Outline
Session #1: Basics About Learning Disabilities
Session #1 includes audio for our 3 hours of presentation
As staff enters, instruct them to sit in content area groups.
1. [2 minutes] Introduction to the Professional Development segments.
Explain that this segment is the first of 6, and that all of the resources needed for each segment are provided on our website. Lastly, introduce the speakers and creators of the professional segments.
View Introduction
As staff enters, instruct them to sit in content area groups.
1. [2 minutes] Introduction to the Professional Development segments.
Explain that this segment is the first of 6, and that all of the resources needed for each segment are provided on our website. Lastly, introduce the speakers and creators of the professional segments.
View Introduction
2. [38 minutes] Present Prezi presentation on the “Facts About Learning Disabilities
View presentation for survey link and discussion prompts within Prezi Presentation.
- Time allows for survey, discussion, questions, and/or concerns brought up by staff members.
View presentation for survey link and discussion prompts within Prezi Presentation.
View video on “My Life with Learning Disabilities”
Discuss thoughts about video and any additional knowledge and ideas learned about the facts within the whole group.
Discussion question prompts:
3. [1 hour] Present PowerPoint Presentation on “Learning Disabilities”
PowerPoint Presentation on Learning Disabilities
*Due to PowerPoint being too large in megabytes and no way of reducing it to a useable size (due to audio files), please DOWNLOAD to hear and see PowerPoint presentation.
4. [20 minutes] Open Floor Discussion
Have staff think about the struggling students they have in their own classrooms.
Instruct teachers to think about the following prompts:
View Transition to Open Floor Discussion on "Questions about your students with disabilities"
Discussion question prompts:
- “What did you think about this video?”
- “Do you have any students that feel the same way as the child in the video?”
- “How are we helping students succeed with learning disabilities?”
3. [1 hour] Present PowerPoint Presentation on “Learning Disabilities”
- Time allows for discussion, questions, and/or concerns brought up by staff members. (Listen to presentation and see author's notes for discussion prompts)
PowerPoint Presentation on Learning Disabilities
*Due to PowerPoint being too large in megabytes and no way of reducing it to a useable size (due to audio files), please DOWNLOAD to hear and see PowerPoint presentation.
4. [20 minutes] Open Floor Discussion
Have staff think about the struggling students they have in their own classrooms.
Instruct teachers to think about the following prompts:
- “Describe a few struggling learners in your classroom.”
- “What are you doing to meet the needs of your struggling students?”
- “What strategies do you use in your classroom that can benefit other teachers?”
- “What did you find interesting about the PowerPoint presentation?”
- “What can you use to help students that are certified learning disabled?”
- “What do you need more advice on?”
View Transition to Open Floor Discussion on "Questions about your students with disabilities"
5. [55 minutes] Read and Discuss articles about learning disabilities
Break up into content area groups and read the article(s) that correspond to their area of instruction. Once, each group has read the article(s), have the teachers discuss their findings within their group.
View Transition to Articles about Learning Disabilities in relation to Math content
Break up into content area groups and read the article(s) that correspond to their area of instruction. Once, each group has read the article(s), have the teachers discuss their findings within their group.
- “What strategies did we gather from the article(s)?”
View Transition to Articles about Learning Disabilities in relation to Math content
Articles
Social Studies (Article on struggling students for graphs)
Difficulties with mathematics. (2002). WGBH Educational Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/misunderstoodminds/mathdiffs.html
Counselors and Social Workers
Bryant, D.P. (n.d.) Math disability in children: An overview. GreatSchools, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/LD-ADHD/526-math-disability-in-children-an-overview.gs?page=all
Science (Article on how to plot a line, graphing results)
Steele, M. M. (2008, March). Helping students with learning disabilities succeed. The Science Teacher, 38-42. Retrieved from http://web.missouri.edu/~volkmannmj/4630/LD.pdf
Special Education/ESL
Dyscalculia: Learning disabilities in mathematics. (n.d.) Learning Disabilities Association of Michigan. Retrieved from http://www.ldaofmichigan.org/articles/LDA12-2-04.htm
Language Arts (Story Problems - How do they depict the vocabulary)
Ito, C. (2001). Helping students solve word problems. William & Mary School of Education. Retrieved from http://education.wm.edu/centers/ttac/resources/articles/teachtechnique/helpstudentsolve/index.php
Mathematics (Equations - How to better understand/memorize equations)
Garnett, K. (1998). Math learning disabilities. LD Online. Retrieved from http://www.ldonline.org/article/5896/
Have groups nominate one “speaker” that will share out different strategies that can be used to instruct students with math learning disabilities across all subject areas with the whole group.
