Special Education/Expert Profile


Ask A Question

Expertise

I have spent 34 years in the area of Special Education. I have had the pleasure of teaching pre-school, elementary, middle, high school and college levels, as well as, served in school district administration buildings in classroom/legal support positions. I have also spent the past 3 years working in a State Department of Education Exceptional Student Services Office and am currently teaching college students how to be special educators.

Experience in the area

I have experienced directly special education legal issues, process and procedure, and have taught at all levels in every special education category except gifted. My major expertise is diagnostic prescriptive teaching.

Organizations

Council for Exceptional Children, Association for the Supervision of Curriculum, National Reading Council.

Publications

Teaching Exceptional Children, Published computer assisted instruction, titled PAL, Special Education Basics, college Textbook, Teaching with Precision, college Textbook, Various devotionals at the website, Preachitteachit.com.

Education/Credentials

I have a B.A. in Secondary Education, a Masters in Special Education (cross categorical), administrative certification, and a second B.A. in Elementary Education. I have completed the coursework for a Ph.D., just haven't completed the dissertation.

Awards and Honors

Best Summer Program in the Nation (Honorable Mention, when I was Teaching) Multiple local awards

What do you like about this subject?

I love children. I love teaching. I love watching a students entire being light up when they learn something new...this has been an awesome career! Maybe I will never retire.

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

I would like to leave a legasy of quality instruction for all students, especially those with disabilities. That includes many things yet to learn, like more how the brain functions, more about the precision of teaching, more about educational reform and on and on.

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

Special education students are more like their peers than they are unlike them.

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

We have yet to reach the level of intensity needed to give mildly disabled students a change to succeed in school. Too large of teaching groups, lack of data based, research supported instruction, inclusion only for the sake of including are huge barriers.

Average Ratings

Recent Reviews from Users

Read More Comments

    K = Knowledgeability    C = Clarity of Response    T = Timeliness    P = Politeness
UserDateKCTPComments
Michelle11/13/0910101010Thank you!
Jessica10/26/0910101010Thank you!
Kate10/21/0910101010Thank You so much for your time .....
Gaye10/01/0910101010 
Lee09/29/0910101010Thank you for your help.

Recent Answers from Norm Bishop

2009-11-17 Grants:

Wes, I know of no specific funds that help pay for a doctorate, however, many schools offer graduate fellowships, which might be your best bet. My advise would be to decide which schools you might attend

2009-11-12 a parent's right to review data:

The law isn't specific regarding the amount of time that a public education agency has to provide information to be considered for an IEP meeting, which in Texas is called and ARD. It simply states within

2009-10-28 30 day transfer-in IEP:

The short answer to your question is that the Individuals with Disabilities Act does not have any provision for a "transfer-in" IEP. In fact, the 2004 Revisions were clear that an IEP from one place to

2009-10-27 special services denied?:

When a purchase involves the educational needs of a special education identified student, the IEP Team has the legal responsibility to purchase the item. The exception would be medical equipment that

2009-10-21 Deaf-Blind Education:

First, congratulations on your accomplishments in being placed into this awesome program. Your project is compelling. So now to your questions: 1. Special Education offers a wide variety of teaching

 

Ask A Question

All Answers

Answers by Expert:


Ask Experts

Volunteer


©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.