Making a difference one student at a time.

Making a difference one student at a time. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATORS SOMETIMES HAVE TO PROVIDE SOME OFTHE MOST CHALLENGED, and challenging, students with an educationalexperience that can change their lives. That's an awesomeresponsibility and privilege--and one that can be totally overwhelmingwithout a lot of support. Depending on your setting, some of yourspecial needs students probably do not meet the prerequisiterequirements to enter your class, and yet they are there. Perhaps afteryears of failure, frustration and discouragement--possibly even afterdropping out of high school--they enter your class to acquire skillsthat can lead to a career. The special needs students, who are entitled en��ti��tle?tr.v. en��ti��tled, en��ti��tling, en��ti��tles1. To give a name or title to.2. To furnish with a right or claim to something: to reasonable accommodations reasonable accommodationsA standard of providing for a worker's or customer's needs, as mandated by the ADA, which requires that a business make appropriate changes in the environment to accommodate those with mental or physical disabilities as long as such to function in your class, are often so farbehind that it seems impossible to meet their needs. At the present time, with our nation's emphasis on test scoresand grades, we often lose sight of individual differences and forgetthat students are more than a test score and a grade. We overlook thefact that even when a student does not meet the academic standards, theycan still become productive members of society. By treating them withrespect, and giving them a lot of positive feedback and encouragement,you can build their self-esteem and help them develop good work habits.Accommodating special needs students in the career and technicaleducation (CTE (Coefficient of Thermal Expansion) The difference between the way two materials expand when heat is applied. This is very critical when chips are mounted to printed circuit boards, because the silicon chip expands at a different rate than the plastic board. ) program is the challenge of a lifetime--but the rewardsare great. The way you treat them will make a difference because, forsome, the CTE program is their last hope. The following are somestrategies that will help you provide your students with a classroomexperience that could change their lives. Establish a Rapport The former name of device management software from Wyse Technology, San Jose, CA (www.wyse.com) that is designed to centrally control up to 100,000+ devices, including Wyse thin clients (see Winterm), Palm, PocketPC and other mobile devices. * Share your career path, work experiences and credentials to gaintheir respect. * Discuss how your class requirements relate to, and will benefit,their future. * Let them know why they will still benefit from your class even ifthey decide not to stay on this career path. * Point out how CTE relates to their future options, earnings andlifestyle. * Provide work samples and give examples of exemplary projects. * Ask students to write a couple of paragraphs stating why they aretaking your class and what they hope to learn. (Be sure to let them knowthat it will not be graded so those with writing difficulties mightattempt to write.) * Have students fill out a basic application in class. (Assure themthat it will not be graded.) * Then give an application for homework after you review the firstone. * Discuss, distribute and post bottom-line safety rules andconsequences. (The more concise the better.) * Require students to use a planner and teach organizational skillsdaily. * Develop a grading system based heavily on work habits, effort andteamwork, and allow for individual differences and pacing. * Stress the importance of good work habits and give a handout withyour standards and consequences. * Distribute a concise handout with the class goal and a timelinefor all graded projects and tests. Model Work Environment * Encourage teamwork! * Have all students write something positive about every otherstudent in the class and screen them before you read and/or distributethem. * Promote respect for differences. * Pair students to compensate for strengths and weaknesses. * Constantly give lots of positive reinforcement positive reinforcement,n a technique used to encourage a desirable behavior. Also calledpositive feedback, in which the patient or subject receives encouraging and favorable communication from another person. and respectful re��spect��ful?adj.Showing or marked by proper respect.re��spectful��ly adv. feedback. * Stress the importance of punctuality PunctualityFogg, Phileascompletes world circuit at exact minute he wagered he would. [Fr. Lit.: Around the World in Eighty Days]Gilbrethsdisciplined family brought up to abide by strict, punctual standards. [Am. Lit. and reliability, and factorthat into your grading. * Encourage students to ask questions, no matter how foolish thequestion appears to be, or how many times it has been asked. * Offer extra assistance and reasonable accommodations (seeresources). * Invite students to put anonymous suggestions in a Suggestion Box. Increase Motivation * Continually stress how your CTE program and class policies relateto a real work environment. * Discuss a career path and potential earnings for your CTEprogram. * Offer to write letters of recommendation for deserving students. * Offer to refer a deserving student to an employer you know. * If practical, make mature students your aides in class, or afterschool. * Share success stories of those who have overcome obstacles. * Invite role models, representative of the ethnic groups in yourclass, to discuss their career path. (Former students are ideal.) * Plan a field trip to your workplace or a related one. * Participate in a career fair. * Give awards for all desired work habits and skills, and inviteschool personnel and parents. * Have an Open House where students can sell or display their work. * Tastefully taste��ful?adj.1. Having, showing, or being in keeping with good taste.2. Pleasing in flavor; tasty.taste display their work on walls and in cabinets. * Make a big deal out of all sincere efforts. Build Self-Esteem * Provide a safe, nurturing and respectful environment. * Never engage in confrontational dialogue, or box a student into acorner--especially an emotionally challenged student. * Capitalize on Cap´i`tal`ize on`v. t. 1. To turn (an opportunity) to one's advantage; to take advantage of (a situation); to profit from; as, to capitalize onan opponent's mistakes s>. strengths and offer options to accommodatelimitations. * Publicly highlight strengths but discuss individual weaknesses inprivate. * Never publicly humiliate a student. * Never use a poor student as an example of what not to do. * Applaud and reward students, on a daily basis, and stress thepositive. * Offer extra credit options to all students, not only those whoexcel. * Assess needs and offer opportunities to earn rewards and/orawards. These strategies can help career and technical educators make adifference in the lives of their students--one student at a time. Resources for Strategies and Information International Dyslexia Association The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) is a non-profit education and advocacy organization dedicated to issues surrounding dyslexia.The International Dyslexia Association serves individuals with dyslexia, their families, and professionals in the field. (IDA Ida(ē`dä), city (1990 pop. 91,859), Nagano prefecture, central Honshu, Japan, on the Tenryu River. It is an agricultural market and railway junction. ) www.interdys.org * IDA has an excellent fact sheet, "Accommodating Studentswith Dyslexia dyslexia(dĭslĕk`sēə), in psychology, a developmental disability in reading or spelling, generally becoming evident in early schooling. To a dyslexic, letters and words may appear reversed, e.g. In all Classroom Settings," that recommendsreasonable accommodations for dyslexia and other learning problems. Internet Resource for Special Children (IRSC IRSC Internet Resources for Special ChildrenIRSC Indian River State College (Fort Pierce, FL)IRSC Irish Republican Socialist Committees ) www.irsc.org * IRSC has a wealth of information about a variety of disabilities,including specific learning disabilities. Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA (Local Delivery Agent) Software in a mail server that delivers mail to a local recipient. See messaging system. ) www.ldaamerica.org * LDA's Web site provides extensive information and strategiesfor educators working with students who have learning disabilities andADHD Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)DefinitionAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder characterized by distractibility, hyperactivity, impulsive behaviors, and the inability to remain focused on tasks or . National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD NCLD National Center for Learning DisabilitiesNCLD National Center for Law and Deafness ) www.ncld.org * Explore NCLD's Educator Resource Center to increase yourunderstanding of how learning disabilities affect learning and behavior. Barbara J. Kiernan has worked as o school counselor A school counselor is a counselor and educator who works in schools, and have historically been referred to as "guidance counselors" or "educational counselors," although "Professional School Counselor" is now the preferred term. and schoolsocial worker. She is the author of Behind the School Wall. She can becontacted by e-mail at BJKiernan@gmail.com.