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Showing Results 1 - 50 of 1129
Description: Each self-paced professional learning session is offered at no cost to Virginia public school educators and provides 3-5 hours of professional learning. These sessions guide educators in learning about specific HLPs through videos that model exemplar teacher behaviors. Educators may enroll in any of the following professional learning sessions described below: Enroll in School Leaders, Administrators, and Instructional Coaches: Strategies for Teacher Retention & Support...
Description: With the passage of the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) in the 2022 General Assembly, Virginia is taking the lead nationwide to improve early literacy outcomes for Virginia’s young learners. Through the VLA, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) will support school divisions through a multi-year effort with tools, resources, technical assistance and funding.
Description: This is a collection of featured resources from the Trauma Support for Schools Virtual Summit 2021. Selecting the Right Interventions to Support Students' Mental Health Needs (881 KB) PDF Menu of Trauma-Informed Programs for Schools (360 KB) PDF Common Trauma Symptoms in Students and Helpful Strategies for Educators (349 KB) PDF Community-School Collaboration to Address Opioid-Related Trauma (401 KB) PDF Glossary: Common Terms for Frameworks, Initiatives, and Approaches that Address Trauma (172...
Description: Camp List for Children & Adults with Disabilities 3.2024.docx, Websites to Search for Camps: American Camp Association’s Camp Finder - Lists camps accredited by ACA. The advanced search function allows you to search by disability, distance from home, inclusive camps, and other variables. VerySpecialCamps - Summer Camps & Programs for Individuals with Special Needs MySummerCamps (general finder) - Find the Perfect Summer Camp for Your Child! Virginia Special Needs Camps -...
Description: Behavioral Health & Wellness - Helping schools address the unprecedented rise in mental health and behavioral challenges facing Virginia students post-pandemic, Behavioral Health and Wellness helps to focus resources and attention to our students who are struggling with these evolving challenges.  Sharpening the focus on the “Right Help, Right Now” resources available to Virginia students, Behavioral Health and Wellness will assists schools with teams of...
Description: Best Practices in Universal Screening for Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Outcomes: An Implementation Guide - Universal social, emotional, and behavioral (SEB) screening is increasingly being recognized as a foundational component of a comprehensive, multi-tiered system of school-based supports. As schools strive to develop a systematic approach to meeting the SEB health of all students, often with limited resources and competing priorities, there is a need for responsive, efficient,...
Description: Mental Health/Social-Emotional-Behavioral Well-Being - The term ‘mental health’ refers to how we think, feel and behave; it is a critical part of our overall health. Current rates of mental illness, substance misuse and opioid abuse are alarming and require significant societal shifts. Mental health is now recognized as a critical part of education, but schools struggle with how to establish a comprehensive system of mental health support. The Interconnected Systems Framework...
Description: This webpage provides every episode of Melissa & Lori Love Literacy starting with the most recent episodes. You can even search for any guests or topics you are interested in to find all the episodes you want to listen to! 
Description: Podcasts - Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong - There's an idea about how children learn to read that's held sway in schools for more than a generation — even though it was proven wrong by cognitive scientists decades ago. Teaching methods based on this idea can make it harder for children to learn how to read. In this podcast, host Emily Hanford investigates the influential authors who promote this idea and the company that sells their work. It's an...
Description: Literacy Talks, a podcast series from Reading Horizons, is where reading momentum begins. Each episode features our trio of literacy champions: Stacy Hurst, an assistant professor of reading at Southern Utah University and Chief Academic Advisor at Reading Horizons; Donell Pons, a dyslexia specialist, educator, presenter, and writer, who now works with adults who struggle with reading; Lindsay Kemeny, an innovative, dedicated elementary teacher who is a CERI certified Structured Literacy...
Description: This IC provides recommendations for embedding UDL in general and special education pre-service teacher preparation programs and can improve PD for in-service teachers.  Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an educational framework based on research from the learning sciences. The framework guides the development of flexible learning environments that account for individual learning differences. It provides a blueprint for creating instructional goals, methods, materials, and assessments....
