Preparing Students with Special Needs to Meet the Standards
(Grades K-3) / Flex Course
PDI Course Number: 100T02 / UCSD Course Number: EDUC40159
Course Description
Are you finding it increasingly difficult to help your special education students find success with your state's standards? As most teachers know, learning can be difficult for those with special needs. So how exactly can a teacher make this “bridge,” thereby connecting their most vulnerable learners to the more challenging and complex concepts? This online course for teachers is designed for K-3 educators who are attempting to do just this. Teachers will learn specific strategies for helping their special education students build strong foundational reading skills by using assessment to guide and differentiate their instruction. In addition, teachers will be given a variety of tools and strategies to help guide their struggling writers as they work to balance meaningful writing with explicit strategy instruction. Other topics include differentiating the mathematics block, providing tactile, kinesthetic, and auditory learning opportunities, student collaboration, cooperative group activities, and Universal Design for Learning. Rounding out the course is engaging special needs students in the art of conversation and using interventions and other teaching techniques to engage special needs students, including those who also happen to be English language learners. By the end of this continuing education course, teachers will feel much more confident in helping their students with special needs meet content standards. This online professional development course is worth 3 ⅓ semester units/5 quarter units (50 hours of training) from University of California San Diego (UCSD) Division of Extended Studies. For detailed information on receiving university credit for your PDI professional development course, visit our credit page.
Need help? Kimya Nabavi, PDI Program Coordinator, is ready to assist.
"I learned a lot about ways to differentiate for special needs students. I loved learning about resources I can use starting this year." - Sheri Baughman-Sheets
This course is worth 3 ⅓ semester units or 5 quarter units of graduate-level credit from UCSD.
You have up to one year from the date you are enrolled to complete a flex course.
View the online course syllabus.
Print our customized course approval form to share with your school district.
TOPICAL OUTLINE
UCSD Course Number: EDUC40159
Unit One
- Unpacking the Common Core State Standards
- Navigating the Special Education Pathway
- Understanding Special Education Terminology and Reading an IEP
- Meeting the Needs of All Learners: Universal Design for Learning
- Assignment #1: Write an autobiography
- Test #1
Unit Two
- Building Strong Foundational Skills
- Using Assessment to Guide Reading Instruction
- Meeting Students Where They Are: Teaching Reading to All Learners
- Assignment #2: Article reflection
- Test #2
Unit Three
- Balancing Meaningful Writing and Explicit Strategy Instruction
- Supporting Struggling Writers: Tools and Strategies
- Assignment #3: Share your expertise
- Test #3
Unit Four
- Multi-Sensory Mathematics Instruction
- Differentiating the Classroom Mathematics Block
- Assessment Strategies for Math
- Test #4
Unit Five
- The Building Blocks of Conversation: Speaking and Listening
- Student Collaboration and Cooperative Group Work
- Test #5
Unit Six
- Response to Intervention
- Teacher Collaboration and the Co-Taught Classroom
- Maximizing the Effectiveness of Classroom Support Staff
- English Language Learners with Special Education Needs
- Assignment #4: Devise three differentiated lesson plans
- Assignment #5: Course Reflection
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