Susan ‘s Articles for
Education
Susan ‘s Articles for
Education
Teaching Strategies for Students in the Autistic Spectrum
Communicating to the Student Be concrete and specific. Avoid using vague terms like later, maybe, or “Why did you do that?” Avoid idioms, double meanings, and sarcasm. Use gestures, modeling, and...
A Solution for Students Who Rock and Fidget in Their Seats
Students who tip back on two legs of their chairs in class often are stimulating their brain with a rocking, vestibular-activating motion. They are trying to wake up their (brain’s) vestibular...
Ask Susan: What to Do When Flexible Seating Becomes A Problem
Dear Susan: I have some flexible seating available for my students. Do you have any suggestions on how to manage it when it becomes more of a distraction for the other students? A: Implementing...
Creating Cohesion: Why Principals and Leaders Must Join Teacher Trainings
The Importance of Unified Training During my coaching work, I often see the high cost of having teachers attend training without their principals or department leaders. For example, I did long-term...
Co-taught Lesson Plan: Teaching Fractions in a 3rd-Grade Classroom
Introduction: Teaching fractions to third graders can be a dynamic and engaging experience when co-teaching strategies are thoughtfully implemented. Co-teaching offers a powerful way to reach...
Co-Teaching With Data-Driven Instruction: Why Looking Busy Isn’t Enough
Lessons from the Assembly Line After high school, I worked in a factory to put myself through college. The assembly line had production quotas, dictating how many “pieces” we had to produce per...
A Dozen Ways to Co-Teach Successfully!
Introduce each other's roles in the classroom as equal but different. For example, the general education teacher can be the content area specialist, while the special education teacher is the...
Effective Strategies for Dyslexic Readers: Unlocking Comprehension with Reciprocal Teaching
What is Reciprocal Teaching? Reciprocal teaching is a fantastic way to improve reading comprehension. This strategy involves discussion and the use of specific reading techniques: summarizing,...
Co-Teaching: An Opportunity to Teach by Example
The Power of Collaboration Back in 2003, I was coaching co-teachers at a high school in a tough part of town. I walked into a classroom with just a list of room numbers and teacher names. I didn't...
Brain-Based Teaching: Easy Learning Strategies for Your Classroom
As educators, we're always looking for ways to make our classrooms more effective learning environments. Research in neuroscience has provided us with valuable insights into how the brain learns...
Making Reading Easier: Dyslexia and Neurodiversity Solutions
My Journey with Dyslexia Reading has always been a challenge for me. I can read, but I'm a very slow reader. When my son's eye doctor diagnosed him with dyslexia*, I decided to get an eye exam for...
Long-term Coaching – The Unique, Hidden Benefits
It happened again... ...and it only took until March! Reflecting on my 20 plus years of coaching co-teaching teams, I've recognized a pivotal trend: the trans-formative power of ongoing, long-term,...