Need help for my Special Education class...?

Question

...are there any movies out there that show the different learning styles of students with special needs and ways of accommodating those needs?

Answer 1

I don't know of a movie but I know of a site (link below) that has all types of information about accommodations and may be helpful to you. They have them listed by the types of accommodations giving examples of each; they have examples of accommodations according to the students characterisitics such as communication disorder; writing disability; difficulty with spelling, etc.; they have the do's and don'ts of when selecting accommodations; guidelines for administering specific accommodations; questions to identify various types of presentation, response, setting, and timing and scheduling accommodations for students with disabilities - its purpose is to prompt members of IEP teams and 504 planning committees to consider a wide range of accommodation needs; a questionnaire to collect information about needed accommodations from the student's perspective; and tons of other useful info.

This are the accommodations they cover:

Presentation Accommodations -

Presentation accommodations allow students to access instruction and assessments in ways that do not require them to visually read standard print. These alternate modes of access include auditory, tactile, visual, and a combination of auditory and visual accommodations.

Students who benefit most from presentation accommodations are those with print disabilities, defined as difficulty or inability to visually read standard print because of a physical, sensory, or cognitive disability.


Response Accommodations -

Response accommodations allow students to complete assignments, tests, and activities in different ways or to solve or organize problems using some type of assistive device or organizer.

Response accommodations can benefit students with physical, sensory, or learning disabilities (including difficulties with memory, sequencing, directionality, alignment, and organization).


Setting Accommodations -

Setting accommodations change the location in which a student receives instruction or participates in an assessment, or the conditions of an instructional or assessment setting. Students may be allowed to sit in a different location than the majority of students in order to reduce distractions to themselves or others, or to increase physical access or access to special equipment. Some students may need changes in the conditions of an instructional setting. Every instructional and assessment setting should have good lighting and ventilation, with a comfortable room temperature, and be as free as possible from noise, traffic, and other interruptions. Chairs should be comfortable and tables set at an appropriate height with sufficient room for materials. Staff should check that all needed materials and equipment are available and in good condition.

Setting accommodations can benefit students who are easily distracted in large group settings and who concentrate best in a small group or individual setting. Changes in location also benefit students who receive accommodations (e.g. reader, scribe, frequent breaks) that might distract other students. Students with physical disabilities might need a more accessible location, specific room conditions, or special equipment.


Timing and Scheduling Accommodations -

Timing and scheduling accommodations change the allowable length of time to complete assignments, assessments, and activities, and may also change the way the time is organized. Timing accommodations give students the time and the breaks they need to complete activities, assignments, and assessments. Other changes may include the particular time of day, day of the week, or number of days over which a particular activity, assignment, or assessment takes place.

Timing and scheduling accommodations are most helpful for students who need more time than generally allowed to complete activities, assignments, and assessments. Extra time may be needed to process written text (e.g., a student with a learning disability who processes information slowly), to write (e.g., a student with limited dexterity as a result of arthritis), or to use other accommodations or equipment (e.g., assistive technology, audiotape, scribe).

Students who cannot concentrate continuously for an extended period or who become frustrated, or stressed easily may need frequent or extended relaxation breaks. It may also help to schedule in the morning those classes and tests that require the greatest concentration for students who have difficulty concentrating and staying on task as the day progresses. Scheduling changes might also be helpful for students on medications that affect their ability to stay alert or who have more productive times of the day.

Some students with health-related disabilities may have functioning levels that vary during the day because of the effects of medications or diminishing energy levels. For example, blood sugar levels may need to be maintained by eating several times a day at prescribed times. These students could be accommodated by scheduling tests and activities around the eating schedule, or by allowing food to be taken to the classroom or testing site. Students who fatigue easily may need to take some academic classes and tests before rather than after a physical education class or recess, or may need to reduce physical activity.

Answer 2

I have been a special needs teacher for more than 30 years. Accomodations are often useful for student , even if they are not identified. Many " accomodations" are actually just good teaching. Accomodations may be tailored for a student based upon special needs. For example, a hearing impaired student may receive services of a sign interpreter, closed captioned videos,visual organizer for studying etc. All of these can be done in the regular classroom, allowing the stduent to do the same assignments as the other students. Most people confuse accomodations with modifications, an actual change in curriculum. For example, learning sign language is a modification, using it to access daily learning is an accomodation. Having a student do math at a different grade level is a modification. enlarging the worksheet so the student can do the same asssignment is an accomodation.
The first site is from ld online. Some of the videos are online videos. The second link is for Rick Lavoie videos ( Fat City etc.) Yet another is from International Dyslexia Association, it is a list of videos. You may also want to check with your local school district Boces,university or state library, or state department of education. They may have videos available for free or reasonable rent.

For a search term, try learning accomodations.

Answer 3

I don't know of any movies that specifically address learning styles. Students with special needs have all the same learning styles as any other students. Some learn well by listening, some by seeing, and like most of us, probably learn best by doing. Multiple intelligences theory is an important consideration as well. Children with specific issues, such as autism, may have specific needs. If you do searches for both "learning styles" and "multiple intelligences" you should find quite a bit of help. If I find any references to movies that might be helpful I will edit this answer. Best of luck with it.

Answer 4

I don't know if any movies, but anyone working with children with special needs must learn the way to handle a special needs child, some hit if not approached in a quite manner, or if spoken to in a raised voice. Each child is different and some with behavioural problems need more attention and you must be careful how you speak to them.

My son is a special needs, and if told to "sit down" he gets upset, but if he is told "please sit down" he will sit and no problem, if you speak to him without realizing that it may sound as you are mad he will react by hitting.
He learns by listen to music. He can hear the music to a song just starting to play on the radio and can tell you the singer name and the name of the song.
If he gets upset, you must redirect his attention to something else and he is okay, but if you make him, like lets say "sit down" he feels threaten and could hit.
SO MY POINT IS YOU MUST LEARN EACH CHILDS WAYS.

Answer 5

What about the Outsiders. Good one for when students don't quite fit in .

Boy in the Plastic Bubble.

Johnnie ( I think that is how it is spelled). She was a quadriplegic who they used experimental electrodes to help her walk. Part of the Christopher Reeves foundation I believe.

Miracle Worker-- The story of Helen Keller

Answer 6

I don't believe there are any movies that are specifically on the topic of learning styles. Although there are several styles exhibited on you tube depending on what disability you are looking at. Autism alone has hundreds.

Best wishes!

Answer 7

None that I am aware of and I have been in the business for 30 years.

Answer 8

Try the FAT City Workshop.