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 students in a dif

I am not always convinced that a beautiful graphic or clever font and a few quick words can really impact me in a real way. That being said, there are a few quotes, comics, and sayings that catch my eye. I've accumulated my favorites and posted them below. What's more (There's more?!?! What a treat!), I've included how to take these lovely words and incorporate them into your teaching and classroom. Now these quotes are way more than just inspirational... they have a purpose! First off let's thank Michael J. Fox for the words of wisdom! I agree wholeheartedly, Mr. Fox!   How can I use this in my classroom? Identify students strengths using Paula Kluth's Strengths and Strategies form Incorporate their strengths into instruction Give students a multiple intelligences inventory to see how they learn (online one here ) Provide differentiated instruction (check out our Differentiation Fair for examples) How can I use this in my