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Literacy Literally
Have you ever wondered whether it is important to teach the underlying literacy vocabulary related to a new concept you are introducing to students? For example, is it important to fully define what a syllable is or for students to learn other literacy terms such as affix, fluency or punctuation? The answer is, yes! BeingRead More Literacy Literally
Leveraging Literacy Instruction for Success
As educators, it’s our business to work toward profitable gains in our students’ learning by being systematic when designing instructional practices. The Council for Exceptional Children (2019) informs us that systematic instruction involves what to teach, as well as, when to teach it. This not only includes a logical sequencing of literacy instruction in terms of buildingRead More Leveraging Literacy Instruction for Success
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 perspectiveRead More Summer PD From the Comfort of Your Home
ESS+
Enhanced Scope and Sequence
The SOL Enhanced Scope and Sequence (ESS) was created by a team of general and special educators and VDOE personnel. ESS provides teachers across the state with differentiated lessons that are aligned with the essential knowledge and skills found in the Curriculum Framework at VDOE. The ESS is organized by content areas (i.e. Mathematics, English, History and Social Science, Science), and can be accessed at the Virginia Department of Education Standards of Learning.
Virginia Department of Education Instructional Resources
- The Standards and SOL-based Instructional Resources
- Math ESS Lessons
- English ESS Lessons
- Science and Social Studies ESS Lessons
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PERSON 1st!!
Suggestions for Communicating With and About People with Disabilities at the CDC.
Resources
Resources
The VDOE Reading Network provides K-12 teachers with effective strategies to increase the reading achievement of students with disabilities. Following are useful resources.
Dyslexia Awareness
- The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity and Strategies to Support Struggling Readers (Kids Can’t Wait)
- Dyslexia Awareness Module
- Dyslexia Frequently Asked Questions
Virginia Department of Education Resources
- 2017 VDOE English Standards
- VDOE English/Reading/Writing Resources
- Targeted Literacy Interventions Webinars
T-TAC Online Reading Resources
Reading Sites of Interest
National Center on Improving Literacy
A source for improving outcomes for students with literacy related disabilities including dyslexia.
The Literacy Bill of Rights from the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies at UNC
Students with disabilities have the right to an opportunity to read. Here is an excerpt from the Literacy Bill of Rights (Yoder, Erickson & Koppenhaver, 1997).
The IRIS Center at Vanderbilt University is a national center dedicated to improving education outcomes for all children, especially those with disabilities birth through age twenty-one. Find a list of reading related resources in this document: The IRIS Center’s Resources for Teaching Reading
The Florida Center for Reading Research
Vaughn Gross Center for Reading
- Online professional development dedicated to improving instruction for all students, especially struggling readers, English language learners, and special education students.
PALS Virginia Activities and Resources
- Providing educators and students access to the highest quality practices and resources in reading and language arts instruction.
The Lexile Framework for Reading
- Lexile measures are reported with the scores of students taking SOL reading tests in grades 3-8. Instructional resources can be found at the Lexile.com website. One helpful resource is the Find the Book feature. Enter either a student Lexile score (from a recent SOL test), or the student’s current grade level. Next, choose subject(s) of interest, and a tailor-made, leveled book list will be created for the student.