This week we learned all about IEP. Individualized Education Program, IEP, is a written document that’s developed for each public school child who is eligible for special education. Every year IEP meetings are held. The people that attend these meetings work closely together to find out the best way to help the child. These adults include:

• ·   SPED teacher
•      General ED teacher
• ·   School OT
• ·   RN Student
• ·   School psychologist
• ·   Administrators
• ·   Parents of the child

In this meeting it is important for staff to remember that the family is the corner stone of the meeting. The most important principle is to value the student and their family. These adults work together to help the child avoid feeling left out. They discuss standardized testing or alternative assessments for the child. They also discuss how to teach the child in the following subjects:

• ·         Reading
• ·         Writing
• ·         Mathematics
• ·         Social emotional health

There is also discussion on accommodations and modifications. Accommodations include change in how the child is learning, therefore not changing the curriculum. Examples include digital text and extended time on assignments and tests. Modifications include changes to WHAT the child is learning.

There’s a lot that goes on during an IEP meeting, but the end result is to find the best approaches to best suit the child so he/she can get the most out of their education.

Thanks for reading!

Karly B.

Howdy folks! 

Another amazing week full of learning. As I read through the first chapter of our book for this class, I was a little overwhelmed with how many things I didn't know regarding special education. But I think after studying hard and making cognitive maps, I was able to learn a lot in a short time period. 

One of the most important concepts from this lesson is the concept of inclusiveness. It is important to remember that all children are from our Heavenly Father and it's important to love and respect every child, regardless of their disabilities. 

There are three main dimensions of inclusion: 

1. Physical 
2. Social
3. Instructional

Physical: Placing students in the same classroom as non-disabled peers.

Social: Relationships should be nurtured between students with disabilities and their classmates, other peers, and adults.

Instructional: Most students should be taught in the same curriculum used for students without disabilities and helped to succeed by adjusting how teaching and learning are designed and measured.

We also had the opportunity to watch a video about how children with disabilities are treated in Serbia. This video kind of disgusted me. It was heart breaking to see children being treated this way, for something they can't control and something that isn't their fault. I am so thankful to live in this country where children with disabilities have rights. Of course there is room for improvement, but to say the least, I'm grateful for this country and how far along our government has come with the improvement of special education.

I did it. The first complete week of school is checked off my list. Has it only been a week? Because I feel like I’ve learned so much for only a week to have passed by. The assignments this week included reading the following four talks:

• Doctrine of Inclusion, Elder M. Russell Ballard
• The Moving of the Water, Elder Boyd K. Packer
• Concern for the One, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin
• Drenched in Gratitude: Protection Against the Spirit of Entitlement, President Kim B. Clark

I enjoyed these readings because they reminded me of a very important truth, and that is, we are all God’s children and He loves ALL of us.  One of my favorite quotes came from Elder Packer’s talk. He tells us that “afflictions come to the innocent.” He also tells us that “physical means temporal and temporal means temporary.” I love that so much because even though some of us are born with these disabilities, we can be perfected through Christ and everyone will be in their perfect form after the 2nd coming. Earlier in the week, we were asked to create a philosophy statement. To help us begin this assignment our professor provided us with this quote,

"There are times when we have to step into the darkness in faith, confident that God will place solid ground beneath our feet once we do. And so I accepted gladly, knowing that God would provide."  - President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, (The Why of Priesthood Service, General Conference, April 2012).

 God will provide a way for all children to be taught whether it be in this life or in the next. All children with any type of disability will be perfected through Christ after the 2nd coming. I believe that their spirits are perfect and that Heavenly Father has a special love for them. I also believe that they were spiritually stronger than most in the premortal life. They were perfect in Heaven and accepted to come down to Earth knowing that they would be different and that their life would be more difficult than most. I have a special respect for the disabled and I hope to learn from them more than they learn from me.

Hello everyone!

This blog is going to be used for my SPED310 class. My name is Karly Buchanan and this is my 4th semester at BYU-I. I am looking froward to learning a lot this semester and especially this class. This blog will be somewhat like an online journal for me and I'll be sharing my thoughts and insights from what I am learning in this class. I hope you feel inspired by what I discuss here and feel free to make any comments but please be respectful to others opinions/ beliefs. 
Happy reading and have a great weekend! :)

-Karlyshay