Student Ability Profile: Penny
Student Abilities Profile
Narrative:
Penny is an 18-year-old senior who is extremely gifted intellectually. She quickly grasps concepts and has a whimsical and creative intellect. Penny is highly unorganized and does not keep track of or turn in assignments. She rarely does any written work on her own without much encouragement. She is noncooperative, and her parents have given up. She participates fully in physical activities but never hands in lab reports or homework.
Task/Assignment:
Actively participating in science and math classroom and lab experiences, including lab manipulations, field trips, and classroom discussions.
Equipment: (lab equipment, furniture, protective clothing, chemicals, etc.)
A wide range of science equipment and materials are used in the science lab. Paper, pencil, chalk, chalkboard, and computers are used in the science and math classroom.
Environment: (facility, fumes, odors, dust, temperature, noise, lighting, etc.)
Typical lab and classroom environments. Field trips occur often.
Physical Challenges
None.
Potential Strategies / Accommodations
None.
Resources
Not applicable.
Sensory Challenges
None.
Potential Strategies / Accommodations
None.
Resources
Not applicable.
Cognitive Challenges
- Poor attention span.
Potential Strategies / Accommodations
- Provide one-to-one support to force the issue of completing assignments. Group work may be distracting to Penny.
- Provide an assignment book with teacher signatures on a daily or bi-weekly basis and perhaps printed on an electronic day planner.
- Give lots of follow-up on assignments. Check progress frequently.
- Communicate with her other teachers.
Resources
- Explore accommodation options at theAccessSTEM website.
Physical, Sensory, and Cognitive Issues and Challenges
Physical Issues
Think of the required physical aspects of the task. What will make the environment accessible, keep the student safe and allow them to be an active participant? What lab equipment must be manipulated?
Physical Challenges
- lift / carry
- stamina / endurance
- push / pull
- kneel / squat
- reach
- repetitive tasks
- fine motor: pinch / grasp
- fine motor: manipulate / maneuver
- gross motor
- sit in chair
- walk / stand
- balance
- bend / twist
- stoop / crouch
- other
Sensory Issues
Think of room temperature, noise, fumes, dust, odors, and allergies. Also consider the ability to speak and/or communicate, and the visual aspects of the task or assignment.
Sensory Issues
- vision
- hearing
- touch
- smell
- taste
- oral communication
- temperature
- fumes
- external stimuli
- lighting
- other
Cognitive Issues
Is the assignment done with a group, partner or individually? What memory and communication skills are needed? What is the level of complexity of the task.
Cognitive Challenges
- short term memory
- long term memory
- task complexity
- reading
- writing
- spelling
- string of numbers (math)
- paying attention
- visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner.
- self-esteem / advocacy issues
- behavior issues / acting out
- other