THE LEARNER Prepared by: Ms. Armi Grace L. Bicomong The Exceptional Learner Nature of Exceptionalities Exceptional any person whose cognitive, physical or emotional characteristics deviate or depart from what is considered normal and who requires special services to meet his or her instructional needs. Nature of Exceptionalities Impairment measureable physiologic or functional loss of a capability in comparison with the normal population. Disability capacity to undertake work in the presence of an impairment. Nature of Exceptionalities Handicap the social reaction that the impairment generates from the so-called normal group or the general public. Types of Exceptionalities 1. Cognitive Disabilities A. Mental Retardation developmental disability that refers to significantly sub-average general intellectual functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior. What are the classifications of Mental Retardation? Dealing with Person with M.R. 1. Set realistic goals. 2. Assign tasks that are relevant, sequenced from easy to difficult and allows learner to be successful. 3. Provide incentives and rule for behavior. 4. Explain tasks in concrete concepts. Dealing with Person with M.R. 5. Give specific and brief instructions. 6. Ask what is to be done. 7. Be specific when praising. 8. When praising, emphasize you. 9. Give constant praise and feedback. 10. Dont give something for nothing. Types of Exceptionalities 1. Cognitive Disabilities B. Learning Disability a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or using langauge, spoken or written, which may manifest in an imperfectability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or do calculations. Dealing with Person with L.D. 1. Remember the learners effort. 2. Dont expect them to perform beyond capacity. 3. Realize that working in the area of disability is frustrating. 4. Figure out strategies that they can use to learn and perform. Types of Exceptionalities 2. Sensory Disabilities A. Visual Handicaps 1. Visual Impairment visual problem requiring specific modifications or adjustments in the students educational programs. Types of Exceptionalities 2. Sensory Disabilities A. Visual Handicaps 2. Blindness when a vision is measured to be 20/200 or less in the better eye with correction or when the visual field is significantly less than that considered to be normal. Dealing with Person with V.I. General: 1. Ask if they need assistance. 2. Let them take your arm. 3. Assist them on a chair by placing their hand on the object. 4. Talk directly to the person. 5. Let them know when you come and go. Dealing with Person with V.I. Educational: 1. Seat them on setting that can maximize residual vision. 2. Use clear and large-print visual materials and explain. 3. Dont talk too quick. 4. Give them more breaks. 5. Encourage to tape-record. Types of Exceptionalities 2. Sensory Disabilities A. Auditory Handicaps 1. Deaf without hearing capability 2. Hearing impairment limited functioning or partial hearing. *American Sign Language *Finger Spelling Dealing with Person with H.I. General: 1. Talk directly to them or write messages if necessary. 2. Use gestures and facial expressions 3. Trim facial hair if working with them 4. Get their attention by waving handor tapping them on shoulder. 5. Be familiar with their hearing aid. Dealing with Person with H.I. Educational: 1. Seat them near speaker or interpreter. 2. Dont stand in front of light source for it makes speech reading difficult. 3. Avoid talking while writing on board. 4. Provide new vocabulary in advance. 5.Use visual aids. 6. Ask them to repeat what you said. Types of Exceptionalities 3. Physical Handicaps - Individuals who have functional disabilities related to physical skills and/or medical conditions. A. Orthopedic Impairments severe skeletal or muscular problems that affect academic performance. Types of Exceptionalities 3. Physical Handicaps B. Other Health Impairments people with limited strength, vitality, attributable to chronic or acute health problems, such as heart ailments, tuberculosis, rheumatic fever, nephritis, asthma, epilepsy, etc. Dealing with Person with P.H. General: 1. Treat them as normal as possible. 2. Do not underestimate their abilities. 3. Be aware of their needs and precautions. 4. Be concerned about their psychosocial manifestations. Dealing with Person with P.H. Specific for Wheel-chair Bound: 1. As them if they need help. 2. Consider sitting/kneeling when talking to them. 3. Dont pat them on the head. 4. Provide clear directions. 5. When they transfer off the wheel-chair, dont move it away from them. Dealing with Person with P.H. Specific for Cerebral Palsy: 1. Ask them what they said. 2. Be aware of their needs. 3. Dont ask them if they need assistance. 4. Allow additional time for them to accomplish various tasks.Dealing with Person with P.H. Specific for Seizures: 1. Remain calm and prevent them form injury. 2. Dont interfere with seizure-related behavior. 3. Dont put anything into his mouth. 4. Put something soft under his head. 5. Turn him to side to drain saliva. Dealing with Person with P.H. Specific for Seizures: 6. Let him rest after seizure. 7. Seek medical assistanceif he doesnt regain consciousness. 8. Deal with people in the environment appropriately. Types of Exceptionalities 4. Speech Disorders -speech behavior which is deviant from normal or accepted speaking patterns, that interferes with communication. Stuttering-erratic, spasmodic, or prolonged production of sound. Types of Exceptionalities 4. Speech and Language Disorders Disarticulation-distortion, omission or substitution of sound. Voice Disorder-abnormal speech production in terms of pitch, quality or loudness of voice. Types of Exceptionalities 4. Language Disorders Classifications: Receptive Language Disorder -difficulty in understanding what others say. Expressive Language Disorder -problem with production of language, limited vocabulary. Types of Exceptionalities 4. Language Disorders Classifications: Aphasia disturbance in spoken and written communication.. Dealing with Person with S./L. D. General: 1. Teachers, parents and friends should respond and reinforce aims of speech therapy. 2. Listen attentively and give time. 3. Ask for clarification. 4. Dont shout, he is not deaf. 5. Laugh with and not at them. Dealing with Person with S./L. D. Specific: 1. Accept them as they are. 2. Look at them when they speak. 3. Encourage but dont force them to talk.4. Let them complete their sentence. 5. Emphasize their assets. 6. Encourage them to participate. Types of Exceptionalities 5. Emotional Disturbances/ Behavior Disorders -inabilities of individuals to function effectively in a psychological or social context. Dealing with Person E.D./B.D. 1. Dont let yourself be caught emotionally. 2. They need to know what is ok and what is not. 3. Implement rules and give consequences. 4. Dont expect love in return. 5. Dontdemand perfection. Types of Exceptionalities 6. Mental Giftedness Ex post facto: achieve outstanding stature in a profession. Statistical: have 140 and above IQ. Social: encompasses manpower needsCreativity: Productive-evaluative: future problem-solvers, innovators, etc. Identification of the Gifted 1. Intelligence scores 2. Creativity measures 3. Achievement measures 4. Teacher nomination 5. Parent nomination 6. Self-nomination 7. Peer nomination Meeting Educ. Needs of Gifted Education Programs and Activities 1. Ability Grouping 2. Enrichment -Horizontal -Vertical 3. Acceleration Dealing with the Gifted 1. Help them set realistic goals. 2. Give them choices of learning goals and activities. 3. Dont expect perfection. 4. Provide extra and challeging activities but make sure he will not be overscheduled. 5. Dont treat them differently. Dealing with the Gifted 6. Provide opportunities for creative-problem solving. 7. Avoid comparing with other children 8. Help them develop respectful attitude towards non-gifted peers. 9. Help him develop leadership skills. 10. Appreciate them as human beings and not for being gifted. Why is it necessary for educators to acknowledge the differences of learners, especially exceptional learners?