Inclusion Rules

Universal Design Daily

Supporting All Students in the Diverse Classroom

It’s undoubtedly important to teach in ways that honor learning differences and to structure lessons that are engaging, varied, and appropriately challenging. However, in this era focused on universal design for all, it is also critical to explore the underlying habits of mind related to “teaching them all.” Based on a new book of the same title, this presentation centers on big ideas related to teaching and learning. Paula will discuss the role of “teaching up” and presuming both competence and complexity. She will explore the need to focus on student strengths, passions, and interests. She will also talk about the need to design lessons that are responsive and dynamic. This presentation contains video clips, classroom stories, examples, and illustrations. It will provide both points of reflection and practical strategies. More importantly, it features ideas to help all teachers better respond to the diversity that exists in their classrooms every single day.

The Co-Taught Classroom

5 Ways to Create an Amazing, Nearly Miraculous & Earth-Shattering Partnership

Participants in this day-long workshop will become familiar with the critical elements of an effective collaborative team. This session is intended to prompt discussion and encourage partners to talk and think about teaching beliefs, teaching roles, and collaborative behaviors. Dr. Kluth will discuss a variety of co-teaching structures (e.g., duet teaching, station teaching, parallel teaching) and explore ways educators can work together in shared classrooms. She will also share ideas for setting team goals, differentiating as a team, learning from your partner, and celebrating your successes!

Don’t We Already Do Inclusion?

Creating Better Schools for All

Based on the book by the same title, this presentation is not only filled with ideas for teaching diverse learners, but is also focused on change itself. More specifically, it is focused on how those concerned about inclusion can create change even when they are not in positions of power. The activities, examples, and illustrations in this workshop are designed to help participants refine their vision and their skills when it comes to inclusion. The ideas are no or low cost, and many can be achieved by any number of stakeholders—including students and families. Learn tried-and-true techniques, as well as some out-of-the box solutions such as involving traditional and social media, “shrinking” the change, phoning for help, advertising, and writing your way to progress.

You’re Going To Love This Kid!

Educating Students with Autism In Inclusive Schools

Based on Paula’s best-selling book, this interactive session, participants will learn practical ways of supporting students with autism spectrum labels and other disabilities within a general education classroom. Topics addressed include defining (and redefining) autism, listening to the voices of those on the spectrum, differentiating instruction, creating more active and responsive lessons, making the classroom comfortable, and providing opportunities for communication and social skill support.

All In: Inclusion From a Distance

Supporting All Students in Virtual Classrooms

As schools closed in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, many teachers, advocates, and families became concerned that inclusion would no longer be a priority for school districts. As weeks became months, many of these same teachers, advocates, and families got creative and designed structures and strategies to keep kids with and without disabilities connected to one another and to make sure that inclusive learning continued in virtual lessons and beyond.

This presentation is pulled from a new book on the topic and highlights some of those structures and strategies. It is also a call to action and a reminder to keep focused on the goal of inclusion as we all social distance and plan both virtual and hybrid lessons alone and with collaborative partners. Featured ideas include learning “together-apart” with peer supports, creating online clubs & lunch tables, “going big” to adapt instruction, letting families lead, and creating accommodations in virtual spaces.

We Thought You’d Never Ask

Voices From the Spectrum

In this keynote presentation, Paula will explore the gap between the dominant discourse in autism and the stories of people on the spectrum themselves. She will share excerpts from her documentary film on the voices of people with autism and discuss what their voices and messages mean for our daily work in schools and communities.

Presume Competence, Prioritize Peers & Other Things Every Paraprofessional Needs to Know

Paraprofessionals assigned to support students with disabilities in the general education classrooms are critical members of inclusive schooling teams. Many, however, feel they do have adequate background knowledge about the “what”, “why” and “how” of inclusive schools. This workshop is designed to support new and veteran paraprofessionals who work in inclusive classrooms and need skills to collaborate with colleagues and support diverse groups of learners.

This strategy-packed workshop will provide paraprofessionals with a few “big ideas” about supporting students with disabilities (e.g., presuming competence, honoring the “least dangerous assumption”, considering the dignity of risk, teaching up). It will also be filled with practical, easy-to-integrate techniques and strategies that can be used in K-12 inclusive classrooms (e.g., visual supports, indirect communication, choices, natural supports).

From Text Maps to Memory Caps

Differentiating Instruction in K-12 Classrooms

This idea-filled, interactive workshop is focused on using teacher-created materials to meet the needs of all learners in inclusive schools. Educators will learn ways to engage, motivate, support, and inspire a diverse group of students by creating classroom games, study aids, visuals supports, teaching tools, and review materials. Participants will learn about strategies and adaptations and will have opportunities to try some of them out as well.

Joyful Learning

Using Active and Collaborative Structures to Differentiate Instruction in Inclusive Classrooms

Note: not recommended for early childhood/preK. Meeting room should provide sufficient space for audience to move freely move around.

Too often a “one-size-fits- all” approach is used to design lessons leaving some learners struggling to participate and leaving teachers feeling they have not reached all of their students. In this interactive session, participants will apply principles of differentiation by exploring a number of collaborative, active, and brain-compatible learning techniques aimed at engaging students and making learning joyful. In this workshop, participants will apply principles of differentiation by exploring a number of collaborative, active, and brain-compatible learning techniques. The session is based on her book by the same title, and is appropriate for teachers in K-12 classrooms.