Types of Learning

If you have a child with special needs, you are no doubt familiar with many of the services and accommodations provided to them by their school. You may also clearly understand some of the laws that guarantee your child the appropriate support services in an educational setting. You are likely also familiar with the time, energy, and red tape required to obtain services for your child. It is a complicated process, with many legal underpinnings guiding developing and administering programs for special needs kids.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

First passed in 1975 as the Education of Handicapped Children Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as it stands today, is the result of revisions in 1990, 1997, and 2004. Before 1975, children with disabilities were either placed in segregated classrooms in public schools or denied access to public education altogether.

This video explains IDEA.

Today’s iteration of IDEA includes four parts, including Part B, which outlines the service requirements for children from 3-21 years of age, and Part C, which governs the administration of services to children from birth to 2 years of age. IDEA, among other things, establishes that families have a right to:

• A Free and Appropriate Public Education for school-aged children.
• An Individualized Education Plan for public school students.
• A consultation with a school professional to determine the level of a disabled child’s needs.
• Access to early intervention services for infants

Project-based learning is a unique type of pedagogy that moves beyond the traditional “memorize and regurgitate information” approach that is commonly seen in classrooms today. Project-based learning brings relevancy and practical application to the lesson, by making students active participants, rather than mere bystanders. Although project-based learning is still used on a relatively limited basis today, there are a number of reasons why educators might want to consider incorporating this methodology into their classrooms.

In this video, a teenager explains project-based learning.

A Definition of Project-Based Learning

According to the West Virginia Department of Education, project-based learning involves students coming together in groups or working individually to explore real-world problems. Through their explorations, students create presentations that sum up what they learned and their proposed solutions to those problems. Teachers in project-based learning classrooms serve as facilitators and guides, helping students find answers to questions without spoon-feeding the answers directly to them.

The Edutopia website explains that project-based learning comes from the belief that students learn best by becoming active participants in the education process. The methodology involves the following:

• Students using knowledge learned to tackle problems experienced in the real world
• Students exercising more control over their learning environment
• Students typically working in groups or pairs, although individual projects can also be used
• Teachers serving as coaches to encourage student reflection and problem-solving skills

Project-based learning is similar to problem-based learning,

In what has traditionally been seen as an all-boys sport in high schools across the country, female athletes are beginning to make their mark. Female wrestlers have struggled for many years to be serious contenders in wrestling competitions, dealing with coaches who didn’t want them on the team and male contenders who forfeited matches rather than compete against them. Now, that tide appears to be changing, as more schools across the country are beginning to recognize these athletes as the serious competitors they are. Some are even giving girls their own place in the wrestling world, forming all-girls teams that are making their way into national competitions.

Female Wrestling Growing Nationwide

Max Preps reports that female wrestling at the high school is a growing sport across the country. In fact, the entire sport appears to be on the rise for both male and female athletes. The publication reports on a survey conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations during the 2010-11 school year that showed a .3 percent increase in the number of male wrestlers and a 19.8 percent increase in the number of female wrestlers. That year, 273,732 high school boys competed in the sport and 7,351 female athletes competed at the high school level.

This video shows Kasey Baynon of Statesboro Georgia making history as the first girl in Georgia to take the podium at the GHSA Wrestling Championships.

• gain from each other's efforts.
• recognize that all group members share a common fate.
• know that one's performance is mutually caused by oneself and one's team members.
• feel proud and jointly celebrate when a group member is recognized for achievement.

This video illustrates the team model of learning.

• promote student learning and academic achievement
• increase student retention
• enhance student satisfaction with their learning experience
• help students develop skills in oral communication
• develop students' social skills
• promote student self-esteem
• help to promote positive race relations

• Each group member's efforts are required and indispensable for

Homeschooling allows parents the freedom to instruct their children at home; however, sometimes, finding good lesson plans, ideas, and resources can be challenging. Check out these helpful sites to collect ideas and information about developing effective lesson plans for your children!

General Information on Lesson Plans

• BBC Schools provides a variety of educational materials that parents can adapt to use in their home school classroom. Lesson plans are included in this exceptional resource.
• Considering Methods and Styles of Homeschooling provides parents with information about how to determine their child's learning style. Understanding your child's learning style will help parents create effective and meaningful lesson plans.
• Free Homeschool Curriculum helps parents understand different types of free curricula, as well as how to assess if they should use the curriculum with their children. This is a helpful article for parents who are new to homeschooling.
• Homeschool Weekly Lesson Planner, a resource provided by Donna Young, provides homeschooling parents with printable templates for creating lesson plans.
• Free Homeschool Curriculum is an article that will help parents determine if a free curriculum is appropriate and valuable to use when homeschooling their children.
• What is a Lesson Plan?, an article from Let's Homeschool, provides parents with an understanding of what a lesson plan is and how to assess if a lesson plan is effective.

Grade School

• Dig In!, a lesson from BBC Schools, provides parents with a number of resources for teaching their children about farming