List What You Learned About Each of The Characters in The Case. What Do You Think Is Motivating The Thoughts and Actions of Each of The Characters?

Broken Arm Assignment
1. List what you learned about each of the characters in the case.
What do you think is motivating the thoughts and actions of
each of the characters?
Mary: I learned that Mary is a special education teacher who is very
experienced in co-teaching. She has taught at her school for five years in the
English, co-teach program and has fifteen years of teaching experience.
Through details given in the scenario, I believe that Mary and her former coteacher had a well-established professional relationship; they too depended
on each others knowledge of student success. I believe that Mary
understands how to accommodate students appropriately so that they can
be successful. However, her normal actions are tailored because of her new
partner a teacher who does not understand differentiated instruction.
Helen: Helen is a veteran teacher with twenty years of experience. She
has high standards for her students and expects everyone to learn the same.
She has little to no understanding of differentiated instruction. However, I
think her understanding is not her own fault, but the fault of her school or
school district. Most, but not all, teachers are pressured to have success with
every student regardless of the barriers that come into the classroom from
many different angles. Teachers face the problem of accountability and the
lack of understanding of differences in their students from others. I think
Helen, due to the pressure, has become ignorant to those who learn
differently and need extra help in different ways. Test scores and not the
reality of how students learn motivate Helens thoughts.
2. What are the issues and problems in the case? Discuss the
common problems and issues faced in co-teaching. What steps
are required to establish successful co-teaching relationships?
The issues and problems in this case are far to common in many co-teach
classrooms. I believe that a few teachers, general education teachers, do not
understand the depth and importance of following an IEP. They do not
understand that the legal document must be followed or that it helps them
with the understanding of how to teach children with special needs. Yes, I
believe that all children should be held up to high standards and that all
children should not be limited because of certain needs. However, children
should be given access to success in ways of differentiated teaching.
Many problems also arise when teachers are not given the proper training
on how a co-teaching classroom works. Schools sometimes place teachers
together who have very little experience working with others, lack social
skills, lack the need for guidance, and refuse to give up the hot seat.
Regardless of the teachers and their experience, I believe that all coteachers should communicate with each other, address personal needs,
address student needs, and use each others experience to help guide the
success of their students. Most of all, I think getting to know your partner is
most important. Teachers are normally very open to new ideas, new people,
and great friendships. Having a co-teacher who is also a friend opens up so
many more opportunities for the classroom. In my experience, a friendship

more than a partnership works.
3. When is it appropriate to make instructional accommodations?
Modifications? Discuss techniques for modifying instructional
methods and materials. What instructional accommodations
and modifications in spelling did Mary make for Jim? Were they
effective? Why or why not?
Without a doubt, it is important to make instructional accommodations
when students are not showing success. In general, I believe that all students
receive some type of accommodation when in the classroom. Differentiated
learners access the curriculum in different ways, thus allowing the teacher to
accommodate students so that the student can meet mastery. Modifications
should only be considered if accesses to an accommodation or
accommodations are not beneficial to the student. A teacher should
understand that a modification changes the standard of a students learning
outcome. It is important to question whether or not it is in the best interest of
the student and if a lower learning outcome is acceptable.
Unfortunately, Marys instructional accommodations and modifications did
not help Jim. Jim needed more modifications added to his differentiated
curriculum. In reason, when Mary accommodated Jim by giving him a few
words at a time and lessening his words, he showed no success; Jim
continued to fail. Furthermore, I believe that Marys suggestion of giving Jim
multiple-choice questions or matching the spelling words to definitions would
have worked. Jim would have been very successful with this modification.
Sadly, Helen disapproved.
4. Discuss the importance and benefits of communication and
collaboration that promote interaction with students, parents,
and school and community personnel.
In my experience, communication is effective in and outside of the
classroom. Collaboration works hand-and-hand with the mastery of student
success. Students do not come into the classroom knowing everything they
need to know, nor do the teachers know everything about helping a student
succeed. It is important that schools work with families in their community to
build a community of trust. In this, school personnel begin to develop an
appreciation of culture, beliefs, and values that influence families and their
support in education. I believe that trust in the community influences
students to attend school and establish goals that continue opportunities.
With the connection of parent-teacher collaboration, students are more
successful because of the accountability factors that are established
between those who should influence a childs education. For instance, when
teachers and parents share the same vision, fewer problems arise and
students are known to recognize more of their own educational
responsibilities. It is important to communicate and collaborate with parents
because students live within the community of their home and school. A
childs life is mostly home and school and little in between. Like the saying
goes, It takes a village to raise a child.

List What You Learned About Each of The Characters in The Case. What Do You Think Is Motivating The Thoughts and Actions of Each of The Characters?

Uploaded by

Document Informationclick to expand document information

Copyright:

Available Formats

List What You Learned About Each of The Characters in The Case. What Do You Think Is Motivating The Thoughts and Actions of Each of The Characters?

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

List What You Learned About Each of The Characters in The Case. What Do You Think Is Motivating The Thoughts and Actions of Each of The Characters?

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Broken Arm Assignment

many more opportunities for the classroom. In my experience, a friendship

You might also like