Teachers' perception of students with learning difficulties.

First, I think that this phenomona does happen, but doesn’t always happen. So, the bigger questions is: Why do some kids fulfill the prophecy and some not?

Before I give you my thoughts, why don’t you tell me some things that might cause a child *not* to fulfill the prophecy. If easier, take the other position.

Time to think before the well is filled.

I don’t much like the statement. It suggests to me that teachers should not look on their students with learning differnces as different.

The issue in schools is not that teachers are doing too much for students with learning differences. It’s that we’re doing too little.

The LD OnLine Research Digest has a review of this topic by researcher Dr. Margaret Clark. It looks at the attributions teachers make. Here is the Web link.
http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/research_digest/margi_attribution_summary.html

I believe that some regular education have a negative perception of students who learn differently. It really to bad that colleges do not prepare new educators on how students ALL learn differently. At our school we do an inservice for all regular staff members. We go to all the different depts. during our lunch or in the morning. We answer questions and discuss Sepcial Education issues that might arise in their classrooms.

Jim Bell,

When do you find the time to do all this stuff? Between your IEP meetings? Oh that is right in Arizona you all do not do them on time. LOL. Just kidding :) I really agree about what you said about teachers needing to learn in college about adapting and modifying. Did you know that it is estimated that one in seven people in the United States have a learning disablities.

It is horrifying how many teachers think that LD means MR and how many think that accommodations are meant to cause them trouble rather than to help the student function. This is the biggest problem with inclusion. In many schools it is just a way to save money while they dump LD students back into the mainstream with little or no support. Most teachers and adminsitrators have no idea what special education accommodations are about nor do they understand who their students really are.

Jessica,
Good information. i am sure you are full of interesting facts. I really think its important to make time for students/ and their needs. So if I miss one or two lunch periods no big deal. Saves time in the long run.

I think it is more on the lines of see the DIS-ability and only that and not seeing any of the abilities. Look at it more like the half-full glass.

If a teacher spends all their “quality time” with student A (as in ADD) harping about how they are lazy, don’t really try, etc. or perseverating upon a discipline program because of behaviors that has proven not to work the first 100 times it was tried, it won’t take long till the child either starts believing they are worthless/sub-standard/hopelss/stupid etc.

In this regard, the teacher’s perception can indeed become very self-fulfilling…

Fern,
Great perspective on regular education teachers and administration for the most part. I am sure some schools have a clue on how to work with LD students. Why are teachers so resistent when it comes to giving students accomodations? Do they realize it is the law? How about leveling the playing field to a certain extent. In-service time at your school may be the answer. Any thoughts from other teachers out there? I just want to help our mainstreamed students succeed.
JB