Description: TBI Team Training - Cohort 14 Application by Friday, April 12, 2024  - TBI Traumatic brain injury (TBI) was established as a disability category under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1990. Educators have since become more aware of the unique needs and challenges presented as students enter school after experiencing TBI in early childhood or return to school after being injured, such as from a concussion. However, most school personnel do not receive pre-service training...
Description: The topics included are: Attention and Focus Communication Collaboration Language Development Math Memory Motivation Organization Problem Solving Positive Relationships Reading Reading Comprehension Remote Learning Resilience/Flexibility Self-Monitoring Writing
Description: Getting Ready to Implement Data-Based Individualization - Readiness for change is an important factor in successful implementation and scale-up of a new practice or program in schools. Assessing and developing readiness prior to implementing data-based individualization (DBI) increases the likelihood of success and may save time, resources, and effort. This document provides considerations for creating readiness to implement DBI successfully.
Description: Classroom Management Strategies to Support All Learners - Well-structured, organized classroom environments can reduce behavior problems and promote academic learning for all students, including students with disabilities and those with intensive needs. In this webinar, Dr. Caitlyn Majeika discusses classroom management strategies and supports educators can apply in their own classroom settings. The strategies presented can help educators create a predictable, structured, and organized...
Description: Multi-Tiered System of Supports for Multilingual Learners: Using Culturally and Linguistically Aligned Practices - This brief highlights how to use culturally and linguistically aligned (CLA) strategies to support multilingual learners within an multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) framework including how to use a CLA lens to inform instructional adaptations for multilingual learners who require intensive intervention.  The brief reviews the use of the CLA lens when considering the...
Description: Self-Paced Features of Explicit Instruction Course - The first two modules in NCII’s course content focused on Features of Explicit Instruction have been adapted into self-paced modules available within the NCII and PROGRESS Center’s Learning Module Library. These modules include video lectures, activities, and checks for understanding.   The available modules are Modeling and Practicing to Help Students Reach Academic Goals (approximately 5 hours to complete) and...
Description: It is never too early to consider assistive technology supports and services. The following resources will assist you in exploring AT and AAC for young children. Check out these Professional Learning Possibilities on TTAC Online: Considering Assistive Technology Course: Asynchronous Virtual Virginia Course - Virginia Assistive Technology, Tools, and Strategies (VATTS): Consideration Guide and Resources 2023-2024 AT/AAC to support language, play, literacy, and early math skills **TechKnowledgy...
Description: Elementary Instructional Playbook - This website comes from the Jordan School District in Utah and offers some excellent examples of constructing an instructional playbook. There are lots of great resources to help you to create your own school or division playbook.  Video Creating an Instructional Playbook - This instructional video shares the steps involved in creating an instructional playbook for your team, school, or division.
Description: Families play a crucial role in preparing their child for college and careers through valuable work-based learning (WBL) experiences. WBL facilitates supervised experiences for students with disabilities organized by schools and vocational rehabilitation agencies in real work settings. These experiences help students develop interests and skills for employment. Work-based learning experiences connect classroom learning and real-world work to improve students’ chances of securing...
Description: This course, Intensifying Instruction: What Teachers Need to Know, focuses on reviewing and intensifying instruction. It is part of a series covering instructional practices. These practices were identified through an extensive, systematic meta-analysis* of the high-leverage practices for students with disabilities. Those who enroll in this interactive course will be able to do the following: Identify when to intensify instruction or intervention to support the development and implementation of...
Description: 10 Key Policies and Practices for Social-Emotional Learning provides guidance for district and school administrators considering adopting a SEL program. Individual teachers in schools without schoolwide or districtwide programs will also find these basic principles helpful in promoting a positive classroom environment.
Description: Explicit instruction is an evidence-based practice that any teacher can use in his or her own math class to engage learners and ensure that they are mastering the material. A key component of explicit instruction is making sure to ask a variety of questions, both low level and high level. In How to Ask the Right Questions in Math, Erica Mason, from the University of Missouri, discusses the different types of questions and why both are so critical to ensuring that all students are learning. In...
Description: Fostering Student Engagement - Sense of belonging and a supportive classroom and school community are the foundation of student engagement. Building onto that foundation with strategies to support SEL, cognition, and content factors is a great next step. Engage students in digital learning environments, either in-school or virtual, by supporting their social and emotional development, fostering relationships with you and classmates, involving families, and building practices such as...
