http://serge.ccsso.org/question_7_1.html

This website is designed to provide general classroom educators with quick access to information and professional development about addressing the needs of students who have disabilities and special education. This link will help us to define and explain all of the acronyms we sometimes as general educators aren't sure what it means.

http://www.tolerance.org/ is a website for people interested in creating communities that value diversity and in dismantling bigotry. Tolerance.org provides: practical resources for parents and teachers; entertaining and educational games for young children; daily news about groups and individuals working for tolerance and fighting hate; and, guidebooks for adult and youth activists.

http://education.jhu.edu/PD/newhorizons/
New horizon is a website that we could use as educators to answer the question: Do different kinds of teaching methods work better for different kinds of learners?New Horizons is an international network with a focus on positive change in education that supports an expanded vision of learning, communicates relevant research in learning, and promotes lifelong learning for all to develop the fullest human capabilities. The site has links to a wide variety of topics.

Differentiating Instruction & Independent Learning

 

This section of the blog highlights a company called “Mindsteps”. This company helps teachers and educational leaders to:

-identify the core elements of teaching so that they can delve into the root problems and create change in the classroom and throughout the school.

-demystify the art of teaching so that they can focus on improving the practice of instruction.

-adapt the seven principles of effective instruction and help them apply those principles to everyday lessons without sacrificing their unique contributions in the classroom.

The Reference Guide can be found at this link:

http://mindstepsinc.com/differentiation/ under “Resources for the Classroom”

It is a great guide for spelling out the content, process, product and environment for teaching students with the following disabilities: HCHP,HCLP,LCHP,LCLP

 

Planning Sheet can be found from this link:

http://mindstepsinc.com/differentiation/ under “Resources for the Classroom”

This sheet helps teachers to assess 6 different subjects in the classroom and how they can be altered to assist children with disabilities: Knowledge/Skill, Direct Instruction, Guided Practice, Independent, Practice, Assessment, Acceleration and Remediation.

A Sample Unit Plan can be found from this link:
http://mindstepsinc.com/differentiation/ under “Resources for the Classroom”

The Sample History Unitprovides an example of how a history teacher could lay out a lesson plan for the Articles of Confederation and then fill in different alterations to that plan according to different children with disability’s needs. For example, as a teacher you could mention a few nice-to-knows that will not be on the test. Or provide optional note-taking graphic organizers to help students stay with the material. You could also provide an outline template for the essay.

A vairety of assisted technologies:
Here are three articles that would be beneficial for us while teaching in a classroom with children with disabilities:

1. This one is very usefull because it gives activites, games and tricks to work effectively woth children with disabilites

http://www.discovertechnology.com/


     2.  The Alliance for technology Access (ATA) has a goal to bring technology to children with disabilities in schools. It can be very helpful for teachers top be a member because they could get trainning from them.

http://www.ataccess.org/


    3. this amazing organization called Onion Mountain technology provides consultations, evaluations, training, workshops and presentations as well as a full line of low and mid tech tools.

http://www.onionmountaintech.com/index.php

Measuring and Reporting Progress

 "IDEA's Exact Words": 
Measuring and Reporting Progress

Supplementary Aids and Services

"the Short Story on Supplementary Aids and Services":
Supplementary Aids and Services

CEC | Five Strategies to Limit the Burdens of Paperwork

CEC | Five Strategies to Limit the Burdens of Paperwork

Just from our very first diversity class, I became aware that dealing with Special Education also mean to deal with paper work. So in order not to get too overwhelming, here are some strategies!

CEC | CEC Releases New Standards for Advanced Roles in Special Education

CEC | CEC Releases New Standards for Advanced Roles in Special Education
For our own professional development as teachers, this article help us a be aware of standards and roles we have to play in Special Education.

CEC | Co-Teaching 101: Lessons from the Trenches

CEC | Co-Teaching 101: Lessons from the Trenches
An helpful article for teachers to successfully help students that need special needs.