Teacher Academy-Ch. 9-Teaching Diverse Learners

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

A law passed in the 1990's that required public schools to create and Individualized Education Program for each student who meets specific requirements.

Magnet School

A school that is specially organized to emphasize a particular subject area such as math and/or science or the arts.

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

A written plan developed by a team of educational specialists including a child's teachers and the child's parents that provides the student with the most appropriate opportunity for learning. It includes all accommodations necessary to help ensure a student's success.

Special Education Classes

Classes the provide adapted programs, extra staff, and specialized equipment or learning environments or materials to help students with special needs to learn.

Learning Diversity

Differences in learning based on abilities, interests, or experiences.

Howard Gardner

He developed the Theory of Multiple Intelligences in the 1980's. It was his idea that individuals have and use a broad range of types of intelligence, each to a different degree.

Accommodations

Modifications to the environment, learning strategies, or materials that are made to help students with particular special needs succeed in the classroom.

Intrapersonal

One of Gardner's Multiple Intelligences where the learner is a good analyzer of their own strengths and weaknesses and is usually reflective and goal oriented.

Existentialist

One of Gardner's Multiple Intelligences where the learner is good at asking philosophical questions and usually learns best by seeing the big picture of human existence.

Auditory Learners

People who learn best by hearing or listening to information.

Kinesthetic-tactile Learners

People who learn best by performing hands-on or physical activities.

Visual Learners

People who learn best by seeing.

English Language Learners (ELL)

Students from other cultures who are not proficient in the English language and must learn English while also mastering the content of their regular classes. Also referred to as Limited English Proficiency (LEP).

Exceptional Learners

Students who require special educational modifications and other services matched to their abilities and potential.

Learning Styles

The methods individual prefer and find most effective to absorb and process information.

Differentiated Instructions

When a teacher provides options for learning a topic or skill that fit the students particular needs or learning styles.

Gifted/Talented Learners

An exceptional learner on the high end of the learning spectrum. These students are considered gifted in academics or the arts.

Bodily-Kinesthetic

One of Gardner's Multiple Intelligences where the learner is good at movement and hand-on activities and are usually coordinated and athletic.

Spatial

One of Gardner's Multiple Intelligences where the learner is good at visualizing and usually has artistic skills.

Interpersonal

One of Gardner's Multiple Intelligences where the learner is good with communications and usually understands others well, has good communication skills, and is good at resolving conflicts.

Logical-Mathematical

One of Gardner's Multiple Intelligences where the learner is good with logical problems and math and usually do well in math and science classes.

Musical

One of Gardner's Multiple Intelligences where the learner is good with rhythm and sound patterns and usually understands tone and sings and hums to self.

Linguistic

One of Gardner's Multiple Intelligences where the learner is good with words and usually has good written or oral communications skills and a large vocabulary.

Naturalistic

One of Gardner's Multiple Intelligences where the learner is in tune with and able to analyze their environment and is usually able to observe, classify and visualize effectively.

Ethnicity

Refers to a particular racial, national, or cultural group including that group's customs, beliefs, values, language and religion.

Special Needs Learners

Students with a broad range of physical, mental, social, and behavioral challenges that impact learning.

Inclusion

When a special needs student is placed in a regular class even if they are not able to keep up academically with class requirements. The only requirement for an inclusion placement is that the student will benefit from the class.

Mainstreaming

When special needs students are placed in one or more regular classes based on their expected ability to keep up with the standard curriculum.

Self-paced Learning

When students are allowed to spend the amount of time they personally need to master a concept.

Pull-out Program

When students attend regular classes for part of the day, but are pulled out for special classes geared toward their specific needs.