Teaching Students with Special Needs in the Mainstream Classroom
(Grades K-6) / Flex Course
PDI Course Number: 23T02 / UCSD Course Number: EDUC41528
Course Description
Does your classroom population include students with special needs and are you left wondering how to help them? This course teaches K-6 educators how to address students with special needs in the general classroom. This online course for teachers begins by providing a clear definition and scope of special needs. Then, the course provides information about teacher involvement in the special education process in terms of assessment, intervention, and collaboration. A variety of suggestions for working with students who have special needs such as learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, communication disorders, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, sensory impairments, and low-incidence disabilities are provided. Also included are strategies to assist English language learners, students who are considered at-risk, and gifted and talented students. Each special need is defined, and common causes and characteristics are identified, along with suggested instructional strategies. Intervention strategies and classroom adaptations are also provided to help teachers accommodate students with special needs in an inclusive classroom. By the end of this continuing education course, teachers will feel more confident in their quest to better prepare their students with special needs in the mainstream classroom. This online professional development course is worth 3 ⅓ semester units/5 quarter units (50 hours of training) from University of California San Diego (UCSD) Division of Extended Studies. For detailed information on receiving university credit for your PDI professional development course, visit our credit page.
Need help? Kimya Nabavi, PDI Program Coordinator, is ready to assist.
"Excellent course! The content is very beneficial and inspires you to try new things. Thank you for offering this level of quality learning and instruction for busy teachers." - Lucy Allen
This course is worth 3 ⅓ semester units or 5 quarter units of graduate-level credit from UCSD.
You have up to one year from the date you are enrolled to complete a flex course.
View the online course syllabus.
Print our customized course approval form to share with your school district.
TOPICAL OUTLINE
UCSD Course Number: EDUC41528
Unit One
- Course Overview and Glossary
- The Definition and Scope of Special Needs
- Services for Students with Special Needs
- Assignment #1: Write an autobiography
- Test #1
Unit Two
- The Special Education Process
- Identifying Special Needs
- Pre-referral Intervention Strategies
- The Formal Referral Process
- Program Placement
- Assignment #2: Article reflection
- Test #2
Unit Three
- The Importance of Collaboration
- Creating an Inclusive Classroom
- Assignment #3: Share your expertise
- Test #3
Unit Four
- Students with Learning Disabilities
- Students with Intellectual Disabilities
- Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
- Students with ADHD
- Test #4
Unit Five
- Students with Communication Disorders
- Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Students with Sensory Impairments
- Students with Low-Incidence Disabilities
- Test #5
Unit Six
- Working with ELLs
- Working with At-Risk Students
- Teaching Gifted and Talented Students
- Special Needs and the CCSS
- Assignment #4: Design a lesson that properly differentiates instruction to accommodate students with the chosen disability/special need in your classroom.
- Assignment #5: Course Reflection
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