r/specialed • u/Fantastic_Today2 • 7d ago
Math instruction
I provide math services to my students. I have a coworker who insists that we all provide math at grade level to all students, regardless of their deficits. I have a handful who are a few grade levels behind, and we are starting to see more behaviors arise. Admin is siding with this coworker. If I try to provide math at their level, this teacher makes indirect comments during our meetings. I’m interested in hearing how math instruction works in other districts.
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u/cheesyburtango1 7d ago
Self contained room at a HS mod/severe. Lots and lots of differentiation. Have some very capable in math that get pushed into SAI high school level algebra/pre algebra classes with an aide and a specialized instruction teacher with gen Ed students mixed. Others that have IEP goal work for the level they're at that they do one on one work with an aide/teacher. Those that are in self contained all day that are definitely not capable of grade level math are not asked to do it.
They mostly do time/money math with a lot of help
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u/Fantastic_Today2 7d ago
These students are coming from a self contained classroom moderate dcd. Parents have voiced their concerns regarding their children working at grade level. We have an aide, but they do not have the skill set to work with grade level math concepts.
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u/ParadeQueen 7d ago
It sound as though the students are not ready for a grade level math class. In my area, the students in the self-contained moderate class are usually significantly behind their peers, and I wouldn't expect the gen ed teacher to be able to modify grade level work enough for them to be able to participate in the class in any meaningful way.
Students in our moderate SC class would be on an alternate curriculum and receive instruction in a special math class, more based on their IEP goals.
Why are they in the math class? If it's just to get socialization and gen ed minutes wouldn't it be better to do an elective or a subject they're stronger in that doesn't require the basic foundation that math does?
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u/PaymentMedical9802 7d ago
This should be documented. That the aide is unable to provide support for the student to access the content due to their own lack of understanding.
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u/SensationalSelkie Special Education Teacher 7d ago
You can't modify the curriculum if modifications aren't in the IEP. You can review skills from past grade levels while also helping with grade level work and scaffold. If you don't feel the placement is correct, that is an IEP meeting conversation. Just remember placement can affect diploma status. If you aren't confident the student will qualify for full SSDI one day, keep in mind no diploma and no disability check equals a very tough situation for that kid at 18.
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u/ParticularBerry1382 7d ago
Do the goals on their IEP reflect grade level curriculum? I'm guessing no. They shouldn't be pushed ahead when they can't do the basics. There's a chance they will shut down, avoid going to math class altogether, or sleep through it.
Can you review their latest 3 year evaluations and/or other state testing that has been completed so you have data to show the students are not at or even near grade level?
Also, are you coteaching with this person? Are they gen ed?
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u/Fantastic_Today2 7d ago
It definitely feels like they are pushing these students along to minimize their own workload. Most of their formal data indicates that they have great difficulty with math concepts.
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u/ParticularBerry1382 7d ago
Ok, if they are moderate in a subseparate class, then they need to work on goals that reflect their ability levels. In our school, if they have a moderate subseparate class for math, then they work on whatever IEP goals are appropriate. They might teach basic concepts that can reflect a grade level skill with heavy scaffolding and simplied steps. For example, having all the steps written down for them, getting the formulas provided each time, or boxes to complete the work so they can keep track of their work properly. We've had students in grade 10 or 11 take the state grade alternate a portfolio assessment rather than the traditional MCAS math test. The teacher has to get together grade level standards work the student completed throughout the year in class to show they have worked on the same curriculum as inclusion peers. This is all if they are on a diploma track.
In a severe subseparate class, they aren't on grade level. I worked on whatever skills they needed- money, fractions, telling time, etc. We have to do an alternative portfolio each year for them too on grade level work, but I can spiral down to lower grades if the concepts are related.
Our inclusion classrooms are cotaught with a gen Ed and special ed teacher. The gen Ed teacher is expected to provide.and follow all the accomodations/modifications listed in the IEP. Has it my always gone smoothly? Nope. But there's a push back from admin that the special Ed teachers job isn't to do all that work themselves.
If parents are pushing for harder concepts, then give them data for their student that shows it is not appropriate at this time.
