Monday, November 26, 2012

Reflection on Disability Handouts

Though this was a difficult task to accomplish (it took forever to figure out how to embed them), I'm really happy we had to do it. I was looking at the stack of handouts the other day, thinking, I could use these in the future, where can I keep them that they will be accessible. The real answer is nowhere. Even with good intentions, I would never be able to remember where they were when I needed them, and I would never need them when I did run across them. It is a constant problem. I wish everything was electronically filed. If/when I have a child with any category of disability in my class, I know right where to go to find quick strategies and resources. It's brilliant!

Orthopedic Impairment

Speech and Language Impairment

Deafness

Autism

Emotional Disturbance

Developmental Delay

Deaf-Blindness

Hearing Impairment

Intellectual Disability

Multiple Disabilities

Other Health Impairment

Specific Learning Disability

Traumatic Brain Injury

Visual Impairment

Monday, November 5, 2012

SERGE Resources (fixed)

http://serge.ccsso.org/question_1_2.html This link addresses exactly what Universal Design is, and has great resources on how to implement it in your classroom. Following are links to three of those resources:
http://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Academics/ud_edu.html (my alma mater!) this gives an overview of Universal Design.
http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/toolkits/downloads/PAL_udllessonanalysis.pdf This has information about how to apply ULD to specific lessons.
http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/toolkits/tk_introduction.cfm?tk_id=21 Here you can create an inventory of all the methods you currently use to include all learners. This will help you assess where you are, and where you need improvement.

http://serge.ccsso.org/question_4_3.html This question addresses how to to involve learners in their own assessment. Anything that promotes a child to be involved in their own learning is worth looking into.
http://assessmentinst.com/forms/TIP-pub.pdf Provides specifics on how to involve students in the assessment process.
http://www.pdkintl.org/kappan/k9911sti.htm Questions current assumptions about assessment, and encourages their use as a way to boost student learning and confidence.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

SERGE Essential Questions resources

What does the law require of me as an educator?  
https://westminstercollege.blackboard.com/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tabGroup=courses&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fcontent%2FcontentWrapper.jsp%3Fcontent_id%3D_3420_1%26displayName%3DLinked%2BFile%26course_id%3D_990_1%26navItem%3Dcontent%26attachment%3Dtrue%26href%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fserge.ccsso.org%252Fsite_map.html
I chose this link because once I start teaching, I want to be aware of what the law requires. It is my hope to go beyond requirements, but I want to be aware of what they are.

How can I design curriculum that meets the needs of all my students?
https://westminstercollege.blackboard.com/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tabGroup=courses&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fcontent%2FcontentWrapper.jsp%3Fcontent_id%3D_3420_1%26displayName%3DLinked%2BFile%26course_id%3D_990_1%26navItem%3Dcontent%26attachment%3Dtrue%26href%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fserge.ccsso.org%252Fsite_map.html
 This will come in handy if designing curriculum for an inclusive classroom. It will be my job to develop lessons that work for students with various disabilities, ELLs, and culturally diverse learners.

What is Universal Design, and how would I use it?
https://westminstercollege.blackboard.com/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tabGroup=courses&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fcontent%2FcontentWrapper.jsp%3Fcontent_id%3D_3420_1%26displayName%3DLinked%2BFile%26course_id%3D_990_1%26navItem%3Dcontent%26attachment%3Dtrue%26href%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fserge.ccsso.org%252Fsite_map.html
I have heard a bit about universal design and look forward to learning much more about it.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

differentiated instruction sample english lessons

http://mindstepsinc.com/wp-content/plugins/download-protect/downloader.php?d=%93%DB%D3%CE%D0U%D6%D0%A1%AD%CC%B2%ABf%99%A6%93%96%9BW%A5%93hl%96%AC%AB%A4%D0%A2%C8%CD%DD%8B%E6%D0%A8%AB%CA%A9%AAf%D4%E5%D3%D5%D0%89%E7%C6%97h%AB%AD%9D%9D%C9%E5%C9%CF%DF%8F%D4%D5%9C%A8%D5ddW%B7%D4%D1%D1%D7%8B%93%A6%A1%A0%D3%AD%AA%9F%84%C8%D2%CA%DFF%C3%CD%94%A7%95%B4%9B%9D&v=%D4%E8%C6%CD%D4%89

This organizer offers great advice, I wish there were sample elementary pages.

