Case study essay style #1

Respond to case studies in essay style format, using an introduction and conclusion. These studies will give students an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they are learning to classroom situations. All knowledge-based competencies are evaluated by this activity. No longer than 2 pages.

Case study with questions that will guide the essay.. and a sample is attached. I have 5 of these that need to be done, each with a different case. I would love to work with the same person on all 5 if possible, and the price is right. They are all due on the same due date April 18th.

Kevin: An Individual with a Learning Disability

Setting Information:
Kevin is an 11-year-old fifth grader at Riverbend Elementary School. He has been receiving resource room special education services for a learning disability in the area of reading for the past 3 years. This year Kevin’s IEP team has recommended that Kevin be provided special education services in the regular classroom. They have suggested that the special education teacher, Mr. Wernicke, work in collaboration with the regular classroom teacher, Mrs. Verlo, to meet Kevin’s educational needs. The team feels that Kevin should not be taken out of his regular classroom because he misses too much of the instruction that takes place in that setting.

Mrs. Verlo thinks that this change in placement is a good idea, and she is looking forward to having some extra assistance during language arts. She has just finished reading an article about the value of regular and special education co-teaching in an elementary educational journal, and she is eager to try this type of cooperative approach. She also believes that she will learn a good deal about special education methodology by working closely with Mr. Wernicke. Mr. Wernicke is less enthusiastic about this idea. He believes that the greatest gains in reading are made as a result of intensive remedial instruction in a one-to-one situation. He does not really think that any good can come from the type of team teaching recommended by the assessment team.

Background Information:
Mr. Wernicke has been Kevin’s teacher for the last 3 years. He has been using a remedial phonics approach to reading instruction. He is a very conscientious teacher who works diligently to achieve IEP goals. However, in spite of all Mr. Wernicke’s efforts, Kevin has made little progress in the area of phonics. Kevin was reading a year below grade level when he was identified as having a reading disability 3 years ago. His latest composite reading scores, which were compiled for annual review, indicated that he was reading approximately a year and a half below expectancy. While his scores for reading comprehension appear to be showing improvement, his basic reading skills (sight word vocabulary, syllabication, and phonics) are much lower.

Kevin’s mother, Mrs. Mickelson, is very upset because he still isn’t reading on grade level. Although she likes Mr. Wernicke and feels that he is dedicated teacher, she is frustrated that Kevin doesn’t seem to be making the progress that she is anticipated when she signed the placement papers for his special education services 3 years ago. Mrs. Mickelson is distressed that the gap between grade level and reading level is actually widening instead of narrowing. She supports IEP team’s recommendation to keep Kevin in Mrs. Verlo’s classroom for language arts, even though Mr. Wernicke aired his concerns with this plan to her.

Discusssion Questions:
1. Why has the gap between Kevin’s reading level and grade level actually widened in spite of the intensive remedial reading program provided to this student? Should Mr. Wernicke be held responsible for Kevin’s lack of progress?
2. Why do you think that Mr. Wernicke is so resistant to Kevin’s full-time placement in the regular classroom? Give three reasons.
3. How could collaborative teaching program benefit Kevin as well as the other fifth graders in Mrs. Verlo’s classroom? Give four examples.
4. What do you think about Mr. Wernicke’s method of reading instruction? Do you think Kevin will ever be able to use phonics with any degree of proficiency? Why or why not?
5. Do you think that Mr. Wernicke and Mrs. Verlo will be able to work together in this situation? What obstacles may interfere? If you were the principal of this school, how would you assist these teachers in this endeavor?

Attached is a sample essay of what is expected.