Discussion Thread: Cultivating A Heart For Individuals With Diverse Needs And Exceptionalities

Slavin and Schunk (2021) posit that intentional teachers, both individually and collaboratively, purposefully create ways to foster learning and to meet the needs of each one of their students.

The word “intentional” is very profound. It implies that one takes the initiative to purposefully carry out a task for an intended objective. When it comes to individuals with exceptionalities and diverse needs, some individuals warmly embrace these individuals and welcome them into their classrooms while others do not for a myriad of reasons.

In this module you are studying about learner differences and individuals with exceptionalities. When Germany was under the Nazi regime the phrase “life unworthy of life” (in German: “Lebensunwertes Leben”) was used since some felt that some individuals had no right to live. There were times throughout history that people felt that individuals with disabilities or diverse needs should be treated differently. When you examine the realities of history, the power of language, and the ethical or unethical behaviors surrounding caring for and educating individuals with differences, it provides a deeper understanding as to why laws have been created throughout the years to promote ethical practices and to cultivate effective learning opportunities for all individuals. It is essential for educators and future leaders to have an understanding of history, critically analyze it through a biblical lens, and determine how to approach, nurture, and educate these individuals with diverse and special needs. Review the 1968 documentary, “Suffer the Little Children: Pennhurst Pennsylvania State Home for Disabled Children.”

Regarding what happened at Pennhurst:

  • How does this affect you as an educator, aspiring educator, and individual now, and in what ways has your own attitude and language changed over the years?
  • What is a biblical approach to welcoming, nurturing, and educating learners with diverse needs or exceptionalities that you can intentionally apply in your own life?

Evaluating Program Conditions for Professional Development

Week 6 – Discussion

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Your initial discussion thread is due on Day 3 (Thursday) and you have until Day 7 (Monday) to respond to your classmates. Your grade will reflect both the quality of your initial post and the depth of your responses. Refer to the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric under the Settings icon above for guidance on how your discussion will be evaluated.

Evaluating Program Conditions for Professional Development

For teacher inquiry, reflection, and growth to be successful, early childhood programs must support the conditions for mentoring and professional development. After reading the text, with special attention to Table 8.5 Reflecting on Conditions Conducive to Reflective Supervision and Professional Learning.

Explain how you might respond if you were a coach working with a program with observable growth opportunities in the ability to support professional learning, reflection, and mentoring. Using the text and one outside source, address the following in your initial post

You must respond to both A and B; and C or D:

  1. Discuss what you perceive to be the two most important conditions a program can have to support professional learning. Provide a rational to support your selection.
  2. Identify and explain the two conditions that you perceive are most likely to derail a supportive professional learning environment
  3. Discuss the potential benefits and/or disadvantages of first working with the supervisor, administrator, or program manager to increase his or her skills in reflective supervision prior to working with an entire staff.
  4. Describe one program setting with which you are familiar to share with your peers (i.e., Head Start, family childcare, for-profit preschool, etc.) and the best choices for coaching for increasing the learning potential at this type of program.

Guided Response: Respond to two peers’ posts who discussed two important conditions different from those you presented. Ask them a question to gain a deeper understand of their selection.

Job Range, Depth And Relationships

Prompt: Review the text discussion of Job Range, Job Depth, and Job Relationships.

Using the terms used in the text and in at least ONE other reference on this topic, describe your current job position or one with which you are familiar.

Be sure to describe any attempts that the employer has made to increase job range or job depth, and evaluate whether or not these efforts appeared to be motivational to the employees.

If you have not seen any attempts at increasing range or depth, describe a change that you would recommend and tell how you expect it to change motivation in employees.

Requirements: Minimum of 500 words; 2 peer-reviewed or trade journal sources, in addition to your text; APA-compliant

Book-Ivancevich, J. M., Konopaske, R., & Matteson, M. T. (2018). Organizational behavior and

management (11th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN-13: 978-1259894534

Did the speaker effectively use transitions to clearly move your attention from section to section?

Submit a critique of one of the published speeches listed below using the PQP method described in the Content area. In addition to the PQP, be sure to answer the following questions in your response:

  • Was the speaker able to make and maintain consistent eye contact with the audience?
  • Did the speaker effectively use transitions to clearly move your attention from section to section?

Be specific in providing feedback about what worked and how the information could have been presented differently. Be sure to indicate which speech you are critiquing. When possible, reference ideas from the text in providing your feedback.

Speeches

  • Anxiety 
  • Importance of Sleep
  • Chicken and Broccoli Braid Recipe
  • Teddy Bear History
  • Making Slime