Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Speech and Language Disorders in the School Setting


Children may experience one or more of the following disorders:
  • Speech sound disorders - (difficulty pronouncing sounds)
  • Language disorders - (difficulty understanding what they hear as well as expressing themselves with words)
  • Cognitive-communication disorders - (difficulty with thinking skills including perception, memory, awareness, reasoning, judgment, intellect and imagination)
  • Stuttering (fluency) disorders - (interruption of the flow of speech that may include hesitations, repetitions, prolongations of sounds or words)
  • Voice disorders - (quality of voice that may include hoarseness, nasality, volume (too loud or soft) 

Resource:

Autism Programs @ CDD

Here is a great site for learning about and understanding Autism. Great resource!





Least Restrictive Environment Planning

It's the end of the year and of course that means I'm planning for next!

Here is a great site for creating accommodations and modifications in inclusive classrooms. Great suggestions. The Pyramid Model they provide is quite useful as well.



http://www.education.tas.gov.au/curriculum/archived/needs/inclusive/phase1/anna






Friday, June 15, 2012

Teaching Science to Exceptional Students

My favorite teaching journal is out! This issue focuses on Science instruction for students with exceptional needs. Below is a list of the new articles. I have an annual membership account, which gives me access to all of their articles, and allows me to search their database. I highly recommend journals such as these in order to stay on top of all of the new and research-based instructional practices. Cheers!!


------------------------------

The July/August 2012 issue of TEACHING Exceptional Children (TEC) is on its way!

Can’t wait for your print issues to arrive? Visit CEC's Web site now to enjoy current and past issues of CEC's top-ranked special education journals online.

In this issue you'll find:
DIS2ECT: A Framework for Effective Inclusive Science InstructionDIS2ECT was developed from a blend of evidence-based best practices in special education and science. Read more

Ensuring Meaningful Access to the Science Curriculum for Students With Significant Cognitive Disabilities
Provides examples of standards-based instruction, utilizing inquiry approaches.Read more

Supporting Struggling Readers in Secondary School Science Classes Step-by-step guidance on how to foster expository reading for struggling readers in secondary school science classes. Read more

Elementary School Garden Programs Enhance Science Education for All Learners Garden-based learning (GBL) may be one key to unlocking learning potential in students. Read more

And, don’t forget! The summer 2012 issue Exceptional Children (EC) will be arriving alongside TEC. Check out the latest articles from the #1 most cited journal in special education:

Culturally Different Students in Special Education The current state of racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse students. Read more

The Sustainability of Schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports The sustainability of schoolwide behavioral support systems is examined and key successful factors are revealed. Read more

Universal Screening in Mathematics for the Primary Grades Review of mathematics screening research in the primary grades and the most important constructs. Read more

High-Quality School-Based Pre-K Can Boost Early Learning for Children With Special Needs Early intervention program found to facilitate significant gains in literacy. Read more

Evidence-Based Practices


CEC is taking a leading role in defining and presenting evidence-based practices for the field. CEC’s Professional Standards & Practice Committee has developed a comprehensive proposal for evidence-based practices. The proposal will select criteria to identify evidence-based practices and develop a process by which CEC would identify these practices.




Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Holistic Grading Grid

I like to use this Holistic Grading Grid to assess my students' writing. I like it because it requires me to identify both strengths and challenges that my students are experiencing with writing. Also, I like to keep these in my students' folder so that I can assess over time, how my students are improving.

*You can click the picture below, save it, and then zoom and it will print full size.





Saturday, June 2, 2012

Behavior Management :IRIS

Love these modules for Behavior Management:

The IRIS Center for Training Enhancements. (2005). Addressing disruptive and
noncompliant behaviors (part 1): Understanding the acting-out cycle. Retrieved

Other Resources:



Articles

Lane, K. L., Pierson, M., & Givner, C. C. (2004). Secondary teachers'
views on social competence: Skills essential for success. Journal
of Special Education, 38(3), 174–186.
Wehby, J., Symonds, F., Canale, J., & Go, F. (1998). Teaching practices
in classrooms for students with emotional and behavioral disorders:
Discrepancies between recommendations and observations.
Behavior Disorders, 24, 51–56.
Books

