As we enter IEP season, summarizing a year’s worth of data from multiple sources for each child’s present level of performance can feel daunting. It does, however, offer a key opportunity to utilize the Child Outcome Summary (COS) process as an efficient method of organizing and reviewing data on child progress. While COS forms are… Read More Organizing Data for IEP Development
Tech Tools for Education
Educational, Instructional and Assistive Technologies can support all students in their acquisition of knowledge. Educators and specialists, at technology conferences, frequently share their thoughts on technology during a workshop session called a Smackdown. A Smackdown is a rapid-fire sharing of apps, tools, or teaching tricks that have been found helpful to students in the teaching… Read More Tech Tools for Education
Six Great Technology Tools for Teachers
1. AutoDraw AutoDraw is a tool that uses artificial intelligence to guess what you’re trying to draw. You start with a blank screen, begin sketching something, and AutoDraw gives you a strip of professionally illustrated images to choose from, based on what the tool thinks you’re trying to draw. 2. Book Creator Book Creator is a… Read More Six Great Technology Tools for Teachers
Virtual Manipulatives: Powerful Tools to Build Conceptual Understanding in Mathematics
In order to develop every student’s mathematical proficiency, leaders and teachers must systematically integrate the use of concrete and virtual manipulatives into classroom instruction at all grade levels (NCSM, 2013). Virtual manipulatives can be used as a part of the Concrete-Representational-Abstract (C-R-A) learning cycle. These manipulatives are important tools for teacher modeling and demonstration, and… Read More Virtual Manipulatives: Powerful Tools to Build Conceptual Understanding in Mathematics
Technology Tools to Support Behavior
There are many ways to use technology to support student behavior in classrooms and schools. Check out some technology tools below that you can use to provide immediate instructional feedback to students, teach students to self-monitor, support behavioral instruction in schools and collect and share data to support decision making in schools. Using technology tools, such… Read More Technology Tools to Support Behavior
Low-Tech Solutions for High-Interest Instruction
Not all assistive technology involves computers, tablets, or software. Sure, it is fun to have shiny new devices that are full of bells and whistles, but the key is to utilize items that best support the needs of a particular student. Hamm, Mistrett, and Ruffino (2006) asserted that low-tech devices are often preferable for teachers… Read More Low-Tech Solutions for High-Interest Instruction
Executive Skills and Reading Comprehension
According to Dr. Kelly Cartwright, author of Executive Skills and Reading Comprehension, three core executive skills are cognitive flexibility, working memory, and inhibition. Cognitive Flexibility allows student to shift attention between components of a task (i.e. decoding and text meaning). Working Memory is the capacity to be able to work with and hold information in… Read More Executive Skills and Reading Comprehension
