Self-Determination Skills and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) are a winning combination for students. UDL provides opportunities for students to have choices in three important areas of instruction: how they are engaged how new content is presented how they share what has been learned Virginia’s I’m Determined Project offers tools and strategies to help students… Read More Self-Determination and UDL
Meeting the Instructional Needs of ALL Students with UDL
What is UDL? The National Center on Universal Design for Learning (www.udlcenter.org) defines it as a set of principles for curriculum development that give all individuals equal opportunities to learn. There are three brain networks associated with UDL. RECOGNITION NETWORK (the “what” of learning) deals with presenting information in different ways so that it… Read More Meeting the Instructional Needs of ALL Students with UDL
Teaching the Write Way
Providing quality writing instruction for students with intellectual disabilities may seem challenging. The key is to make instruction fun and meaningful. Writing instruction should focus on composition: the expression of thoughts and ideas, and not on drilled handwriting exercises. Here are some tips to help your students enjoy writing and see themselves as writers. 1)… Read More Teaching the Write Way
Online Professional Development
Below are some online resources to help you expand your knowledge and get a head start on earning those professional development hours that you will need. MAST (Modules Addressing Special Education & Teacher Education) These free modules are presented by the Office of Special Education Programs, the U.S. Department of Education, and East Carolina University. … Read More Online Professional Development
Sample Lesson Plans
Are you looking for some engaging lessons to help you teach specific ASOLs? The links below will allow you to search for lesson plans by ASOL or by grade level. These lesson plans have been submitted by talented teachers from around the state. The majority of the activities address ASOL standards at the elementary, middle,… Read More Sample Lesson Plans
Writing Across the Content Areas
It is important for students to have daily opportunities to write. One way to provide regular writing practice for students is to ask them to write about what they are learning during math, science, and social studies lessons. A great benefit of writing about a specific content area is that it increases comprehension. Research… Read More Writing Across the Content Areas
Meaningful Writing Prompts
Now that you are ready to teach writing skills and your students have the necessary means to write, what comes next? Richard Allington (2012) reminds us that students should be given opportunities to write about something personally meaningful every day. Let’s examine some great ideas for writing prompts that will be meaningful and interesting to… Read More Meaningful Writing Prompts