TUTORING STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS- Types of Programs

There are three basic program types that can be used with students with special needs. All have advantages and disadvantages. It’s up to the teacher to determine what program works well with the student.

Developmental Basal Programs are designed for kindergarten through 6th grade who are learning math for the first time. Using a spiral curriculum,  they present 10-20 topical units a year. Some basal programs lack specific instructions to the teacher and lack adequate amount of practice.

Specific-Skill Programs focus on one related group of skills (e.g., fractions). Some are carefully sequenced while others are just a collection of worksheets that provide practice. Many of these programs lack comprehensiveness. The teacher would need to provide review of previously learned skills. This can make more work on the teacher.

Programs for Low Performing Students are often the worst designed programs. These are marketed as remedial programs. If they are well designed, they will facilitate the learning of students who need more structured presentation and a lot of practice. If they are poorly designed, they are a waste of time and money. 

Before choosing a program, do your homework. Choose a program that has been scientifically researched using students with special needs.

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1. Brief history of how special education came to be in public schools
   1. Brown vs. Atlanta public education systems
   2. 94-142 Act of 1975
   3. I.D.E.A.
   4. Revised IDEA 1997
2. Most common disabilities and how to connect
   1. Learning Disabilities
   2. Autism
   3. ADD/ADHD
   4. Emotional Behavioral Disorders
3. Working with other agencies and other service providers
   1. Children Services
   2. School Districts
   3. Adult and Family Services
   4. Private Schools
   5. Therapists
4. Specialized Instruction
   1. Direct instruction programs
   2. Remedial materials
   3. Designing your own programs
   4. Adapting curriculum from the general education classroom
   5. Modifying Assignments to meet the student’s needs
5. Data and Reports
   1. The importance of data
   2. Types of data
   3. Creating your own data sheets
   4. IEP and Progress Reports
      1. Why these are important and how they are used
      2. Following the IEP goals
6. Other programs to offer
   1. Study skills
   2. Social Skills
   3. Anger Management
   4. Life Skills
7. Special Education and the law
   1. Be careful what you say
   2. Know what the rights of the parent and the student are
   3. Special Education Law Classes/books
8. Games and Activities
   1. Reading
   2. Writing
   3. Math
   4. Social Skills
   5. Anger Management
9. Reproducable Data Sheets