Private School Journal

While I was in school, I had the opportunity to work as a reading tutor and observe a classroom in a school for children with disabilities. Below is my journal entries. The names of the teachers, school, aids, and students have been removed in order to protect their identities.

January 21

Today was our first day at Xxxxxx School. I went to Mrs. Xxxx’s classroom. Her classroom consists of fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. I was surprised to see students grouped in such a way. The atmosphere of the classroom was a lot like the classroom that is on the A Visit to a Differentiated Classroom video. The students each have their own daily jobs. One student reads the job assignments to the classroom, tells the students what the weather will be like, tells the students what they will be having for lunch, and leads the Pledge of Allegiance. The classroom starts off a bit loud and bustling. Once Mrs. Xxxx takes control of her classroom, she tells the students what their class work assignments will be for the day, and each student writes the assignments down on their on assignment sheet. I like that they do this because it teaches the students to be responsible and how to make a schedule. I helped Xxxxxxx today. We first corrected his reading comprehension assignment from the day before. The readers that they use for this class are very, very old. I felt they were left over from when I was a child (when Xxxxxx was first started). Then I read with Xxxxxxx, if you can call it reading. Xxxxxxx had a picture search book with very few words in it. I asked him if he had anything else to read, and he told me that this was it and the teacher was okay with it. At least he is reading. Xxxxxxx seems to struggle with his vowel digraphs and diphthongs. Xxxxxxx also struggles with his vowel consonant e combinations. I like this classroom. Today was a fun day.

January 28

There was no school today at either ACU or Xxxxxx due to the ice storm we had this morning.

February 3

Today, I went to Mrs. Xxxx’s classroom again. This time I sat with Xxxxx as he read to me about George Washington. The students are working on autobiographies. Xxxxx read to me with both fluency and automaticity. Xxxxx read very, very well. I talked to Marianne before I went to the classroom. I asked her about her students and what the ratio of students at Xxxxxx is considered to have an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Marianne said that about 24% were diagnosed with an ASD, but she felt that many of them were misdiagnosed. Anyway, today was an interesting day.

February 10

Today, I read with Xxxxxx in Mrs. Xxxx’s classroom. We read from a picture search book. I am not sure what I feel about students reading from books that are below their zone of proximal development. Xxxxxx had no trouble reading the book at all and did very well with his reading. I do not understand how the students with attention and distraction problems can focus in the classroom. Many of the students are up and moving around in the class as they have reading time. I noticed that Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, and another boy that goes to occupational therapy with Lily from West Texas Rehab have cubicles away from the rest of the class. I wonder if this decision was made in order to keep the three of them from being distracted. If so, I don’t feel it is working with Xxxxxx. The other students were all right behind his desk getting books from the shelf. Xxxxxx kept turning around and talking to them rather than reading the book.

February 17

Today, I got to read with Xxxxxxx. She is a very, very good reader. Xxxxxxx really enjoys reading. Her project is going to be over Anne Frank. Xxxxxxx said that she wanted to study Hitler, because she wanted to know what makes a person do the evil things he had done. I think Xxxxxxx should be groomed to be a psychologist since she is so interested in finding out what makes people tick. Xxxxxxx has great decoding skills and vocabulary knowledge. She did struggle some with vowel digraphs and diphthongs. I was really impressed with how knowledgeable Xxxxxxx is. She has very good comprehension skills as well. I had a lot of fun with Xxxxxxx!

February 24

Today, I did not go to Xxxxxx. Damien and Dylan had an orthodontist appointment in Brownwood.

March 3

Today, I sat with Xxxxxxx. We read from the reader and I helped her with the questions. I was sure not to give her any answers. Xxxxxxx reads fairly well. I would say that she is a struggling reader. Xxxxxxx has great comprehension skills, but she has a slow reading speed and struggles with decoding. Not too long after Xxxxxxx and I read from the reader, it was time for Xxxxx to give his presentation over George Washington. He did very well on his presentation. Xxxxxx kept asking silly questions after Xxxxx had finished. It took Mrs. Xxxx a while to step in and tell Xxxxxx he had asked enough questions. I also helped Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx, and Xxxxxxx with their parts of speech papers. The assignment was fairly difficult for the three of them. I told them tips on how to remember what the parts of speech were. Mrs. Xxxx was not here today. The aid had to run to the office and asked if I would watch the classroom for a second. I nervously said okay. I knew if things got out of hand, I had Jeff to back me up. Xxxxxxx got up and started pestering Xxxxx. I told Xxxxxxx that he should sit back down and behave, and he actually did it. I am impressed. The class did great today. It was a good day today.

