The reflection questions from this week include: Stages of development v. Common Core Standards v. Curriculum Scope and Sequence v. hierachy of skills--Which do you think is important when teaching students with hearing loss? What will be your focus as the student expands and progresses in skill?
All of these factors affect the education of a student with a hearing loss. I think that it is difficult to pick one out as "important" versus the rest of the factors. I think incorporating and being mindful of the stages of development, scope and sequence, and hierarchy of skills is key to giving the students the instruction they need as well as encouraging them to build on those skills to their hearing peers. All of these "stages" are a good guideline to follow and check to see where the student is performing as compared to their hearing peers, what is the goal of the services we provide? Eventually we want our students to be as competent and efficient as independent adults as their hearing peers would be. But students with a hearing loss require differentiated instruction, which we need to keep in mind when referring to the scope and sequence or common core standards.
As the student expands and progresses in skill, I would continue to provide the services and instruction as they require it. But at the same time, I would continue to encourage and challenge the student to proceed to an academic level that reflects their hearing peers as well.
I had the same idea of not choosing just one, but rather understanding all of them and incorporating which is necessary for the student and their family. After all, you are right that it is our goal for our students with hearing loss to be competent and independent following their education!
ReplyDeleteI like your thinking and question on what is the goal of our service. That is so true. If we know the outcome we are hoping for or where to take the student then it's so much easier to plan and teach. This is a good convocation to have with parents to learn what they want for their child. Sometimes expectations can be unrealistic, but if you know then you can do something. Keep in mind perspective. That's why it's good to have a knowledge base of all these documents, so you can make good educational plans and decisions.
ReplyDeleteOh and my reply time is Arizona time!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think same for all of us. I fixed mine when I realized that all of my postings were in Arizona time a couple of weeks ago!
DeleteLooking at the different stages can be overwhelming at times. How would we make sure that we are following all of the different stages at the same time? I feel that some stages are important than the other stages, but we would need to deal with all of the stages.
ReplyDeleteI like your statement that it is our goal for our students with hearing loss to be competent and independent following their education. I would encourage and challenge students with hearing loss so that they can be aligned with peers who are hearing. But, at the same time, I would not want to pressure the students if they are not ready.