Distance Learning - Best Practices for Special Education

Distance Learning - Best Practices for Special Education

I know things are all a bit crazy and uncertain as we approach our first new school year in the era of COVID-19 (here's hoping someone reads this post in the future and says "Oh wow, remember that? So glad it's over." and not "Oh man, remember that? Things were so much better back then").

It certainly doesn't help that there is a serious lack of cohesion in our country, with some districts going back to full-time in-person teaching, some staying in full-time remote instruction, and others employing a myriad of "hybrid models." 

My school district recently announced that we will continue distance learning for the start of the school year until ???. Now that I know what we're doing, I feel like I can finally start planning for the new school year. To be honest I've been having a hard time, debating over a few different options:

• Recognize that this year is likely to be a crapshoot, try not to stress and save myself some work by following my District's scope and sequence with our online textbook.
• Use this as a chance to go all in with technology and play around with methods of online gamification
• Stick with designing my curriculum around self-selected reading and find a way to make independent reading work without the accountability of students reading in class.
• Not focus as much on reading and instead go all-in with writing instruction this year.

I've been bouncing these possibilities in my head for weeks, and finally talked to my darling partner Ki who (after listening to me babble for twenty minutes trying to get my thoughts in order) told me exactly what I needed to hear:

"What's going to be the best thing for your students?"

He also said some other lovely stuff about how I'll do amazing work no matter what I choose, and how my students always love my class and still will, but that one point really helped set my path.

Because here's the thing: This entire time I've been stressing about teaching remotely, I've been thinking about me. What will I do? What will I enjoy? What opportunities do I have?

I knew COVID-19 had forced teachers to think about a lot of things differently, but not that it had made my priorities do a complete 180. So I stopped thinking about what I would do and instead started to research what my students need.

The following information will be helpful for any teachers providing remote instruction, but I specifically researched what would work for secondary students with high-incidence disabilities like Learning Disabilities and ADHD.

Don't Abandon Good Teaching Practices

If you're reading this, then chances are you're a dedicated teacher who understands both content and teaching pedagogy. Many of the evidence based practices we've used for years still apply even when teaching online. Continue to use them, even if they need to be adapted for online use.

Want more resources on teaching practices? Check out the CEC's High-Leverage Practices, and the IES What Works Clearinghouse.

Build Relationships

I honestly believe this is the number one most important thing for any teacher, but it is especially true when working with students with disabilities. Many of these students have spent years in school feeling frustrated, disappointed, and less than. A teacher who takes the time to get to know them, caters to their needs and interests, and genuinely believes in them can make all the difference in the world.

This school year you may have returning students, or students you have never met before, so the amount of work you'll need on the front end will vary. Dedicate the first few days of the year primarily to building relationships. Remember, not only are you meeting your students for the first time, but many of them will be meeting their peers as well. Find ways to build in collaboration or discussion to foster friendships.

A word of WARNING: Avoid putting students on the spot, especially in the first days of class. No one wants to have to present to their entire class when they're still trying to settle in. I know it's easy to do a little "everyone tell us your name and some interesting things about you" in that first online meeting, but you might end up creating a lot of anxiety and stress.

Instead you can use something written or creative that doesn't require talking or being on camera, like introduction slides. If you want students to introduce themselves on video, use a tool like Flipgrid so students can record their video and redo it if they need to, to take some of the pressure off.

As the school year continues, remember that building relationships should be ongoing, and not limited to just a few icebreakers on Day One.

Keep Things Consistent

For many students with disabilities, knowing what to expect each day can be extremely helpful. This can apply in a number of ways, so I'll touch on a few. 

Scheduling - This is probably number one. Have a set schedule for each day or week and try not to change it. I know what you're thinking but this doesn't need to be overly specific or monotonous. Try to establish a schedule based on activity type, grouping etc. rather than something super specific. 

 

Websites and Tools - One of the issues I ran into when we went to remote instruction last school year was that if an assignment wasn't on Google Classroom, many of my students didn't do it. This became an issue when I tried to use other websites like Newsela or No Red Ink to issue student assignments. I started posting an "assignment" on Google classroom with instructions to go to the appropriate website and complete the task, but I still had too many kids who would just click "Turn In" and not do the assignment. 