Description: Quick Guide For Reading Assessment  - When assessing emerging readers, this progression should be utilized from the bottom of the progression up, with new assessment measures added and analyzed as they become developmentally appropriate. When assessing older students in third grade or beyond, the analysis should start at the top of the progression with reading comprehension and fluency measures, then down through the foundational sub-skills as needed.
Description: Management and Routines includes: Managing Materials Be Kind Beginning of the Day Communication Independent Work Time Safety & Transitions
Description: Resilience for Kids With Dyslexia, Learning and Attention Issues - Hear from Fumiko Hoeft, M.D., Ph.D., a psychiatrist and a cognitive neuroscientist, about how resilience can help kids with dyslexia succeed in school and in life. Learn how you as a parent can build resilience by showing support, providing mentorship, focusing on strengths, and building social/emotional resilience. With these tips, you can create a resilience framework for your child with learning and attention issues....
Description: Using Children’s Literature to Teach Social Skills - Children with disabilities, particularly learning disabilities, do not always make friends as effortlessly and easily as do their nondisabled peers. Through the use of children’s literature, children with learning disabilities can be taught valuable skills that will enable them to make and maintain friendships. This article (a) describes a strategy incorporating children’s literature for teaching friendship skills and...
Description: Using Read-Alouds to Support Social and Emotional Learning - In elementary school, interactive read-alouds are commonly used to build various literacy skills, such as students’ listening comprehension, background knowledge, vocabulary, and understanding of language structures. Beyond their academic benefits, however, read-alouds can also serve as a support for developing social and emotional learning (SEL) skills.  In fact, teachers can integrate read-alouds related to SEL into...
Description: The Reading League Compass: Providing Direction in the Science of Reading  - The science of reading marketplace is difficult to navigate and digest. It is often full of misinformation that makes educators, educational leaders, and decision-makers vulnerable to implementing practices that are somehow labeled as “science of reading,” yet they are not aligned with the scientific evidence base. The Reading League Compass provides reliable and understandable guidance for a variety of...
Description: The Providing Immediate Specific Feedback and Maintaining a Brisk Pace module is the third in a set of four course modules focused on explicit instruction. This module focuses on providing immediate specific feedback and maintaining a brisk pace. The module begins with a review of the explicit instruction model and describes how the supporting practices can be used to maximize student engagement. In this module, educators will learn about: How the supporting practices maximize engagement How to...
Description: Dott, Alphabott, and the Alphabotteers are teaching Dusty the Dog to read. That’s what makes them Reading Buddies! Combining the science of reading with lots of laughs, Reading Buddies is the fun way to teach aspiring readers the foundational components of reading.
Description: This section provides Parents & Families with practical ideas and strategies to help with reading and writing based on what works. Topics include: Dyslexia, Beginning Reading, Intervention, Screening, Advocacy and Partnerships.
Description: The Digital Promise Instructional Coaching Playbook is designed to help schools and districts build and sustain effective coaching programs. A successful coaching program is the result of a strong leadership team composed of district and school administrators as well as instructional coaches. Why Teachers Need Coaches explains what instructional coaching is and explores five reasons teachers need coaches. This section will help you make the case for establishing coaching in your school or...
Description: An Instructional Playbook: How to Build Your Own includes all the materials you need to get started on curating, creating, and collaborating!  What is an instructional playbook? An instructional playbook is meant as a guiding document for coaching, training, and professional learning facilitated by ITRTs or instructional coaches.  An instructional playbook should be digital and shared with all teachers.  The Virginia Department of Education strongly recommends that the...
Description: As part of Child Find under special education, school divisions are required to have procedures, including timelines, to document the screening of children enrolled in the division, including transfers from out of state (8VAC20-81-50 C.1.). These screenings must occur in the areas of hearing, vision, scoliosis, speech, voice, language, and fine and gross motor functions.   The updated Required School Screenings Guidance Document for Special Educators provides users with regulatory...
Description: The Career Planning Toolkit is a resource for educators and counselors supporting students with significant  disabilities through the career planning process. The toolkit uses hands-on activities to help students plan for their careers as they prepare for a successful transition to postsecondary education or employment. The toolkit is acompanion resource for the Center on Transition Innovations’ Get Ready for Your Career course.
