Supporting special educational needs in every classroom by Marta Constantino

Marta, Portugal

martaisabelconstantino — 2018-10-16 19:42:16 UTC

My name is Marta. I m teacher in a primary school.
I want to learn and share knowledge in order to help my students.

Inclusive classroom ... my opinion!

martaisabelconstantino — 2018-10-16 20:24:00 UTC

In my opinion an inclusive classroom is one that provides adequate responses to the reality of each student as an individual. In fact, there are children who, due to their problems, benefit more from being in a classroom with the most structured part and with the appropriate resources that provide them with quality and dignified teaching. However, many times it becomes difficult because the high number of students per class provides the right answers to which these students are entitled. In my opinion an inclusive classroom is one where everyone has the opportunity to learn at their own pace and to be happy as a human being.

URL to forum inclusive classroom

martaisabelconstantino — 2018-10-16 20:47:26 UTC

Special needs experience

martaisabelconstantino — 2018-10-16 21:14:18 UTC

I am a teacher in a primary school in a regular class where there are children with special educational needs. Throughout my journey I have always had classes with children with special needs. I have always learned a lot from these children and their families. I am very happy when I feel that all my students, without exception are happy at school. Only by being happy and enjoying being, feeling part of a group is it possible to learn. I am very happy when I meet these children later and realize that they have been able to follow their path successfully.
Working with these children is something that fascinates me.

Current situation in my country

martaisabelconstantino — 2018-10-20 13:24:09 UTC

In Portugal, legislation has undergone considerable changes over time. Inclusion is more and more important than mere integration, which in no way benefits students. The teachers are also more aware and predisposed, however I think that more training is lacking in this area.
In July 2018 a new legislation brought to the classrooms the concept of multilevel learning. This same legislation put an end to the students with special educational needs and started to call them students who need measures to support learning. These measures at a more basic level can be applied to any student. It is understood who at any point in his or her career may qualify for a support measure, which will only exist as long as it is necessary. It is based on the presence and inclusion of children in the classroom, which I consider a value. Not inattentively, I think it is important that these same classrooms are endowed with adequate resources (physically and humanly trained). A long way has already been traveled, however, there is still much to do, to adapt and to learn so that quality and quality teaching can be provided where all students can learn with dignity and be respected in their differences

Inclusive environmentsHow can you design inclusive educational environments? What key ingredients could you add to your current classroom to make it more inclusive?

martaisabelconstantino — 2018-10-20 13:44:28 UTC

Creating an inclusive environment involves providing a physical space where everyone can move without barriers to their mobility. In the classroom creating an inclusive environment is, in my view, to provide all students with the possibility of reaching a goal through different paths to different rhythms. Provide students with the possibility of accessing the same content through diverse work proposals and also provide students with the possibility of presenting different learning products for the same content. The main ingredient, I think is the collaborative work inside and outside the room of class ... establish partnerships with families and with other technicians / teachers. More open minds and spaces without barriers ...

Modulo 1-Introduction to Special Education

martaisabelconstantino — 2018-10-20 13:45:45 UTC

- Understanding the Need for Inclusive Classrooms.
- Identify some practical tips and tricks to make your classroom more inclusive.
- Making connections with other educators who are in a similar situation to you.
- Learning from the experiences of educators in Europe.
- Understand the variety of special educational needs.
- Considering inclusion as a human right.
- Developing a plan for inclusive education in its own context

Reflect on what you have learned in this moduleHave you achieved some of your learning objectives? What questions remain for you?

martaisabelconstantino — 2018-10-20 14:01:21 UTC

In this first module I could see what is done in other parts of the world. Learn from what is done in other countries and also reflect on what I have done and what I can still do. The first module was to open the door to curiosity, reflection and learning. Thank you all for sharing.

Module 2 - Teaching children with SEN in the classroom

martaisabelconstantino — 2018-10-24 23:08:23 UTC

- Discover practical applications of universal design for learning.
- Identify the main characteristics of inclusive education.
- Explore practical examples of how to make your classroom more inclusive.
- Develop ways to make your learning material accessible to all students.
- Discover innovative and inclusive teaching practices.
- Learn from shared experiences in inclusive education.

Challenges of special education and general teachersSpecial education teachers and general teachers face many challenges daily trying to reach all learners. What’s yours?

martaisabelconstantino — 2018-10-24 23:19:15 UTC

My challenge as a teacher in a 9-10 year old classroom where 3 children with special educational needs are integrated is to make these children happy in school, to make meaningful learning in all dimensions so that within their profile can become responsible citizens and as autonomous as possible. This challenge applies to the rest of the class.

Universal Design for LearningIn your opinion, how do UDL-based interventions support inclusive education? What are the possible barriers to UDL implementation in your school?

martaisabelconstantino — 2018-10-28 10:11:24 UTC

Interventions based on UDL enable everyone to learn and show what they know. It fosters success and motivates students to learn by reducing problems of indiscipline.
However, I believe that the biggest obstacle remains the system based on standard exams for all. The idea of school textbooks. Some schools already "risk" a job completely out of the box, different. But much of it still follows the same path many years ago. There is a need for teacher preparation, but above all, that the old system of teaching changes, is effectively flexible, and allows everyone to learn by following different paths and demonstrating it in different ways.

Time for self-reflection on inclusive education

martaisabelconstantino — 2018-10-28 10:43:38 UTC

Time for self-reflection on inclusive education

martaisabelconstantino — 2018-10-28 10:44:44 UTC

Through the lens of Universal Design for LearningSelect one of your own resources, try to make it more accessible and post the "before" and "after" of it.

martaisabelconstantino — 2018-10-28 11:07:12 UTC

In order to help my students I have gradually tried to produce resources so that they demonstrate what they know to be solely through the paper form. I have used the educaplay platform. I leave two examples
https://www.educaplay.com/en/learningresources/4084494/html5/ossos_da_cabeca.htm
and 

https://www.educaplay.com/en/learningresources/3419691/o_senhor_do_seu_nariz.htm
I also try to promote the project work where in a group the students build the knowledge, later they share with the group and in a final phase I consolidate the contents.
It is not always possible but I will gradually try to improve my practices.

Teaching & learning tools for supporting SENHere you will find some of the tools featured in the above videos. Comment on the tools with their pros and cons if you are familiar with them, or add more tools to the list and explain how to use them. Respond to the ideas of your peers and those presented in the videos.

martaisabelconstantino — 2018-10-28 12:00:52 UTC

In relation to what I could see in the different videos, of what was presented I only used in augmented communication with a student of severe cognitive impairment.
Presently with my class I use the plikers https://get.plickers.com/
which allows everyone to be evaluated and in real time to be aware of what they already know and what needs to be consolidated. Since he does not use the written answer on paper he becomes an asset.
As I mentioned in another post I use the educaplay platform, which is free and allows me to create several activities for students to do at home and / or in the classroom.
https://www.educaplay.com/
Smartphones are not allowed and tablets we do not have. We use small portable computers that exist (Magalhães) and allow one to work in pairs. However we have a great limitation, because the internet line is weak and with ease we are without network.
Thanks for the sharing of all I saw that there are several apps that I intend to try.

Reflect on what you have learned in this moduleHave you achieved some of your learning objectives? What questions remain for you?

martaisabelconstantino — 2018-10-28 12:42:27 UTC

Although it still happened webinar and teacmett, I can already make an assessment of what has been done now. The great value of this module was to be able to reflect on what I do and what I can improve. It was also enriching for peer-to-peer sharing at the application level. Something quite interesting and that I intend to use is the ULD.
Thanks for sharing everyone.