Colvin, G. (1993). Managing acting-out behavior. Eugene, OR:
Behavior Associates.
Gresham, F. M. (2002). Social skills assessment and instruction for students
with emotional and behavioral disorders. In K. L. Lane, F. M. Gresham, &
T. E. O'Shaughnessy (Eds.), Interventions for children with or at risk for
emotional and behavioral disorders (pp. 242–258). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Walker, H. M., Colvin, G., & Ramsey, E. (1995). Antisocial behavior in school:
Strategies and best practices. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/ Cole.
Additional Resources and Information
Articles

Lane, K. L., & Wehby, J. (2002). Addressing antisocial behavior in the schools: A
call for action. Academic Exchange Quarterly, 6, 4–9.
Mace, F. C., & Belfiore, P. (1990). Behavioral momentum in the treatment of escape
motivated stereotypy. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 23, 507–514.
Mace, F. C., Hock, M. L., Lalli, J. S., West, B. J., Belfiore, P., Pinter, E., &
Brown, D. K. (1988). Behavioral momentum in the treatment of noncompliance.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 21, 123–141.
Book Chapters

Colvin, G. (2002). Designing classroom organization and structure. In K. L. Lane,
F. M. Gresham, & T. E. O'Shaughnessy (Eds.), Interventions for children with or
at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders (pp. 159–174). Boston:
Allyn & Bacon.
Lane, K. L. (in press). Academic instruction and tutoring interventions for students
with emotional/behavioral disorders 1990 to Present. In R. B. Rutherford, M. M.
Quinn, and. S. R. Mathur (Eds.). Handbook of research in behavior disorders.
New York: Guilford Press.
Walker, H. M., & Severson, H. (2002). Developmental prevention of at-risk outcomes
for vulnerable antisocial children and youth. In K. L. Lane, F. M. Gresham, & T. E.
O'Shaughnessy (Eds.), Interventions for children with or at risk for emotional and
behavioral disorders (pp. 177–194). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Books

Alberto, P. A., & Troutman, A. C. (1999). Applied behavior analysis for teachers
(5th ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Merrill/ Prentice Hall.
Carr, E. G., Levin, L., McConnachie, G., Carlson, J. I., Kemp, D. C., & Smith, C. E.
(1994). Communication-based intervention for problem behavior. Baltimore:
Paul H. Brookes.
Elliott, S., & Gresham, F. M. (1991). Social skills intervention guide. Circle
Pines, MN: American Guidance.
Lane, K. L., Gresham, F. M., & O'Shaughnessy, T. E. (2004). Interventions for children
with or at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Lane, K. L., & Beebe-Frankenberger, M. E. (2004). School-based interventions: The
tools you need to succeed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Maag, J. W. (2004). Behavior management: From theoretical implications to practical
applications (2nd ed.), pp. 151–197. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/ Thomson Learning.
Sulzer-Azaroff, B., & Mayer, G. R. (1991). Behavior analysis for lasting change.
Fort Worth: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Walker, H. M., Ramsey, E., & Gresham, F. M. (2004). Antisocial behavior in school: . (2nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/ Thomson Learning.
Evidence-based practices

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Advance Organizer


What is an Advance Organizer?
  • an instructional unit that is used before direct instruction, or before a new topic; this is sometimes called a hook, set induction, or anticipatory set 
  • introduced in advance of direct instruction
  •  designed to bridge the gap between what the learner already knows and what she needs to know






A great online resource with examples: http://www.glnd.k12.va.us/resources/graphicalorganizers/

http://www.glnd.k12.va.us/resources/graphicalorganizers/clustermap.png

Monday, May 28, 2012

Fluency Rates: Reading

RTI Assessment

I'm still loving this easyCBM site. Here's a helpful review of RTI and how it works to identify and intervene to help at-risk learners. I'm currently using their free site to monitor my group of RSP students. I'll continue reporting on if I'm finding this useful for my needs.


RtI Triangle

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Math VIDS!

A wonderful website for finding research-based mathematics practices...highly recommended!!




Concrete-Representational-Abstract: CRA


Concrete-Representational-Abstract: CRA is a research-based strategy, proven effective for teaching abstract mathematical concepts to students with learning disabilities. This is especially useful for students at the secondary level.





Research:

Witzel, B.,Mercer, C., & Miller, D. (2003). Teaching algebra to students with learning difficulties: an investigation of an explicit instruction model. Learning Disabilites Research & Practice, 18(2), 121-131.

