Special and exception needs students benefit from tested, evidence-based methods used in similar environments. Methods and strategies that withstood the challenges and rigors of day-to-day teaching in ESE classrooms will be demonstrated in this e-course. Core content areas with high student engagement and academic success use differentiation, teach academic vocabulary, apply rigorous writing across all genres and manage students in motivating and predictable ways. Participants will plan using Universal Design for Learning templates to plan for differentiated instruction, and apply Marzano (2015) and Tomlinson (2013, 2015) design principles to serve as a framework for effective teaching and learning. From seating to structuring learning centers, participants will apply research-based essentials for organizing effective classroom environments that focus squarely on the special needs student while streamlining strategies across all multiple core content areas.  Careful attention will be given to physical space, design, support systems and activities to accommodate the different and varied needs among exceptional learners.

Course Objectives:

  • Develop working knowledge of the evidence-based instructional principles that work into success for special needs students and exceptional leaners.
  • Glean and apply working knowledge about the classrooms and classroom environments that lead to successfully teaching to exceptional learners and special education students.
  • Use UDL principles to align student-centered learning goals, and design effective instructional delivery modules.
  • Apply tiered assessment strategies and respond to tiered assessment with instruction that increases levels of intensity and duration to meet the needs of all students throughout all content areas.

Teaching to exceptional children invokes careful planning, the use of data in the planning stages, and a teamed approach that involves parents and all educational stakeholders to work into a child’s success. Beginning with individualized student plans, participants will develop their ability to analyze and plan with data to differentiate for multiple learner types and instructional support.  Strategies for co-teaching using Common Core, traditional and 21st century curriculum will result in a multiple-pronged approach to instructional success.

Course Objectives:

  • Practice with and use data and resources for planning and implementation of a broad and scaffolded curriculum focused on the needs of exceptional learners.
  • Leverage new information, tools and resources, student readiness and differentiated approaches to learning with evidence-based practices for a variety of learners, educational programs and classroom settings.