As Virginia continues to build a unified early childhood system, additional opportunities exist for children with disabilities to attend regular early childhood classrooms. When building inclusive classrooms, Early Childhood (EC) and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) practitioners must combine efforts to provide access, participation, and support to all children. In this context, “support” refers to the system-level… Read More Does Your Early Childhood Program Have the Foundation to Implement Inclusive Practices?
MTSS at a Classroom Level: 4 Considerations
Classroom teachers everywhere are facing challenges related to academic skill gaps, as well as an increased number of students needing social/emotional/behavioral support (Office for Civil Rights, 2021). The narrative to which teachers ascribe, and the approach they take to providing supports, may be critical to their own feelings of competence and confidence (i.e. teacher efficacy… Read More MTSS at a Classroom Level: 4 Considerations
Transition Resources for Educators
It is never too early to begin preparing youth for their next stage in life, whether it be the workforce, trade school, college studies, or other community-based options. We are pleased to share the following resources and professional learning opportunities to support transition planning for your students. T-TAC ODU Lending Library Our free lending library… Read More Transition Resources for Educators
Doing What Works: Five Evidence-Based Strategies to Specially Design Mathematics Instruction
When considering instructional activities for mathematics, teachers should focus on strategies that have evidence to support their effectiveness. The Virginia Department of Education, building on the work of the Institute for Education Sciences (IES), has identified five evidence-based strategies to specially-design mathematics instruction: 1. Explicit Instruction 2. Formal Mathematical Language 3. Concrete, Representational, and Abstract… Read More Doing What Works: Five Evidence-Based Strategies to Specially Design Mathematics Instruction
Spring into using a Document Camera
Spring has sprung and many opportunities to learn using manipulatives abound. Teachers share flowers, bugs, leaves, and more. Technology, such as a document camera can help teachers provide learning activities for students in class and virtually. Document cameras provide a large screen view of the materials and manipulatives presented by the teacher. This can increase… Read More Spring into using a Document Camera
National PTA Standards for Successful Family-School Partnerships
National PTA Standards for Successful Family-School Partnerships: In an effort to build and sustain positive family-school partnerships, the National PTA has developed six standards focused on ensuring that schools are welcoming, supportive, collaborative, and responsive to families’ needs. This resource outlines the six national school-family partnership standards and provides an implementation guide for each as… Read More National PTA Standards for Successful Family-School Partnerships
Formed Families Forward
Formed Families Forward is the family partner to the Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports project, an initiative of the Virginia Department of Education, and supports divisions and schools in their efforts to engage families and community partners. Formed Families Forward is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting foster, kinship, and adoptive families of children and… Read More Formed Families Forward
