Blog 5- Early Intervention- John Bacak

When we talk about early intervention and discuss what services can be provided, we must understand that it does not have to apply to just students in an elementary setting, it can be provided throughout a child’s education process. Sure academia is the ultimate focus and educators and students sacrifice a lot to learn the curriculum. However, we have to look at the whole child with regard for to social skills, interaction, confidence, and having a self-concept and the ability to become independent. At an early age, having children being around their peers is an effective practice. Children, once they are age appropriate, should participate in some kind of social interaction, such as day care or pre-school programs. Pre-school programs are a great way for children to have the interaction with others and can learn valuable lessons before making the transition to kindergarten and elementary school (sharing, working with others). Having a niece in day care now and looking forward to pre-school next year, she enjoys seeing all the children in the day care because she has developed friendships. When she is out of day care she is not shy in talking to me or anyone else in my family, and when she is out in public she is not hesitant to say hello. The day care also provides some structure in schedule but there is always interaction. It is something that needs to be exposed early in order for them to grow and develop their social skills.  

 The Youtube video, Response to Intervention in PA-Project, talks about the uses of RTI. Universal screening is discussed, which is used to help them determine what students are struggling and which are not. They do this by using teams who focus on academic skills and social skills, which is vital in growth of a child. The three tier model is used in this development plan, and they use enrichment activities. Tier two goes into strategic interventions such as comprehension and fluency. Tier three includes smaller groups and more intensive work. These more intensive programs can be beneficial for students in the elementary setting because the scheduling and curriculum is not as intense as middle or high schools. Inclusion is also beneficial because it can still keep the social develop skills of the child and some might respond to the teaching methods better.

 In a high school setting, students are getting older and are trying to develop some more responsibility and life skills for when they start to work and graduate. I know when I was in high school we offered classes that helped students learn professional etiquette, banking and personal finance, home economics, and trade skills such as wood shop and metals. Now, some of those classes have been since removed because of budget cuts and the practices the economy has been displaying and cutting in jobs that require a specific trade. The only classes that still exist at the high school are economics and personal finance. I always thought these courses were beneficial for everyone, especially the personal finance and professional etiquette. These classes helped students learn how to spend and save their money, and learn how to act when in an interview for a job or in public. Classes like these to me should be a requirement regardless if a child has a disability or not because these basic life skills can help develop independence and self-efficacy for life outside the classroom.