I teach SLD resource but recently got a set of twins who have IQ’s in the early 50’s. Parent wants the kid out of an MIMD program into general ed and get academics from the SLD room. Most of my students are close to grade level or 1 or 2 years below. These twins are 4-5 years below grade level in most things and as you might guess it takes TONS of repitions for anything to stick. Retention is huge. At the IEP meeting, mom wanted LD goals and so I have tried to teach mulitplication. They have addition and subtraction down up to four digits and can regroup most of the time which is actually pretty good and better than I expected. They can do the computation but don’t know how to apply it at all.
So, it is taking forever to get mulitplication facts and it’s not sticking. I think it will take years for them to get it if ever.Even if they get their math facts memorized and learn how to multiply problems like 37x 45 I don’t know if they’d know what to do with that skill without more work on application. I think they need functional skills and goals like a calculator and life skills like time, money, etc..with real world problems.
I plan to present parents with new goals and more of a functional program.
Do you know of any good programs/books, that can be used that have repitition in it, age appropriate for upper elementary student?
Someone is getting me Menu Math but I need more ideas.
What else can I buy?
I know I can pull from here and there but if I could buy something or find something I’d be glad to purchase it.
Michelle
Hmmm…. if the parents want the kids *OUT* of MIMD, then they may reject anything that isn’t dressed up to be more “regular,” so you’re going to have to spin things hard. Have you talked to them? I’d want to know before I brought anything in if they would flat-out reject anything that sounded like “life skills” since (despite the fact that this is what they need) that still has that “MR” ring to it. On the other hand, they might jump at something that was going to teach them “real” things. If they’re the ones that put the “double digit multiplication” kinds of goasl in, then I’d be worried; if basically it’s just a boilerplate IEP, then when they say “Are these LD goals?” I would say “I don’t plan goals for my students like that; I make Mike’s goals, and Lakesha’s goals, based on the skills they have and the next skills they should be working on” or something like that.
I may have somebody I can ask about good MR materials…(assuming that yes, that’s really what the kids need, despite mom’s wishes).