TEACHING DIVERSE AND EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS

Catalog description

This course will focus the teacher candidate on recognition and instruction of students who may be or have been identified with learning disabilities or who are considered gifted and talented. Identification of exceptionality, causes of the exceptionality, and proficiency with appropriate instructional and systematic responses, such as the Response to Intervention (RTI) method, will be addressed. Research -based interventions and enhancements to the curriculum are explored, as well as ways to build positive relationships with students with a focus on empathy. Emphasis will be placed on student learning styles, social and emotional learning considerations, differentiated instruction techniques, and other skills and techniques to best reach, instruct, and inspi re students with learning exceptionalities. Understanding how to identify students with mental health challenges, how to support them, and how to refer them for services to gain necessary supports is developed. Fifteen field experience (15) hours are required. This class is ESOL infused.