About Our Program     Expectations     Accommodations and Modifications

ABOUT OUR PROGRAM

At FMS we serve students by scheduling them into resource room and by assisting in the general education classroom.  Students engage in the general education lessons and are expected to complete work to the best of their ability, with accommodations and modifications as needed.

Course Description

Special Education provides specially designed instruction and related services to benefit students with learning challenges.  In the Resource Room eligible students receive specially designed instruction in their qualifying area(s).  Students spend less than 50% of the school day in the Resource room and are in the general education program during the remaining school time. 

Classroom Methodology  

The Individualized Education Plan (IEP) guides each student's program.  That means each student will be working at his/her academic level to improve skills in math, reading, and/or written language.  Students monitor their progress toward their IEP objectives throughout the year and participate in the development of their IEP.

Student Responsibility

When you are confused, don't understand, feel overwhelmed, or need help, you need to ask for help.  Part of becoming a young adult is accepting and understanding your challenges, and knowing how to get the help you need. Middle school is practice for high school.   Practice good habits now.  Find solutions to overcome your learning challenge.  Be kind to yourself and others.  Plan to be successful. 

Common Misconception about Special Education

One misconception of special education is that it's easy and you don't have to do your general education classwork.   You will be expected to do all of your work unless the resource team decides that it should be excused or modified to meet your individual needs.

Common Excuses and Common Responses

Your Excuse:                                  Our Response:

It's at home.                                       Start over.

It's late.                                               You may have extended time. 

I lost it.                                                Start over.

I don't have any homework.             Read a book.

Parent Involvement

Your student will be participating in general education classes and will have homework and projects for these classes.  Please be available to help your student and encourage him/her to complete and turn in assignments. 

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Resource Room Expectations

You should come prepared to the resource room with your planner, paper, pencil, pen, homework, and a book everyday!  Expect to receive a lesson that is designed to improve your reading, writing, math, or organizational skills.  At times we will work on general education projects.  You need to come prepared with homework and a book to work on if there is time.

Unprepared?

If you choose to come unprepared (planner, paper, pencil, pen, homework, book) you may choose to opt out on step one.  If you choose to opt out, you may be asked to phone home to explain to your parents why you chose to opt out.

Tardy

You are considered tardy if you are not in the room by the second bell.  If you are tardy you will take responsibility for that in points.

Absent

If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed from all of your classes.   Being absent is not an excuse for not doing your work.  Use your planner. 

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ACCOMMODATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS

Modifications

Students with an IEP are served two ways.  First they are served in the general ed. classroom with or without individual modifications to the assignments, and secondly through scheduling resource time to work on the area of need.  Modifications are changes to assignments that help the student meet the overall objective of the assignment.  Modifications are intended to increase the success of completing quality work within the general ed. time frame. 

For example, we can modify quantity of problems, sentences, etc.  Also, we may excuse all assignments except one major project at a time in order to focus on quality, understanding, and completion on time.    These are just a few examples of how we can modify curriculum.  Modifications will be made on an individual basis.  We have some students who are capable of doing all the general ed. work and some who need adjustments to feel success.  Everyone is expected to do his or her best and to show continual growth.

Accommodations

Accommodations are tools that can be used by an IEP student.  An accommodation may be to use a graphic organizer to help the student get started on a project, to use a computer that helps type sentences and words using proper grammar, or listening to a book on  tape.  There are a number of other tools that help a student gain understanding.  Remember, one of your greatest tools is your teachers...so ask for help getting started...don't waste time. 

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