This year I am going to try to have all assignments on one platform (either the online portal for our textbook or Google Classroom, depending on what I do curriculum-wise). I also found that students were getting confused about resources versus assignments on Google Classroom so I will probably set up a Google Sites page for resources.

Assignment Format - My students also had a hard time learning how to use different Google tools for completing assignments. Filling in Google Forms was easiest for them, but there's no way to save without submitting so it doesn't work for longer assignments. They did okay writing in Google Docs but were notorious for accidentally (or accidentally-on-purpose) deleting the directions or resources in the doc or even deleting the document itself. Then I tried using Google Slides with locked backgrounds for directions and text boxes for them to fill in. Many students couldn't understand how to use them, and others had technical issues especially when using their phones to work.

All of that led to a lot of frustration and time wasted on their part and mine. This year I will try to stick to Google Forms and then one other format for all longer assignments. I'll need to spend time teaching my students how to complete assignments in that format but once I do they'll know what to expect and how to do all of their work. 

Visuals - This one can be tough. There are so many cute PDFs on Teachers Pay Teachers, and adorable Google Slides templates that we want to try all of them (or is that just me?). But for students with disabilities, it is helpful to have a consistent look to your presentations and documents. They'll know what to expect and where to find information each time. I'd recommend establishing a template your follow in terms of title, text, and graphic placement. If possible use one consistent font, but if you want/need to be more creative then choose 2 or 3 and limit yourself to those. Mix things up by varying colors, graphics, and backgrounds.

 

Focus on Essential Skills

Distance learning is not the same as in person learning. It just isn't. For some students being able to work from home at their own pace is a blessing, but for many it's far more difficult. For teachers, checking in on student work and offering help will take longer, and classroom time will be lost due to technical issues.

We need to accept that reality and adjust our expectations accordingly. Aim to still hit all of your required standards, but consider what is most essential to cover in depth this school year. What will most help your students succeed next school year, in college or trade schools, and once they're employed adults? Focus on that and adjust your pacing as needed to meet the needs of your students.

Provide Oral Presentation

One of the most common academic impacts of disabilities for students is difficulty with reading. When we teach in person we often account for this by reading directions out loud, repeating them as necessary, and rewording them to ensure student understanding. In contrast, when students are completing work independently online, we tend to present instructions in writing along with whatever assignment they are doing.

Consider adding an audio clip of you reading the directions as well, or even better, include a video of you reading the directions and demonstrating on your screen. You can record audio with your phone or tablet, or any number of free audio recorders that will use your PC microphone. For recording your screen, Screencastify is really easy to use and free for recordings up to five minutes (if your directions are longer than five minutes, consider shortening them. If you can't, you may need to present them directly during a live session so students can ask clarifying questions).

Chunk Material

We would never spend an entire period doing just one thing and expect our students to stay engaged, so why are teachers doing 50 minute Zoom sessions? (Even worse, why are some teachers lecturing for 50 minute Zoom sessions?)

Depending on your schedule, you can break up your periods in different ways. If you have shorter periods you may do whole group for the first half, and then independent or small group work for the second half. Longer block periods will need to be broken up a bit differently. This may involve having students leave your video conference and then come back later at a set time. If you do this, make sure you're very clear about who is to come back when, and schedule reminders if you're able to.

Don't be afraid to have students do independent work. I know it's hard when you're not in the room to actively monitor students. If necessary, you can have students stay on camera while they're working.

Offer Direct Support

For a student to be successful when attending school from home they need top notch executive functioning skills - something many students with disabilities struggle with. Pay attention to which of your students seem to struggle with online learning and take time to work with them one-on-one. They may need help with how to physically use technology tools, navigating websites, accessing their accounts etc. Often older students do not have parents at home, or their parents may not understand the online platforms any better than your student does.

Also make sure you're offering one-on-one and small group academic support. If your students were working independently in your classroom, you'd likely be circulating and assisting as needed. You can stay online in your video meeting during student independent work time so students can pop in to ask for help as needed. If students aren't performing but don't ask for help, schedule a one-on-one meeting with them.

Document Everything

This should honestly go without saying. In the world of special education there is a constant need to document provided services, interventions, progress towards goals, etc. This goes double with distance learning. Many parents are rightfully concerned about ensuring their child is receiving the support they need and/or are legally entitled to.