Allsopp (1999); Baroody (1987); Butler, Miller, Crehan, Babbit, & Pierce (2003); Harris, Miller, & Mercer (1993);  Kennedy and Tips (1998); Mercer, Jordan, & Miller (1996); Mercer and Mercer (2005); Miller, Butler, & Lee (1998); Miller and Mercer, 1995; Miller, Mercer, & Dillon (1992); Peterson, Mercer, & O'Shea. (1988); Van De Walle (2005); Witzel, Mercer, & Miller (2003).







Source: http://www.coedu.usf.edu/main/departments/sped/mathvids/strategies/cra.html#

Friday, May 25, 2012

Laminated One-Sheets

I haven't purchased any of these laminated one sheets yet, but I plan to. I think I will find them very useful as a new teacher. Great idea!




This link has a free powerpoint for Inclusion Instruction, in case you find your school needing a demonstration to help general educators that you work with.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Easy CBMs

I am so happy to have found this link: http://www.easycbm.com/teachers/login.php


This website is the best! It lets you create your own CBMs and it also comes with a list of ready made literacy CBMs for K-8. Once you run your assessment, you can then enter the results in their website and it will track and graph results over time. What a lifesaver! And CBMs have been proven to increase student performance and inform instruction for teachers. I will be visiting here every week.


Oh! And it's FREE!!!!

Another great publication from the University of Oregon.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Nonverbal Learning Disability


Clinical Description of the Syndrome

Children with NVLD can demonstrate a wide range of visual-spatial, visual motor, sensory, and motor deficits. 


At the more basic levels, these deficits involve problems with visual and tactile perception and discrimination. 


In general, children with this disorder demonstrate increasing difficulty as the spatial aspects of the task increase. 


For example, they may be relatively capable of simple visual discrimination tasks requiring them to find shapes that are similar to or different from a target shape. The visual discrimination subtest from the Test of Visual Perceptual Skills - Revised (TVPS-R; Gardner, 1996) is an example of this.




























In contrast, they are likely to have extreme difficulty with tasks requiring them to find embedded figures (e.g., visual figure-ground on the TVPS-R) 


























Or difficulty determining the spatial orientation of lines (e.g., Judgment of Line Orientation Test, Benton, Hamsher, Varney, & Spreen, 1983). 












In addition, they are also likely to demonstrate difficulty with tactile perception and tactile discrimination. 


Examples of these types of impairment can be found on haptic discrimination tasks and other specific neuropsychological tasks, such as Tactile Form Recognition or Fingertip Number Writing from the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery (Reitan, 1979).





Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III
Verbal IQ787.0 %ileVCDQ81
Performance IQ580.6 %ilePODQ59
Full Scale IQ651.0 %ileFDDQ69

Information9
Similarities8
Arithmetic4
Vocabulary7
Comprehension2
Digit Span5
Picture Completion3
Coding3
Picture7
Block Design1
Object Assembly1
Symbol Search
Mazes
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test
NumberComment
Categories Completed5Average
Errors50SS = 83
Preservative Errors32SS = 76
Fails to Maintain Set0
Trail Making Test
SecondsErrorsComments
Part A430T = 35
Part B1723T = 0
Gordon Diagnostic System Vigilance Task
NumberComment
Correct29Abnormal
Commissions13Abnormal
Selective Reminding Test (Form 1 )
TotalComment
Long-term storage51SS = 64
Consistent Retrieval26SS = 67
Delay ( 32 mins.)6 of 12
Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning
SS
Store Memory3
Picture Memory6
Design Memory1
Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-R (Form M )
Standard Score%tileAge Equivalent
851612 yrs, 5 mos
Boston Naming Test
# Correct%tileComment
43SS = 57
Controlled Oral Word Association Test
FormTotalComment
FAS11< 5th %ile
Benton Judgment of Line Orientation (Form V )
# Correct%tileComment
10< 1st %ile
Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration
Standard Score%tileAge Equivalent
5716 yrs, 3 mos

Motor and Sensory-Perceptual ExamDominant Hand RNondominant Hand L
Grip Strength (kgs.)27.0T=2624.5T=24
Finger Tapping
(#/10 secs)
37T=3130T=28
Grooved Pegboard
Seconds ( 25 pegs)
130T= 0138T= 0
Drops54
Finger Localization
Errors (20 trials)
24
Fingertip #/X-O Writing
Errors (20 trials)
17/117/ 0
Wide Range Achievement Test - 3
GradeSS%tile
ReadingHS10358
SpellingHS10255
Arithmetic3621








Resource:


Current Issues in Education: Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities:  http://cie.asu.edu/volume1/number7/


Roman, M.,1998. The syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities: Clinical description and applied aspects, Current Issues in Education, 1(7).


