I’m a teacher at a Christian school, I have a bachelor’s in spec. ed, and I am going to be starting a resource room in our school this coming school year. Any tips or tricks of the trade that would be helpful in getting things up and running? Thanks in advance for any input!
Re: Resource Room
Start now by reading the paperwork about your students, and call the parents after getting an ok to do so by admin. to learn what each child’s needs are.
Re: What grade(s)??
We’re a small school, so we’re hoping to be able to meet needs at any grade level. However, from what I’ve discovered, most of the students will be coming from the lower elementary grades. This is good, of course….the earlier the better. (P.S. Great site you recommended…thanks!)
Re: Resource Room
Go over to the Teaching Reading board, and find information about reading programs that actually *work*, as opposed to those with big advertising budgets. Then the same for teaching math. You can help your students get on track academically with a lot of dedication and a little money.
Make a point that as a resource teacher (as any good teacher or any good parent), your mission is to work yourself out of a job. You want to teach the kids how to read independently and how to master math so that they will not need your services any more. Of course new students will come in and you will have to work with them, but you don’t want to have an ever-increasing group dependent on you any more than necessary.
Re: What grade(s)??
Sue,
Just dropped in at your website and I love it!! I also emailed it to my parents and co-workers as well. :)
Laurie
Re: What grade(s)??
I’ve long thought that small private schools could provide a structure and community that simply doesn’t fit well with the less-definable mission of public schools, and which kids with learning differences need. The challenge is making that structure so that it’s flexible enough to include them and teach them.
I’m right there with Victoria jumping up and down saying “teach them the skills!!!” and wanting to plan a workshop to show you some of the options ;)
Drop in at http://www.resourceroom.net :-)