What is Resource, etc?

What is Resource?

Resource is the extra help many students need outside their classroom.  It may include assistance in any academic areas or organizational skills.

 

Who goes to Resource?

Any student who is struggling in the above areas is eligible to get Resource help.

 

How does a student get help?

A child’s teacher or parent may recommend the student be tested/observed.  If a student who has received Resource help in the past enrolls, he/she will be included in the program.  This includes students with IEPs from another school.

 

What is the procedure?

After receiving the referral from the teacher or parent, the Resource teacher observes the student in the classroom two times. Because most of our Resource students have difficulty with reading, a reading inventory is administered.   The reading inventory gives us an idea of the reading level and what the reading difficulty may be.

The results are shared with the teacher and the parent, and a plan is discussed, if it is determined the student will benefit from Resource help.

 

How do we know if the student is benefiting?

Records are kept to follow the progress; periodic retesting and classroom work should give us an idea of how the student is doing.

The plan will be adjusted as needed.

 

How much time will the student spend out of the classroom?

Some students may be helped in the classroom and may never have to go to the Resource room; others may be in the resource room up to 4 times a week for 30-40 minutes a day.  The time spent in the Resource room will depend on the level of difficulty the child is having in the classroom.

 

When will the student be out of the classroom?

The student will generally leave the classroom when it is most convenient for him/her and the classroom teacher.  Because of ancillary, lunch and break schedules, that is not always possible.  Ideally the student would be gone during a time in the day when the work he/she is missing in class can be made up easily.

 

What goes on in the resource room?

“Resource” is what the name implies:  something that meets a need; a means of obtaining success.  The goal is to help the student be successful in the classroom.  If the student needs to build skills in phonics, that is the help he/she will receive.  If  math is the problem, that’s where the focus will be.  We do not help the students do the schoolwork; we help build the underlying skills that will help them do it themselves.  This is not to say we won’t go over some of the class work in resource, but the majority of the time will be spent on the skills needed to be successful.

Time will also be spent on strengthening organizational skills.

 

How will the student be graded?

Unless the student’s performance is one grade level or more below his/her placement, the regular grading scale will be used.  One or more subjects may be graded on a modified scale when agreed upon by the classroom teacher, parent and administration.

 

Does the public school ever get involved?

A parent may request the student be tested at any time.  The process begins with completion of a Child Study Form; vision and hearing are screened, and a meeting with the classroom teacher, Resource teacher and parent, is called to discuss a plan.  The plan is implemented for 30 days, after which another meeting is called to discuss the child’s progress.  At that time it will be determined if additional testing by a TUSD professional is necessary.