Other Resources:

Anastasi, A. (1988). Psychological testing (6th ed.). New York: MacMillan.

Ardila, A., & Ostrosky-Solis, F. (1984). The right hemisphere and behavior. In A. Ardila & F. Ostrosky-Solis, (Eds.), The right hemisphere: Neurology and neuropsychology (pp. 3-49). New York: Gordon & Breach.

Beery, K. E. (1982). Revised administration, scoring, and teaching manual for the Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration. Cleveland, OH: Modern Curriculum Press.

Benton, A. L., & Hamsher, K. deS. (1989). Multilingual aphasia examination. Iowa City, IA: AJA Associates.

Benton, A. L., Hamsher, K. deS., Varney, N. R., & Spreen, O. (1983). Contributions to neuropsychological assessment. New York: Oxford University Press.

Berg, E. A. (1948). A simple objective treatment for measuring flexibility in thinking.Journal of General Psychology, 39, 15-22.

Brody, E. B., & Brody, N. (1976). Intelligence: Nature, determinants, and consequences. New York: Academic Press.

Brown, L., Sherbenou, R. J., & Johnsen, S. K. (1990). Test of Nonverbal Intelligence(2nd ed.). Austin, TX: PRO-ED.

Dunn, L. M., & Dunn, L. M. (1981). Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test - Revised. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.

Ewing-Cobbs, L., Fletcher, J. M., & Levin, H. S. (1995). Traumatic brain injury. In B. P. Rourke (Ed.), Syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities: Neurodevelopmental manifestations (pp. 433-459). New York: Guilford Press.

Flavell, J. H. (1970). Developmental studies of mediated memory. In H. W. Reese & L. P. Lipsitt (Eds.), Advances in child development and behavior (pp. 181-211). New York: Academic Press.

Fletcher, J. M., Brookshire, B. L., Bohan, T. P., Brandt, M. E., & Davidson, K. C. (1995). Early hydrocephalus. In B. P. Rourke (Ed.), Syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities: Neurodevelopmental manifestations (pp. 206-238). New York: Guilford Press.

Fletcher, J. M., Francis, D. J., Thompson, N. M., Brookshire, B. L., Bohan, T. P., Landry, S. H., Davidson, K. C., & Miner, M. E. (1992). Verbal and nonverbal skill discrepancies in hydrocephalic children. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 14, 593-609.

Gardner, M. F. (1985). Receptive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test: Manual. Novato, CA: Academic Therapy Publications.

Gardner, M. F. (1990). Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test (Revised):Manual. Novato, CA: Academic Therapy Publications.

Gardner, M. F. (1996). Test of Visual Perceptual Skills (n-m) Revised. Hydesville, CA: Psychological and Educational Publications.

Goldberg, E., & Costa, L. D. (1981). Hemisphere differences in the acquisition and use of asymmetries in the brain. Brain and Language, 14, 144-173.

Harnadek, M. C. S., & Rourke, B. P. (1994). Principal identifying features of the syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities in children. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 27, 144-154.

Johnson, D. J. (1987). Nonverbal learning disabilities. Pediatric Annals, 16, 133-141.

Johnson, D. J., & Myklebust, H. R. (1967). Learning disabilities: Educational principles and practices. New York: Grune & Stratton.

Kaufman, A. S. (1979). Intelligent testing with the WISC-R. New York: Wiley- Interscience.
Kaplan, E. F., Goodglass, H., & Weintraub, S. (1983). The Boston Naming Test (2nd ed.). Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger.

Klin, A., Sparrow, S. S., Volkmar, F. R., Cicchetti, D. V., & Rourke, B. P. (1995). Asperger syndrome. In B. P. Rourke (Ed.), Syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities: Neurodevelopmental manifestations (pp. 93-118). New York: Guilford Press.

