Ted and I had an exciting day yesterday when we, as a team, co-taught a group of 120 graduate students and teachers in the School of education at National Kaohsiung Normal University! We were invited by Shih-Min, pictured here with Ted,
another of Ted's former students who now teaches in the School of Educational Administration at this nearby university. (Since I took the pictures, there are none of me teaching, but Ted and I truly demonstrated co-teaching!) Our presentation seemed to be very well received, and we were treated to a wonderful traditional Chinese dinner afterwards! Additionally, Shih-Min presented each of us with some lovely gifts (souvenirs). One was a colorful figure in a fish shape and the tale is that a dragon turns into a fish and is a symbol then of good luck! Also, despite our repeated instructions not to pay us, we were given an honorarium for our talk.

Then, today, we went to yet another public school, this time an industrial vocational school specializing in all categories of engineering training:mechanical, electrical, etc, etc. The day time student body comprises both a comprehensive traditional school and the industrial school, with a total of over 2000 students. Then, they also run a night school serving another 900 plus students, for whom the night time option is very helpful, as they work in the day.
Again, as we have discovered everywhere we go, we were treated most graciously and learned more about how this school provides learning for their students with special needs. Basically, in the Industrial School, there is a Student Counseling Center, headed by a Director and employing, among others, two special education teachers. The two special ed instructors provide extra help for the 15 students who are classified in their school as such. The help is provided in a number of ways. Primarily, the school supports an inclusive model, so that those 15 are scheduled into regular classes most of each day. However, they also are scheduled anywhere from 6 to 8 periods a week about once a day), depending on their needs, into the Student Counseling Center for extra help with one of the two special ed instructors. Additionally, they usually do not attend after-school classes of physical education and military training but instead, again report to the Center.
Very interesting! (Do you recognize Cynthia on the far right? She has been invaluable in helping us: setting up the interviews, acting as interpreter as needed (often!), chauffeuring us to the schools (she has a car!), etc!