Austerman

SPD 608

Case Study Assignment

Bailey Austerman

National University

SPD 608

GUIDELINES FOR CASE STUDY ASSESSMENT
Question
1a) Identify one instructional
strategy or student activity
from the outline of plans that could be challenging for Billy. challenges when working with
could be challenging for the
student, considering the
description of the student’s
learning disability. Choose an
actual instructional strategy
related to the specific science
content being taught, rather
than getting along with
others or improving
behavior.
1b) Explain why the strategy or
activity you chose could be
challenging for the student,
based on specific aspects of
the student description.
1c) Describe how you would
adapt the strategy or activity
you identified to meet the
needs of the student. Your
strategy must be multisensory
because those strategies are the
most effective, and must be able
to be done by the student
independently, without help
from anyone else (e.g. teacher,
aide, peer, etc.), since assistance
is not always available for every
student with special needs, for
every lesson, every day.
Austerman
SPD 608
Billy Changes needed if Billy is also an
English learner
Working with an elbow partner If Billy was an English learner,
to complete a Venn diagram he would have additional
content level curriculum. Billy
would benefit greatly from
vocabulary and directions
printed out to give him
additional support in the
assignments.
The student description states This part of the lesson would be
that Billy has trouble working challenging for Billy as he
with other students and is a would struggle with producing
“reluctant worker.” Billy also responses in his native language
struggles with reading because of his low reading and
comprehension and pronouncing writing level. This would be
words that are more than a few increasingly challenging to
syllables long. Billy’s delayed complete in English as he is still
linguistic development may learning the language and he has
cause him frustration when demonstrated challenges in his
working with a peer. native language.
To modify the assignment, I If Billy was an English learner, I
would as that Billy listen in on a would ask that he observe a pair
pair’s discussions. Hearing with at least one bilingual
academic conversation from his student. This would allow Billy
peers would provide Billy the to observe a conversation from
opportunity to engage with the another English learner. Also, I
materials without feeling would provide him with the
overwhelmed by the assignment sentence starters and vocabulary
or pressured to communicate terms in both English and his
with other students. Billy will native language. This would
have the best chance of success provide Billy with additional
if he is able to work in an practice in translating his ideas
environment that is comfortable and working with both
for him. This would include languages.
receiving additional help from
the instructor when needed to
clear up content misconceptions
or vocabulary
misunderstandings but not
continuously throughout class.

1d) Explain how your adaptation
would be effective for the
student in making progress
toward achieving the learning
goal(s) of this unit.
2a) Identify one additional
instructional strategy or
student activity from the
outline of plans that could be
challenging for the student,
considering the student’s other
learning needs. Choose an
actual instructional strategy
related to the specific science
content being taught, rather
Austerman
SPD 608
While observing the
conversation, Billy should jot
down information that he is
hearing from his peers. This can
include drawing pictures to
represent what they are talking
about. An additional strategy
that I would use would be to
provide Billy with a print out of
vocabulary terms and their
meanings so that he could
reference them throughout the
discussions. I would also give
Billy a print out of sentence
starters that he could use when
completing his Venn diagram
assignment.
The adaptations that I would If Billy is an English learner, he
make would help Billy to be will need materials and tasks
successful in achieving his completed partially in both his
learning goals because it native language and in English
provides him additional to support both his learning and
opportunities to work with the language development.
content in a way that is Providing him with the
comfortable to him and provides adaptations mentioned above
him support for his language will help him to retain the
developmental challenges. By content that he has been taught
the end of this unit Billy will but to also give him a look into
need to understand how the what materials he needs to
water cycle works and what understand before the
impact it has on the summative assessment.
environment. In order to
accomplish those goals, Billy
will need to the qualities of
water and the cycle in which it
takes throughout the weather
system.
Completing the data charts As an English learner, Billy will
following the instruction will struggle with this assignment
present additional challenges for because of his lack of
Billy. With low reading, writing, knowledge and understanding
and math skills, Billy will have when working with grade level
a hard time interpreting data and language and math
translating the information into requirements.
numerical representations.

than getting along with
others or improving
behavior.
2b) Explain why the strategy or
activity you chose could be
challenging for the student,
based on specific aspects of
the student description.
2c) Describe how you would
adapt the strategy or activity
you identified to meet the
needs of the student. Your
strategy must be multisensory
because those strategies are the
most effective, and must be able
to be done by the student
independently, without help
from anyone else (e.g. teacher,
aide, peer, etc.), since assistance
is not always available for every
student with special needs, for
every lesson, every day.
2d) Explain how your adaptation
would be effective for the
student in making progress
toward achieving the learning
goals(s) of this unit.
3a) What progress monitoring
assessment would you choose
to obtain evidence of the
student’s progress toward a
learning goal(s)? Your
assessment strategy must be
multisensory, and must be able
to be done by the student
independently (vs. oral tests,
conferences, etc.), since teachers
are not always able to provide
individualized assistance to every
student with a disability, for every
assessment, for every lesson,
every day.
3b) Give a rationale for your
Billy has a hard time working
with math figures and has a low
reading and writing level. This
assignment of translating and
interpreting data will be difficult
for Billy because of his
developmental delays in these
fields.
To adapt the activity, I would
ask Billy to represent the
numerical data in a hand drawn
image that demonstrates his
understanding of the
information and data. This will
allow Billy to communicate to
me at his own pace and in his
own way. Billy will be able to
use the information that was
taught to him through class as a
reference to gauge how to
express the water cycle data.
This adaptation would be
effective for Billy because it
allows him to recreate the water
cycle in a visual manner and as
a result, provides him with a
visual reference for the new
content and developing
language.
In order to obtain evidence of
Billy’s learning at the end of the
lesson, I would collect the notes
that he took while observing
another peers conversation and
the drawing that he completed
of the learning cycle.
I would collect these two pieces
Austerman
SPD 608
As an English learner, Billy will
have an increasingly hard time
dealing with data for this
assignment. With a language
barrier added to his linguistic
delays in development, Billy
will need supports to translate
directions and expectations for
this assignment.
Allowing Billy to express his
responses to the prompt through
imagery allows me to see Billy’s
content understanding without
asking Billy to demonstrate
knowledge in a way that would
be overwhelming or stressful.
This adaptation is helpful for
Billy because of his low
language development. This
support to Billy’s learning will
allow him to make progress
towards achieving the learning
goals without making the goals
unreachable.
Billy will need to turn in both
pieces of work in English to
demonstrate his learning of the
material in his developing
language.
As an English learner, Billy will

choice of assessment. Use
your knowledge of academic
content in this unit and this
student’s learning needs in
your rationale.
4a) Billy will be moving on to the
middle school at the end of the
school year. What will you do
to include Billy in his
transition meeting and to help
him express appropriate self-
determination and expression
skills?
4b) What community agencies
would you include/collaborate best chance of success, I will
in planning for a successful
transition for Billy?
of Billy’s work to demonstrate
his learning from the
instructional time. These two
pieces of work will provide me
with a clear understanding of
Billy’s content comprehension
following the lesson. If
additional materials would be
needed to support his work, I
would as Billy to verbally walk
me through his process and what
each step of his work means.
To help prepare Billy for the
transition into middle school, I
want to work with him to get his
reading level as close to grade
level as possible. This will help
him have a better chance of
success when working with
multiple teachers in an
environment that is faced paced
and requires more work. By
providing him with flash cards,
vocabulary lists, and reading
supports, Billy can improve his
reading comprehension level
and work to become more
proficient in class.
In order to provide Billy with the
recommend that he work with
after school and during school
intervention supports to increase
his reading level and provide him
extra support in class assignments
and materials. This will help him
to retain information that he is
taught throughout the day.
Collaboration with other teachers
will also provide me with
information on how to instruct
Billy in the best way possible to
increase his reading level in
preparation for middle school.
Austerman
SPD 608
need to demonstrate his
understanding to me in English
so that I can clearly see his
language development at this
point of the unit and see how
well he understands the material
in English.
If Billy is an English learner, he
will need supports given to him
in both English and his native
language. This will provide
Billy with multiple avenues of
support in reading and writing.
As an English learner, I will
recommend that he work with
after school and during school
intervention supports to increase
his reading level and provide him
extra support in class assignments
and materials. This will help him
to retain information that he is
taught throughout the day. I will
also collaborate with other
teachers in how to best provide
support for Billy in preparation
for middle school while learning a
new language.

Case Study Results -
Student Needs
Student needs to improve reading
comprehension and vocabulary.
Student needs to improve oral
responses.
Student needs to work on taking
responsibility for his learning.
Austerman
SPD 608
Case Study Summary
Recommended Interventions/Actions Person Responsible
(General Education Teacher/
Special Education Teacher)
General education teacher can provide General Education Teacher
vocabulary and sentence starters to assist the Special Education Teacher
student in developing language skills. Special
education teacher can work one on one with the
student to practice using vocabulary in English
to demonstrate content understanding and
practice language skills.
Special education teacher can work with student General Education Teacher
on how to respond orally using sentence starters Special Education Teacher
and vocabulary provided. General education
teacher can assess development and growth of
the student within content appropriate
discussion.
Special education and General education General Education Teacher
teachers will work with Billy and his Special Education Teacher
grandmother to form an action plan that
provides Billy with steps on how to improve his
work ethic in class. This action plan can provide
information on what needs to be completed at
home and school in order to provide Billy with
the best chance of success.
 Austerman
SPD 608

General education teacher will provide General Education Teacher

Student needs to practice peer level
communication.
opportunities for Billy to demonstrate Special Education Teacher
understanding in peer collaborations. Special
education teacher will provide Billy support in
how to conduct proper academic conversations
with peers without disrespect.

Note to Billy’s grandmother:

Hello!
I wanted to touch base with you about Billy’s progress in my class. He has been struggling quite a bit lately due to reading and writing
developmental delays. I am creating a plan of action that will help Billy be successful in class and work towards becoming grade level
proficient. While we work on actions plans on our end, there a couple things that we need help with on your end to make sure that Billy is
receiving support in all areas.

I know that Billy has trouble keeping track of his glasses and I wanted to first ask that you help make sure that he leaves with them every
day. Another thing that we could do would be to get a second pair just for school. This has been beneficial to several students in the past
and will help Billy succeed in class because he will not have headaches that keep him from working and learning.

Billy needs additional support in reading and writing. It would be helpful to him if you two started reading in the evening. Billy could start
but following along while you read and then begin practicing reading out loud to you. This will help Billy become a more avid reader and
improve his language development and reading comprehension. I also think Billy should be looking up words that he does not understand
while he is reading. This will help to increase his vocabulary and further his reading level.

Thank you for all you are doing to support Billy as a learner. You are a huge part of his life and his success is at the utmost importance to
us at school and we know that we cannot do it without you. Please let me know if you have any additional comments, questions, or
concerns. I look forward to seeing the progress that Billy makes in the next couple of months.

Sincerely,
Billy’s teacher