Description: The Family Resource Center provides information to support children who are struggling with mental health, behavior or learning challenges.
Description: Ultimate Behavior Toolkit: What Works (CIEES at ODU) - The use of evidence-based practices in the classroom is more important than ever. Fortunately, there are many practices that are simple to use. This series will provide a toolkit of strategies to assist school personnel to implement evidence-based practices that promote positive student outcomes.  New - Elementary Videos - These modules will help elementary school teachers with evidence-based strategies for 11 common...
Description: The purpose of ORTIi is to provide technical assistance to Oregon school districts implementing Response to Intervention (RTI) systems that provide targeted, effective instruction to meet the needs of all students and provide the framework to identify students with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD). The focus of the project is on literacy, early intervention, and the use of evidenced-based practices.
Description: A Guide to Cross-Cutting Concepts - Cross-cutting concepts are a set of overarching big ideas that look and behave similarly across all STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) domain areas. In this document, we define and describe cross-cutting concepts in STEM learning for all young children, including children with disabilities. We provide definitions and examples. Learning progression steps for each cross-cutting concept have been added as well.
Description: The wellness wheel is a tool for self exploration that promotes the concept that balance is the key to wellbeing. When it was first conceived by Dr. Bill Hettler, he outlined six dimensions of wellness as markers to help individuals accomplish a well rounded, healthy lifestyle and live a life of value and meaning.  Over time, the wheel has grown to include seven categories. Today, the dimensions on the wellness wheel include: physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, environmental,...
Description: Boundaries: What are they and how to develop your own - Setting healthy limits, or boundaries, in our lives allows us to take care of our health and well-being. In this resource, we’ll cover different types of boundaries, how to set them and ways to communicate to others what you will and will not tolerate to protect yourself and take charge of your life. (NAMI = National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Description: The Administration for Community Living (ACL) Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Technical Assistance and Resource Center’s (TARC) held a webinar (Sept. 28, 2023) on the need for a trauma informed approach and best practice principles for implementing trauma informed screening for brain injury. A trauma informed guide to screening was reviewed and an example of how to implement trauma informed screening was provided using a trauma informed approach with implementing a modified Ohio State...
Description: Recording: Dr. Tim Odegard - Empowering Students with Dyslexia: Effective Support Strategies Virtual Reading Symposium Virtual Reading Symposium - Session Recordings  For each session listed below, you will find: A Session Description and Presenter Bio A YouTube Link to access the recording A Presentation Resources link with access to materials in a Google Folder. Some presenters did not provide handouts.
Description: Recording: Julie Burtscher Brown and Sherry Sousa - No Time to Waste: Structured Literacy with Young Adults  Virtual Reading Symposium Virtual Reading Symposium - Session Recordings  For each session listed below, you will find: A Session Description and Presenter Bio A YouTube Link to access the recording A Presentation Resources link with access to materials in a Google Folder. Some presenters did not provide handouts.
Description: Recording: Lindsay Kemeny - 7 Mighty Moves for Reading Success Virtual Reading Symposium Virtual Reading Symposium - Session Recordings  For each session listed below, you will find: A Session Description and Presenter Bio A YouTube Link to access the recording A Presentation Resources link with access to materials in a Google Folder. Some presenters did not provide handouts.
Description: What is Data-Based Individualization? (NCII) DBI is a research-based process for individualizing and intensifying interventions through the systematic use of assessment data, validated interventions, and research-based adaptation strategies. DBI is a process, not a specific program or product. The process is driven by data, characterized by increased intensity and individualization, and considers the academic and behavioral needs of the student. In some schools, intensive...
Description: Executive Directive 6: Student Safety Resources Considerations for Schools and Families - We recognize the impact of violence and trauma on our students, families, and school staff as we all struggle to process the lives lost, continuing violence and current world events, including the recent outbreak of war in Israel and antisemitic demonstrations around the world. School staff and parents may find themselves fielding questions from students and supporting them in processing what they have...
Description: The Building Connections Webinar Series explores how social and emotional learning (SEL) connects to topics to strengthen the many systems that support young people.