Inclusion and Teaching in Chicago

Question:  What do I do if I can't be in the room?" Typically, what the teacher is really asking me is what does a child with an IEP do if there isn't a second teacher providing instruction and interventions. My answer is simple: provide supports anyway. In many schools, co-teaching in one room all day is just not a reality. Most learning specialists have students on their case load that stretch across several classrooms and grades. My first year as a learning specialist, I taught in first through fourth grade in no less than six classrooms. It was a busy year! Let's break down how to support students when you are not in the room. 1. Plan ahead of time. My mentor, Sheila Danaher likes to say, "You are only as good as your co-plan." Below are five lesson planning templates that I like (four of which are FREE): Differentiating Instruction  by Jacqueline Thousand, Richard Villa, and Ann Nevin . Their lesson planning templates and resources are incred...

An IEP-at-a-Glance is a great tool to use when you want to quickly share the most important information from a student's IEP. I've gone through many iterations of this template throughout the years, but the one I've created (see below) is my favorite by far. IEP-at-a-Glance Uses: Share with gen ed teachers at the beginning of the school year. Share with gen ed teachers after an annual IEP meeting  Share with gen ed teachers after a revision. Share with paraprofessionals working with student. Share with any related service staff or other staff members that work with student. Share with student when talking about their IEP and self determination. One of the learning specialists at my school came up with a new, wonderful use... fill it out and share it with parents at the IEP meeting! This is a quick and clear way to talk about the IEP and give parents a visual. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/At-A-Glance-1921129