Klove, H. (1963). Clinical neuropsychology. In F. M. Forster (Ed.), The medical clinics of North America. New York: Saunders.

Larsen, S. C., & Hammill, D. D. (1994). Test of Written Spelling - 3. Austin, TX: PRO- ED.

Mattarazzo, J. D. (1972). Wechsler's measurement and appraisal of adult intelligence(5th ed.). Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.

Milner, B. (1971). Interhemispheric differences in the localization of psychological processes in man. British Medical Bulletin, 27, 272-277.

Ozols, E. J., & Rourke, B. P. (1985). Dimensions of social sensitivity in two types of learning-disabled children. In B. P. Rourke (Ed.), Neuropsychology of learning disabilities: Essentials of subtype analysis (pp. 281-301). New York: Guilford Press.

Pennington, B. F. (1994). The working memory function of the prefrontal cortices: Implications for developmental and individual differences in cognition. In M. M. Haith, J. Benson, R. Roberts, & B. F. Pennington (Eds.), Future-oriented processes in development (pp. 243-289). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Reitan, R. M. (1979). Manual for administration of neuropsychological test batteries for adults and children. Tucson, AZ: Reitan Neuropsychological Laboratory.

Reitan, R. M., & Wolfson, D. (1985). The Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery. Tucson, AZ: Neuropsychology Press.

Rourke, B. P. (1982). Central processing deficiencies in children: Toward a developmental neuropsychological model. Journal of Clinical Neuropsychology, 4, 1-18.

Rourke, B. P. (1987). Syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities: The final common pathway of white-matter disease/dysfunction? The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 1,209-234.

Rourke, B. P. (1988). Socio-emotional disturbances of learning-disabled children.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 801-810.

Rourke, B. P. (1989). Nonverbal learning disabilities: The syndrome and the model. New York: Guilford Press.

Rourke, B. P. (1995a). Introduction: The NLD syndrome and the white matter model. In B. P. Rourke (Ed.), Syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities: Neurodevelopmental manifestations (pp. 1-26). New York: Guilford Press.

Rourke, B. P. (1995b). Syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities: Neurodevelopmental manifestations. New York: Guilford Press.

Rourke, B. P., & Fisk, J. L. (1981). Socio-emotional disturbances of learning disabled children: The role of central processing deficits. Bulletin of the Orton Society, 31,77-88.

Rourke, B. P., & Fisk, J. L. (1988). Subtypes of learning-disabled children: Implications for a neurodevelopmental model of differential hemisphere processing. In C. K. Molfese & S. J. Segalowitz (Eds.), Brain lateralization in children: Developmental implications (pp. 547-565). New York: Guilford Press.

Rourke, B. P., Young, G. C., & Leenaars, A. A. (1989). A childhood learning disability that predisposes those afflicted to adolescent and adult depression and suicide risk.Journal of Learning Disabilities, 22, 169-175.

Rourke, B. P., Young, G. C., Strang, J. D., & Russell, C. K. (1986). Adult outcomes of central processing deficiencies in childhood. In I. Grant & K. M. Adams (Eds.),Neuropsychological assessment in neuropsychiatric disorders: Clinical methods and empirical findings (pp. 244-267). New York: Oxford University Press.

Ryalls, J., Joanette, Y., & Feldman, L. (1987). An acoustic comparison of normal and right-hemisphere-damaged speech prosody. Cortex, 23, 685-694.

Semrud-Clikeman, M., & Hynd, G. W. (1990). Right hemispheric dysfunction in nonverbal learning disabilities: Social, academic, and adaptive functioning in adults and children. Psychological Bulletin, 107, 196-209.

Shallice, T. (1982). Specific impairments of planning. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Part B,(298), 199-209.

Sheslow, D., & Adams, W. (1990). Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning administration manual. Wilmington, DE: Wide Range.

Siegel, L. S. (1983). Correction for prematurity and its consequences for the assessment of the very low birth weight infant. Child Development, 54, 1176-1188.

Smith, L. A., & Rourke, B. P. (1995). Callosal agenesis. In B. P. Rourke (Ed.),Syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities: Neurodevelopmental manifestations (pp. 45-92). New York: Guilford Press.

Strang, J. D., & Rourke, B. P. (1983). Concept-formation/non-verbal reasoning abilities of children who exhibit specific academic problems with arithmetic. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 12, 33-39.