As tedious as it may be, keep meticulous notes and records. Record your online sessions and maintain the recordings for a year (you may want to keep them longer depending on the student and their parent - use your best judgement). Save ALL of your e-mails. I use labels in G-Mail to keep everything organized and out of my inbox while still keeping all of my communication. Also, as tempting as it is to let your e-mails stand alone as documentation of contact, write them down in your notes or contact logs as well. The last thing you want to have to do is scramble to find and document every message with a staff member, student, or parent when you get called into a meeting or get an e-mail from the principal!

If any of the platforms you use provide data on student usage, log-in times, etc. grab screenshots of anything concerning, or for any students you feel you're more likely to be called upon to provide data for. This can not only document services and instruction you provided, but also if the student is attending as they've been instructed and attempting to complete their work.

Resources

Center on Online Learning and Students With Disabilities

Considerations for Teachers Providing Distance Learning to Students with Disabilities

Council for Exceptional Children Best Practices for Educating Online

Distance Learning: Supporting Students with Disabilities

The Science of Attention: How To Capture And Hold The Attention of Easily Distracted Students

Weekend Project: How to Organize Teacher Computer Files in 5 Easy Steps

Time for my first ever Weekend Project: How to Organize Teacher Computer Files in 5 Easy Steps

Maybe you’ve never given a single thought to where you save your computer files. Perhaps you started the year off organized but by the end of the year had given up and have a massive cluster of files shoved in My Documents. With any luck you at least know what My Documents is : )


Regardless of your computer experience or how diligent you are, we all end up with a mess of digital files on our teacher computer at some point. If it’s gone on for a while, you may have hundreds, nay thousands, of files to sort through. It can be overwhelming, but rest assured, I’m here with the answer, because it’s time to finally organize your teacher computer files, and I’m going to show you how to do it.



Project Completion Time: 1 – 12 hours (depending on how organized you were to begin with and how computer savvy you are)


First things first, make sure you have enough time to get this all done before you need to use your teacher computer again. The process involves taking EVERYTHING off of your computer, and the last thing you need is to go crazy trying to find a file you need, or to undo the process out of necessity to get back to work. This can be done on a weekend, but I like to do it during the summer; mainly because IT tells us to back up our computer before we leave anyway, and it ensures that I'll have plenty of time to get it done..

Step 1: Take all of the files off of your teacher computer

The first thing you need to do is get your files off of your teacher computer. Yes, you could potentially do all of your sorting from within your teaching computer, but I guarantee you’ll be far more likely to stop in the middle of it (and either abandon it or forget where you were and have to start over), or will be far more reluctant to get rid of files you don’t need. You want a clean start here, so the best thing to do is to get your files to neutral territory so that you can look at it through a critical lens.


So, go through your work computer and move all of your files to a portable USB drive (aka flash drive aka pen drive). Don’t have one? I love the Lexar TwistTurn drives, since they swing closed to protect the USB end when you’re not using it.

Because there is such a wide variety of computers in use in schools, I am not providing detailed instructions for this step. The basic process is to drag all of your computer files into a single folder on your USB drive. I name my folder Work Computer and then the date I moved all of the files.

Make sure to check My Documents, Pictures, Videos, Downloads, and your Desktop! You don’t want to miss anything.


If you need more detailed directions, Sandisk has guides for Windows XP, Vista, 7 and Mac OS here.

If you’re still lost, contact your school’s tech support person, or find a tech savvy teacher who can help you out ^_~

Step 2: Copy your work computer files to your home computer

Now it’s time to copy all of your files to your home computer. The reason I copy the files to my personal computer instead of moving them, is so that I still have a backup saved on my USB drive. We all make mistakes and I like to know that if I accidentally delete something I need, I can get it back.

Note: all of the following images and directions are based on Windows 7 but the basic concepts are the same.


The first thing you need to do is plug in and open your USB drive. Chances are as soon as you plug the drive in, a window will pop up and let you open it. If that doesn’t happen, or you accidentally closed it, here’s what you do.

Click the Windows start orb, then click Computer. This will open a window that shows your computers drives.

Double click on your USB drive. It will most likely be towards the bottom of the window.

