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Definition: Specific actions, strategies, or support that educators use to help students who are struggling with learning or behavior.

Examples:

Reading Intervention: A program that helps students who are behind in reading to improve their skills. It might include small group lessons that focus on phonics, reading fluency, or comprehension.

Behavioral Intervention: A plan to address and improve behaviors that are disruptive to learning. This could involve providing positive reinforcement for good behavior or offering strategies for managing emotions.

Math Intervention: Extra practice or support for students who struggle with math concepts. Teachers may use visual aids, small group teaching, or tutoring to help them grasp difficult concepts.

Resource: What is Intervention in Education? Insights for K-12 Educators

Collaboration: Special education teachers collaborate with general education teachers to develop and modify lesson plans that meet the needs of students. Support staff like reading specialists, speech-language pathologists, or behavioral therapists provide targeted support. Parents/guardians play a crucial role by working with teachers to track progress and reinforce the interventions at home.

Scenario:

Student: Emma, 2nd Grade
Challenges: Emma struggles with reading comprehension and often has trouble understanding the meaning of words she reads.
Support Needed: She would benefit from a reading intervention that focuses on phonics, decoding skills, and vocabulary building.
Intervention Plan: Emma’s teacher will provide extra support by using a reading intervention program that offers her small group instruction. Additionally, the special education teacher will work with Emma in a one-on-one setting to reinforce the strategies.
Eligibility: Emma qualifies for intervention support due to her difficulties in reading, which have been identified through classroom assessments and teacher observations.

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Definition: The practice of adjusting instruction to meet the varied needs, abilities, and interests of all students in the classroom.

Examples:

Content Differentiation: Providing students with different reading materials or tasks based on their reading level. For example, some students may read a simpler version of a story, while others may read the full text.

Process Differentiation: Varying the way students engage with the material. Some students might work independently on a project, while others may collaborate in small groups or receive more guidance from the teacher.

Product Differentiation: Allowing students to demonstrate their understanding in different ways. For example, a student might write a report, another might create a poster, and a third might make a presentation to show what they’ve learned.

Resource: Differentiated Instruction

Collaboration: Special education teachers collaborate with general education teachers to ensure that the teaching methods are suitable for students with diverse needs. Support staff may assist in providing alternative teaching strategies, modifications, or materials to help students learn in the best way possible. Parents/guardians often provide valuable insights into their child’s learning preferences and can support differentiated learning by reinforcing strategies at home.

Scenario:

Student: Lucas, 4th Grade
Challenges: Lucas has a high level of interest in science but struggles with reading comprehension and writing assignments.
Support Needed: He would benefit from differentiated instruction that provides him with alternative ways to engage with content and show what he’s learned.
Differentiation Plan: Lucas’s teacher might provide him with a hands-on science activity (content differentiation) to learn about concepts, offer audio versions of reading materials (process differentiation), and allow him to present his findings using a visual poster or video instead of writing a report (product differentiation).
Eligibility: Lucas benefits from differentiation due to his unique combination of strengths in certain subjects (science) and challenges in reading and writing. His teacher adjusts the learning activities to meet his needs, ensuring that he remains engaged and able to demonstrate his understanding in ways that suit him best.

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Definition: Changes made in the way a student is taught or tested to ensure they can access the learning experience, despite any challenges they may face.

Examples:

Extended Time on Tests: A student who struggles with processing speed can have extra time to complete assignments or take tests.

Preferential Seating: A student with attention difficulties may be seated near the teacher or away from distractions to improve focus.

Use of a Scribe or Speech-to-Text Tools: A student with difficulty writing due to physical or cognitive challenges may use a scribe or voice recognition software to complete assignments.

Resource: Educational Accommodations for Students With Disabilities

Collaboration: Special education teachers collaborate with general education teachers to identify the specific accommodations a student needs to succeed. They work together to ensure the accommodations are implemented consistently in the classroom. Support staff, such as paraprofessionals or assistive technology specialists, help provide the necessary tools and support for students to access the curriculum. Parents/guardians collaborate with teachers by sharing their child's progress at home and ensuring the accommodations are reinforced in the home environment.

Scenario:

Student: Jake, 3rd Grade
Challenges: Jake has ADHD and often struggles with staying focused and following instructions during lessons. He frequently needs reminders to stay on task and complete assignments within the allotted time.
Support Needed: Jake would benefit from accommodations such as extended time for assignments and tests, preferential seating away from distractions, and frequent check-ins to help him stay focused.
Accommodation Plan: Jake’s teacher will allow him extra time to complete his work and provide frequent verbal reminders to help him stay on task. His seat will be placed near the teacher or away from areas with distractions. Additionally, the special education teacher will work with Jake in a small group setting to offer support when needed.
Eligibility: Jake qualifies for these accommodations based on his ADHD diagnosis, which affects his ability to focus and manage his time during schoolwork. These needs were identified through classroom observations and input from his parents and teachers.

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Definition: Changes or modifications made to the way lessons are taught or how students demonstrate learning.

Examples:

Content Adaptation: Adjusting the level of difficulty of reading material for students who may have trouble understanding grade-level texts. For example, providing simplified versions of texts or summarizing the content to make it more accessible.

Instructional Adaptation: Changing the way lessons are taught, such as offering visual aids, using hands-on activities, or providing verbal explanations, to help students who learn best through different teaching styles.

