Excellence in Instruction

08/29/2021

Inclusive teaching practices benefit all kids.

There are honestly some simple things we can do to be inclusive. We can honor various ways of being physically and in space. Not everyone is most comfortable sitting on their bottoms with their legs crossed. Honor those who want to lay on their bellies, sit in chairs, or sit on their knees. Flexible seating doesn't have to be expensive or fancy - it can be clipboards on the floor or sitting in a chair during carpet time.

Normalize accommodations and modifications!! We all need them and somehow we act like it's a huge deal to give them to kids. Just dole them out like hand sanitizer! What would help them access this content or this learning opportunity better? Consider the accommodations you benefit from! As we're all coming off of in-service meetings, what did you bring with you? Water, gum, hard candies, knitting? Kids need the same things we all need - they are just not afforded the same agency as we are.

Presume competence! Whatever you have heard about a child or whatever happened before today is mostly irrelevant. Begin with a clean slate and offer that to a child without conditions.

Inclusion cannot be and is not a system or a structure. It is a mindset that prioritizes belonging and honors the individuality and strengths of each learner. How are you creating inclusive spaces this year?

Image ID: a receipt that says Inclusion Check Out: What you could do today followed by an itemized list of
lexible seating options
Visuals for procedures
Fostering belonging
Mixed and flexible groupings
Disabled representation in texts
Normalized differentiation
Universally designed instruction
Presuming competence all for $0.00 with a balance of $0.00

08/21/2021

08/21/2021

Yes!

05/01/2021

Just a reminder to all teachers out there:

You are the best.
Your effort has not gone unnoticed.
This year has been the hardest we’ve endured.
You have been the light in a dark year for so many.
To say you’ve made a difference is the understatement of the century.

Summer is coming.❤️

01/07/2021

Explaining the violent attempt to stop Congress from certifying that President-elect Joe Biden won the election.

01/27/2020

01/20/2020

Maslow before Bloom.

Maslow > Bloom.

11/08/2019

The narrative of disabled people being inspirational because they “overcame” their disability is perpetuated all too often. While we can all use a heart-warming story every once in a while, despite intentions, using disability as a vehicle to make you feel better about yourself is dehumanizing.

10/20/2019

Disability is a natural part of the human condition. Erasing it, minimizing it, ignoring it, or diminishing it may make those of us not yet experiencing disability feel good but consider the impact for those whose identities we are limiting.

People with disabilities are not living their lives to inspire you. People with disabilities experience the wide range of human emotions that you and I do, crave the same experiences and contributions and relationships. Inspirational platitudes are not serving any of us and have no place in the work of supporting people with disabilities.

As a person who is not within the disabled community, I generally default to person first language and am using it intentionally here. However, identity first language is the preference for many, many people and should be honored when it is preferred.

Disability matters. Disability rights matter. Disabled people matter. Spend time with people with disabilities. Listen. Learn. There is no advocating for or serving kids with disabilities without centering their own voice. Start by including kids in their IEP meetings (It doesn’t matter how young they are! They can contribute!). Ditch the inspirational quotes and honor disability.
*
*