March 10

No Xxxxxx, it is Spring Break for all of us.

March 17

I didn’t go to Xxxxxx today. I was halfway to Xxxxxx when I decided to turn around and go to Kool Smiles where Dylan was. He had to have four teeth pulled today, and when I thought of him being home by himself until I got home, I felt like he might need me to be with him. I am glad I did. Dyl went to take out the gauze and blood started pouring out of his mouth. He freaked out a little bit.

March 24

Today I read with Xxxxxx. He finally had a real book to read. We read one of the books from the Magic Treehouse series. I think it was The Day of The Dragon King, or something like that. Xxxxxx is a very good reader; he just gets distracted pretty easily. We were asked to leave early today because of testing.

March 31

Today, I worked with Xxxxxxx. When Mrs. Xxxx asked who wanted to work with me, both Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx raised their hands. Mrs. Xxxx said I will get to read with Xxxxxxx next week. Xxxxxxx is a good reader, but he has some difficulty with vowel consonant e combinations. We only read a couple of pages when I was asked to leave early because of testing. Before class started, Goldie was in Mrs. Xxxx’s classroom. She told me that Mrs. Xxxx was her teacher last year. She asked about Damien and said that she misses him since she doesn’t go to West Texas Rehab at the same time we do anymore. Today was a good day.

April 7

Today, I read with Xxxxxxx. Now Xxxxxxx has been really anxious to read to me because he is one of our Reading Clinic clients. Xxxxxxx read from Bunnicula series. The book was Bunnicula Meets Edgar Allan Crowe. Cute title huh? Anyway, Xxxxxxx struggles with vowel digraphs, vowel diphthongs, consonant diphthongs, and vowel consonant e combinations. Xxxxxxx had to stop reading every few seconds to tell me things about other books in the series that I didn’t know. The book was quite funny. I think I might buy the series and read them this summer. I know, I am an adult and shouldn’t read children’s literature, but I like to know what my kids are reading. Xxxxxxx and I had a good time. At reading clinic, Xxxxxxx bragged to his tutor that he got to read to me today. I think it was pretty funny. He did great and it was good day today. I am going to miss all of the students in Mrs. Xxxx’s classroom. I am kind of sad.

2010 Reading List

1. Ask and Tell: Self-Advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum – Ruth Elaine Joyner Hane, Kassiane Sibley, Stephen M. Shore, Roger N. Meyer, Phil Schwarz, Liane Holliday Willey


2. Autism's False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure – Paul A. Offit


3. Autistic Like Me – Jennifer Elder


4. Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Second Edition – Stephen M. Shore


5. Emergence: Labeled Autistic – Temple Grandin


6. The Way I See It – Temple Grandin

2009 Reading List

1. “Adolescents Coping with Stress: Development and Diversity” – M. J. Zimmer-Gembeck & E. A. Skinner


2. “Alternative Strategies in Assessing Special Education Needs” – Buce F. Dykeman


3. Assessment: In Special and Inclusive Education, Tenth Edition – Salvia


4. “Authentic Assessment: Testing in Reality” – M.D. Svinicki


5. Becoming a Middle School or High School Teacher in Texas. 1^st Edition – Janice L Nath & Myrna Cohen


6. Behavior Disorders of Childhood Sixth Edition – Wicks-Nelson, R. & Israel, A. C.


7. “Boundaries in Family-Professional Relationships” – L.G. Lord Nelson, Jean A. Summers, and A.P. Turnbull


8. Building Positive Behavior Support Systems in Schools: Functional Behavior Assessment – Crone, D. A. & Horner, R. H.


9. A Case Study Approach to Classroom Management – Richard T Scarpaci


10. Classroom Management for Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders– Pieranglo, R. & Guiliani, G.


11. “Communication with Families Across Cultures: An Investigation of Teacher Perceptions and Practices” – Jody L. Eberly