Assessment Adaptation: Modifying how a student is assessed, such as allowing a student to present a project instead of taking a written test, or offering verbal responses rather than written ones, to better match their strengths and abilities.

Resource: 9 Types of Adaptations

Collaboration: Special education teachers collaborate with general education teachers to design and implement adaptations that allow students to access the content in ways that work best for them. Support staff, like occupational therapists or speech-language pathologists, may help provide additional resources or strategies to adapt the curriculum to individual needs. Parents/guardians are involved in the process by providing feedback on what adaptations have been helpful at home and reinforcing these strategies in the home environment.

Scenario:

Student: Liam, 5th Grade
Challenges: Liam has a visual impairment that makes it difficult for him to read standard-size text and see visual aids during lessons. He also struggles with fine motor skills, making it hard for him to write long responses.
Support Needed: Liam would benefit from adaptations such as enlarged text, tactile or audio materials, and alternative ways to demonstrate knowledge (like oral presentations instead of written reports).
Adaptation Plan: Liam’s teacher will provide him with enlarged text for reading assignments, audio versions of books and assignments, and allow him to use a computer to type his responses instead of writing them by hand. Additionally, the special education teacher will assist with any needed accommodations for his assessments.
Eligibility: Liam qualifies for these adaptations due to his visual impairment and fine motor challenges, which were identified through assessments and observations by his teachers, as well as reports from his ophthalmologist and occupational therapist.

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Definition: Significant changes to the curriculum or learning expectations made to help students with disabilities or other learning challenges.

Examples:

Curriculum Modification: A student with intellectual disabilities may have a modified math curriculum that focuses on basic arithmetic rather than more advanced concepts, ensuring that the lessons are accessible and achievable.

Assignment Modification: A student with a learning disability in reading might be given a modified assignment with fewer questions or simpler tasks to demonstrate understanding, instead of completing the entire task as written for the general class.

Assessment Modification: A student with a physical disability might be allowed to complete a project rather than a written exam to demonstrate their knowledge, or they might be tested on fewer topics to align with their individual capabilities.

Resource: Modifications for Students with Disabilities

Collaboration: Special education teachers work with general education teachers to determine which aspects of the curriculum need to be modified for individual students. These modifications are often detailed in the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP). Support staff, such as speech-language therapists or counselors, can also help adjust specific areas of learning, like communication or social skills. Parents/guardians are critical in this process, providing insights into their child’s abilities and progress, and reinforcing modified expectations at home.

Scenario:

Student: Noah, 7th Grade
Challenges: Noah has an intellectual disability and struggles to grasp abstract concepts in science, particularly in topics like chemical reactions and the periodic table.
Support Needed: Noah would benefit from modifications to the science curriculum that focus on basic science concepts and hands-on activities, rather than complex theories and vocabulary.
Modification Plan: Noah’s teacher will modify the science curriculum to include more concrete, real-world examples and simplify the language in assignments. Instead of learning about the periodic table, Noah will study more basic concepts like mixtures and properties of common materials. Assessments will be based on simpler concepts, and Noah may have fewer questions to answer or be tested orally instead of in writing.
Eligibility: Noah qualifies for these modifications due to his intellectual disability, which limits his ability to understand abstract academic concepts. These needs were identified through assessments, observations, and input from his special education team.

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Definition: Tailored teaching methods and strategies used to address the unique needs of students with disabilities. SDI involves adjusting the delivery of content, teaching techniques, or materials to help students access the general education curriculum and meet their individual learning goals.

Examples:

Small Group Instruction: A student with a learning disability in reading might receive small group instruction focused on phonics and comprehension skills, allowing for more personalized attention and targeted support.

Use of Manipulatives: A student with a visual impairment might benefit from the use of tactile or hands-on tools in math, such as raised number lines or geometric shapes, to understand mathematical concepts.

Explicit Teaching Strategies: A student with autism may benefit from direct instruction on social skills or behavior management strategies, such as using visual schedules or social stories, to help them engage more effectively in the classroom.

Resource: Specially Designed Instruction

Collaboration: Special education teachers work closely with general education teachers to plan and deliver SDI. They collaborate to modify teaching methods, materials, and assessments to meet each student's specific needs. Support staff such as speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, or behavioral therapists may also contribute to SDI by offering specialized techniques or tools. Parents/guardians play an important role by providing insights into their child’s strengths and challenges, and they are often involved in IEP meetings to discuss and review SDI strategies.

Scenario:

Student: Sophia, 4th Grade
Challenges: Sophia has a speech and language disorder that affects her ability to communicate effectively in writing. She has difficulty expressing her thoughts in written form, often leaving out important details or struggling with grammar and punctuation.
Support Needed: Sophia would benefit from Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) that focuses on improving her writing skills through specific strategies like visual aids, sentence starters, and writing prompts.
SDI Plan: Sophia’s teacher will provide her with writing templates that offer clear structures and sentence starters to help guide her writing process. The special education teacher will work with Sophia in a one-on-one setting, providing direct instruction in grammar, sentence construction, and organization of ideas. Additionally, Sophia will be given more time to complete writing tasks and may use speech-to-text technology to assist in writing down her thoughts.
Eligibility: Sophia qualifies for SDI because of her speech and language disorder, which was identified through speech assessments, observations, and input from her language pathologist. Her needs are addressed in her Individualized Education Program (IEP).