An IQ level below 70 signifies a deficiency in adaptive functioning. The possible causes of mental retardation may be attributed to three genetic disorders - down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome and fragile X syndrome. The impaired genetics conditions are believed to be the most common causes of mental retardation. In addition, researchers have identified few other causes that may profoundly heighten the risk for developing mental retardation in a child. Difficulties during or following pregnancy may also result in severe problem in the fetus such as genetic mutation occurring during fetal development or if the mother suffers from rubella during her pregnancy. In addition, if the baby is not exposed to sufficient oxygen during pre and post-birth phases, it may lead to developmental disability following brain damage. Malnutrition or iodine deficiency may contribute to the development of mental retardation. Institutionalization at a very young age as well as sensory deprivation for a prolonged period of time is considered as the significant environmental variables increasing the risk of being mentally retarded. The forceps delivery increases the risk of getting mentally retarded child three times higher than a normal delivery (Szymanski & King 1999).

Significance of IQ

An Intelligent Quotient (IQ) refers to the standardized test intending to perform a quantitative analysis of intelligence of an individual in different areas including language, understanding, numerical literacy, problem-solving skills and decision-making ability (DSM IV 2000). While the average score is defined as 100, the score below 75 will frequently, not always, imply individuals having difficulties in interacting with daily life-events. As standardized in Wechsler Adult Intelligent Scale (WAIS), mental retardation can be categorized under four identified spectrums - IQ level varying between 55 to 70 implies mild level of mental retardation which is educable and the required intensity of supports is intermittent, between 40 to 54 it is implied as moderate and this level is trainable with limited intensity of required supports, between 25 to 39 the level of mental retardation is severe which is non-trainable and the intensity of required supports is extensive and IQ score below 25 signifies non-trainable education level and the intensity of supports required is pervasive. In the context of total population in the United States, the prevalence of individuals with mild level of mental retardation is 0.9-2.7% and the rest three levels combine 0.3-0.4% (Van & Mark 1997).

Preparation for a Collaborative Team Teaching

Collaborative team teaching encourages several pedagogical and intellectual benefits by facilitating dynamic and interactive learning environment, permitting teachers an effective mode of modeling thoughts within or across the boundary of disciplines, and inspiring researchers to advocate new ideas and intellectual affiliation among faculties. The most attractive advantage of collaborative team teaching is getting facilitated with the opportunity to be both teacher and learner at the same time. As the collaborative team teaching demands cooperation among faculty members, who can occasionally be protective about their sessions and teaching styles, so prior to my participation in the collaborative team teaching class in next September I will put my best effort in understanding the context and enhancing my soft skills including good communication, punctuality, negotiating skills, hard work, showing respect to others and diplomatic attitude (McDaniel & Colarulli 1990). In my understanding I fully realize that the initial phase of the class may need more attention to be given in a non-conventional mode of learning, however, as the session progresses it would facilitate the teachers to experience personal benefits in terms of improved classroom management abilities, sharper observational skills, increased ability to play the role of active learner, improved critical thinking skills, increased level of group compliance and a positive change in learner-instructor relationship (McCann and Radford 1993). As the primary objective of a successful collaborative team teaching is to explore innovative teaching strategies and promote excellence, I will prepare myself both psychologically and emotionally acclimatized with the collaborative environment so that I could be able to take the best possible opportunities offered as well as to help my co-learners to attain their goal in a mutual learning setup (Letterman and Dugan, 2004). In addition, I will go through all the relevant literatures, journals and research papers concerning...

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