Module 1 - Delaney Dillard

Write your thoughts about what the author says in Sousa’s “How the Special Education Brain Learns” on the graphic organizer for Chapters One and Two
and Armstrong's “Neurodiversity in the Classroom” Introduction and Chapter One.

Sousa emphasizes the importance of understanding the unique needs of students with special needs, particularly in the context of brain development and
learning. He discusses how neuroscience can inform educational practices to better support these students, highlighting the role of brain plasticity and
cognitive processes in learning. Sousa also addresses the challenges educators face in meeting the diverse needs of students with disabilities and suggests
practical strategies for optimizing learning outcomes.

Armstrong introduces the concept of neurodiversity and advocates for a paradigm shift in how we perceive and support students with diverse learning
profiles. He emphasizes the strengths-based approach to neurodiversity, recognizing the unique talents and abilities of individuals with different
neurological characteristics. Armstrong discusses the importance of creating inclusive learning environments that celebrate diversity and provide
opportunities for all students to thrive.

Common Characteristics of Children With Adaptations Strategies

Disabilities

- Variability in Learning Styles - Differentiated Instruction - Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
- Challenges with Executive Functioning - Assistive Technology - Collaboration and Communication
- Sensory Sensitivities - Individualized Supports - Strengths-Based Approach

Sousa - Introduction (pg. 1-5)

Quotations Connection I do NOT want to forget

- “More students diagnosed with learning
disabilities are being included in general
education classrooms, and teachers
continue to search for new ways to help
these struggling students achieve.” (pg
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) - Brain research
emphasizes providing multiple means of - The effects of poverty on students
representation, action, and expression to
accommodate diverse learning needs, which
aligns with the inclusive education approach.
 1)
- “Comparing the functions of brains
without deficits to the functions of
brains with deficits is revealing some
remarkable new insights about learning
and behavioral disorders.” (pg 3)
- “Children growing up in severe poverty
do not perform as well academically as
their peers.” (pg 3)

Sousa - Chapter 1 (pg. 6-24)

Quotations Connection I do NOT want to forget

- “Learning occurs when the synapses
make physical and chemical changes so
that the influence of one neuron on
another also changes.” (pg 14)
- “Children with low motor ability will
have difficulty learning motor skills. But
it is a mistake to assume that low motor
ability also means low perceptual or
intellectual ability.” (pg 18)
- “Some of the negative effects of sleep
deprivation can be misread by educators
as a sign of a disorder.” (pg 23)
Educational theories like constructivism - The importance of each part of the
emphasize the active construction of knowledge brain
by learners through interactions with their - Retention
environment. - Rote/Elaborative Rehearsal
- Motor Skills
Piaget’s theory of cognitive development - Sleep Deprivation/Disorders
emphasizes the interconnectedness of motor,
perceptual, and cognitive skills in children’s
overall development.

Sousa - Chapter 2 (pg. 25-52)

Quotations Connection I do NOT want to forget

- “Continued and undesired stress can Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs emphasizes the - Apoptosis (autism, Down syndrome)
 cause high amounts of cortisol to remain importance of addressing students’ physiological
in the body for prolonged periods,
thereby damaging cells in multiple
organs.” (pg 31)
- “Learning is an active process of
acquiring and retaining knowledge so it
can be applied in future situations.” (pg
38)
- “Low self-esteem can certainly diminish
one’s academic performance, but high
self-esteem does not guarantee improved
academic performance.” (pg 43)
Armstrong - Introduction (pg. 1-6)
Quotations
- “...one must stand back and marvel at
the progress that has been made since
the 1950s, when only a handful of
children with particularly severe needs
were served in the schools, if they were
served at all.” (pg 3)
- “Positive niche construction … a
favorable environment within which a
student with special needs can flourish
in school.” (pg 4)
- “Change the conversation about
students with special needs from a
disability discourse to a diversity
discourse.” (pg 5)
- Effects of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana,
and psychological well-being for optimal and cocaine on fetuses
learning. - Effects of lead, mercury, and
methylmercury on children
- Effects of stress
- Gender differences
- Response to Intervention (RTI)
- Multiple-Tiered Model
- Learning strategies
- Cognitive
- Metacognitive
- Self-esteem
Connection I do NOT want to forget
We talked extensively about asset-based learning - Asset-based mindset
in ED 299. - Positive niche construction
Critical Pedagogy also advocates for challenging
dominant discourses and promoting social
justice and equity in education.
Armstrong - Chapter 1 (pg. 7-27)
Quotations
- “If we truly want to help these kids
succeed in school and in life, it seems to
me that we need to make a
comprehensive, all-out inventory of
their strengths, interests, and
capabilities.” (pg 9)
- “Neurodiversity urges us to discuss
brain diversity using the same kind of
discourse that we employ when we talk
about biodiversity and cultural
diversity.” (pg 9)
- “Children's hopes and dreams for the
future often serve as stepping-stones to a
stronger sense of purpose and direction
in life.” (pg 21)
Connection
Theories that connect:
- Critical Pedagogy
- Multicultural Education
- Positive Psychology
- Strengths-Based Education
- Appreciative Inquiry
- Career Development/Positive Youth
Development
I do NOT want to forget
- Implications of neurodiversity for
educators
- Seven components of positive niche
construction
- Strength awareness
- Positive role models
- Assistive technologies and UDL
- Enhanced human resources
- Strength-based learning
strategies
- Affirmative career aspirations
- Environmental Modifications
- Common Core changes needed