give even greater detail about how a student learns. Students can even talk to a favorite teacher or guidance counsler and ask them what they have noticed works to help the student successfully learn. Knowing in greater detail what helps them learn and what what types of instruction and accommodations they require will better prepare them for the transition they will face when they leave highschool. I will explain to students that each of them have have a unique set of strengths and challenges. I would explain that they may learn differently from the majority, but they do learn. Knowing what can be overwhelming and what kinds of instruction and accommodations are available to them will get them on the track to self-advocacy. I would go over the different accommodations students have available to them and explain the different laws that protect them. Students will then be asked to research their own specific learning disability by using the internet and interviewing professionals who can help them better understand what accommodations will work for them. Students will bettter understand how to ask for accommodations, and how to explain why they need these accommodations. These are essential skills the student will need to have when they make the transition from high school to college or the work place. They will learn how speak up for themselves. Students should follow the link below to find the activity that pertains to this lesson. |
Lesson 2: Researching AccommodationsIt is important for students to understand the difference between accommodations and modifications. A modification fundamentally changes the content of a class and an accommodation is a change in the delivery and assessment but not the content. Both modifications and accommodations are provided in the K-12 system so it can make the distinction between these two confusing.Modification of classes will not be an option for students in college. In this lesson students will go to the following website:
www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Academics/accomm_ld.html They will read over the information on accommodations that students with learning disabilities might receive and make of list of 10 accommodations that they think might be helpful for them. After they have made the list they should pick one of the accommodations that they would like to try in high school that is supported by their documentation. They should make arrangements with their special education teacher to use it in an appropriate setting. After using it a few times answer the questions pertaining to this lesson on the question page of this website. |