Special Education at North Middle School
Special Education has many faces at North Middle School. Most of our students with special needs are served in the classes with the general education population. Called inclusion classes, general and special education teachers work as teams to offer the best opportunities for learning to each student. Each Level I special educator is assigned to a team which meets daily to discuss concerns and plan activities. The special education teacher is considered to be the "learning strategies expert" and the general education teacher is considered the "content expert." Together, they plan lessons to maximize the effect each has on learning in that classroom. We are in our third year of inclusion classes and we believe we are offering our students the opportunity to learn to their highest potential.
Some of our students learn better in smaller groups and they receive their instruction in Level II or Level III classrooms. Students in Level II programs are exposed to the same curriculum as the students in the general education and inclusion classrooms but the materials have been evaluated, modified or adapted to fit a slower pace. Students in the Level II classes and several of the Level III classes are in block and exploratory classes with the other students in the building. Those in one Level III class are in Adaptive PE, Music, and Art where instruction is based on their unique abilities, needs and learning styles.
The teaching staff in the Special Education department consists of experienced teachers with B.A.s in education plus additional hours of course work. Several have earned an M.A. in Special Education and have additional hours past that degree or are working towards an M.A. We, as a staff, believe we are offering our students an excellent opportunity to explore the world through education and to feel secure in the knowledge that success doesn't always come with the first try.
6th grade Level I Special Education teachers
7th grade Level I Special Education teachers
8th grade Level I Special Education teachers
Level II Special Education (These teachers have multi-grade classes.)
Level III Special Education (These teachers have multi-grade classes.)
