Inclusion and Teaching in Chicago

Implementing behavior plans and behavior interventions can feel like the most overwhelming process in the world. Not only do you have to deal with all of the behavior related jargon and acronyms, but you need to be fully versed in communicating the plan in an easy, user friendly way to all of the other professionals that are required to implement said plan. It's tough! After realizing how unfriendly the BIP can be for professionals, I compiled a list of resources to help with the process. Here are some supports you can use once you already have a behavior intervention plan in place.  The BIP: I found THIS post on creating a color coded flow chart and I immediately made my own. Go HERE to get a blank, editable version to plug in your own behavior plan. The data: My grad school professor once told me that the goal of a behavior plan and data sheets are that they are used easily and consistently. You can make the most perfect, brilliant behavior plan but if other staff memb...

Here in Chicago we just started the PARCC assessment. This, however, isn't a post about my opinions (or anyone else's) on standardized testing. The reality is that testing IS our reality. Going into testing, I have three main objectives: 1. Appropriate accommodations are met. 2. Students feel prepared. 3. Students feel comfortable. 3. Teachers feel calm and ready. Below are my top tricks: 1. Appropriate accommodations are met. Use  this link to get my testing accommodations spreadsheet. This is a great way to keep all of your students' testing accommodations in one place. I like to print this off before testing begins and hand out copies to any other proctors who are testing with me. You can also share this with the general education teacher or anyone else that would benefit from having this information. I don't like to rely on my memory for something as important as testing accommodations, and this way I don't have to! 2. Students feel prep...

I'm a big fan of Paula Kluth's awesome website, Differentiation Daily . A few months back, she wrote a few blog entries about Choice Menus and how you can provide options for students to show their learning and understanding of a topic. This is great because it allows the teachers to naturally differentiate within the dynamic, inclusive classroom. Our amazing 7th grade social studies teacher and I created a choice menu and decided to try it out!  1. We started out with three articles about the colonial times. 2. I downloaded this free choice board from Teachers Pay Teachers. 3. Co-Teacher Emily and I created a choice board using text centered comprehension activities. All of the strategies listed below have been explicitly taught and used throughout the school year. It was interesting to see which strategies students preferred.   4. Emily renamed the menu as the "Majestic Menu". Students had seven days to work on their choice board and earn up to 40 points...