SPECIAL EDUCATIONMILLS PARK

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM

Michael McColgan, M.A.T., NBCT

A GUIDING THOUGHT…

“Much education today is monumentally ineffective. All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plant.”

John W. Gardner

TYPICAL 6TH GRADE SCHEDULE

7:45 Enter Building to Gym 7:55 Homeroom 8:15-9:15 Core Period 1 9:20-10:20 Core Period 2 10:25-11:25 Core Period 3 11:25-11:55 Lunch & SMART Lunch 12:00-1:05 Core Period 4 1:10-2:00 Elective Period I 2:05-3:00 Elective Period 2 3:00 Dismissal

ICR CLASSES In-Class Resource Math and Language Arts Classes are learning Grade Level SCOS Students taking Regular EOG tests Taught by a certified Math or Language

Arts teacher with a special education teacher to assist in the room.

RESOURCE CLASSES Math and Language Arts Smaller Class sizes Students are learning Grade Level SCOS There is opportunity for more

remediation than in ICR Classes Students take Regular EOG tests Taught by a teacher with dual

certification in Special Education and either math or language arts.

ESSENTIALS CLASSES Math and Language Arts Smaller class sizes Teacher is dual certified in special education and

math or language arts There is a teaching assistant in the classroom to

help Students are not working on Grade Level SCOS Students working on basic math or language arts

skills Math-Money, time and measurement concepts Language Arts-Fundamental reading and writing

skills Students are taking NC Extend2 EOG tests

READING DECODING For students identified with significant

reading delays Small class size Research based direct/explicit

instructional format to teach reading decoding and comprehension on student’s assessed reading level

CURRICULUM ASSISTANCE

A class designed to assist students on the regular SCOS in regular or ICR settings.

Not used for students served in resource level classes

Class designed to remediate and assist SCOS Is used in place of an elective Can be used for one quarter, half year or all

year depending on student need Primary focus is Math and Language Arts

grade level curriculum assistance. Can also work with science and social studies

time permitting.

SOCIAL STUDIES AND SCIENCE Taught by certified social studies or

science teacher No additional help in room Large class sizes The curriculum can be modified to an

extent, to help with understanding

HEALTHFUL LIVING Health and PE class Very large classes in PE, three teachers

worth Health is one class of 30+ students All students expected to dress out and

participate in PE Mandatory elective class daily Health has text book, curriculum and

tests

ELECTIVES Meet Daily Electives: Band, Computer Applications,

Technology Systems, Art, Life Skills, Spanish, Dance, Chorus

HIGH SCHOOL PREP High school might seem far away, but…. Everything we do in 6th grade correlates

with high school prep The three years of middle school are

necessary to prepare students for independent work necessary in high school

To succeed at the SCOS in high school, we must focus on accommodations that are necessary, not just helpful

The time to be honest and thoughtful about your child’s future education begins now

ACCOMMODATIONS Only add accommodations a child needs to

succeed independently In middle school we are preparing for

independence, do not list accommodations that might help, only that are needed

Middle school students don’t like to be singled out for separate setting

“Read aloud upon request”; use this instead of “read aloud all” when applicable

Avoid accommodations that preclude students from realizing their potential

ACCOMMODATIONS Testing in the classroom, which has the

expert teacher(s) and ambiance of the subject should be first option, not separate setting

Extended time only if necessary, most middle school students can finish on time.

MODIFICATIONS Modifications to the curriculum

compromise the curriculum We are preparing for high school which

in many cases does not allow changes to NCSCOS curriculum

If a student requires significant modifications then they might need resource or essentials level classes

Examples of modifications….. Modified tests, modified assignments,

pass/fail, dictate to scribe

EOG ACCOMMODATIONS Extended time not necessary on EOG as

they have no time limit any longer For students served through ESL, please

add LEP tests and Modifications to IEP

IEP NOTES Resource Classes not listed on IEP for

modifications, can modify as needed Elective classes are 45 minutes long Core classes are 60 minutes long Accommodations on EOG must match

what is used in the classroom on a daily basis