Accessibility for All

Scaffolding is how educators can provide a variety of instruction techniques to help a student progress towards a deeper understanding and ultimately greater independence in the learning process. In this course, we will unpack how to provide temporary support that helps learners reach higher levels of comprehension and skill acquisition than would not be achievable without assistance. Then we will reflect on goal setting strategies that can be utilized to help build independence. You will leave this course with an action plan to help learners reach their fullest potential using scaffolded strategies to build independence.

Accessibility in the classroom means creating equitable experiences and resources that support all learners. We will begin the course by establishing an understanding of what equitable access is and looks like. We will explore the value of respecting the diversity that shapes your classroom. Then, we will dive into the areas where creating access is most important, paying attention to instructional, environmental, and physical/digital accessibility. We will highlight the importance of purposeful planning to promote equitable classroom activities that support academic and social-emotional growth. Upon completing this course, you will have actionable strategies to apply to your classroom practice, helping you create equitable access for all your learners.

As educators, we know that no two students are the same. Individual learners require different types of support in order to be successful in the classroom. Teachers should consider how we can tailor our instructional practices to make learning experiences accessible to all students. Differentiation is the practice of personalizing instruction to meet the needs of individual students. In this course, we will explore methods for differentiation and develop a toolkit to apply the techniques to support differentiation in your classroom.

Whether you work with a co-teacher, paraprofessional, or other adult in your classroom, it is important to develop effective co-teaching practices to better support your learners. In this course, we will unpack how all adults in the classroom support in the learning, planning, and teaching process. First we will discuss the roles and responsibilities each educator and adult may play. Then we will identify strategies to build effective partnerships in the classroom. Then finally, we explore co-teaching models and identify when they are appropriate to use in your practices to support your instruction and individual student needs.