Special Education and Inclusion Professional Development Study Set

Inclusion of special education students in the regular classroom is a challenge being faced by teachers in nearly every school system in the nation. The Ventures Educators’ Classroom Challenge™ Special Education - Inclusion study set addresses some of the core issues facing teachers who instruct students with special educational needs in the regular classroom.

The Ventures Educators’ Classroom Challenge™ Special Education-Inclusion program focuses on creating a learning environment that supports the educational progress of special education students in a regular classroom, as well as guidance on specific strategies for teaching curriculum content. Other topics include working with parents and behavior management.

This program also provides a valuable opportunity for co-teaching teams to reflect on, and adapt their current practice to ensure they are maximizing their effectiveness in meeting the needs of the students they teach.

As they engage in the various activities, participants will use a variety of interactive
strategies; these strategies are very simple but highly structured. These
same strategies can be used with students in the classroom to develop their
communication and higher-order thinking skills.

Self or Group Guided Agenda
Agenda/Week 1: Learning Environments
Agenda/Week 2: Teams
Agenda/Week 3: Behavioral Management
Agenda/Week 4: Assessment
Agenda/Week 5: Parental Involvement
Agenda/Week 6: Planning
Agenda/Week 7: Language Arts Strategies
Agenda/Week 8: Strategies for Teaching and Learning Curriculum Content

Book #1: Differentiating Instruction for Students with Learning Disabilities: Best Teaching Practices for General and Special Educators; by William N. Bender; published by Corwin Press

Book #2: Meeting the Challenge: Special Education Tools That Work for All Kids; by Patti Ralabate; published by National Education Association (not pictured)

Book #3: Teaching Kids with Learning Difficulties in the Regular Classroo: Strategies and Techniques Every Teacher Can Use to Challenge and Motivate Struggling Students; by Susan Winebrenner and Pamela Espeland; published by Free Spirit Press

Book #4: A Guide to Co-Teaching: Practical Tips for Facilitating Student Learning; by Richard A. Villa, Jacqueline S. Thousand, and Ann I. Nevin; published by Corwin Press

Book #5 and #6: Constructive Communication and Structured Thinking in the Classroom with Graphic Templates for Structured Thinking Skills, Vol. 1 (2 book set); published by VESC

Book/Guide #7: Ventures Educators’ Classroom Challenge™ 8-12- Week Selfor Group- Guided Toolkit with Agendas, Exercises, and Classroom Instructional Materials; published by VESC

Book/Guide #8: Ventures Educators’ Classroom Challenge™ Implementation Strategies for Constructive Communication and Structured Thinking; published by VESC