When you are a new teacher, looking into a room full of eager young faces can be a bit overwhelming and exciting at the same time. Add to that, the possibility that as many as three of your new students might have a learning disability, and you may find yourself anxious about how you will meet the needs of all. The best way to address your concerns is to gear up and acquaint yourself with the following special education terms and procedures that you should know in order to teach those with special needs in your classroom.

1. QTS: Qualified Teacher Standards that delineate the basic knowledge of special education terminology required by each state.

2. SEN: This refers to the special education needs of each student.

3. IDEA: The Individuals with Disabilities Act is a federal law that ensures early intervention and quality services for special needs children.

4. IEP: The Individualized Educational Plan addresses each student's academic, social, and emotional needs within the framework of his education and includes objectives for making modifications and accommodations.

5. Staffing: A staffing may be comprised of key faculty members, school counselors, and private mental health practitioners, and is held to develop, implement, and revise the IEP.

6. LRE: Providing the least restrictive environment is the goal of every student's IEP. This means that the necessary modifications and accommodations are put into place within the framework of the mainstream classroom if at all possible.

7. PDD: Pervasive Developmental Disorder is a broader diagnostic term that includes Asperger's and Autism, both of which are characterized by delays and impairment in cognition and social skill building.

8. ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a learning disability that is characterized by attention difficulties, higher than normal levels of impulsivity and distractibility and social skill deficits. Statistics suggest that out of approximately thirty students, one to three will be diagnosed with ADHD.

9. Accommodations: Accommodations are the supplementary services and/ or supplies required to help a special needs child learn effectively.

10. Modifications: These are changes made to the curriculum or course objectives in order to compensate for a child's inability to learn within classroom norms.

11. NCLB: This refers to The No Child Left Behind Act, a piece of legislation enacted in January of 2001 that provided for standardized testing and assessment

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