al work stations are located at different corners of the room so that the students will be facing the wall and concentrating on their work. Finally, the desks in the classroom are arranged in a circular structure, thus enabling the teacher to monitor all the students at most times and determine their need for assistance.
4. What equipment is being used by the pupils?
The equipment that is being used by the pupils is limited primarily to peanut balls and weighted vests. These types of equipment are provided to help the students to cope with their sensory needs. For instance, the peanut balls provide the necessary sensory input to the students who are unable to sit still on a regular chair.
5. What technologies are used to empower the pupils?
The only available technology that is visible in the classroom is the computer. It is utilized as one of the individual work stations. Some of the students are highly adept at using computers; thus, they are able to work independently on the designated computer programs. For special needs students who constantly require external intervention, it can be empowering for them to be able to work autonomously.
6. What teaching strategies are used which address multicultural and multilingual education?
Even though the students in the class come from a wide variety of different cultural backgrounds, the teacher did not utilize any teaching strategies that incorporate multicultural and multilingual education. At the same time, it is important to note that students in the classroom are exposed to different types of learning materials such as books and computer programs that depict characters from different cultures. Furthermore, the decorations around the classroom and the students' work from past days suggest that the teacher celebrates special events such as Cinco de Mayo, by having students do their numbers and simple words in Spanish.
Observations of a Special Education Cl...