Myth or Fact
Students with disabilities are general education students first.
FACT
A teacher gives a student extended time because it is listed in the IEP.
Accommodation
Who is responsible for providing accommodations listed in the IEP during your class?
The general education teacher (and any teacher serving the student during that class).
A student isn't using an accommodation listed in the IEP. What should you do first?
Begin implementing the accommodation and ask questions if clarification is needed.
A new student enrolls. You notice concerns. What should you do first?
Observe and collect classroom evidence.
Accommodations and Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) are the same thing.
MYTH
The teacher offers three project choices to every student in the class.
Differentiation
Who monitors progress toward the student's IEP goals and completes formal progress reports?
The special education teacher.
A student continues to struggle even after accommodations are provided.
Document concerns and contact the SPED teacher.
The 45-Day Screener is...
A. An intervention form
B. An identification tool
C. An IEP
D. A state assessment
B. An identification tool.
A student with an IEP can fail a class if appropriate supports have been provided.
FACT
The teacher explicitly teaches organization skills tied to an IEP goal.
SDI
Who implements specially designed instruction (SDI)?
Both the general education and special education teacher.
You notice a student's behavior has changed significantly over the past two weeks.
Document observations and communicate with the SPED team.
Before considering a referral for special education, what should a teacher do first?
Document concerns, collaborate, and implement appropriate interventions.
Providing accommodations gives students with disabilities an unfair advantage.
MYTH
Students may choose to demonstrate their understanding by creating a poster, slideshow, essay, or video presentation. What type of support is this? Explain why it is not an accommodation.
Differentiation - Because the options are available to all students, not just one student based on an IEP.
Who should communicate concerns when accommodations aren't working?
Both teachers collaborate and communicate with one another.
You've tried implementing the student's accommodations and SDI, but the student is still struggling. What should you do next? Explain your answer.
Document your observations and collaborate with the special education teacher to determine the next steps.
True or False: A teacher should struggle alone before asking the special education team for help.
FALSE
Only the special education teacher is responsible for implementing the student's IEP and SDI. Explain your answer.
General education teachers and special education teachers both implement the student's IEP. They share responsibility for implementing accommodations and SDI in their respective instructional settings.
The teacher pre-teaches vocabulary using direct instruction because it supports a student's reading comprehension IEP goal. Explain your answer.
SDI - Why? Because the instruction is explicitly designed to address an individual student's IEP goal, not simply to benefit the entire class. The instruction is individualized based on the student's disability-related needs.
A parent emails: "My child isn't receiving the accommodations listed in the IEP." What should you do? Explain your answer.
Respond professionally, review the student's IEP, begin or verify implementation of the accommodations, and collaborate with the special education teacher to address the concern.
It's the end of the quarter and your student goal tracking sheet is blank. What should you do differently next quarter? Explain your answer.
Document brief, factual observations throughout the grading period instead of trying to recreate progress at the end by memory.
A teacher has documented concerns, implemented interventions, collaborated with the SPED team, and completed the 45-Day Screener. What are some possible next steps? Explain your answer.
The team determines the appropriate next step based on the data. This may include: