Inclusion and Teaching in Chicago

Yesterday was great because... 1) It was pajama day! 2) I was able to take pictures of the amazing kindergarten and first grade teams using station teaching to instruct all students during reading time. Many co-teachers will tell you that having other adults in the room can be wonderful but it also can be tricky. How do you utilize every general education teacher, learning specialist, paraprofessional, speech therapist, social worker, and occupational therapist that comes in to provide supports?  Here are some great examples from our kindergarten and first grade teams. Some professionals are working in small groups, some are working individually with students, some are teaching and some are managing more independent centers. Whatever the focus, it's clear that every adult in both of these classrooms has a role, knows their role, and is able to support students in meaningful ways.   Take a look at how each professional is working with a group of student...

For anyone that's counting down with me, we have 12 days left of school. Here's support #3! I am a HUGE fan of Bookshare. In my experience, it is the best (and most age appropriate) way of providing access to text for students who have print based disabilities. I love using the Bookshare app called Read2Go . It's $20.00 and well worth the price but you can also download the program on a computer for free. The hardest part about Bookshare is signing up. Give yourself a week to sign up and familiarize yourself with the download process. Below are some great videos from Bookshare that show you how to become a member. Enjoy! Here's a website tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=G0RUvNRZl8w How to use Read2Go: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=kcQOmPDjw9g How to download Bookshare on your computer: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=JFDt34DhVPo From their website: Bookshare® opens up the world of reading for people with print disabilities. If you cannot rea...

I love nothing more than to dive into a new teacher resource or book. I take a sip of my coffee, push my hair behind my ears, and dig right in! The problem is that many books about teaching don't take into account the busy lives of teachers. My favorite books are those that are incredibly visual, give information in short chunks, have examples, and provide forms, checklists, and other sheets that you can print off or copy right away. Below are my top five books at the moment for busy co-teachers working in the inclusive classroom. Brew some coffee, dump in some sugar, and get to reading!   5. Informal Assessments for Transition Planning by Gary M. Clark, James R. Patton, and L. Rozelle Moulton This has been a go-to book of mine for the past four or five years. Research shows links between teaching self-advocacy and self-determination and future success, employment, and independence. This books is jam packed with surveys and assessments. It is a great resource to use with stu...