Whether you are teaching face-to-face, virtually, or in a hybrid situation, there are many promising practices and strategies that can be effective with exceptional learners. In fact, many existing evidence-based, high-leverage practices can be implemented within distance learning programs. Murawski and Gaines (2021) suggest the following to make learning work for everyone: EMBRACE Universal Design… Read More Doing What Works With Exceptional Learners In All Learning Settings
Using Evidence-Based Math Strategies to Specially Design Instruction
When teaching students who have difficulties in mathematics, it is important to incorporate instructional practices that have been shown, through evidence, to improve outcomes. Three evidence-based strategies for mathematics instruction are visual representations, metacognitive strategies, and schema instruction. Visual Representations In order to develop every student’s mathematical proficiency, leaders and teachers must systematically integrate the… Read More Using Evidence-Based Math Strategies to Specially Design Instruction
New! 2020 Math Resources from the VDOE
The VDOE has released several new resources to assist educators with mathematics instruction. Just in Time Mathematics Quick Checks Just in Time Mathematics Quick Checks are brief formative assessments that align with the 2016 Mathematics Standards of Learning. The assessments are designed to help teachers identify unfinished learning and plan for future instruction. The Just… Read More New! 2020 Math Resources from the VDOE
A Plan for Planning Systematic Instruction
Systematic instruction (HLP 12) is instruction that is taught in segments and follows sequences that are carefully and logically planned toward a specific goal. Prioritizing that instruction and creating a logical instructional sequence can be the key to progress for students with disabilities. Teachers plan effective instruction when they unpack the grade level content, prioritize… Read More A Plan for Planning Systematic Instruction
Rekenrek? What the Heck??
The TechKnowledgy Conference in April 2019 introduced many creative technology-based strategies to help students become successful learners. Beth Poss gave a wonderful session, Accessible Mathematics for Early Learners. This session reviewed accessible math manipulatives to help students build a foundation for mathematical thinking. One manipulative resource Beth introduced to the group was the Rekenrek. A Rekenrek is an arithmetic or… Read More Rekenrek? What the Heck??
Leadership Tools and Literacy Walk-through Protocols
Walk-throughs provide a snap shot of student learning. Protocols can effectively structure classroom visits and focus them to observe for components of effective instruction. Brief, frequent, routine classroom visits with explicit “look-fors” can be powerful opportunities for collaboration between educational leaders and teachers (Protheroe, 2009). Literacy Walk-throughs Principals and literacy leaders can access this collection… Read More Leadership Tools and Literacy Walk-through Protocols
Writing and Assistive Technology
Speech-to-text, also known as speech recognition, is replacing word processing and word prediction. Recently, it has improved dramatically and is usually a built in feature with new products (i.e., tablets, smartphones, TVs, cars, and glasses). Unlike dictating to a tape recorder, speech-to-text can display text for the student and be repeatedly read as often as… Read More Writing and Assistive Technology
