ECE Teacher FAQ'S
What should I expect with the Consultation Model?
In the direct instruction model, the public school teacher
may have worked with your child who had an IEP alone, either in your classroom or
outside of the classroom. In the consultation model, the public
school teacher will become a ‘partner’. She will turn her attention to you. She will
share information and demonstrate teaching
skills that you can use to help your child learn the skills and behaviors that are
identified in his IEP.
How will this ‘consultation’ happen?
Your ‘partner’ teacher from the public school
will provide you with printed materials, www site resources, and she will show you
some ‘special’ teaching techniques to improve your
confidence and skills. She will also help you to see when and where during your typical
day, there might be opportunities for you to work on
these skills or behaviors. In order for this to happen, your partner teacher will
attempt to schedule times when you and she can meet without
your having responsibilities for your children.
Why is consultation replacing direct teaching?
There is quite a bit of research that suggests that children
learn better when they have an opportunity for instruction and practice throughout
the week instead of just one hour per week as in the
traditional itinerant visiting teacher practice. Since you are involved with the child
for many more hours than the visiting teacher, the child
is more likely to make progress with your assistance throughout the week. No matter
how skilled your public school teacher partner is, she cannot
have as much of an effect on the learning of the child as you can, particularly if
you develop additional skills related to supporting children
who are developing differently.