Inclusive Learning with Mrs. Pierce

14/03/2023

Okay, hear me out. There might be some of you out there who love testing and assessments, but that’s not me.

It took a while for me to reflect on why I hated assessments, but I was doing some research and came upon this idea. Testing and assessments have a purpose: to see what students can do and what they need to work on. Somewhere in history this shifted to become a way to collect data, compare groups, and then do nothing.

In the classroom I’m sure I was guilty of this. And I definitely had students take tests that were not inclusive or geared towards individual success.

So I don’t hate assessments. I just think the way we do them needs to change. There’s such potential for assessments to be effective and fun if we can incorporate feedback, choice, and inclusivity.

I totally get that this issue is generally out of control of the teacher. It might be unpopular and is definitely not easy. But I feel pretty strongly that it’s necessary.

Any other unpopular opinions about assessments?

10/03/2023

As a student I haaated learning about fractions. As a teacher, they are one of my favorite things to teach! There are so many possibilities for use real-life application or art to have fun! Here’s a few things from my store for ya😊

27/02/2023

24/02/2023

Okay, this is one of my favorite things to think about when I make resources! Take a second and think about your answer….

One of the first things that comes to mind is the time in 6th grade when we mummified a chicken. I vividly remember how bad it started to smell (which I guess personalized the experience haha?). I also remember putting on plays, dropping eggs and field trips. I can’t say I remember a single test or worksheet… (maybe it’s different for you?)

Not that tests or worksheets are useless, I just think there’s always another way to learn. When I make resources, I love to find ways of making content you could learn from a worksheet more experiential, inclusive, and memorable. Now I’m interested, what do you remember?

22/02/2023

Looking for STEM engineering ideas? I’ve got you covered!

20/02/2023

Pompeii, a year ago today. To quote Ryan from The Office, “it was indescribable”

20/02/2023

As someone who LOVES traveling and learning about other cultures, I’ve been looking for good ways to create resources that adequately educate students on the rich history and intricate cultures of places around the world. I ran into Gloria Larson-Billings in my research, and have been loving her studies and insights!

13/02/2023

Before I go into this, I just wanted to share a little about my background. I grew up with an autistic sister, and worked closely with her and her peers in a special education setting. This is part of what made me excited about going into a field involved in special education. I graduated with a dual certification in general and special education, and am currently finishing up a masters in innovative education, with an emphasis on technology.

In terms of physical experience, I have a laughable amount of time spent in the classroom (roughly 3 years physically present in a school). All this to say, I have lots of opinions about inclusion, but I accept that my experience may not make me an expert, and I am open to learning other's perspectives.

Anyways, back to inclusion. Obviously I think it's so important (it's in my name!). I've had many opportunities to pursue areas of research, and in most of these I've gravitated to topics about inclusion and reaching all learners. As someone familiar with special education, I understand the restrictions and why not every student can get individualized services. As someone who likes to find solutions, this is really hard to accept. How I'm trying to make a difference involves the curriculum/resource aspect of education. If activities are set up in a way where they can be individualized, we can get a little closer to that ideal of inclusion. It's not possible now to have 100% inclusion in terms of every student learning in the same setting together, but my perspective is that general education is what needs to change to make it possible. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk, do you have any opinions about inclusion?

09/02/2023

When writing starts feeling like something you ‘have to do’, mix it up! Try these ideas out to add fun back in writing!

08/02/2023

Last day for savings! Head to my store now!

07/02/2023

Today is the day! Head to my store for awesome deals and engaging resources!

06/02/2023

Practicing pronouns just got a whole lot more fun! 🤩 Here are 3 ways you can help your young learners master them!