Weintraub, S., & Mesulam, M-M. (1983). Developmental learning disabilities of the right hemisphere: Emotional, interpersonal, and cognitive components. Archives of Neurology, 40, 463-468.

White, R. F., & Krengel, M. (1995a). Multiple sclerosis. In B. P. Rourke (Ed.),Syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities: Neurodevelopmental manifestations (pp. 407-432). New York: Guilford Press.

White, R. F., & Krengel, M. (1995b). Toxicant-induced encephalopathy. In B. P. Rourke (Ed.), Syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities: Neurodevelopmental manifestations (pp. 460-475). New York: Guilford Press.

Wilkinson, G. S. (1993). Wide Range Achievement Test Administration Manual.Wilmington, DE: Wide Range.

Wing, L. (1981). Asperger's syndrome: A clinical account. Psychological Medicine, 11,115-129.

Wing, L. (1991). The relationship between Asperger's syndrome and Kanner's autism. In U. Frith (Ed.), Autism and Asperger syndrome (pp. 93-121). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.

Woodcock, R. W., & Johnson, M. B. (1989). Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Test Battery - Revised. Allen, TX: DLM Teaching Resources.



Reciprocal Reading






Reading Rockets: Reciprocal Reading
Teaching Comprehension Strategies

Corrective Mathematics: Direct Instruction


A substantial body of research has demonstrated the direct instructional approach to be very effective for students who struggle with mathematic.

Corrective Mathematics is a commercial program using the direct instructional approach.



Resources:
Engelmann & Steely, 2002
Carnine, 1997

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Children's Mental Health

Here is a very informative website to keep current with new research and legislation related to child mental health.


National Federation of Families For Children's Mental Health

Fact Families


This template is designed to reinforce the notion that families live together in a house. The smaller two addends are written in each window. The larger number (the sum) is written on the door. Students use the 3 family numbers to write 2 addition sentences and 2 subtraction sentences.

Students will need lots of modeling and guided practice to transition to writing the numerals in the correct spots and using the numbers correctly to form the four number sentences in the fact family. Students usually have difficulty remembering to use the larger number first in the subtraction sentences. Some students benefit from reminders to use the door number first.

Checking their work: All students should be reminded to check their work to make sure that each number sentence is correct and that they have only used the three numbers in the number fact family. Teachers may ask students to check off or color in a bush for each fact that they check, using the bushes as a prompt to self-monitor and check their work.

Center Activity: Provide templates and dry erase markers at the center. Write fact families on index cards for student use. Be sure to include some mixed-up families where the sum is in the middle, for instance, so that students have practice sorting out the numbers to use them correctly in the template and in the number sentences.

*Resource: http://mathwire.com/.

Fact Families Download

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Domino Fact Families

Dominoes can be used to introduce students to fact families. Students need a Domino Facts Template inserted in a sheet protector, dry erase marker, and some dominoes for this activity. The student selects a domino and draws it on the template (or uses counters to build the domino). He/she then counts the number of dots on each side of the domino, writing the numbers in the squares above the domino sides. The student figures out the total number of dots and writes this number in the rectangle below the domino. These three numbers are the number family the students will use to write the 4 number sentences for that fact family.

Differentiation: Vary the complexity of the dominoes students use to accommodate the varied needs of learners in the class.


Center Activity: Make the materials available in the math center so that students practice fact families on a regular basis.


Domino Facts Template




*Resource: http://mathwire.com/.




Hello Teachers of Exceptional Students!!

I am always looking for ways to improve my teaching techniques with research based practices. I am an Education Specialist who currently is a Resource Specialist. I am always looking for ways to meet my students' needs, with practices that have been proven to be effective, though substantial research. I have noticed that often, these two ideas aren't listed side-by-side. I was looking for a way to organize my teaching practices, with their research basis, in one place where I could reach them efficiently. I also advise teachers who teach in inclusive classrooms. My goal with this website is to combine teaching practices, with their theoretical basis, in one organized place. I'm new at blogging, so please bare with me while I am learning the process. Hopefully, over time, the website will accumulate useful knowledge and resources for all teachers wanting to add best practices to their classrooms. I look forward to sharing with you my experiences and research; as well as hearing about yours. Have a wonderful and enriching day!!


~Kathleen Miller, MA Literacy and Language