Student Centered Learning in a Special Education Environment

L. D. Brandeis H. S.

Leslie Radwan

New York City

For a number of years, I have used student centered education. I see the teacher's role more as a facilitator than as an imparter of information. The students are given projects to complete. There are research materials available in the classroom for them to learn in their own way. At times I have an assistant, but not always. I have come to the conclusion that special education students need to learn research skills, i.e. how to look things up, more than to learn how to remember. Once they learn that they can find what they need to know, it becomes an empowering lesson.

I am very blessed in that I work in a computer room. The students work with the technology, learning as they go along. (There is Internet access in the school, in another room.) In this way, the word processing and other skills are related to the job at hand, not something else just to learn because the "teacher wants me to".

I have developed a curriculum to work with the ESL special education students on their life skills. Many of them are ready to age out of high school, and have no clue as to how to run a household, get a job, or plan for their future.

I have also developed a curriculum to prepare students for the Alternative Biology Regents. Many special education students are lower in reading level that their general education counterparts. Although I start by adapting the city's curriculum, they often need more enrichment activities to establish and reinforce their knowledge base. I use videos to give them the information before they do any reading on the subject.I

Life skills for high school students.