View Transition to Group Share Out
Social Studies (Article on struggling students for graphs)
Difficulties with mathematics. (2002). WGBH Educational Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/misunderstoodminds/mathdiffs.html
Counselors and Social Workers
Bryant, D.P. (n.d.) Math disability in children: An overview. GreatSchools, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/LD-ADHD/526-math-disability-in-children-an-overview.gs?page=all
Science (Article on how to plot a line, graphing results)
Steele, M. M. (2008, March). Helping students with learning disabilities succeed. The Science Teacher, 38-42. Retrieved from http://web.missouri.edu/~volkmannmj/4630/LD.pdf
Special Education/ESL
Dyscalculia: Learning disabilities in mathematics. (n.d.) Learning Disabilities Association of Michigan. Retrieved from http://www.ldaofmichigan.org/articles/LDA12-2-04.htm
Language Arts (Story Problems - How do they depict the vocabulary)
Ito, C. (2001). Helping students solve word problems. William & Mary School of Education. Retrieved from http://education.wm.edu/centers/ttac/resources/articles/teachtechnique/helpstudentsolve/index.php
Mathematics (Equations - How to better understand/memorize equations)
Garnett, K. (1998). Math learning disabilities. LD Online. Retrieved from http://www.ldonline.org/article/5896/
Have groups nominate one “speaker” that will share out different strategies that can be used to instruct students with math learning disabilities across all subject areas with the whole group.
View Transition to Group Share Out
6. [5 minutes] Assessment of Teacher's Knowledge: Exit Ticket
Pass out small piece of paper to each staff member and have them write down one aspect of a student's learning disability and one questions you still have.
View Transition to Exit Ticket
Pass out small piece of paper to each staff member and have them write down one aspect of a student's learning disability and one questions you still have.
View Transition to Exit Ticket
Assigned Reading
For next session - please read the following article to get you started with the Common Core State Standards. (This article link will be emailed to all staff members)
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/03/26/26ruenzel.h33.html#comments
Ruenzel, D. (2014). Embracing teachers as critical thinkers. Education Week, 33(26), 33. Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/03/26/26ruenzel.h33.html#comments
View Transition to homework for next time
For next session - please read the following article to get you started with the Common Core State Standards. (This article link will be emailed to all staff members)
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/03/26/26ruenzel.h33.html#comments
Ruenzel, D. (2014). Embracing teachers as critical thinkers. Education Week, 33(26), 33. Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/03/26/26ruenzel.h33.html#comments
View Transition to homework for next time
Rationale
Session 1 of our professional development segments was created to educate teachers on the basics about learning disabilities. In this session, teachers will learn about learning disabilities in relation to Mathematics. It is important for teachers to be educated on information that is not commonly covered about special education in relation to Mathematics and the facts surrounding students with math learning disabilities. This session will inform teachers about all of the areas students can be learning disabled in and how all of these disabilities can impact math learning. Throughout the session, teachers will reflect and openly discuss their own classrooms and the areas their students are struggling with. We will also discuss areas of improvement and how teachers can better assist their own students. This session recognizes that there will be teachers across all content areas and there are students struggling within each subject area that are related to Mathematics. It is important to provide teachers will tools and strategies to help improve instruction for all students, and within this session, we will provide teachers within all subject areas, strategies to help students with learning disabilities in Mathematics.