Offering Diagnostic Educational Evaluations

As more and more students with learning disabilities are placed in general education classes, general education teachers need to learn the difference between accommodations and modifications.  This is especially true for middle school and high school students.  In core subjects, there is often an in-class special education teacher present.  Not only does this benefit the students, but also the general education teacher....and it is not only because there is an extra teacher.  The special education teacher actually teaches the general education teacher (when they are willing to learn) about the types of modifications that students benefit from.  In those core classes, such as Language Arts and Math, the general education teachers are become well versed in making appropriate modifications.  Tests are modified, alternate assignments are provided, and the students have access to accurate notes.  The problem, however, is with general education teachers who teach classes that never offer in-class support.  These teachers have not learned appropriate modifications.  They assume that moving a child's seat to the front of the room is a modification.  That is an accommodation!  They assume that using an FM system for a hearing impaired students is a modification.  That is an accommodation as well!  These are the Health teachers; the computer teachers, the Spanish teachers., etc.  So it is not surprising that students with learning disabilities struggle the most in these classes.  This does not make any sense to me.  If a student can have a modified test in Math class...then why can't she have a modified test in Health class.  I do not feel that these classes need a special education teacher present.  In my opinion, these general education teachers need to be willing to modify.  They must adhere to all of the modifications outlined in a child's IEP...not just the accommodations.  They must make two tests.  They must give student's access to accurate notes. They should refrain from 'pop quizzes'.  They must offer alternate means for assessing a student's knowledge.  They must take the time to ensure that the answers on the student's study guides are accurate.  If not...districts are going to have to place special education teachers in these classes and that is not cost effective, nor is it necessary.  In my opinion, some training in this area is imperative.   If special education students are in the general education classroom, the general education teacher must understand the child's disability and what modifications need to be made.  It cannot be up to the parent nor the student to beg for these modifications...because that can often have an adverse effect on the relationship between the teacher and the student.  Call Learn2Love*Love2Learn to teach general education teachers the difference between modifications and accommodations!