Supporting Students with Exceptionalities

My Experiences have helped me become the educator I am today...

Image result for students with exceptionalities pngAs a Secondary LTO SERT, I have had experiences creating IEP’s, supporting students with an IEP and supporting teachers implement accommodations on an IEP. In my grade 9 GLE class (which only had about 11 students), I had students that when they were in grade 8, were modified to grade 4 and 6 levels for language and math. From speaking with elementary school SERTS, classroom teachers may have to modify curriculum for some students, so they are therefore teaching different grades of curriculum in one classroom. As defined in the supporting Special Education in Ontario (2017) document, “Modifications are changes made in the grade-level expectations for a subject or course in order to meet a student’s learning needs. These changes may involve developing expectations that reflect knowledge and skills required in the curriculum for a different grade level and/or increasing or decreasing the number and/or complexity of the regular grade-level curriculum expectations.” For example, if you are a grade 5 teacher and you have a student in your class that is modified to grade 1 curriculum, you will modifying content for that student, where the rest of the class will still be learning grade 5 curriculum. This is different in high school because of streaming of levels (i.e. life skills, locally developed, applied and academic). I think it is very important for educators to take the time to communicate with student's SERTS to understand and seek clarification about accommodations and modifications.  
Does anyone have experience modifying curriculum at the Junior level? Did you find this overwhelming or challenging? (Considering if you also have more than 11 students in your class?)
There’s an example on Page E33 of modified curriculum expectations for anyone who is interested.

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