Unit planning: differentiated instruction

http://mindstepsinc.com/wp-content/plugins/download-protect/downloader.php?d=%93%DB%D3%CE%D0U%D6%D0%A1%AD%CC%B2%ABf%99%A6%93%96%9BW%A5%93hl%96%AC%AB%A4%D0%A2%C8%CD%DD%8B%E6%D0%A8%AB%CA%A9%AAf%D4%E5%D3%D5%D0%89%E7%C6%97h%AB%AD%9D%9D%C9%E5%C9%CF%DF%8F%D4%D5%98%9D%87%B9%A5%A0%D8%93%D4%CD%CC%94%E1%CA%A1%A0%87%B8%9C%A4%D4%DF%C5%D5%D0T%E3%C5%99&v=%D4%E8%C6%CD%D4%89

This is such a helpful guide in planning. It offers great questions to ask yourself when teaching all children; every one of them may struggle at some point.

The four types of students: differentiated intstruction rescource

http://mindstepsinc.com/wp-content/plugins/download-protect/downloader.php?d=%93%DB%D3%CE%D0U%D6%D0%A1%AD%CC%B2%ABf%99%A6%93%96%9BW%A5%93hl%96%AC%AB%A4%D0%A2%C8%CD%DD%8B%E6%D0%A8%AB%CA%A9%AAf%D4%E5%D3%D5%D0%89%E7%C6%97h%AB%AD%9D%9D%C9%E5%C9%CF%DF%8F%D4%D5%9C%A8%D5q%98%A5%C8%A0%98%8E%BF%9F%E3%C6%A6f%D6%AAd%8A%D8%E8%C8%C6%D9%9A%E6%8F%A3%9D%CD&v=%D4%E8%C6%CD%D4%89

This is a handy chart to keep in mind different ways you can approach instruction with these different types of learners. I wish it was more detailed and with examples!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Reflection on posts from UAAACT

I posted a link to the state office of Education's page on students with disability. This page has some great resources on it, including information about scholarships and grants and current information about Utah and disability laws.
I also posted a link to UAAACTs page on having a child evaluated for assistive technology. There are a lot of technologies available, and the more we know about as teachers, and about the process of obtaining them, the more precisely we'll be able to serve students.
Finally, I posted a link to a list of readers for students with disabilities aimed at teaching the core curriculum. Even if I don't use these, they might have some good teaching ideas in them.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

CEC Links

I posted the assessment link because I've been doing a lot of reading and writing about assessment, but I haven't seen much about students with disability and assessments, so I'm anxious to find out more.
I posted the behavior management link because I'm hoping to find some great resources in there to help me manage behavioral issues.
Finally, I posted the early childhood education link because I use to work in ECE, and loved it. The earlier education is started, the better.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Reflection on Parent Handbook link

This handbook is a surprisingly accessable tool to help parents understand the process of identifying and addressing special needs of children in schools. It is written in straightforward language, and offers suggestions to help parents advocate for their kids during a time when they might be feeling overwhelmed, scared, and/or confused. It is helpful for teachers as well, offering a guide for what expectations are legitimate to have of families, and setting a tone of mutual respect and cooperation.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Reflection on why I chose idea ed. gov link

     This website has many sections that are relevent to the study of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. They call it a living site, meaning that things are added to it still, so information is updated. Also, there are sections on how the act fits in with No Child Left Behind, and high quality teachers. There are many areas to explore.