12. “Community Forays: Addressing Students; Functional Skills in Inclusive Settings” – Teri L Burcroff, Daniel M.Radogna, and Erika H. Wright


13. “Community-Referenced Learning and the Inclusive Classroom” – Paula Kluth


14. “The Continental Project: A Model Program for School Work Transition for Students with Disabilities” – Penny Dave, J’Anne, and Patricia Peterson


15. “Curriculum and Assessment for Students with Moderate and Severe Disabilities” – D. M. Browder


16. “Curriculum-Based Measurement in Writing: Predicting the Success of High-School Students on State Standards Tests” – Heather Campbell, Espine, Lembke Christine; Long Erica, D. Jeffrey, Renata Ticha, and Teri Wallace


17. “Deconstructing a Definition: Social Maladjustment Versus Emotional Disturbance and Moving the EBD Fiend Forward” – K. W. Merrell & H. M. Walker


18. “Differentiation and High-Stakes Testing: An Oxymoron?” – Kay Brimijoin


19. “The Efficacy of Intelligence Testing in Children with Physical Disabilities” – Cheryl Crisp


20. The Ego and the Id – Sigmund Freud


21. Emotional and Behavioral Problems: A Handbook for Understanding and Handling Students – Zionist, P., Zionist, L., & Simpson, R. L.


22. “Emotional Disturbance/Social Maladjustment: Why Is the Incidence Increasing?” – T. J. Kehle, M. A. Bray, L. A. Theodore, Z. Zhou, & D. B. McCoach


23. “Employment Lifestyle Training: A New Approach to Vocational Rehabilitation Teacher Services” – Garry Bowman


24. “Evaluating the Differential Treatment of Emotional Disturbance and Social Maladjustment” – L. A. Theodore, A. Akin-Little, & S. G. Little


25. “Exploring Inclusive Education: Early Steps for Prospective Secondary School Teachers” – Sue Pearson


26. “Fact Sheet: Benefits of Curriculum Based Measurement” – Kathleen McLane


27. “Families Challenged by and Accommodating to the Adolescent Years” – G. Llewellyn, D. McConnell, J. Schneider, and N. Wedgewood


28. A Framework for Understanding Poverty – Ruby K. Payne


29. Functional Assessment and program Development for Problem Behavior: A Practical Handbook – O’Neill, R. E., Horner, R. H., Albin, R. W., Sprague, J. R. Storey, K., Newton, J. S.


30. The First Days of School– Harry K. and Rosemary T. Wong


31. “High Schools Try Out RTI” – Christina A. Samuels


32. “High-Stakes Testing and Students with Disabilities” – Julie Jones, Antonis Katsiyannis, Joseph B. Ryan, and Dalun


33. “High-Stakes Testing of Students with Disabilities” – David R. Johnson and Martha L. Thurlow


34. If Your Adolescent Has Depression or Bipolar Disorder – D. L. Evans & L. W. Andrews


35. “Impact of Learning-Style Instructional Strategies on Students’ Achievement and Attitudes: Perceptions of Educators in Diverse Institutions” – R. Dunn, A. Honigsfeld, L.S. Doolan, L. Bostrom, K. Russo, M.S. Schiering, B. Suh, & H. Tenedero


36. “Impacts of an Inclusive School-to-Work Program” – Myong-Ye Bang and Peg Lamb


37. “Inclusive Education: What Makes It a Good Education for Students with Moderate to Severe Disabilities?” – June E.Downing, and Kathryn D. Peckham-Hardin


38. “Incorporating Interests and Structure to Improve Participation of a Child with Autism in a Standardized Assessment: A Case Study Analysis” – John J. Vacca


39. “Influences on Parent Perceptions of an Alternate Assessment for Students with Severe Cognitive Disabilities” – Andrew T. Roach


40. Interactive Play for Children with Autism– Seach


41. “An Interdisciplinary Course to Prepare School Professionals to Collaborate with Families of Exceptional Children” – Sarah Kit-Yee Lam


