9781879215061

This is a workbook structured to teach preservice and inservice teachers and related personnel about the evaluation process that leads to the writing of an individualized education program for a handicapped child. Included in the text are six case studies of fictional children, ranging in age from kindergarten to high school, who have a variety of learning and behavior problems. Through step-by-step activities, the case-study approach simulates the evaluation process, beginning with initial referral and continuing through planning and collecting of evaluation data, required meetings, and plans for follow-up and re-evaluation. Various diagnostic approaches are introduced in the cases to allow the learner to compare and contrast their usefulness. The learner thus gains experience with many kinds of realistic situations through direct, active-although vicarious-involvement.

The case study method in this volume has several advantages: 1. It provides a format that stimulates the actual evaluation and planning process for the education of children with special needs. 2. It is a proven instructional technique in other disciplines such as business, medicine, and law. 3. It can be a valuable tool for preservice and inservice teachers training in special education. 4. It offers the opportunity to learn by trial and error in studying the simulated case of a child with special needs. 5. It supplements and enriches the training program. 6. It helps the learner develop the ability to think through situations objectively before making a decision.

From Chapter 3: Stage I. Initial referral You are the child study team coordinator at the Washington Elementary School. Washington School is a 500-pupil elementary school that includes kindergarten through sixth grade. The following people who are on the staff of the Washington School, on a part-time or full-time basis, may be of help in this case: principal, school psychologist, reading specialist, learning disabilities specialist, nurse, social studies teacher, language arts teacher, mathematics teacher, social worker. On September 15, the fourth grade language arts teacher sent you a Request for Assistance/Referral along with other data concerning Sally Simon, a fourth grade student in a departmentalized program at Washington Elementary School. Read each item carefully, then fill out Form 1.