Chapter 9

Chapter 9  Exceptionality

            RTI is a good way to track how students are doing in your classroom.  By looking at the tiers supporting students with learning difficulties, we are creating better citizens.  This is so much better than shutting them away and never attending to any of their intellectual or physical needs.  Originally, people thought if someone had a disability that they were “stupid” and not able to function in society.  They were considered like a disease that you didn’t want any other children to “catch”.  Once again, this myth has been dispelled and addressed.  There are some students that have emotional and physical reactions to problems that cause them to act out and these students viewed and cared for in a way appropriate for them and the rest of the school population.

            I did not realize that gifted students were eligible for services in some states.  We as teachers need to mindful of the needs of these students as well.  In my years teaching I have had some students most years that seemed to work at a very high level and I always have found ways to differentiate their instruction.  The thing that is happening in most classrooms across our country is to not only differentiation for our students with learning disabilities or difficulties but also for all of our students across the entire classroom.  Since this process is in place in my room, most students keep occupied working on different items or assignments in their folders.  Sometimes these assignments will take them to the computers, our reading area, or another workshop station set up in the classroom.  They are allowed to work in different levels according to their ability.  There is some work that we do as a whole class and that is usually when a new concept is introduced or when the initial assignment is given.  We also have whole grade level workshop time where different skill areas in math or reading are worked on with a specific student population to enrich or enable them to acquire a skill.

Question:  What do you do in your classroom to meet the needs of all students?  Is it a similar set up to mine or does your school operate differently?