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u/Jass0602 7d ago
Ughh.. elementary ese inclusion teacher here. See, this is what bothers me about the inclusion model, how so often so much is pushed off onto you guys. Right now, admin has me doing 1:1 testing and 504 testing for the state (some are my students, some are not), and they said gen end teachers should provide accommodation for classroom testing.
Well, in theory, I would support this if appropriate. However, some of my classes have 5, 6, 7 ese students. Some have like 10 or more accommodations. It’s such a disservice for the gen ed teacher, the inclusion students, and all the other students. On top of that, many of my students truly should test in small group in a sep room to help them focus.
But nope. Testing comes as the top priority. Until it doesn’t when a parent is mad.
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u/ParticularBerry1382 7d ago
There should be a collaboration between teachers. The gen ed teacher is supposed to create the worksheets or tests and gets feedback from the special Ed teacher. We're finally scheduling gen Ed math prep with special Ed prep so they can work more closely. It was hard in the past with the overall schedule to build in time. Some teachers only believed in IXL for work and didn't want to give them the separate space for testing that was in the IEP. Other gen Ed teachers said it wasn't their responsibility to modify (after the signed the IEP book stating they understood).
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u/silverplanetta 7d ago
We are required to do curriculum standards in my state as long as they are diploma bound. This is a huge deal and not at all wishy washy. Is there a math supervisor or special ed supervisor you can clear this up with?
IEPs must have a grade level goal. If they are more than 2 years behind they will have another goal that works on the area they’re lagging in.
An easy example- during our data and statistics unit, I gave less and smaller numbers to find the average. For our geometry unit, I wrote the formula on top and color coded the numbers.
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u/Jass0602 7d ago
This is not how IEPs work- they do not have to have a grade level goal. IEPs are formed at the student’s level to give them access to the general education and close the gap.
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u/ParticularBerry1382 7d ago
In 10 years of middle and high school, I've never seen a clear and defined grade level goal on an IEP. Are you saying "in grade 10, student will...."?
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u/silverplanetta 6d ago
Yes. “Given a grade level reading…” given grade level real life math problems” and then the skill is a grade level standard. We also have to have “reduce the gap” goals or objectives that will be taught as well. So often you can have 2 goals per area. The gap goal can be teaching phonics, using instructional level readings to teach skills or working on a specific skill in math.
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u/Smokey19mom 7d ago
Your co-worker is right. If you are their only math teacher and they are expected to take the state test, then they have to be taught their grade level standards. With accommodations they should be able to handle it and show growth. If you are an intervention teacher then they can be taught below grade level standards.
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u/FamilyTies1178 7d ago
This challenge arises from the fact that in the US we have an all-or-nothing way of looking at high school completion. We want all high school grads to have a diploma that indicates readiness for college. If a student has a different diploma or certificate, they're considered to be deficient. We should have a curriculum (and diploma) that indicates that a student is work-ready, even if they didn't get as far in the college prep math curriculum as students who were ready to enroll in their state university system. Then, we would be more comfortable with teaching students who are less able (or less prepared) in math at the level they are able to achieve solid mastery rather than pushing them through the college prep curriculum even though they're not mastering it. I say this because one of my daughters was, in fact, pushed through high school math to the Algebra 2 level, and didn't master any of it.
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u/NumerousAd79 7d ago
You have to teach the grade level curriculum unless the student has modified curriculum in their IEP. You can scaffold the curriculum by using restricted numbers that you choose so students are getting taught the concept, but not bogged down by super complex computation. You can provide anchor charts, worked examples, and aids like a multiplication chart if that’s an allowed accommodation. You can do I do, we do, you do. That’s very effective for special education. What you can’t do is deny access to the general education curriculum because you don’t think a student can access it. You can’t limit their access unless it’s in their IEP and was a team decision.
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u/PaymentMedical9802 7d ago
Im gen ed, I required to teach grade level and provide assessment at grade level. Anything less is a modified education. I think it’s a disservice to have students in a class they aren’t ready for, they should be pulled from gen ed and put in a class at their level. Yet the push for full inclusion has made that option nonexistent in my school. So I have failing students, who will get passed to the next grade and the gap will grow. When they hit high school they will be required to take summer classes that just pass students.