42. “Is It Working?: An Overview of Curriculum Based Measurement and Its Uses for Assessing Instructional, Intervention, or Program Effectiveness” – Dale L. Cusumano


43. Learners On the Autism Spectrum – Shawnee Mission


44. “Making Inclusion Work” – Elaine Keane and Jacqueline Roberts


45. Moderate and Severe Disabilities: A Foundational Approach – B. C.Collins


46. The New Social Story Book – Carol Gray


47. “The Perils of High School Exit Exams – Deborah Perkins-Gough


48. “Post-Secondary Education and Transition Services for Students Ages 18-21 with Significant Disabilities” – Meg Grigal, M.Moon, and Debra A. Neubert


49. “Postschool Outcomes and Community Adjustment of Young Adults with Severe Disabilities” – Laura Bloomberg, Robert H.Bruininks, J David R.ohnson, Hung-Chih Lin, and Kevin McGrew


50. “Practical Cases in Special Education for All Educators” – M. K. Weishaar & V. G. Scott


51. Practice Makes Perfect: English Grammar for ESL Learners – Edward Swick


52. “Psychological Criticism” – Griffith


53. “Questions to Guide RTI’s Use” – David Tilly


54. “Response to Intervention (RTI): What Teachers of Reading Need to Know” – Eric M. Mesmer & Heidi Mesmer


55. “Response to Intervention: What & Why?” – Judy Elliot


56. “Sam Comes to School: Including Students with Autism in Your Classroom” – Diana Friedlander


57. Same Lake, Different Boat – Hubach


58. “Self-Determination for Students with Intellectual Disabilities and Why I Want Educators to Know What It Means” – Susan U. Marks


59. “Self-Determination: Is a Rose by Any Other Name Still a Rose?” – Ann P. Turnbull


60. “Self-Determination: What Do We Know? Where Do We Go?” – Cynthia R.Chambers, Youngsun Lee, Kerry M.Lida, Yumiko Saito, Vandana Singh, and Michael L. Wehmeyer


61. “Short-Term Estimates of Growth Using Curriculum-Based Measurement of Oral Reading Fluency: Estimating Standard Error of the Slope to Construct Confidence Intervals” – Theodore J. Christ


62. “Social Awareness and Transition to Employment for Adolescents with Mental Retardation” – Rhoda S.Black and J. Langone


63. “Special Education: A Service, Not a Sentence” – Patrick A. Schwarz


64. “Succeed With a Response-to-Intervention Model” – Colleen K. Reutebuch


65. Stop That Seemingly Senseless Behavior – Glasberg


66. Survival Strategies for Parenting Children with Bipolar Disorder – G. T. Lynn


67. “Teachers’ Beliefs about Classroom Management: Pre-service and In-service


68. Teacher's ELL Handbook Strategies for English Language Learners – Prentice Hall


69. “Teachers’ Perceptions of Alternative Assessments” – Lynn Ahlgrim-Delzell, Diane Browder, Claudia Flowers, and Fred Spooner


70. “Teaching Classroom Educators How to be More Effective and Creative Teachers” – J. Simplicio & M. West


71. “Teaching Self-Advocacy to Students with Disabilities” – Deborah McCarthy


72. “Teaching Students About Their Disabilities: Increasing Self-Determination Skills and Self-Concept” – Gloria D. Campbell-Whatley


73. “’That’s Not Fair!’ Helping the Child with a Sibling Who Has Special Needs” – Adele M. Brodkin


74. Theology and Down Syndrome – Amos Yong


75. “Transition to the Community, Work, and Independent Living: The Rural Community as a Classroom” – Gary Dutey, Veronica Gold, Elissa Stowers, and Ellen Williams


76. Understanding the Mind of Your Bipolar Child – G. T. Lombardo


77. “Use of Brief Functional Analysis and Intervention Evaluation in Public Settings” – Paul A.Alberto, David Cihak, and Laura D. Frederick


78. “Using Curriculum-Based Measurement to Monitor Reading Progress in Inclusive Elementary Settings” – Pamela M. Stecker


79. “What Every Special Educator Should Know about High-Stakes Testing” – Leah Washburn-Moses

