Accommodations and Modifications

Teaching & Learning Conference

Introduction

• High School Special Ed.

Teacher - 20 years

• Adjunct Instructor - 10 years
• ESY Coordinator & Coach
• Daughter, Sister, Aunt &

Friend

• Sneaker Head

Modifications

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Definition: Usually take the form of amended materials or assignments and differ from changes in curriculum or instructional strategies.

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Accommodations

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Definition: Include changes to instruction that don’t significantly change the content or conceptual difficulty of the level of the curriculum.

What, When, Where & Who

1. WHAT - the specific modification or support needed,
2. WHEN - the conditions that trigger the modification or support,
3. WHERE - the environment(s) in which the modification or support is needed, and
4. WHO - is responsible for implementing the modification or support.

Modifications vs. Accommodations Video

Sample Accommodation & Modification Areas

• ASSIGNMENTS (Ex: Oral presentation in lieu of paper)
• BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT (Ex: Staff will positively reinforce on-task behavior)
• ENVIRONMENTAL/PHYSICAL ACCOMMODATIONS (Ex: Student will be provided preferential seating)
• GRADING (Ex: Student will be graded pass/fail in general education class)

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Continued…

• INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS (Ex: Student will be provided a copy of teachers notes)
• ORGANIZATION (Ex: Teacher will review and initial students’ planner)
• PACING (Ex: Student will be provided with additional time complete assignments)
• SELF MANAGEMENT (Ex: Teacher will ask student to repeat instructions, to insure understanding)

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Continued…

• HEALTH/MEDICATION (Ex: Student will carry an epi-pen while at school)
• INSTRUCTION (Ex: Teacher in consultation with the case manager will break down classroom assignments)
• SENSORY IMPAIRMENTS - Hearing and Vision

(Ex: Textbook will be provided in Braille format or Student will use personal wireless amplification system)

• TESTING (Classroom tests will be read aloud within a special education classroom)

Ways to Modify Curriculum

1. Provide Supports
2. Reduce the Workload
3. Modify the Content

Provide Supports

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• Give a word bank for fill in the blank or when writing an essay.
• Allow students to type or orally report their responses.
• Give a specific list for steps to complete a task.
• Provide concept cards with an assignment.
• Allow the student to use their book or notes.
• Provide specific examples.
• Highlight tricky or key words in questions.
• Allow extra time.
• Allow student to work in quieter setting.
• Allow calculators.
• Allow for brainstorming prior to the assignment.
• Have adult read assignment to student.

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Reduce the Workload

• Assign even or odd problems only – This is a great strategy for homework. It’s simple and quick for the teacher, but still gives the child similar practice to everyone else.
• Select specific problems and omit extra ones.
• Give 1 essay question instead of 3 or 4.
• Give choice – Let the student select 10 problems to do or let them pick whether to do the front or back of a worksheet. This will help with motivation, too, since the child sees they have a choice in the assignment.
• Put fewer problems on each page – This will be less visually distracting.
• For matching, reduce the number of items to match or break them in half
• Reduce the number of multiple choices – There will be less to select from. For example, if everyone else has a quiz with 4 possible multiple choice answers, your student might only have 2 or 3 options to choose from.
• Eliminate true or false questions – These questions can be extremely tricky, especially for kids with language-based disorders.

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Modify the Content

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• Give a similar but different assignment with lower grade level material in area of weakness (math, reading, or writing) – For example: if the topic is computing with fractions, the student might be drawing fraction pictures. This will also help you target the “most important” concepts for the child to learn at the time.
• Provide an alternative assignment – This can be a research project, hands-on project, lab experiment, or making a poster to show understanding of a topic.
• Align student interest to the content – For example, you might focus on reading strategies while learning about trains.

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Examples of Modified Curriculum

Multiple Choice ( 1 point each )

____ 1. The type of radioactive particle that can be stopped by a sheet of paper is the _____.

1. gamma ray b. beta particle c. alpha particle

____ 2. A helium nucleus with two protons and two neutrons is called a(n) _____.

1. gamma ray b. alpha particle c. beta particle

____ 3. Negatively charged particles emitted from a nucleus at a high speed are _____.

1. alpha particles b. gamma rays c. beta particles

Fill in the blanks in the following sentences ( 1 point each )

chain gamma half-life fission radiation

hydrogen neutron fusion chemical uranium

11. A form of radiation that is not a particle, but travels as waves is __________________.

12. The type of nuclear reaction that produces a nucleus with a large mass from nuclei of smaller masses

is a ___________________ reaction.

13. The constant rate at which a radioactive element decays is its ___________________.

14. When subatomic particles released from one fission reaction continue to produce other fission

reactions, it is called a _________________ reaction.

15. In nuclear fusion, _________________ atoms are used to produce helium atoms with larger masses.

Breakout Room Activity

Lets create an accommodations/modifications list.

• In your breakout room, please make a list of accommodations/modifications that you would be open to use in the future.

Resources

Examples of Accommodations & Modifications

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Minnesota Manual of Accommodations

Final Thoughts…

• Questions
• Concerns
• Feedback

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References

Text: Exceptional Learners - Hallahan, D. P., Kauffman, J. M., & Pullen, P. C. (2019). Exceptional learners (14^th ed.). Pearson.

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Video: https://youtu.be/X6rT2_fn4u0

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Website: The Pathway 2 Success - https://www.thepathway2success.com

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