How to Support all Learners:
A showcase featuring projects and presentations geared towards educating staff and parents about the unique learning needs of students. These projects were created for courses I took during my graduate studies, yet they were designed with my staff and students in mind. These artifacts also display the skill sets that I possess with research, technology, and making presentations relevant for my audience and ties into my current position as a middle school special education teacher.
Classroom Management in the Inclusive Classroom means incorporating primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions. When discussing classroom management today it is nearly impossible to do so with out the use of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). I created a short presentation and handout which discusses the critical areas and principles of PBIS. I was able to use my creativity and organization in creating an engaging document and presentation for my peers, one that would be sure to grab their attention. The document capitalizes on how PBIS could be implemented at the middle school level with specific examples. This artifact also shows the strength I have in taking a topic and making it not only engaging, and synthesizing a great deal of information into a digestible amount, but also making content relevant for its targeted audience.
pbis_application_activity.pdf | |
File Size: | 269 kb |
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In this presentation I decided to delve deeper into supporting struggling adolescent readers and specifically, how parents can support their students at home in addition to the support received at school. This project consists of a PowerPoint presentation that would be presented to parents, a parent activity, and a handout to support the activity that would be distributed also. The above email feedback is from my instructor in regards to this project. Here my strength in professionalism and synthesis is displayed as I breakdown a frustration for parents of students with disabilities, struggling with reading, and provide them with a research based strategy that can be tried at home. Understanding my students and parents, as well as my expertise with PowerPoint, makes this project worth checking out.
struggling_adolescent_readers_parent_presentation_ppt.pptx | |
File Size: | 1530 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
parent_activity.pdf | |
File Size: | 428 kb |
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prefix_and_suffix_parent_handout.pdf | |
File Size: | 160 kb |
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When considering teaching mathematics two topics stick out to me, an 8th grade mathematics teacher, literacy in mathematics (due to the Common Core State Standards) as well as teaching math to struggling learners (each student in my class receives special education services due to a specific area of eligibility). With these topics in mind I embarked on an action research project that would address how to incorporate more writing into my resource mathematics class. The research revealed the importance of literacy when teaching math and specifically highlighted strategies that could be incorporated into the classroom for doing so. I took this research that resonated with my practice, and put it into place. I was able to use my Glogster skills and create an interactive poster, in addition to the formal research paper I wrote, which culminates my research as well as the strategies I incorporated into my classroom. Via the Glogster, you are able to view student work samples of increasing the volume of writing in mathematics, as well as audio of student interviews- their first hand experience of how writing in math has helped them to better understand math concepts.
http://www.glogster.com/kblain6/te-855-action-research-glog/g-6l3useoa3ok8b5l169v6ta0
http://www.glogster.com/kblain6/te-855-action-research-glog/g-6l3useoa3ok8b5l169v6ta0
action_research_project.pdf | |
File Size: | 195 kb |
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One main aspect of my job is to learn, understand, and make meaningful accommodations for students who struggle and especially those who struggle with literacy. I have continually been exposed to the importance of decoding, fluency and comprehension. I have learned how to teach these important areas of literacy and have also seen first-hand how they can impact a student’s academic performance. I put my research skills to the test when I worked one-on-one with a student with a diagnosed learning disability in basic reading skills. I capitalized on the research, as well as his strengths and weaknesses, to carefully plan and implement lessons that would target his areas of need, decoding and fluency. The case study captured the personal side of the frustrations of a reading disability but also highlights that accurate instruction can help students to improve.
blain.casestudy.pdf | |
File Size: | 333 kb |
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Activating a student’s prior knowledge is key. For students that struggle with literacy it is especially key to build background and hook their interest in order to help them with their comprehension. Technology is one aspect that can be used to activate prior knowledge and build background. However, if you are not able to find what you are looking for it can be created.
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Through the use of free Web 2.0s or the use of the free program, Windows Movie Maker, engaging and informative digital stories can be created. I used my understanding of technology, copyright laws, and an upcoming novel study, to create a video to be used for an anticipatory set prior to reading The Diary of Anne Frank. I also use my technology skill sets by incorporating them into lessons where students can use technology, such as digital storytelling, to show their understanding in creative and professional ways. Technology is not just engaging, but it also provides students with skills that are essential for the workplace.