Keeping the Conversation Fresh:

Vary the Protocol

• Have Co-presenting Teachers
• Focus on One Student
• "UDLize" the Protocol

Have Co-Presenting Teachers

A question has often come up about the rotation schedule and how to give psychologists, technology teachers from computer labs, and social workers a chance to present since these professionals often do not have their own classrooms and, therefore, find it difficult to bring student work. One facilitator came up with an excellent suggestion that we are passing along—have these teachers co-teach a class with one of the general or special education classroom teachers. They can plan the class, co-teach, debrief, and prepare for the team meeting as collaborators. The benefits of pairing teachers in this way go far beyond the immediacy of the team meeting. They can extend into creating solid and ongoing working relationships.

Return to Facilitators' Page | Return to Strategies Chart | Top of Page

Focus on One Student

Our protocol asks the presenting teacher to discuss and bring work samples from three students with diverse abilities and needs (typical student, student who is struggling, and student on an IEP). As a variation on this theme, the facilitator can suggest that the presenting teacher focus on just one student—usually a student who is struggling or who has a disability. While the presenting teacher would still bring three pieces of work, the work could be from:

• Different content areas (e.g., mathematics, English language arts, social studies)
  
  
• Different points in time from one content area (e.g., taken from a portfolio)

• Describing the students’ abilities and needs
  
  
• Identifying curriculum goals
  
  
• Generating instructional strategies that integrate technology tools
  
  
• Developing assessments