Field-tested strategies for teaching science to students with special needs Teachers are required to provide appropriate science instruction to all students, including children with special needs. However, they are often left on their own to figure out how to effectively differentiate lessons and activities. Help is here! This timely, practical guidebook shows general and special educators how to retool science activities and assessments for students with learning disabilities, behavior disorders, and more. The authors cover a broad range of topics in an orderly, concise fashion, including: - National and state requirements for student learning and science literacy - Pedagogical strategies for collaborative learning groups, self-paced learning centers, literature circles, and team projects - Grade-appropriate ways to revise science activities and assessments for biology, earth science, and physical science lessons - Step-by-step instructions for using rubrics for evaluation, revision, and assessment - Information on teacher collaboration and specific disabilities Also included are vignettes and checklists to assist teachers in bridging the gap between science and special education instruction and assessment. By adjusting the content, teaching critical thinking, and providing a variety of ways for learners to demonstrate their knowledge, you will give all students the chance to achieve academic success in science.
Differentiated instruction (DI) has been shown to maximize both learning and neural development for students of diverse backgrounds and abilities, but to date, DI has been easier to implement in elementary grades than in upper grades. "I have too much content to cover"; "My district requires me to follow a prescribed text"; "I'm good at lecturing"; "I can't see how I would grade all those different assignments"; "I don't know how"; "I thought I was differentiating"--all these are important reasons that high school teachers offer as obstacles to DI implementation. Solution strategies for those obstacles and others is the focus of this important new teaching guide by Kathie Nunley, originator of the Layered Curriculum method for teaching in mixed ability classrooms. Using common sense, wisdom, humor, and the latest brain research, Nunley offers supportive solutions for each problem; examples and scenarios illustrating the solutions in action; and a collection of new ideas for teachers to try as they begin differentiating content, process, assignments, and assessments in their classrooms. This easy-to-navigate guide is sure to be a welcome and timely new resource for high school teachers, curriculum designers, instructional leaders, and pre-service students of secondary methods.
Differentiated instruction (DI) has been shown to maximize both learning and neural development for students of diverse backgrounds and abilities, but to date, DI has been easier to implement in elementary grades than in upper grades. "I have too much content to cover"; "My district requires me to follow a prescribed text"; "I'm good at lecturing"; "I can't see how I would grade all those different assignments"; "I don't know how"; "I thought I was differentiating"--all these are important reasons that high school teachers offer as obstacles to DI implementation. Solution strategies for those obstacles and others is the focus of this important new teaching guide by Kathie Nunley, originator of the Layered Curriculum method for teaching in mixed ability classrooms. Using common sense, wisdom, humor, and the latest brain research, Nunley offers supportive solutions for each problem; examples and scenarios illustrating the solutions in action; and a collection of new ideas for teachers to try as they begin differentiating content, process, assignments, and assessments in their classrooms. This easy-to-navigate guide is sure to be a welcome and timely new resource for high school teachers, curriculum designers, instructional leaders, and pre-service students of secondary methods.
"Drapeau is a teacher's teacher. This book is guaranteed to elevate student thinking while addressing the needs of individual learners at all skill levels. It's all here and ready to go, along with sound research for support." -Pamela Lester, Enrichment Teacher Clinton Township School District, Lebanon, NJ "Graphic organizers, differentiated instruction, and creative and critical thinking-three topics on the frontline of teaching today, all together in one well-crafted text. This exciting book will not stay on the bookshelf; teachers will try the sample lessons and use and modify the graphic organizers to improve their practice and the achievement of their students." -Karen Shible, Reading Specialist Meachem Elementary School, Syracuse, NY Use graphic organizers to challenge students, make learning exciting, and raise academic achievement! Graphic organizers have proven to be successful tools for helping students develop their critical and creative thinking skills. This research-based resource shows how graphic organizers can improve teaching practices, help differentiate instruction in the classroom, and raise learning outcomes for all students, including English language learners and students with learning disabilities. The author presents graphic organizers for nine types of thinking processes based on Bloom's taxonomy and offers examples of how to apply the graphic organizers in different subject areas and grade levels. This hands-on guide demonstrates how teachers can: Promote the critical thinking processes of assuming, inferring, analyzing, prioritizing, and judging Encourage the creative thinking processes of brainstorming, connecting, creating, and elaborating Modify graphic organizers or create their own to meet individual learning needs With assessment rubrics for providing quality feedback included, Differentiating With Graphic Organizers addresses ways to promote and build students' creative reasoning, communication, and problem-solving skills and make the learning process a success.