Now that the files in your USB drive are visible, drag them onto your desktop to copy them over. (You don’t necessarily have to use your desktop, but I find that to be a good place to work on sorting files, since it doesn’t require extra folders to be open.)

Step 3: Consider your folder organization system



At the heart of any computer filing system are folders. Just like the filing cabinet folders teacher use to sort out student files, unit documents, etc., computer folders are designed to sort and separate computer files. Folders on your computer have the added benefit of what’s called a folder tree or folder hierarchy. Simply, you can have sub-folders inside of folders. This allows you to create folders for larger categories, and then more specific folders within those.


As you can see in this image, I have a folder called Lesson Plans. Inside that folder is a folder titled Archive (for old plans), and one called PGP (for Professional Growth Plans).

Below that is a more complex set up, with a Lessons folder, which is full of folders for each subject I teach. Inside many of those folders are sub folders to break things down even more specifically.



Now that you understand how the folder system works, it’s time to decide HOW you want your folders organized. As you can see in my folder tree, I have main folders based on key times of the year (beginning, end, and holidays), a separate folder (Classroom Setup) for printables for around my room, a folder for all of my ESE work, one for final exams, and the aforementioned Lessons folder.

The list goes on and on. If you click here you can see my entire folder tree. This was pre-reorganizing so it may change a bit, but you can see how much I love using folders! By contrast, my co-teacher uses much fewer sub-folders because she doesn’t like have to click into multiple folders to find something. I can’t stand scrolling through long lists of files, so her system doesn’t work for me. You really just need to find what’s right for you.

That being said, I do have some recommendations.

On my computer, the Lessons folder is the heart of my teaching. I know that all of my teaching materials are in that folder and its subfolders; nowhere else. Nothing but actual teaching materials go in here.

I’d recommend a Personal folder. No, we’re not supposed to handle personal business at work, but we’ve all had to fax a letter to a doctor, submit insurance information online, or something else that we find takes up our lunch break ; ) So have a spot to keep anything that has to do with your personal life to keep it separate.

Create a To Sort folder. I use this as a safety net for when I get overwhelmed with fifteen million things and I stop keeping up with organizing my files. At the end of this school year I had 165 files sitting in that folder to sort through! Can you imagine if they were scattered throughout my computer instead?

I also have a folder called School Documents. This is where I save the various passes, schedules, testing calendars, etc. that administration sends out. I like keeping them separate because 1) it makes it easy to find them, and 2) I can usually delete them at the end of the year since admin sends out updated documents each August.

Everything else is really up to you. You know what you have and need, so you can best organize.

Step 4: Create folders for your newly organized files

Here’s the key step. We’re going to create ALL new folders to move your files into. First create a master folder to put all of your files in. This will keep everything in one place and make transferring it back to your work computer easier.

To create a new folder, right click on the Desktop. Put your mouse over New to open another menu, then click on Folder. Your New folder will appear with the text highlighted in blue so you can change the folder’s name. I named mine Work Computer – Organized but you can name it whatever you want.

If you’re super organized and know exactly where your files will end up, you can create all of your folders at once. Since I tend to mix things up a bit and organize things a little differently each year, I like to create folders as I go along. I start by creating some of my master folders, then add others as I need them.

DO NOT just copy over full folders from your existing files! The idea is to actually look at everything as you go.

Step 5: Move your files and delete the junk

Ah, the final step. Time to move your files over. As I said in Step 4, the idea here is for you to actually LOOK at your files. I’m willing to bet there are some you haven’t opened up in years. Do you really need those sitting around taking up room and gumming up the works? If you haven’t used something in years, and aren’t suddenly inspired now that you’re looking at it, go ahead and delete it. Anything you want to keep, move it into the appropriate folder.

What will happen is that gradually you’ll be emptying out your old archive folder, and filling up the new folder. By doing it this way you ensure that you went through every single file and you’ll know you’re truly done when the older folder is empty.



So there it is: 5 Steps to Organize Your Teacher Computer Files. Hopefully I’ve explained everything clearly enough. If you have any questions or suggestions, please let me know in the comments below and I do another post to add anything I missed, clarify, or throw out some advanced tips.

I’d love to know how this system works out for you, and feel free to tell me how you organize your files. I'm always looking for new ideas!

