Why aren’t students using the strategy I taught them?
We all know to teach strategies using explicit instruction or gradual release of responsibility (“I do, we do, you do together, you do alone”), which provides scaffolds and builds learner fluency while incrementally increasing student responsibility for the learning (Dawson & Guare, 2012, 2018; Fisher & Frey, 2011, 2021; Fisher, Frey, & Lapp, 2012; Fisher, […]
The Assistive Technology Lab is open for business
We’re back! The Assistive Technology (AT) lab is now open in our new location on Staples Mill Road in Richmond; parking is free. As always, we have many devices that can be checked out to school teams in Regions 1 and 8. The device categories include Augmentative and Alternative Communication, play, leisure activities, computer access, […]
Scaffolding for impactful instruction
Explicit Instruction features a continuum of supports, or scaffolds, where students are guided through the learning process while the responsibility for learning is gradually released from the teacher to the students. Although the concept of scaffolding hearkens back to 1976, (Puntambekar, 2022), Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey (2023) continue to find the concept of scaffolding […]
Supporting students with math anxiety
Many students enter the mathematics classroom, regardless of grade, with a variety of factors impacting their academic and behavioral performance. Some of these factors may be related to a disability directly or indirectly related to mathematics, but others might not be. One such factor is math anxiety. But what is math anxiety and how do […]
Specially designed instruction in secondary math classes
Specially designed instruction (SDI) is a critical part of how we provide support to students with disabilities (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 2004). For secondary co-teachers of mathematics, there are many factors to consider to support students with disabilities in mathematics. Many students with disabilities struggle with memorizing and retrieving math facts, understanding relationships, and […]
Providing effective coaching to co-teachers
Coaching plays a vital role in supporting and empowering co-teaching pairs. By providing ongoing guidance, feedback, and professional development, instructional coaches can help teachers develop the necessary skills and strategies to meet the diverse needs of their students. Here are four areas of coaching to consider when working with co-teachers. Establishing relationships Coaching teachers begins […]
