Flexible Seating to Benefit Different LearnersI firmly believe flexible seating helps students stay engaged in the classroom. It benefits students' cognitive development, enhances spatial learning, and allows for a break in normal learning.
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"Flexible seating can range from just allowing students to choose their seats or move around the classroom more frequently to elaborately planned rooms with a wide range of seating options that allow students to choose to work at different heights and in different positions. Furniture options include couches, floor pillows, mats, bean bag chairs, yoga ball seats, stools, low tables, standing work surfaces, and traditional chair and desk combinations. Often a meeting place with room for everyone is needed (Paterson).
EC-6 Content Specific Instructional Strategies
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Gifted & Talented Strategies
Technology Strategies |
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Discipline Strategies
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ESL/ELL Learning Strategies |
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Special Education Strategies
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Teachers should be prepared to be flexible with their lesson plans to accommodate any students with IEPs or 504 plans.
"Students with IEP plans may have disabilities (often intellectual disabilities) that require the student to be taught in a special education classroom. Others may require special equipment in a normal classroom (blind students given work in braille or large font, students with cerebral palsy using special tools, etc.). And still some students with IEPs may need to be excused from class to meet with a specialist, like a speech pathologist.
The qualifications to receive a 504 plan are much more vague and at the discretion of the school. Typically, 504 plans are given to students that will be in a regular classroom and require small but helpful accommodations. Ensuring a student with poor vision sits in the front of the classroom, that a student with a food allergy is taught in a room free of that food (typically peanuts), or that a student with mild ADHD be allowed to stand at his desk can found on 504 plans (American Board Blog)."
Technology as a helpful resourceStudents who struggle in class can often benefit from using technology to learn. Technology is a good way for student to incorporate concept covered in class while engaging students in the learning process. Students spend 6-8 hours a day using some form of technology as it is and tend to understand it. So why not use it to your benefit and their's?
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Resources
“Differentiated Instruction: Why, How, and Examples.” YouTube, Teachings in Education, 30 July 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BVvImZcnkw&t=128s.
“Differentiation in the Elementary Classroom.” YouTube, 26 Apr. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZHW1j2WMm0
Gray, Tracy. “How Does Technology Help Students Who Are Struggling Academically in School?” Center on Response to Intervention, rti4success.org/video/how-does-technology-help-students-who-are-struggling-academically-school.
Paterson, Jim. “Is Flexible Seating Right for Your Classroom?” Education World, www.educationworld.com/how-much-should-your-classroom-flex.
Rachael. “A New Teacher's Introduction to IEPs and 504s.” American Board Blog, 28 Jan. 2016, www.americanboard.org/blog/a-new-teachers- introduction-to-ieps-and-504s/.
“Students with Disabilities: Special Education Categories.” YouTube, Teachings In Education, 7 Apr. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFtg2xub10E&t=219s
“The Importance of ELL Strategies - Immersion (Moises in Math Class).” YouTube, MediaThatMatters, 9 Aug. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch? v=D6HUv2eFdLg&t=158s..
“Differentiation in the Elementary Classroom.” YouTube, 26 Apr. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZHW1j2WMm0
Gray, Tracy. “How Does Technology Help Students Who Are Struggling Academically in School?” Center on Response to Intervention, rti4success.org/video/how-does-technology-help-students-who-are-struggling-academically-school.
Paterson, Jim. “Is Flexible Seating Right for Your Classroom?” Education World, www.educationworld.com/how-much-should-your-classroom-flex.
Rachael. “A New Teacher's Introduction to IEPs and 504s.” American Board Blog, 28 Jan. 2016, www.americanboard.org/blog/a-new-teachers- introduction-to-ieps-and-504s/.
“Students with Disabilities: Special Education Categories.” YouTube, Teachings In Education, 7 Apr. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFtg2xub10E&t=219s
“The Importance of ELL Strategies - Immersion (Moises in Math Class).” YouTube, MediaThatMatters, 9 Aug. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch? v=D6HUv2eFdLg&t=158s..