Special education teachers must be well versed in using performance data to identify students whose literacy skills are below grade level. Gaining insight into students’ academic strengths and needs will help educators plan appropriate instruction to assist students in making positive academic growth.
Using the “Class Profile,” identify a group of 3-4 elementary students who would benefit from an oral language development or phonemic awareness lesson. Determine a K-2 grade level for your group of fictional students, select an ELA standard from your state related to Oral Language Development or Phonemic Awareness, and then select a corresponding grade-level text appropriate for use in a lesson plan for the determined group. You may use Appendix B of the Common Core English Language Arts Standards to help you determine an appropriate text for the lesson.
With your choices in mind, use the “COE Lesson Plan Template” to design a lesson on oral language development or phonemic awareness, utilizing storytelling, dramatic play, or a read-aloud as an instructional strategy. Thoroughly script the “Multiple Means of Engagement” section, emphasizing the use of questions to access student’s background knowledge and abilities to build new skills and develop common understanding through shared, concrete experiences.
Upon completion of your lesson plan, compose a 250-500 word summary, rationalizing how your instructional decisions help your group students to flourish in the classroom, as opposed to just survive. Be sure to address how you will use your findings in your future professional practice.
