I was recently working in classrooms at Lebanon Middle School and had the opportunity to sit down with Katherine Donovan, who explained how she had adapted my Behavior Management Cue Card to address the “Classroom Expectations” handout that she was using in class. This is how she explained it:
“I teach a class of students who need structure and explicit instructions or a zillion hands go up at once. I found that oral instructions, even when repeated, didn’t sink in for some students. So I tried writing them every day as a prompt to get class started. This helped to develop the routine; however, some students still seemed lost, even with the written instructions. I read Susan Fitzell’s book on differentiation and saw the visual expectations. I was inspired and adapted it to fit the needs of the class. I used it when the routine changed. Students now had a visual to reinforce their written expectations. There were fewer hands up with questions about what to do and what was needed. I knew visuals were important, but I didn’t know just how much until I used this new technique. Visuals are a memory cue and I learned first-hand the effectiveness of it in the classroom. I will keep this in mind in the future when I provide instructions to my students.”
To help you visualize how Katie used visuals in her classroom to help her students, we’ve made her Classroom Expectations page available for download.
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_button link=”https://susanfitzell.com/ah2013q3/inclusionresources/classroom-expectations.pdf” style=”download” window=”yes”]Download it here![/fusion_button]
For Thousands Of Tips To Teach… So Your Students Are Top Performers
Get this Book Now!
Gain more knowledge on differentiation strategies to reach ALL learners
Get Susan Fitzell’s book Now. Don’t waste any time
Special Needs in the General Classroom, Strategies That Make It Work. Available in both print and electronic versions!
Want quality professional development you can afford? Save time with this popular PD option:
A Professional Development Kit, for all teachers, with a Graduate Credit Option!
Bring Susan to your campus!
Featured seminar – Differentiation Strategies to Reach ALL Learners in the Inclusive Classroom