1. Designing Effective Adaptations for All Students
Special Education Department
February 16, 2012

2. “Fair is not always EQUAL”
What is Fair?
“Fair is not always EQUAL”

3. Who Adapts?
ALL teachers, including the special education teachers, need to adapt
Regular education teacher & special education teacher have roles and work together to adapt
Special education teachers DO NOT know the content in all subject areas
Content area teachers are the MOST knowledgeable in their field, therefore it makes the most sense that those teachers choose the important information the students need to learn!

4. Why Adapt? Students do not learn in the same way or at the same speed
Some students cannot retain as much info. as other students (slow processing)
MAIN GOAL: All students can succeed
Adaptations help all students succeed at their own level!

5. How Do I Adapt? Choose the 5 or 10 BIG IDEAS for each chapter
Make the students accountable for 1 goal each day, total of 5 goals in a chapter or 10 goals in a unit (example)
Assess the students on these goals only!
There should be clear distinctions between the work that regular ed. students complete vs. special ed. students
ALL students are different; make adaptations based on the student!

6. Appropriate Adaptations: Inappropriate Adaptations:
How Do I Adapt Homework?
Appropriate Adaptations:
Inappropriate Adaptations:
Carefully choosing the appropriate questions that the students need to know
Highlighting directions and important words
Providing examples
Giving 5 or less important questions or
problems that
can be completed
quickly
Choosing only half of the work to complete or front/back
Leaving all questions the same
Not providing examples and having the students rely on recall
Giving the students 20 or more questions/problems that takes an hour to complete

7. Example: Homework Adaptation
Math Adaptation.doc
Why did we like this adaptation?
Ability specific questions
Differentiation (different groups)
Simple wording
Includes 1 or 2 big ideas

8. Appropriate Adaptations: Inappropriate Adaptations:
How Do I Adapt Tests?
Appropriate Adaptations:
Inappropriate Adaptations:
Enlarging the print and pictures
Including pictures when a concept is hard to explain
Using words that students can understand
Provide 3 choices for students that are not confusing or tricky
Using test questions related to the BIG IDEAS or main points
Leaving little room for writing
Using several words to explain a topic
Using words that students OR adults cannot understand
Eliminating 2 of the 4 choices (anyone can guess!)
Testing the students on ALL information covered in class

9. Example: Testing Adaptation
Regular Ed. Science Test.doc
Adapted Science Test.doc
Why did we like this adaptation?
Larger print
More space for writing
Word bank included
Diverse questions
Less words

10. Where can I find this information? Here are a few things to consider:
Expectations & Goals
Where can I find this information?
Here are a few things to consider:
Read each student’s IEP
- Present Levels: Academic, Social, Functional
- SDI: Specifically Designed Instruction
- Goal pages (Shows what each student needs to accomplish during the year)
Students’ goals change throughout the course of the year
You will learn more about each student as the year progresses
We want each student to learn information that is practical and functional for his or her life.
We must consider each student’s long term goals

11. Why should teachers question homework?
Homework & Grading
Why should teachers question homework?
Practice does not make perfect
Struggling students often do homework incorrectly and, as a result, reinforce bad habits
Homework often is unfair to some LS students
Anonymous IJHS stories
The important question is not “Is the student lazy?” but rather, “Why is the student unmotivated?”
Ask yourself: “Can I find a way to facilitate my students’ learning without depending on homework?”

12. Does homework pass the test?
Homework & Grading
Does homework pass the test?
Can (name the student) successfully complete this assignment with no assistance?
Can (name the student) complete the assignment quickly? (usually within a few minutes)
Does this assignment pass the 20 year test?
Is this assignment rooted in 1 or 2 big ideas that promote essential understanding?
*If the answer to any of these questions is “no”, the assignment fails the test.*

13. Thank you for listening! 
Question & Answer
Thank you for listening! 