Monday, November 28, 2016

Around Town Roundup--Supporting Content Instruction

During our visits to various classrooms we get the chance to see many creative ways teachers are supporting content instruction in multi-sensory ways. Sometimes this is through visually presenting learning targets and I Can statements, through embedding higher-level concepts into daily routines, or developing engaging lessons for students. During our latest Around Town Roundup we want to highlight some of the innovative ways we have seen content covered throughout the Miami Valley.

Sometimes content standards and learning targets can be tricky for students to understand so we love to see different ways teachers are presenting them in the classroom. 

We love this pocket chart with all of the I Can Statements for a unit on Earth. 
Brittany Bush, Spinning Hills, Mad River Local Schools


Using Boardmaker icons to illustrate the I Can Statements is another great way to present them in a way students can better understand.
Emily Ottmar, Stevenson Elementary, Mad River Local Schools


We love mini-schedules to help students understand the expectation. This handy poster has space to include the subject, activities, and I Can statement. And we would love to share this resource which can be found by clicking HERE or by clicking on the picture.


We also love this Focus Wall which introduces the core vocabulary for the unit of study. 
Laura Brown, Perrin Woods Elementary, Springfield City Schools


Or this variation where students can match the words to the pictures which are used to illustrate various vocabulary terms.
Taylor Ruef, Stevenson Elementary, Mad River Local Schools


We love how this classroom made a bulletin board to highlight their classroom's Bill of Rights and used terms that could be easily understood by students.  
Brian Frimel, Bradford Elementary, Bradford Exempted Village Schools


And this bulletin board illustrates the Scientific Method:
Laura Brown, Perrin Woods Elementary, Springfield City Schools

In this classroom, the teacher uses higher level community helper positions to label the classroom jobs such as "reporter", "electrician", and "veterinarian" so that these vocabulary terms are embedded into students' every day lives and so they start to learn what they mean in a functional way.
Anne Rosenbaum, Orchard Park Elementary, Kettering City Schools


Other ways we have seen higher level concepts embedded into classrooms include labeling horizontal and vertical lines in the door way,
Brian Frimel, Bradford Elementary, Bradford Exempted Village Schools


including environmental print in a dramatic play center,
Jessica Burns, Demmit Elementary, Vandalia-Butler City Schools

a bulletin board pinpointing addresses for the students in the class, 
Anne Rosenbaum, Orchard Park Elementary, Kettering City Schools



or a phonics bulletin board which groups hunks and chunks (Phonics Dance) and peanut butter and jelly/layered cake sounds (Stevenson Reading program) by sound.
Athenia Eversole, Versailles Elementary, Versailles Exempted Village Schools


Sometimes teachers incorporate multi-sensory techniques into activities and learning centers. Like this illustrated thematic word wall in the writing center.
Jessica Burns, Demmit Elementary, Vandalia-Butler City Schools

Or this Read It-Build It-Write It mat for spelling
Amy Stammen, Versailles Elementary, Versailles Exempted Village Schools


Or these great sequencing tubs for Brown Bear, Brown Bear.



Or using art projects to allow students to explore their senses like these tactile crayon rubbings pumpkins
McKinley Elementary, Xenia Community Schools

For more ideas on incorporating multi-sensory techniques to support content instruction sign up for our FREE upcoming workshop: 

Monday, November 14, 2016

UPCOMING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: A Clue! A Clue!: Incorporating Interests, Multisensory Teaching Strategies, and Technology to Clue in Students to Instruction

Do you teach special education within the Ohio Miami Valley? Are you looking for ways to incorporate interests, mutisensory teaching strategies, and technology into your classroom? Then you are invited!





Who: Intervention Specialists in the Ohio Miami Valley (Darke, Clark, Montgomery, Greene, Miami, Preble counties)


What: A Clue! A Clue!: Incorporating Interests, Multisensory Teaching Strategies, and Technology to Clue in Students to Instruction presented by the MV-ACT


Cost: FREE!!

Where: Room 300 at the Montgomery County Regional Center 4801 Springfield St., Dayton, OH 45431


When: Wednesday, December 14 (AM) 9:00-11:00am  


Why: This presentation will provide strategies for increasing student engagement in academic, life skill, and social instruction through incorporating interests, using multisensory teaching strategies, and utilizing technology (iPads, interactive whiteboards). A variety of examples and resources will be shared. 






What to bring: classroom iPad if available. Come with specific students and engagement goals in mind that you want to target during discussion and activities.


How to register: contact Mary Fryman by email at mary.fryman@mcesc.org or by phone 937-236-9965,ext.2122


We hope to see you there!


Monday, November 7, 2016

UPCOMING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Building Social Competence: Goal Writing, Prompt Fading and Peer Support

Do you teach special education within the Ohio Miami Valley? Are you looking for tips and tricks to help you organize your classroom? Then you are invited!



Who: Intervention Specialists, Speech and Language Pathologists, School Counselors and Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Parents in the Ohio Miami Valley (Darke, Clark, Montgomery, Greene, Miami, Preble counties)

What: Building Social Competence: Goal Writing, Prompt Fading and Peer Support presented by the MV-ACT


Cost: FREE!!

Where: Room 300 at the Montgomery County Regional Center 4801 Springfield St., Dayton, OH 45431

When: Wednesday, December 14th  from 12:30pm-3:00pm 

Why: This presentation will focus on taking social skills beyond learning and knowing concepts, to functional performance in daily situations. 


What to bring: If you have them, please bring your social skill interventions and ideas to share (in small groups only, no worries). Come with specific students and social goals in mind that you want to target during discussion and activities. 

How to register:
 contact Mary Fryman by email at mary.fryman@mcesc.org or by phone 937-236-9965,ext.2122

We hope to see you there!