The UDL Real World: My Classroom Experience with Universal Design for Learning
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Day 1 Reflection: 3 – 2 – 1 (Thanks, Grace!)
- List three of the biggest challenges that the intersection of learner diversity and high expectations presents for you in your role as educator, administrator, para-educator, etc.
- List two personal beliefs that guide your response to these challenges
- List one barrier in your classroom/school/system culture that is the greatest obstacle for addressing these challenges
Entries (RSS)
June 29th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
3 challenges-lack of teacher time to learn and plan universal design (especially to explore new tech); teacher attitudes regarding who “owns” labeled students (get rid of labels-sped, ell, etc); heavy curriculum “mile wide and an inch thick” makes it hard to focus on the power standards
2-beliefs-school must be designed for students not adults and pull outs for labeled students generally do not work-inclusion is critical;
all students can learn when they are engaged and given access
1-greatest barrier is time for teachers to learn and collaborate especially with the ever changing curriculum
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June 29th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Day 1 Reflection: 3 – 2 – 1
List three of the biggest challenges that the intersection of learner diversity and high expectations presents for you in your role as educator, administrator, para-educator, etc.
1) Resistance from staff members (another new initiative . . .)
2) Lack of personal knowledge about available resources
3) Time to collaborate and plan
List two personal beliefs that guide your response to these challenges
1) All children can learn and deserve access to high-quality education/instruction
2) Only by embracing new ideas/programs/etc. myself can I expect others to do the same.
List one barrier in your classroom/school/system culture that is the greatest obstacle for addressing these challenges
1) Laundry-list of “have-tos” (or perceived “have-tos”)
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June 29th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
My biggest obstacle will be time management for a very steep learning experience. Related problems are my lack of technology skills, and my disability in accessing and using technology options. Also storing the options I find so I can remember and use them easily.
I believe that I learn easily and that I can overcome the problems above. I also believe that my colleagues will support me in my learning.
The greatest obstacle is that time has been known to expand, but is not limitless. There are so MANY demands and expectations!
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June 29th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
3 biggest challenges – discovering how to reach each child and helping to develop the self advocacy skills the child needs to obtain what he/she needs to learn , managing multiple activities and materials, how to prioritize to keep the job manageable
2 personal beliefs – every child has some way to contribute to his/her own learning and the learning of others, every child deserves to be excited and involved in learning
1 barrier – connecting needs with the every changing and expanding tools – just “keeping up” with what is out there
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June 29th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
3 Challenges – diversity and high expectations
- Separating means from the goal
- Trusting that changing the means is not lowering expectations
- Up front planning time to think out all that needs to be done/prepare the digital material
2 personal beliefs
-all students can learn
-teaching is finding a new way to help them learn
1 barrier in school culture that is the greatest obstacle
- Setting this as a priority. There are so many new initiatives pulling in all directions.
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June 29th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
As much as I know this is the way of the future and it is wonderful, I do get overwhelmed by this amount of information all at once and definitely need to feel that this can be accomplished in baby steps to feel successful.
I feel that given the time and the support this will become part of me as a teacher. What is important to me as a learner is that it will be respected that I don’t grasp all the steps at once.
The overwhelming amount of work that is expected of us that is above and beyond dealing directly with the kids.
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June 29th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
1 challenge I forsee is the standardized testing (trying to make it fun, engaging & dynamic). Another is trying to balance the use of technology with more traditional teaching practices and the last would be staying on top of new and innovative ways to cover the curriculum. Two personal beliefs that will enable me to respond will be my dedication to my students’ learning and passion for teaching the “whole child” One barrier is time – I like to work smarter, not harder so my constant focus is to be more efficient in everything I do.
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June 29th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Challenges for me are stimulating the higher learners – I want to find appropriate math challenges that are suitable on the web that they can use independently. I need to find time to go through all the various websites and then bookmark the most useful ones. Instead of doing this methodically I tend to visit too many websites and then get confused and end up bookmarking zero!!!
I believe that if I give myself a specific amount of time (limits!!!) with a specific goal I can be more organized and pinpoint four websites in math and language that would benefit my students.
The barrier for me in actually getting the children to the website challenges or even paper challenges is that I don’t have time. I am always working with children who are struggling and don’t have enough time to reach out to my higher learners.
For tomorrow’s project I would like to pinpoint some websites that will address the needs of these students.
I would also like to find some social studies websites that enhance curriculum.
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June 29th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
The major barrier is lack of background knowledge and poverty that many at-risk students come to school with. We have 35% of our students who are learning english as a second language and lack a variety of experiences that are helpful for being successful in school. Another challenge is that in order to get these students to reach the standards, the work must be accelerated for them to catch up with their peers, but resources are limited. A related challenge is providing them the extra time they need to meet the standards w/o resources to support an extended school day or year.
I believe that we as educators, have a responsibility to meet all students needs and should be held accountable. However, this accountability should empower administrators to make decisions to serve their students in various and unique ways as long as we meet the standards set forth and the parameters set forth by the the Board. Another belief that guides me is that one must be courageous in making decisions that may not be popular but make sense for children. The educational community often revolves around the needs of adults, rather than the needs of children.
The greatest obstacle for addressing the challenges of these students is the belief that all students all students should receive equal resources rather than equitable resources. Some students need more, different, and unique opportunities for access as is the guiding belief behind UDL.
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June 29th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
3 * utilization of available resources in the most efficient and effective manner
* broadening and deepening the knowledge base/tools available of staff around accessibility of curriculum for the diverse population of students in our classrooms
* creating a culture of access to all that is sustainable with structures that allow for the diverse staff needs as well as students
2 * all students can learn
* looking at the environment, presentation of materials etc. rather than what is wrong with this student
1 * time, multiple initiatives simultaneously….
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June 29th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
As a high performing school it is difficult to encourage some teachers and parents to try new techniques. If it ain’t broke….
Expectations are so geared to test results and assessments that we sometimes take the joy out of learning. We must encourage teachers to trust their instincts and to trust their students. They are up to the task!
If given the chance students will do amazing things! Same for teachers
Schools must be a place where children can explore, create and feel safe doing so.
Our school culture is changing and becoming more accepting of the need to develop citizens for the 21st century, good thing. We need to realize change does not always come without bumps in the road and we cannot get discouraged.
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July 1st, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Hi Jon,
I’m assuming that you are at the UDL conference this week. I just wanted to say to everyone who feels overwhelmed so far that you can do baby steps and it’s easier than it seems. My first step this year was to get my blog going. We also used a wiki with our high school buddies. Start small and add little by little.
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