Inclusion and Teaching in Chicago

Today is the last day before our winter break and I handed back original copies, posters, activities, and supports from the fair. However, I am so proud of the materials we collected that I created posters out of many of the materials I still have. I'm hoping to take these posters on the road to show others. I can also take these posters out whenever I want to highlight a cool differentiated activity. These bad boys are staying in my life for a long time! Have a wonderful, relaxing break. Can't wait to start blogging again in 2016!

Last week, I threw a Differentiation Fair (with the help of many, many amazing people including the entire Jahn staff) and the staff showed off such amazing work. It warmed my cold, cat shaped heart. The original idea of the Differentiation Fair comes from this great article from Paula Kluth, Sheila Danaher, and John Price. You can also find more on creating a fair in Paula Kluth's book Don't We Already Do Inclusion? Essentially, a Differentiation Fair is a school-wide event that celebrates the differentiation teachers are already doing in their classroom. It helps teachers to recognize: Differentiation is something that they are already doing (and doing well!) Their colleagues are a great resource for new ideas to support all students I am no party planner but the teacher work was so good so I tried my best. Here is how I put together the fair! 1. The Introduction   First I introduced the fair by talking to each team about differentiation (our tea...

I am geeking out about these phenomenal modified tests created by our middle school math learning specialist, Carrie. Below I have snapshots from a non-modified and modified tests in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. Let's dig into why they're so great, eh?                6th - Not Modified                  6th - Slightly Modified             6th - More Significant Mods Why I'm Geeking: The right hand test has application based problems (i.e. word problems) that are done in picture form. What a great way to use visuals to support higher level thinking! The table in the middle assessment is a great support for students that struggle with the organization of drawing a tape diagram but can fill one out when it's presented to them. 7th - Not Modified         ...

One of the MOST important ways to create a learning environment that supports, includes, and challenges all students is by providing access to the curriculum. We do this by providing modifications and accommodations, co-teaching, collaborating regularly, and creating responsive and interactive classrooms. One of my favorite strategies that allow students true access to the curriculum is the iPad. This strategy is perfect for schools and classrooms that may have access to a couple of iPads but not an entire class set (no 1:1 in any of the schools I've worked at).  iPad Accessibility Features Pros: This amazing FREE feature comes with the iPad. This allows students to select ANY text to read aloud. You can choose the speed at which the robot reads and each word that is read aloud is highlighted . This can be used on PDFs and on websites. This allows struggling readers to access and read websites. Here's another great (longer) video on how to use this p...

Scheduling is a hot button issue right now in Chicago. For most of us, a fully inclusive environment means co-teaching with several teachers and possibly even several grades. Being spread between multiple classrooms and grades is a reality in our profession but it can be frustrating and you can feel pulled in a million directions. Below are a list of five scheduling suggestions and solutions. 1. Create your own schedule (if you can): As a learning specialist, I was lucky enough to have the autonomy to make my own schedule. I would have my case manager look over my finished schedule after I was done creating it to ensure that I was meeting all minutes. I know that most schools aren't like this. Here is my argument for why making your own schedule is THE BEST EVER: It requires learning specialists to really know student minutes I would make a table of each student's minutes. Once I identified the highest number of minutes per grade, I would create a table that...

The Jahn kindergarten team is just amazing and I want to brag about them a little! They do so many things so well. Today I wanted to focus on one of the most subtle of these. Ms. B, Ms. C, and Ms. R have seamlessly incorporated individual visual supports within the classroom. These supports are geared towards individual students and the class as a whole. Check it out! Over here by the library, the teachers put up the classroom rules and visuals for ALL to refer to.  Two great reminders that we must stop and ask for a break before leaving the room. This one is a bit tricky to see but it's a diagram of how a minion sits on the rug during whole class instruction. This visual is on the board right next to one minion loving student's spot on the rug. What a great way to incorporate student interest and have it big and clear enough for any student to refer to!  Here is the desk of a student that really likes minions. You can see that the visual supports (...

I never write about students leaving the room but many students with IEPs and 504s have the testing accommodation that states they test in a separate, small group (or even independent) environment. The justification for separate testing among other reasons often is that Student A is easily distracted and needs a quieter, smaller environment to show his best work on assessments. I've made that justification! I've had that accommodation on IEPs! I'm right there with ya! Here's the irony... many students who need a quieter environment are actually met with more noise, chaos, and general goofiness in their separate testing setting. This might happen because they are not used to the setting and they have been taught routines in the general classroom with their peers. This "testing room" feels like a free for all! Fear not, comrades! I find that these testing sessions are the perfect time to teach testing and self advocacy skills. Let's kick it! 1. Greet ev...