5 Things Every Teacher Should Do Each Summer

Yes, summer time is finally here! It's the moment you've been looking forward to for at least the last month or two (don't deny it). If you're anything like me, come the end of the summer you'll be wondering "Where did all of the time go?" and "What did I even do?" With that in mind I can up with five things we should all do each summer.

Take Time to Relax

I don't know a single teacher who isn't mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted by the time they walk out the doors at the end of the school year. You've worked hard and earned this break, so take advantage of it.

Now, relaxing means different things to different people. For me, it's letting my body sleep as much as it wants (often over 10 hours a night at the beginning of summer when my body is recouping). For my friend, it's waking up early to hit the beach in time for sunrise, and for another it's RV'ing around the country.

So, figure out what it is helps you relax, and seek it out. I have a rule at home, that I'm not doing anything for the first week of summer but relaxing. Institute the same rule if you need to and hit the spa, read a book in the backyard, do some coloring, or practice Tai Chi in the park. Whatever works for you, do it.

Tackle a big non-work project

I think it's in our nature for teachers to give their all to their students and lessons during the school year, often to the detriment of things at home. I know I'm guilty of it at least. That's why each summer I try to tackle at least one large home project, and try to make some progress on a few others as well. This will help give you a sense of accomplishment, and reconnect you to life outside the classroom.

For me this year, it's finishing painting our house. Last spring we began searching for a home to purchase, intending to buy at the start of summer. We figured we'd have several weeks before move in to paint the house and get everything ready. Of course that didn't happen. We closed less than a week before the start of the school year so we're way behind where we'd like to be with the house.

So this summer try tackling some home upgrades, deep clean the house, or finally clear out and organize that walk-in closet. Of course if you have kids, just keeping up and spending time with them may be enough of a project. : )

Learn something about your field

It seems that educational best practices change all the time, and it can be hard to keep up. I try to read anything that comes my way during the school year, and check Pinterest regularly then as well but there's still so much to learn. That's why I try to actively learn during the summer.

This year I'm attending a CHAMPS training offered by our district (I made my sister sign up too. Always bring a friend to trainings if you can!). Most districts offer in person or online trainings for free, so see if any are of interest to you. It sucks to give up a day of vacation, but it's often well worth it.

No trainings offered near you? No problem. Time to check out some of those amazing education books you've heard so much about. Reading The Book Whisperer two summers ago completely changed my teaching, so I always write down books people are raving about (suggestions welcome). I just read The CAFE Book to see how well it can apply to high school, and have a few more books waiting in the wings .

And of course there's the internet. I have a board on Pinterest titled Read then Pin, for all of those interesting sites, blogs, and articles I come across but don't have the time (or mental energy) to read when I find them. Each summer I work to clear that board out.

Sort computer files

If your district is like mine, then chances are they tell you to back up your teacher computer files over the summer, in case anything happens to the network. As much of a pain that is, I've turned it into an opportunity to be more organized.

Every year I start with a great file system in my computer, but over time it gets jumbled. I make an assessment that covers several subjects and I'm not sure where to put it, so it sits in My Documents. I accumulate tons of random files I downloaded from TPT to check out and never organized or deleted. I may also have come up with a new way of organizing during the year that I want to try out.

So, each summer I take all of my files home on a USB drive. I sort through EVERYTHING, and refile them in folders that make sense to me now. When I go back to school in August, I copy everything to my work computer and I'm cleaned up and ready to go.

I know being able to do this may not come naturally to many people, so check out my post: How to Organize Teacher Computer Files in 5 Easy Steps

BONUS: This is a good time to clear out e-mails as well. In g-mail, labels and archive are your friends! Don't be afraid to delete things you don't really need.

Plan for the coming year

I won't get into a huge post here about how to plan for the school year (just Google or search Pinterest for teacher planning, long range teacher plans, teacher curriculum plan, or View my Planning board here.

Bottom line is that it is SOOOO worth planning out your year ahead of time. Start by asking yourself the most crucial skills your students need to learn. Then try to arrange them so they build on each other. Even just having that simple framework of what to teach in what order will have you feeling far more sane as the new year approaches : )



So, those are my suggestions for teachers this summer. Is there anything I missed? Anything you can't stand? What are your plans for the remainder of this summer? Tell me in the comments below.