Modifications

The modifications section on our lesson plans have always been a bit of a mystery to me. I understand the purpose but I often have a difficult time coming up with a solution. In my observations this semester I noticed a situation where the modification section would be necessary in a lesson plan. There was one student in my observations that had learning difficulties. The student was diagnosed with ADHD however there were also learning disabilities that were in the process of being diagnosed. The student also had a large cyst on his brain. Doctors were not sure if the cyst was contributing to his difficulties in the classroom. When I began my observations, school was only a month into the school year and I could already see my teachers frustration with this boy. Sometimes she would cast him aside and not pay attention to him because she knew that he would not understand. She also sent him to his guidance counselor on numerous occasions and asked him to withdraw from the course. I took it upon myself to try to help this boy. I figured it was rare that she had help in the classroom so I thought I would try to help while I was there. I found it difficult to communicate with this boy. For the sake of this blog I am going to call him Bill. While talking to Bill he would never make eye contact. I would sit next to him and try to explain the assignment and I could tell that his mind was somewhere else. Sometimes he would tell me that he understood and I could tell that he did not. When he tried to go off on his own and attempt the assignment he would not know what he needed to do. I began to understand how the teach would be frustrated with him. She shared with me that she felt it was difficult to have him in the classroom because it hindered her teaching the other teacher if she would take extra time to explain things to him. This was a difficult scenario because it is unfair to tell a child that they should not be in a class, but it is unfair to the other students to take away time for their learning. While I was there I think I was able to take some of the burden of my teachers shoulders but now that I am gone I am curious if Bill is still in the class and how is doing.