We’ve heard that teachers will need to develop virtual learning activities! Our specialists have developed a list of resources that we hope can help you. Looking for leveled reading? Try these free resources for teachers: Epic! Newsela Are you using Tar Heel Reader? Need a tip for how to share selected books with your students? Create… Read More Virtual Learning for Students with Significant Disabilities
Goal Setting and the I’m Determined Youth Summit
If you are a public school educator, your time is extremely valuable. If you are teacher/case manager for students with intellectual disabilities, your free time is likely nonexistent as you have academics to teach, IEPs to write, parents to call, meetings to schedule, and personal needs to attend to. Let’s kill 2 birds with one… Read More Goal Setting and the I’m Determined Youth Summit
Exposing the Truth About On-Task Behavior
Promoting on-task behavior by students with intellectual disabilities may seem like an important skill, but is it really enough? Simply put- No! While definitions of being on-task might vary, the common notion is that students should sit still, make eye contact, and respond to a teacher’s requests. A variety of contemporary research offers various labels… Read More Exposing the Truth About On-Task Behavior
Summer PD From the Comfort of Your Home
Quality literacy instruction is essential for all students. As many students with intellectual disabilities may read and write below grade level, finding meaningful professional development and curriculum resources can prove challenging. The key is to remember that we must provide instruction at a student’s developmental level. As such, consider the following resources from the perspective… Read More Summer PD From the Comfort of Your Home
Writing Across the Content Areas
It is important for students to have daily opportunities to write. According to Koppenhaver and Erickson (2007), students should write at least four days a week, otherwise they won’t learn to like writing. Infrequent opportunities to write suggests to kids that writing is difficult and not fun. This may be especially true for emergent writers,… Read More Writing Across the Content Areas
Self-Determination Skills Resources
What are Self-Determination Skills? Self-determination skills allow an individual to exert control in making important life decisions. Associated skills include goal setting, problem solving, and self-advocacy (Burke, Raley, Shogren, Hagiwara, Mumbardo-Adam, Uyanik, & Behrens, 2018). The Virginia Department of Education’s I’m Determined Project has identified 9 elements of self-determination. Teaching self-determination skills to students with… Read More Self-Determination Skills Resources
Using Storybooks to Teach Math
Our students who have intellectual disabilities represent a broad range of academic skills. Many such students are emergent readers and mathematicians who are working on pre-school or primary school-level concepts. With this in mind, let’s explore some pertinent research and resources related to math instruction. Existing research indicates that teaching basic math skills in the… Read More Using Storybooks to Teach Math