Spotlight on Special Education
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stories that Inspired Us newsletter, where we take a look back at some stories that had a strong impact on us and our readers.
This month, we’re taking a look at stories for and about special education teachers, or for any educator that supports students with special needs.
The Importance of Teaching Disability History
By Nicole Homerin, Inclusion Communities Manager
“Social studies helps children learn about a variety of cultures, ways of life, historical experiences of people, and how to use this knowledge and historical lens to inform civic, political, and social movements of the future. The disability community makes up the largest historically underserved community, representing individuals spanning across cultures, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religions/spiritualities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and geographic regions. Currently, one in four adults has a disability in the United States. Therefore, in order to understand humans throughout the past, present, and future, we must examine the role that disability plays in our world.” — Nicole Homerin
Read The Importance of Teaching Disability History here.
Finding Joy in the Classroom as a Special Education Teacher
“The difference you make for your students — the gift of empowerment that you build upon every day as you guide them on their path to growth — will be a source of endless joy for them throughout their lives. Find your own joy in your work by keeping that in mind, and simply by enjoying your students as they learn and grow! Their quirks, interests, strengths, and even their affinity for silliness can bring so much joy and humor to the classroom. You deserve to give yourself the space and flexibility to stop and be silly with them everyone and a while, too.”
Read Finding Joy in the Classroom as a Special Education Teacher here.
Seeing Teaching Through a New Lens
By Tara Ruckman, Academic Behavior Coach
“A week after my surgery for eye removal, a friend of mine sent me this beautiful video with music, pictures, and quotes. As it neared the end, I moved the video closer and further away from my face. Imagine a person needing reading glasses adjusting a book back and forth to try to find the best place to be able to see the writing. The tears started flowing down my face in frustration because I couldn’t read it. There was no angle, no distance, that I held that video so that I could read the beautiful quote. Why? I could read other texts with my very good monocular vision. It was the background, the black background with the red font. There wasn’t enough contrast!” — Tara Ruckman
Read Seeing Teaching Through a New Lens here.
Data Collection Tips for Special Education Teachers
By Karla Banks, Special Education Teacher & Blogger
“Collecting data on prevocational skills, social-emotional skills, and other behavior goals is difficult because I want to document how students perform in all settings. I have found that Google Forms can be useful for collecting data from a variety of teachers.
Google Forms are quick and easy to use. You can set up the forms so that the teachers you work with can complete them in less than a minute. The easier and faster the form is to complete, the more likely busy teachers are going to have time to complete them. Set up your form with multiple students so that each teacher only has to fill out one form.” — Karla Banks
Read Data Collection Tips for Special Education Teachers here.
