The Exceptional Teacher's Handbook

Preface Acknowledgments About the Authors Introduction 1. Preparing for a Successful School Year Strategy 1: Get to Know Your School Strategy 2: Allocate Time for Reflecting Strategy 3: Locate a Mentor Teacher Strategy 4: Identify Essential Tasks Strategy 5: Orientate Assigned Paraprofessionals Strategy 6: Establish a Communication System Form 1.1. Get to Know Your School Checklist Form 1.2. Preplanning Checklist Form 1.3. Monthly Planning Checklist Form 1.4. Postplanning Checklist Form 1.5. Correspondence Log Form 1.6. Student Emergency Information Form 1.7. Noninstructional Classroom Supply Checklist Form 1.8. Instructional Classroom Supply Checklist Form 1.9. Classroom Inventory Checklist Form 1.10. Paraprofessional's Classroom Responsibilties Checklist Form 1.11. Student Service Information Form 1.12. Present Levels of Performance Form 1.13. Self-Evaluation Instrument for the Special Education Teacher Resource 1.1. Suggestions for Working With a Paraprofessional Resource 1.2. Web Sites for Parents and Students Resource 1.3. Assistive Technology Information 2. Understanding Students With Disabilities Strategy 1: Review Student Information Strategy 2: Conduct Student Surveys and Inventories Strategy 3: Review Recognized Disabilities in IDEA Form 2.1. Student Folder Checklist Form 2.2. Student Profile Form 2.3. Student Academic Inventory Form 2.4. Student Learning Styles Survey Form 2.5. Student Interest Survey 3. Placing Students in the Least Restrictive Environment Section 1: Review of Service Delivery Models Section 2: The Placement Decision Section 3: Classroom Accommodations and Modifications Section 4: Monitoring Students in the General Education Setting Section 5: Tips for the Regular Education Teacher Form 3.1. Selecting the Least Restrictive Environment Checklist Form 3.2. Teacher Summary Report Form 3.3. Classroom Adaptations Form 3.4. Classroom Adaptation Evaluation Form 3.5. Student's Materials List Form 3.6A. Teacher Directions for Completing Student Monitor Forms Form 3.6B. Student Monitor Form Form 3.7. Student Monitor Results Summary Form 3.8. Individual Student Progress Report Summary Form 3.9. Individual Student Final Grade Summary Resource 3.1. Defining Accommodations and Modifications Resource 3.2. Suggestions for Tests Adaptions 4. Managing the Classroom Step 1: Review the School's Policies and Procedures Pertaining to Student and Teacher Expectations Step 2: Ensure the Physical Arrangement and Decor of the Classroom Is Inviting and Conducive to Learning Step 3: Ensure the Classroom Climate Is Supportive and Reflects a Sense of Mutual Respect Between Teacher and Students Step 4: Communicate All Expectations for Students' Academic Performance and Behaviors in the Classroom Step 5: Develop Classroom Policies and Procedures That Clearly Regulate All Activities Form 4.1. Daily Point System Form 4.2. Behavior Contract Form 4.3. Student Progress Report Form 4.4. Classroom Policies and Procedures Checklist Form 4.5. Classroom Management Plan Evaluation Resource 4.1. Tips for Classroom Arrangement Resource 4.2. Bulletin Boards Guidelines and Information Resource 4.3. Tips for Communicating With Students and Parents Resource 4.4. Tips for Developing Classroom Rules and Consequences Resource 4.5. Tips for Developing Behavior Modification Plans 5. Teaching All Students Section 1: Preparing for Instruction Section 2: Planning and Implementing Effective Lesson Plans Section 3: Instructional Strategies for All Students Section 4: Evaluating Student Progress Form 5.1. IEP Goals and Objectives Checklist Form 5.2. Classroom Teacher's Instructional Materials List Form 5.3. Class Schedule Form 5.4. Weekly Lesson Plan Resource 5.1. Guide to Locating Instructional Materials Resource 5.2. Technology-Connected Lesson Plan Form 6. Preparing for a Successful Parent Conference Form 6.1. Essential Tasks for All Parent-Teacher Conferences Form 6.2. Essential Information for the Progress Report Conference Form 6.3. Essential Information for the Problem-Solving Conference Form 6.4. Conference Notification Form 6.5. Conference Reminder Form 6.6. Conference Minutes Form 6.7. Conference Summary Resource 6.1. Teacher Guidelines for Parent Conferences Resource 6.2. Parent Tips for Conference Preparation Resource 6.3. Dealing With the Anger of Parents 7. Understanding Education Assessments Section 1: Review Basic Test and Measurement Information Section 2: Understand the Levels of Educational Assessments in Schools Section 3: Know the Current IDEA Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Assessing Students With Disabilities Section 4: Review of Alternate Assessments Section 5: Review of Appropriate Assessment Accommodations Form 7.1. Test Administration Checklist Resource 7.1. Educational Assessments Resource 7.2. Possible Accommodations for Students With Disabilities Resource 7.3. Formative and Summative Assessments 8. Writing a Legal and Effective Individualized Education Program Section 1: The Legal Requirements of an IEP Section 2: Understanding the Components of an IEP Section 3: Involving Students and Parents in the IEP Process Form 8.1. Essential Information for the Annual IEP Resource 8.1. Four Pillars of NCLB Resource 8.2. IEP Reference Materials 9. Preparing Students for Transition Strategy 1: Understanding the Legal Aspects of Transition Strategy 2: Prepare Students for Movement to a New School Strategy 3: Prepare Students for Post-School Endeavors Form 9.1. High School 4-Year Plan Form 9.2. Unit of Credit Checklist Form 9.3. Work-Based Student Evaluation Form 9.4. Student's Critique of Job Site Resource 9.1. Students With Disabilities Preparing for Post secondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities Resource 9.2. Work Behavior Training Strategies for Vocational Training With Students With Disabilities Resource 9.3. Job Accommodations for People With Mental Retardation (MR) or Other Developmental Disabilities (DD) 10. Preparing a Plan for Professional Learning Strategy 1: Formulate a Professional Learning Plan Strategy 2: Develop a Professional Portfolio Strategy 3: Join a Professional Organization Strategy 4: Read Professional Organization Strategy 5: Enroll in Advanced College Courses or Professional Learning Classes Strategy 6: Participate in a Professional Learning Community Form 10.1. Professional Development Plan Form 10.2. Portfolio Format for the Professional Educator Form 10.3. Conference Planning Guide Resource 10.1. The Special Education Teacher's Guide to Professional Organizations Resource 10.2. The Special Education Teacher's Guide to Professional Periodicals Resource 10.3. The Special Education Teacher's Guide to Professional Books Resource 10.4. Web Sites for Special Education Teachers Resource A: Emergencies in the School Setting Section 1: Physical Health Issues of Students Section 2: Mental Health Issues of Students Section 3: Review of Natural Disasters Section 4: Acts of Violence Form A.1. Medical History Form A.2. Emergency Medical Plan Form A.3. Medical Incident Report Form A.4. Medical Incident Log Resource A.1. Classroom "Go-Kit" Supplies Resource A.2. Recommended First Aid Supplies Resource B: Stress Management for the First-Year Teacher Resource B.1. Tips for Stress Management Resource C: Support Organizations for Students Resource D: Guide to Locating Instructional Materials Resource E: Education Terminology References Index