I have a self-contained cross-category class with 13 students grades 2-5. They are at different ability levels, from some who can’t identify their letters to some who are reading at near their grade level. Can anybody recommend any reading, math, science, or soc. studies curriculums that they know will work well for children with disabilities (other than Touch Math)? I’m also having trouble with grouping the students. Should I try to mix up ability levels or let them work with other children at their ability level? I’d also like to know how some other teachers handle time managment. Do you try to teach one group at a time while a para works with the others? HELP!
Re: Help!
Math Facts the Fun Way works really well with children of all ages. I loaned my tutoring kit to the sped teacher at school and she ordered it for all her kids this year. I think she was using Touch Math before. Website for MFFW is http://www.citycreek.com. One added benefit is that children enjoy MFFW.
The Phono-Graphix approach works great for reading for all ages and all levels. You can buy the book “Reading Reflex” by Carmen & Geoffrey McGuiness for $16 at most bookstores. It was written for parents who want to tutor a child in reading, but all of the techniques are suitable for use in the classroom also. Children tend to like this approach also.
I have seen negative posts about Saxon phonics, so I would be cautious about that one.
I’m not a teacher, but in general it seems to me students should be grouped by ability level in different subject areas. That way you could work with two or three at a time to read the same book out loud, etc.
Mary
Hi ~ I don’t teach self-contained, but I frequently have kids of differing levels in various grades in my resource room at the same time. Some good curriculums? I love Saxon for math (www.saxonpub.com)~ it’s available in all grade levels, and is easy to modify. I’ve never used Saxon phonics, but from the samples I’ve seen it’s just as easy. Perfection Learning (www.perfectionlearning.com) has literature books that are available at all reading levels, including low level/high interest. They also have books that tie in wonderfully with common social studies themes such as American History and Ancient Civilizations, among many others. You can order teacher resource books for all of their books that have worksheets on skill areas. You could also pick a theme for science and social studies, and tie this in with literature, spelling, writing, etc. Everyone does the same theme, but you have books and individual assignments at each child’s level. There’s a ton of other good stuff out there as well, it would take too long to list it all!
As for organization, you can divide the kids up into ability groups and have them rotate through different stations: you teach new learning, your para reviews older lessons or oversees worksheets/writing prompts, they spend time doing seat work, a silent reading area, and some academic games such as sight word/math bingo, file folder games, computer time, books on tape, etc. Good luck!