Ms.

Keegans Classroom
EDUC230 Final Project

My Classroom Layout

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M be tar
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art

My classroom will be bright, colorful, fun, well

organized and if Im doing my job right,
hopefully a bit messy. I want materials and
supplies easily accessible to children. I want it to
be a comfortable, safe and exciting
environment.

kd

Art Room rules and expectations will be

discussed as well as displayed throughout the
classroom.

Exceptionalities
Blindness/Low Vision
Emotional/Behavioral Disorders
Autism

Accommodations for Learners with

Blindness or Low Vision

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Outline images with Puffy Paint so

the student can color/paint by
feeling the lines.

Add things like granola,

sand, flour to paint for
texture or Kool-Aid for
scented paints.

Decorate an edible
necklace.

Further Accommodations
Allow the student to explore the room the first week of
school to get a sense of where things are
Preferential seating
Verbalize all instructions
Place a strip of Velcro on the floor that the student could
feel with their foot leading them to the carpet or the
door
Assign a buddy or a partner

Accommodations for Learners with

Emotional/Behavioral Disorders
Stick to a Schedule.
Routine is essential for
classroom success.

Give the student

the opportunity
(not as a
punishment) to
work at a
separate table
with lots of
options they can
chose from.
Focusing on the good behaviors with
positive reinforcement will make for a
happier learning environment.

Further Accommodations
Provide student with fidget toys (a squishy ball to
squeeze or play-doh to knead)
Be in contact with classroom teacher as well as parents
regarding consistency and expectations
Make learner aware of target goals before class
Teachers/support staff being positive and supportive
Use a variety of teaching methods to present a lesson

Accommodations for Learners

with Autism

For those students where

communication is a challenge, get
them involved as much as
possible. Show them 2 colors and
have them pick which one they
want.

1
.
2.
3.

Peer Support: social

interactions are beneficial

Clear Expectations: make instructions for

the day visible in the room. First, we will
color. Next, we will cut. Last, we will
paste.

Further Accommodations
Give students choices and control
Close proximity to materials
Limit Distractions
Flexibility
Small group instruction
Work together with classroom teacher as well as parents
to maximize the students learning potential

Why and How

I chose these accommodations because I think they make
the challenges he/she faces as an exceptional learner a
bit easier to overcome.
You want your exceptional learner students to be in the
classroom as much as possible and avoid pulling the
student.
I believe these accommodations will encourage my
students because it will make them feel productive and
successful as well as included.

Scaling up/down to Accommodate

Goal of adaptation =
student success
Focus on individual needs
Stick with the content you
are working with but
switch up the delivery
Every student will receive
the same information but
delivery is catered to their
specific needs

Benefits

&

Drawbacks

of having Exceptional Learners

in your class

-Rewarding
-You would learn a lot
-Gain experience with different
students

-Having exceptional learners can be

challenging
-You will have to go above and beyond to
meet his/her needs
-Classroom management can be a
challenge

Building Peer Relationships in The

Classroom
I would have a discussion with the class at the beginning of the year letting them
know:
-Everybody is different
-Our differences make us special
-People learn differently
-We treat everybody with kindness and respect

-Partner work
-Collaborative learning
-Classroom is set up in a way that is
conducive to peer and partner groupings
-Role Playing: having students act out
different scenarios so they know how to
react to situations with appropriate
behavior
-Encourage students to play with
everybody on the playground

DONT BE MEAN JEAN THE

RECESS QUEEN!!

Additional Support for Educators

Fellow Educators
The internet

Your Principal
Webinars

School systems
often provide
professional
development
workshops and
opportunities

Fellow educators and your principal will have had a lot of experience and previous
knowledge.
Professional development opportunities are great because you get to collaborate with
educators from other schools about current curriculum.
The internet is readily available and filled with information.
Webinars can be meetings/training events/lectures/presentations.

Personal Reflection
I found this project extremely beneficial. Throughout the semester we have
discussed so many different learning exceptionalities but it was really
interesting to sit down and discuss what my personal classroom would be like
in hopes of accommodating each and every students specific needs. I think
this was great practice for preparing my future classroom.
There are so many resources and opportunities available to make an
exceptional learners experience in the classroom a lot more comfortable and
manageable. While I spent a great amount of time preparing my presentation,
this is really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to exceptional learners in
the classroom.
Having done this project, it has not only made me feel much more prepared
for my future as an educator, but also very excited to get my own classroom. I
know as a future educator I will experience difficulties and challenges, but
thats just what it is experience. The more experience I have, the better
educator I will be.

References
Tilton, L. (n.d.). Classroom Adaptations: Creating a Climate of Success. Retrieved
December 10, 2015, from
http://www.khps.org/files/8613/9100/2965/classroom_adaptations1_20121127_1527
37_3.pdf
Special Needs Teacher Resources. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2015, from
https://www.teachervision.com/special-education/teacher-resources/6640.html
http://www.tsbvi.edu/program-and-administrative-resources/53-resources/program-an
d-administration-resources/3277-considerations-for-low-vision-students-in-a-class
room
Perkins School for the Blind. Retrieved December 10, 2015, from
http://www.perkinselearning.org/
Wright, K. (n.d.). 20 Classroom Modifications for Students with Autism. Retrieved
December 10, 2015, from
http://tcsps.sharpschool.net/UserFiles/Servers/Server_981069/File/Migrated Docume
nts/20_classrm_modifications_for_students_with_autism.pdf
Hallahan, Daniel P. Kauffman, James M. Pullen, Paige C. (2015) Exceptional Learners:
An Introduction to Special Education. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson.