If you are like me, your school is probably enduring a closure due to the virus outbreak. If you’re like me you also might be feeling overwhelmed at how you can provide differentiated and individualized instruction for the students on your caseload during this distance learning fiasco! If that is the case, you are not alone! We are all trying to navigate this craziness the best we can. But rest assured – I have some tips and resources to share with you to help you endure this!
I have recorded a video summarized version of me walking through what my distance learning for all my upper-grade special education groups looks like on my Instagram highlights – just click the distance learning bubble. I also walk you through what my syllabus/schedule looks like.
What my regular daily instruction looks like
I am a special education teacher who has a caseload of 30 students from kindergarten through 6th grade. I teach the mild/moderate learning disability population who spend most of the day with their general education peers and teachers. I see students in small groups for reading, math, writing, and executive functioning support/social skills.
Our distance learning goal
Our goal is to be able to provide instruction for each of our students and all their IEP goals, as well as help them access the general education curriculum and instruction. Our district has asked that we not focus on teaching new content, but reviewing content we have already taught and helping students retain the things they’ve already learned this year. Students will be receiving content and instruction from their general education teacher and myself.
How I deliver special education instruction
My instruction comes in two parts: I deliver physical handouts/materials to parents and I provide instruction/content online for some upper-grade students. My upper-grade students (4-6) can access their instruction through our Microsoft Teams Page for each content group. Having physical copies for students and parents also help mitigate any technology issues you might encounter.
Upper-grade instruction: reading
So for my upper-grade instruction group for reading, we are focusing on a few different things: fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, etc. Our main goal this term has been reading non-fiction text and being able to pull it apart and comprehend what’s happening in the text.
In order to continue helping them accomplish this, I created a syllabus/schedule that includes what they need to do each day and what their ultimate assignment goals are. One day includes reading a non-fiction article and responding to the text. Another day includes reading a grade-level fluency passage to increase their fluency rate. Another day would include a phonics review. All combined, you have a week’s worth of content and instruction helping them move toward their reading goal.
Reading Resources
If you’re looking for non-fiction passages that help students with fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, text structure, and author’s purpose – look no further than my resources that I created exactly for that purpose:
Non-Fiction Compare & Contrast Passages & Non-Fiction Problem & Solution Passages
I also just uploaded a new resource for practicing vowel teams while also coloring!
Upper-grade instruction: Math
My upper-grade math instruction is heavily based on two areas: math calculation and math application. The math content is mainly based on the physical copies I sent home with students and parents. I will link the content I am using below. They follow a syllabus/schedule of how to work through the handouts each day and what to have completed by the end of the week.
Math Resources
One of my all time favorite math application practice worksheets comes from One Stop Teacher Shop. She created a perfect daily review of math concepts that I use as part of my distance learning. She has spiral reviews for every grade level and I differentiate for the needs of my students.
In order to continue with their math fluency and calculation, a favorite website of mine is math-drills.com. This website has tons of worksheets available for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Each worksheet also has different versions so that your students can keep practicing the same skill without having to use the same numbers.
Upper-grade instruction: Writing
My writing instruction at this time is based on working through the writing process. My students follow a syllabus that walks them through what they should be doing each day. For example, the first day is “Prompt & Plan” so they will read their prompt and work on planning and brainstorming. The second day they work on their rough draft. The third day they revise and edit (either by sending to me for feedback or doing it with a parent). The fourth day is their final draft where they type up their final essay and send it to me.
Syllabus/schedule
I’ve referenced the syllabus/schedule that I use multiple times. If you are curious about what they look like, head over to my Instagram and click on the Distance Learning highlight bubble. I share my reading, math, and writing syllabus/schedule and other great resources as well.
Parting thoughts
Hang in there, teacher friends! Many of us are still reeling from trying to implement distance learning and the trial and error process that it is. I hope this helps give you some framework and ideas on how you can implement distance learning for special education specifically.
Feel free to leave me any feedback below!