2008 Reading List

1. “20 Ways To… Build Organizational Skills in Students With Learning Disabilities” – Rita F. Finstein, Rachelle Jones, & Fei Yao Yang


2. “The Acquisition of Tense and Agreement Morphemes by Children With Specific Language Impairment During Intervention: Phase 3” – Barbara Brown, Mary N. Camarata, Stephen M. Camarata, Laurence B. Leonard, and Monica Pawlowska


3. “Are We Preparing Students with Physical and Health Disabilities for the 21st Century?” – Blanche J. Glimps


4. “Best Practices in the Multidisciplinary Assessment of Emotional Disturbances: A Primer for Counselors” – Edward M.Levinson and Heide L. Rudy


5. “Bill of Rights in Action” – Constitutional Rights Foundation


6. “Book Review: Junior high up” – Jacqueline Rose


7. “Censorship Roundup” – School Library Journal


8. “’Character’ Building: Using Literature to Connect with Youth” – Patricia Page and Kelley Regan


9. Child maltreatment 1996: Reports from the states to the national child abuse and neglect data system. – Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau


10. “Chronic Health Conditions and Student Performance at School” – William Potts-Datema and Howard Taras


11. Effective School Interventions – Natalie Rathvon


12. The Essentials of Teaching Children to Read: What Every Teacher Needs to Know – Robert B. Cooter and D. Ray Reutzel


13. “First Lady Defends Criticized ‘No Child’ Tests” – Greg Toppo


14. Guide to Writing Quality Individualized Education Programs – Gordon S. Gibb and Tina T. Dyches


15. “Helping Students with Learning Disabilities Succeed” – Marcee M. Steele


16. “Identifying Children and Adolescents at Risk for Depression and/or Aggression” – Rawley Silver


17. “Increase Academic Success for Children with ADHD Using Sticky Notes and Highlighters” – Melissa A. Stormont


18. “Interrelationships Among Language Skills, Externalizing Behavior, and Academic Fluency and their Impact on the Academic Skills of Students with ED” – Gregory J. Brenner, J. Ron Nelson, Stern Neill, and Scott A. Stage


19. Introduction to Special Education: Making A Difference (6th ed.) – Deborah D. Smith


20. Learning Disabilities and Related Mild Disabilities – Janet Learner & Beverly Johns


21. “Literacy Debate: Online, R U Really Reading?” – Motoko Rich


22. “Literature Circles for Students With Learning Disabilities” – Peggy L. Anderson & LeAnn Corbett


23. “Looking at ADHD Through Multiple Lenses: Identifying Girls with the Inattentive Type” – Debby Zambo


24. “Making Evidence-Based Decisions About Child Language Intervention In Schools” – Ronald B.Gillam, & Sandra L Gillam


25. “National Child Abuse Statistics” – Childhelp


26. “A New Approach to Attention Deficit Disorder” – Thomas E. Brown


27. “New Silly Reasons to Ban Books” – George M. Eberhart


28. “Phonological Awareness: Evidence To Influence Assessment and Intervention Practices” – Gail T. Gillon


29. “Psychosocial Outcomes At 15 Years of Children With A Preeschool History of Speech-language Impairment” – D. V. M. Bishop, Barry Chipchase, Carole Kaplan, Margaret J. Snowling, and Susan E. Stothard


30. “Reading and Learning-Disabled Children: Understanding the Problem” – Don Martin, Magy Martin, & Kathleen Carvalho


31. “Reading Strategies for Students With Mild Disabilities” – Joseph R. Boyle The Relationship Between Language and Social Competence” – McCabe, Paul C. & Paul J. Meller


32. “Response to Intervention: An Alternative Means of Identifying Students as Emotionally Disturbed Education and Treatment of Children” – Frank M. Gresham Same Kind of Different as Me – Ron Hall & Denver Moore


33. “Teacher quality in Texas Inequitable” – Gary Scharrer Teaching English in Middle and Secondary Schools – Rhoda Maxwell, Mary Meiser, &Jordan Meiser


34. Theology and Down Syndrome –Amos Yong Working Memory & Learning: A Practical Guide for Teachers – Susan Gathercole & Tracy Alloway