This document provides context for a lesson plan assignment. It describes a resource classroom of 9 fifth grade students reading 2-3 grade levels below peers. Their needs include specific learning disabilities, autism, emotional/behavioral disorders, mild intellectual disabilities, and speech/language impairment. It asks the teacher to choose a 5th grade exemplar informational text, align to a Common Core standard, incorporate assistive technology, and write a 250-500 word rationale explaining instructional choices and formative assessment feedback.

1. An essential component of being a special educator is adapting
lessons and making accommodations for students who are
performing below grade level, while still aligning to the state
curriculum standards. Meeting the students’ needs is more than
simplifying the lesson or teaching on a lower grade level; it is
about teaching to each child’s unique strengths rather than their
weaknesses.
Read the scenario below to inform the assignment that follows:
Imagine you are a resource ELA teacher for fifth graders. Your
resource class consists of nine students who are reading 2-3
grade levels below their peers.
Three of your students have specific learning disabilities in the
area of reading; one has been diagnosed with ASD, and two
have emotional and behavioral disorders which affect their
academics in all areas. Two students have mild intellectual
disabilities and one student is a speech and language impaired
student who is struggling with reading.
One student was retained and is repeating fifth grade, and one is
a new student whose records have not yet arrived, but reports
this is his second time in fifth grade.
All of your students are decoding and comprehending at
approximately a second to third grade reading level. All attend
general education classes for at least part of the day. Eight of
the nine students are males who show an interest in science and
nonfiction texts, while your female student considers herself to
be a fairy princess, she adores Disney, and she detests all the
topics the other students love.

2. Review Appendix B of the Common Core Standards and select a
fifth-grade exemplar informational text.
Using the “COE Lesson Plan Template,” create a lesson plan
designed to meet the specific needs of the students in your class
that enhances language development and communication skills,
and incorporates:
The chosen fifth grade exemplar informational text.
A Common Core Standard or other state standard specific to
informational text.
Assistive technology within the lesson and the lesson’s
summative assessment.
APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is
expected.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to
beginning the assignment to become familiar with the
expectations for successful completion.
In the “Rationale/Reflections” part of the lesson plan, write a
250-500 word rationale explaining your instructional choices.
Be sure to address how the lesson enhances language
development and communication skills. In addition, reflect upon
how you would provide students feedback on formative
assessments to prepare them for a summative assessment.