Special educators actively create learning environments for individuals with ELN that foster cultural understanding, safety and emotional well-being, positive social interactions, and active engagement of individuals with ELN. In addition, special educators foster environments in which diversity is valued and individuals are taught to live harmoniously and productively in a culturally diverse world. Special educators shape environments to encourage the independence, self-motivation, self-direction, personal empowerment, and self-advocacy of individuals with ELN. Special educators help their general education colleagues integrate individuals with ELN in regular environments and engage them in meaningful learning activities and interactions. Special educators use direct motivational and instructional interventions with individuals with ELN to teach them to respond effectively to current expectations. When necessary, special educators can safely intervene with individuals with ELN in crisis. Special educators coordinate all these efforts and provide guidance and direction to paraeducators and others, such as classroom volunteers and tutors.
Beginning special educators demonstrate their mastery of this standard through the mastery of the CEC Common Core Knowledge and Skills, as well as through the appropriate CEC Specialty Area(s) Knowledge and Skills for which the preparation program is preparing candidates.
Common Core
Knowledge: |
| CC5K1 | Demands of learning environments. |
| CC5K2 | Basic classroom management theories and strategies for individuals with exceptional learning needs. |
| CC5K3 | Effective management of teaching and learning. |
| CC5K4 | Teacher attitudes and behaviors that influence behavior of individuals with exceptional learning needs. |
| CC5K5 | Social skills needed for educational and other environments. |
| CC5K6 | Strategies for crisis prevention and intervention. |
| CC5K7 | Strategies for preparing individuals to live harmoniously and productively in a culturally diverse world. |
| CC5K8 | Ways to create learning environments that allow individuals to retain and appreciate their own and each others’ respective language and cultural heritage. |
| CC5K9 | Ways specific cultures are negatively stereotyped. |
| CC5K10 | Strategies used by diverse populations to cope with a legacy of former and continuing racism |
Skill: |
| CC5S1 | Create a safe, equitable, positive, and supportive learning environment in which diversities are valued. |
| CC5S2 | Identify realistic expectations for personal and social behavior in various settings. |
| CC5S3 | Identify supports needed for integration into various program placements. |
| CC5S4 | Design learning environments that encourage active participation in individual and group activities. |
| CC5S5 | Modify the learning environment to manage behaviors. |
| CC5S6 | Use performance data and information from all stakeholders to make or suggest modifications in learning environments. |
| CC5S7 | Establish and maintain rapport with individuals with and without exceptional learning needs. |
| CC5S8 | Teach self-advocacy. |
| CC5S9 | Create an environment that encourages self-advocacy and increased independence. |
| CC5S10 | Use effective and varied behavior management strategies. |
| CC5S11 | Use the least intensive behavior management strategy consistent with the needs of the individual with exceptional learning needs. |
| CC5S12 | Design and manage daily routines. |
| CC5S13 | Organize, develop, and sustain learning environments that support positive intracultural and intercultural experiences. |
| CC5S14 | Mediate controversial intercultural issues among students within the learning environment in ways that enhance any culture, group, or person. |
| CC5S15 | Structure, direct, and support the activities of paraeducators, volunteers, and tutors. |
| CC5S16 | Use universal precautions. |
Early Childhood
Knowledge: |
| EC5K1 | Medical care considerations for premature, low-birth-weight, and other young children with medical and health conditions. |
Skill: |
| EC5S1 | Implement nutrition plans and feeding strategies. |
| EC5S2 | Use health appraisal procedures and make referrals as needed. |
| EC5S3 | Design, implement, and evaluate environments to assure developmental and functional appropriateness. |
| EC5S4 | Provide a stimuli-rich indoor and outdoor environment that employs materials, media, and technology, including adaptive and assistive technology. |
| EC5S5 | Maximize young children’s progress in group and home settings through organization of the physical, temporal, and social environments. |
6. Language
