How much should children help each other learn? Peer tutoring, or peer-assisted learning, is trendy. Search the literature and it’s all over the place, although much of the research involves peer tutoring in higher education. When does peer tutoring cross the line? How much tutoring should a child do, or get? Is the tutee (child […]
Special Education: Vouchers and Betsy DeVos
What will future Education Secretary Betsy DeVos do with special education? Most voucher programs currently go to students with disabilities. My guess is that there will be increased support with the new Trump administration and DeVos. The following states have voucher programs for student with disabilities: Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, […]
Shunning Gifted Students in America—Isn’t it Time to Pay Attention?
All children are gifted one way or another. But because labels are still used to identify children, when I say gifted you immediately know I am referring to children who have high IQs. They intellectually function ahead of their peers on the bell-shaped curve—sometimes far ahead. They also might have learning disabilities along with being […]
The Destruction of Special Education
The firing of a special education supervisor and the subsequent elimination of the position, in Wilson County, Tennessee prompted me to address concerns about a concerted effort underway to dismantle special education. There are signs all over. Most likely you have noticed them too. In the case of Wilson County, Director of Schools Tim Setterlund […]
Gifted Students are Short-changed with Common Core State Standards
Today I am going to write about gifted students and the Common Core State Standards. There is plenty to write about this neglected area of special education without discussing CCSS. The needs of gifted students have never been fully addressed because, in general, people think gifted students learn fast and school will be easy. Parents […]
Common Core is NOT Designed for Students with Disabilities or Gifted Students
I have reviewed the Common Core Standards for students with disabilities and I am flummoxed. All teachers have to do is provide multiple ways of learning and special accommodations. Students will master the online tests and go on to college and live happily ever after. First, certainly there are students with disabilities who, with the […]