Case study of David Jackson
David Jackson is a high school mathematics and science teacher who is having difficulty teaching two new students in his class. John and Ben Alexander are twin brothers who were transferred to his classroom in January, both having been diagnosed with a mild learning disability. After observing and assessing the Alexander brothers, David understands that his teaching methods are not helping the twins learn. This is a new experience for David, and he realizes that he will need new strategies in order to support John’s and Ben’s learning in his class. His dilemma is specifically that his instructional techniques to engage these two students are ineffective in helping John and Ben learn, and that he will need to learn strategies to help the two brothers.
Since the twins’ learning disability has been described as mild, I don’t think it’s reasonable for David to ask that they be removed from his class. Allowing such a decision without considering the motives involved is precisely what agreements like the Salamanca statement are opposed to. Whenever possible, teachers should be encouraged to include and support all learners in the classroom. David’s particular dilemma is that despite having eleven years of teaching experience, he is now faced with a challenge for which he doesn’t have an effective answer. He likely has help in his school, such as special education teachers and more experienced colleagues from whom he can learn. I don’t think that his realization of his own ineffectiveness is in and of itself enough justification to remove John and Ben from the class.
David should seek out information on John and Ben’s particular learning disability(s) from the support staff that he has in his school, and find strategies he can use to benefit the design of his lessons. What changes can he make regarding use of technology in his class that might benefit John and Ben? Is there something about the classroom environment itself that David could use to support the students? Do they focus better in a certain environment, and is there something David can alter in his current classroom? Do his lessons emphasize a particular learning style or strength, while underutilizing or ignoring other options?
I think that David could take advice from special education specialists in his teaching community and begin looking for ways to use this advice in the delivery or design of his lessons. Additionally, David may need to adjust the resources he typically uses to engage students. If there are materials and resources that might facilitate John and Ben’s learning that David is not currently using in his class, this may mean a new difficulty for David. After teaching for eleven years, David may be pushed into an uncomfortable space of having to learn these new approaches and resources. But if was a justification for removing John and Ben from David’s class, wouldn’t many new teachers like myself teach to empty or near empty rooms?
Hi Martin,
ReplyDeleteI agree that it would be unreasonable for David to ask to have the boys removed from his class. As you said, they have a mild learning disability, which does not warrant their removal to a special education classroom, especially when taking into consideration that David has not yet attempted alternative approaches to help them engage with the lessons. If David were to recommend their removal from his classroom, he would be sending the message that the boys are unable to learn in a regular classroom, when this may not be the case at all. His teaching method may simply be incompatible with their learning style.
You also wrote about the potential for David to reach out to the support staff and other teachers to gain advice on how to address these boys’ specific learning needs. I agree with this, but did you also consider investigating the boys education prior to entering David’s class? The case does not indicate where exactly the boys transferred from, only that they transferred in January, which, in many high schools, is the end of the semester. Perhaps they lack the background knowledge required to follow along with his lessons. Perhaps they are used to an entirely different style of teaching. Perhaps information like this could aid him in devising a strategy that would work with the boys.
The final point I’d like to make is that the boys are twins, but this does not mean they will have the same learning needs. I would caution David to be sure to look at them as individuals and not as a unit.
Hi Martin,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that it is not reasonable for David to ask that these two students be removed from his class because they are categorized as having a mild learning disability. Discovering a teaching method that the boys respond to is a challenge that David must face, but I don’t think he has to do it on his own, which you also stated. Although putting the students in a special education class is out of the question at this point, I think it would acceptable for David to consult with teachers in those settings to see if they have any tips or suggestions that could be helpful. Looking into the previous educational experience of the boys will also be helpful in planning for the future. Looking for new resources and materials would be very beneficial to David in teaching the boys I think. Whether it be a new teaching strategy, or just relating the teaching material to a different concept that the boys have a known interest in.
Emily Clarke
Great Post Martin!
ReplyDeleteI really thought you had great points regarding technology, especially that David has been teaching for 11 years. David may even possibly be hesitant towards technology and using available technology could be very helpful towards the twins.
Another excellent point you expressed is classroom environment and how it can affect the learning atmosphere.
Lastly, I think your post really considered looking at all the available resources and teaching methods one could employ in assisting students. Teachers need to first seek to improve their own teaching skills in order to help their students before instantly suggesting a student needs to be removed from their class. With the diversity that exists in the classroom today your last comment regarding teaching to an empty class could not have been said better.
All the Best!