I have one question..when you have to pull a student out, do you try to do it during their reading time (if they require services in reading) in their regular class, or do you try to avoid pulling them out then? I guess, do you view yourself as THE reading program, or as a supplement to the classroom’s reading program? I’m not sure what to do.
Thanks!
Modified - Alternative?
In our school district, if the resource room teacher is the primary reading teacher and gives the reading grade, it is listed as alternative curriculum on the IEP.
What do you list on the report card? Does this vary in each state, or is it federally set?
Re: Modified - Alternative?
I t varies state to state. In our district in CT (other districts are different) we write “reading instruction” on the IEP if the sped. teacher provides the total reading (or math) program, and “reading support” if they only support what goes on in the classroom and do some extra skill drills. Our report cards (elementary) just say “modified” next to the subject area in they are in sped. However, some of our remedial kids also get this written on theirs.
You’re right, you have to figure out if you are providing their reading instruction (and giving them their grade for reading) or if they only need some skill building to supplement the regular curriculum. If you are the primary reading teacher, then you should try to pull them out during the regular classroom’s reading block if possible— that way they won’t be frustrated at trying to do something too far above their ability level, and also you won’t be pulling them during something they need to be in the classroom for, like math or science.
It should be in the IEP as “modified curriculum in reading” if you are to give the grade. Unfortunately, this often is not made clear. So you will have to discuss it with the classroom teacher and come to a decision.
Talk to the teacher about what the class will be doing at what times. Maybe the grade level has scheduled a 1 1/2 hour block for reading/spelling/language arts, and you will only have them for 45 minutes of that. You might try to have them in the regular ed class for activities in which they can participate successfully, such as reading centers or “making words”, and avoid the parts that they aren’t ready to handle.
Hope this helps.
Ruth