The 2018 VDOE Mathematics SOL Institutes highlighted the importance of strengthening the teaching and learning of mathematics through facilitating meaningful mathematical discourse. Why Discourse? Mathematical conversations and discourse among students, at all grade and ability levels, helps build a shared understanding of mathematical ideas (NCTM, 2014). Meaningful discourse supports metacognition and teaches students how to… Read More Promoting Equity in Math through Classroom Discourse
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
Understanding and Using Reinforcement
Common Misconceptions Misconceptions about reinforcement including, “I don’t believe in bribing students” and “I’m not going to reward him for doing work he is just supposed to do” are common barriers to the use of reinforcement in the classroom. Developing a better understanding of the definition of reinforcement, the role it plays in everyone’s life,… Read More Understanding and Using Reinforcement
A Few SOUND Ways to AMP Up Phonemic Awareness Instruction
Phonemic awareness (PA), defined as the proficient and automatic access to the sounds in spoken words, is necessary for efficient sight-word storage and phonics (Kilpatrick, 2016). Regretfully, many teachers are guilty of using practices that involve traditional sight-word activities, including the use of flash cards with high frequency words and word walls displaying thematic vocabulary… Read More A Few SOUND Ways to AMP Up Phonemic Awareness Instruction
Alignment Tool: HLPs for Special Education Teachers Resources at the IRIS Center
The IRIS Center at Vanderbilt University develops and disseminates free, engaging, online resources about evidence-based practices to support students, particularly struggling learners and those with disabilities. These resources are designed to bridge the research-to-practice gap. As a user-friendly way to learn which of the IRIS resources align with high-leverage practices (HLPs), the center has developed a… Read More Alignment Tool: HLPs for Special Education Teachers Resources at the IRIS Center
3 Key Look-Fors in Early Childhood Special Education Classrooms
Glance into an early childhood special education (ECSE) classroom and you may have trouble discerning what is considered “instructional time” from play or the daily routine. What does effective instruction look like in ECSE classrooms? We know that children are highly engaged when activities are both interesting and relevant to them and that engagement is the… Read More 3 Key Look-Fors in Early Childhood Special Education Classrooms
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
