Planning & Assessment as a Special Education Teacher (P)

This course will address both planning and assessment as a Special Education Teacher. Specifically this course will outline the use of the Continuum of Support to assess children’s needs in a variety of areas, identify appropriate targets and implement an effective plan of support to target these needs. Additionally, this course will support those in a SET position with educational planning, including student support files, school support plans, school support plus plans, the assessment folder, short and terms plans and the cúntas míosúil.

• Understand the Continuum of Support and its role in assessment and intervention, with reference to A Continuum of Support (NEPS, 2007) and Continuum of Support resource pack (NEPS, 2007).
• Appreciate the importance of record keeping as an SET with specific reference to Student Support Files
• Become confident and familiar with educational planning as an SET including Student Support Files, school support plans, school support plus plans, the assessment folder, short and terms plans and the cúntas míosúil.
• Recognise the importance of setting SMART targets for children with SEN
• Differentiate between SMART targets and broad objectives when planning for children with SEN
• Understand the role of assessment as an SET
• Explore a wide variety of assessment tools useful for both SETs and class teachers
• Explore important assessment documents such as Assessment in the Primary School Guidelines (NCCA, 2007) and the Continuum of Support resource pack (NEPS, 2007)
• Explore specifically the administration of specific assessments such as the WIAT, YARC, NEALE and miscue analysis.

Bio of Presenters: Aoife and Aisling

Aoife and Aisling are teachers who completed the B.Ed in Education and Psychology in Mary I. They currently have 9 years teaching experience across a wide range of classes from Junior Infants to Sixth Class as well as in the Special Education setting. Both Aoife and Aisling completed a M.Ed in Special Educational Needs in Trinity College with a focus on reading difficulties. Aoife is an assistant principal and has had this position of management in her school for five years. Both teachers currently teach 5th class in their respective schools in Dublin and Cork.