Special Education Seminar with Meghan Sinning

October 27, 2020

5:00 - 6:00
msinning@winona.edu

Notes:

Sped since she was 17-years-old (graduated early and para). Even though students have an IEP
does not mean they’re dumb. This is a misconception. We just need to teach them a little bit
differently than the person next to them. 504 - doesn't need a specifically designed instruction
(curriculum) to meet needs, instead of different accommodation (maybe a different room for
testing).

Teaching Sped Students Remotely: Figure out their learning style: active videos, visual learner
(video after video), audiobooks, Bookshare (Sped Resource), etc.

IEP at a glance - this is what we get for sped students. Accommodations, take into account
what affects our class. We can always do more than what it shares on these accommodations.
We can make more accommodations as needed. When we get an updated version, shred the
old version and use the updated one.

Experience for gen ed students to experience a classroom with a sped student with severe
disabilities.

We are the content expert, paras are the support for the classroom. Can use paras to work
with students who are not struggling. Invite paras to participate. Invite paras in, set up
expectations with them, let them know what we want them to do, use them to co-teach. The
less awkward we can make it the more productive we can make it for our classrooms. Paras are
underutilized. Always ask paras what they would do differently with students. How would you
have done that differently? Any thoughts or reflections?

Systems of communication: Higher groups can teach back to the para (let them be invested in
the process).

IEP: Show up and be a voice. Show up, stay, and speak up.

We should adjust our teaching behaviors when students seem frustrated. Divert attention so I
don’t have to say I don’t get it.
Implement classroom-wide variations for ADHD. All kids need movement breaks, switch sitting
arrangements, etc. This way we're also not singling students out.

Students with exceptionalities.

SEL connects with social workers for help. Partner with them.

https://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/mental-health/social-emotional-learning

Flawed and broken systems - narrowmindedness. Strategies: be okay doing something

different than the norm. Be willing to slow down. Be best friends with the sped teachers.

Connect with a sped teacher on a personal/professional level. Reach out to them as an ally and
someone to help talk through scenarios. Seek out those you know are doing well. Go with your
gut.

What can I do differently when failing? Oftentimes students just don’t know how to get
teacher approval.

Ted Talk - Every child needs a champion