Inclusion and Teaching in Chicago

I've already talked a little bit about this topic right here but it's important enough that I think I should go into a little more detail. It can feel really scary for teachers to have students with a variety of needs in a classroom with just one teacher. How do teachers make sure that all students are able to access the curriculum? I understand this fear. As teachers we strive to meet the needs and challenge all students. Dear hard working teachers, here is my solution... 1. Plan Ahead and Plan Together It is important for both teachers to be aware of the class objectives, lessons, and what students are doing. This is just as true when there is only one teacher present during the class period. The learning specialist needs to have a strong handle on what is happening in the classroom in order to ensure accommodations, modifications, and student strengths are being considered. I've posted these before, but it bears repeating. This one pager from KU helps teachers ...

I have been obsessed with Ms. Houser's amazing blog post about the role of the instructional coach during the first few weeks of school . The school year is starting in two short weeks (HOORAY and also YIKES) and I've begun to think about my own start of the school year when I was a learning specialist (I'll be using Special Education teachers and Learning Specialists interchangeably here). When students with and without disabilities are separated, the professionals that teach all these students are also separated. They set up their classrooms and plan for the first days of school in isolation. This is not the case for co-teachers. Below is my break-down for how special education co-teachers can prepare for their year. Set Up Your Space The physical space for learning specialists differs from school to school or even teacher to teacher. Last year, we had teachers that shared a room with their co-teachers and other that had a separate office that they shared with other le...

Best Blog: Brenda's inclusion blog (entitled In-kloo-zhuhn) is my best find of the summer. I like it because she uses research to back up every claim and idea. Her  blog post on how to provide access for all students is beyond fantastic.  She explains both why all students should be included in instruction and how. I didn't know there were other Inclusion Facilitators out there blogging and to make things even more fantastic, Brenda's from Canada which is where I'm originally from. The coolest! Best Video: This cute, animated video  about inclusion makes the giant, neon wheels inside my head spin around. It could be used with both educators and students. I could incorporate this into this year's Unique Week ! Runner-Up Best Video: This video shows actual footage on how to support all students in a fully inclusive pre-school classroom. Best Blog for Coaches: Ms. Houser is an instructional coach and provides heaps of tools and advice for her fellow coache...

Currently at my school, we have a color-coded binder system in place for all students in sixth through eighth grade. Click here for more information on how to set up a system of your own. For some students, this system isn't enough to stay organized. I sympathize because I am the exact same way. Staying organized is a constant struggle for me and having the appropriate materials isn't enough to actually keep me organized.  The strategy I am going to show you is called the "material dump" and I should warn you, it is NOT popular with most students. As much as students like the Project Game Plan , they typically dislike the material dump. I think this is a good reminder that struggling with executive functioning is a sensitive issue for many students. Organizing is hard and time consuming and it can be a challenge to be convinced that it's worth it. My steps today include not only how a student can organize their papers but how you as a teacher can deescalate...

Picture this:  It's the start of class and you are introducing your new lesson. You look great, your lesson matches perfectly with your objective, and your instruction is interactive, collaborative, and darn right perfect. You are feeling good, gosh darn it. Standing in front of your class of eager, bright eyed children you explain the agenda for the day. Midway through instructions you hear the distinct sound of whispers and feet thudding against the floor. Out of the corner of your eye, you see a student standing over another student's desk. They appear to be having a serious conversation. "What's going on, young learner?" You ask. The learner looks up at you and sighs, "I need a pencil." Sound familiar? Many teachers struggle with the management of pencils. This can be frustrating and time consuming. If students are trying to find a pencil during class, they miss important instruction. If they talk to their peers about borrowing a pencil, those stu...

Question: How do you teach time management and time awareness to students that struggle with completing (or even starting) work in a timely manner?  Resources:  This executive functioning strategy comes to you from a great PD I had a few years ago from Sarah Ward of  Cognitive Solutions . Check out their great PDF on teaching time awareness  here .  Where: At the student's desk When: During class, group work, independent work, any time Materials: Analogue clock with a glass face and metal lens (I bought the Cognitive Solutions clock  here  but it looks like they're all sold out. The clocks need to have a glass face in order for you to use dry erase markers on them. They also need a metal frame so that you can put magnets on them. I found a nice one  here  for $18.99. Not bad!) 1 or 2 dry erase markers Colored magnets (Go  here  or  here )  How To: Identify the current time on the analogue clo...

Question: How do you help students that struggle with completing projects on time? What strategies can we use to teach students how to read project directions and plan for its completion? Resources: The Rush NeuroBehavioral Center has this amazing PD on executive functioning that changed my entire perspective and understanding of teaching problem solving, planning, organizing, and self regulation. This presentation from Lauren Hough and the Nest Project does a wonderful job of explaining what executive functioning is and providing strategies.    I'm going to start with the student favorite. I give you: The Project Game Plan!  Materials: Project directions Project Game Plan Sheet If I am not modifying the content or expectations of the project, I try not to modify too much of the text. The reality is that students see assignments and projects that look like this all of the time. Instead of changing the text (giving a stud...