"Drapeau is a teacher's teacher. This book is guaranteed to elevate student thinking while addressing the needs of individual learners at all skill levels. It's all here and ready to go, along with sound research for support." -Pamela Lester, Enrichment Teacher Clinton Township School District, Lebanon, NJ "Graphic organizers, differentiated instruction, and creative and critical thinking-three topics on the frontline of teaching today, all together in one well-crafted text. This exciting book will not stay on the bookshelf; teachers will try the sample lessons and use and modify the graphic organizers to improve their practice and the achievement of their students." -Karen Shible, Reading Specialist Meachem Elementary School, Syracuse, NY Use graphic organizers to challenge students, make learning exciting, and raise academic achievement! Graphic organizers have proven to be successful tools for helping students develop their critical and creative thinking skills. This research-based resource shows how graphic organizers can improve teaching practices, help differentiate instruction in the classroom, and raise learning outcomes for all students, including English language learners and students with learning disabilities. The author presents graphic organizers for nine types of thinking processes based on Bloom's taxonomy and offers examples of how to apply the graphic organizers in different subject areas and grade levels. This hands-on guide demonstrates how teachers can: Promote the critical thinking processes of assuming, inferring, analyzing, prioritizing, and judging Encourage the creative thinking processes of brainstorming, connecting, creating, and elaborating Modify graphic organizers or create their own to meet individual learning needs With assessment rubrics for providing quality feedback included, Differentiating With Graphic Organizers addresses ways to promote and build students' creative reasoning, communication, and problem-solving skills and make the learning process a success.
"Translates the need for differentiation into a format that breaks down the 'why' into the 'how.' By using conversations between real teachers and a coach as they undergo the endeavor of putting differentiation into practice, the authors have provided the means for practitioners to see firsthand how theory can become reality." -Jason Thompson, Fifth-Grade Teacher Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School District, NY "This book has a great variety of lessons contributed by teachers-very well laid out and easy to follow. The book provides good examples of using differentiation across subject areas." -Wendy Rader, Kindergarten Teacher Union County Public Schools, Charlotte, NC Watch what happens when educators put differentiation to work in real classrooms! Every student has unique learning styles, interests, and preferences. By differentiating instruction, teachers can reach all the students in their classroom, from struggling students to the gifted. Based on research and the authors' experiences at one remarkable elementary school, Differentiation at Work, K-5 describes what schoolwide differentiation looks like in real classrooms. Lane Narvaez and Kay Brimijoin show school administrators how differentiated instruction can be successfully implemented schoolwide and provide teachers with authentic tools for the classroom. Readers will find: Nine sample lesson plans from a variety of disciplines and grade levels, with materials included Voices of teachers, students, and other members of the school community describing their experiences with differentiation A chapter on supporting schoolwide implementation through coaching Preassessments to determine students' prior knowledge Strategies for designing and refining lessons Applications at the district level This hands-on resource demonstrates how increased student achievement can become a reality when the entire school focuses on making differentiation work.
Focusing on the link between gifted education and general education, this resource discusses the benefits of differentiating curriculum and instruction.
With their characteristically joyful and conversational tone that celebrates learning and diverse students, Kathleen Kryza, Alicia Duncan, and S. Joy Stephens offer teachers dozens of practical strategies for designing and delivering differentiated lessons to reach all learners. Differentiation for Real Classrooms: Making It Simple, Making It Work is a ready-to-go resource for creating lessons that allow all students to take in and process new information and teachers to assess their learning. Includes abundant illustrations, vignettes, sample lessons and units, and adaptations for ELLs and students with special needs.
Accommodating Brain Development, Language, Literacy, and Special Needs
"There is something for everyone here. A valuable resource for experienced teachers starting on the road to curriculum integration or switching to teaching adolescents. Preservice teachers would also benefit, because the book emphasizes the nature of the learner." -Mark A. Springer, Teacher Radnor Middle School, Wayne, PA Activate learning with practical techniques that put brain research and technology into practice! The changes and complexities of the adolescent mind bring unique challenges as well as opportunities to the classroom. This valuable resource for student-centered teaching provides keys to curriculum design, instruction, and assessment within the context of a developmentally appropriate, differentiated approach. Translating the latest brain research into practical classroom strategies, the author focuses on the adolescent learner and outlines brain-compatible instructional strategies applicable to all students, including English Language Learners, gifted populations, and others with special needs. Readers will encounter a six-point differentiated model based on adolescents' need for personal connection, appropriate intellectual challenge, emotional engagement, guided social interaction, metacognitive development, and a supportive learning environment. The guide also equips teachers with ready-to-use tips, tools, and resources, including: Ways to capitalize on technology to enhance differentiated instruction Brain-friendly strategies grounded in current neuroscience research and universal design for learning (UDL) Straightforward explanations on how changes in adolescent brain structure impact learning Techniques to create and manage a classroom environment aligned with adolescents' specific developmental needs Focusing on learners' intellectual, social, and emotional development, Differentiation for the Adolescent Learner offers a proven plan for teachers to create meaningful learning experiences that inspire students to take control of their own learning.
