Author: CLDS

The Iowa Department of Education, Iowa Public TV, the University of Northern Iowa, and the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies at UNC Chapel Hill partnered to create a new and exciting resource.  On the site, you’ll find videos of teachers engaged in reading and writing instruction with students with significant cognitive disabilities.  The students range in… Continue reading New Videos of Instruction Targeting the DLM Essential Elements

We have been working to identify existing resources that might be useful to you as you work to teach the DLM Essential Elements. We’ve organized what we’ve found so far on Pinterest Boards. Here is a list of boards for you to check out: DLM: Compose and Decompose Numbers https://www.pinterest.com/cgreer7/dlm-compose-and-decompose-numbers/ DLM: Data Analysis and Probability https://www.pinterest.com/cgreer7/dlm-data-analysis-and-probability/ DLM:… Continue reading Pinterest Boards

We have updated the professional development site!  You’ll now find all of the modules at https://www.dlmpd.com/.   Now that the modules are complete, we have organized them based on the DLM Claims and Conceptual Areas.  This should help you access modules that address instruction related to the Claims and Conceptual Areas you are addressing at each level.  If you… Continue reading New Professional Development Site

Willans Hill School in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia has been providing comprehensive literacy instruction to their students with significant cognitive disabilities for several years.  They built a web site to share their approach and successes with other educators.  Check out their what they have to say about writing instruction and watch videos of… Continue reading Writing in Action!

You can learn about writing instruction for students with significant cognitive disabilities through the DLM Professional Development Modules. The modules you want to look for include: Module 12:  Writing: Text Types and Purposes Module 16: Writing with Alternate Pencils NOTE: This module is especially important if you have students with significant motor impairments. Module 26: Writing Information… Continue reading Want to Know About Teaching Writing?

Check out the link to Instructional Resources above to find new resources posted about Alternate Pencils.  The resources needed to create the color-coded eye-gaze frame and print alphabet flip chart are available for you to download free-of-charge.

Check out this cool video about Tar Heel Reader.  It was created by a colleague and friend in Europe, Paul Andres.

The familiar texts used in the DLM alternate assessment are being shared using  Tar Heel Reader (http://tarheelreader.org).  This is a very large library of open-source, accessible, texts for individuals with disabilities of all ages.  Tar Heel Reader was started as a way to address the extreme shortage of easy-to-read books on topics that appeal to… Continue reading A Word About Tar Heel Reader

Three new self-directed modules went live today.  The three focus on writing instruction aligned to the DLM Essential Elements for students with significant cognitive disabilities.  The modules are: Writing: Text Types and Purposes Publication and Distribution of Writing Writing: Research and Range of Writing Find these and other modules on the DLM web site at:… Continue reading Three new modules on WRITING!!!

We’ve just posted the 12th self-directed module.  This one is on speaking and listening.  Given the characteristics of the population of students with significant cognitive disabilities, it is really a module on Expressive and Receptive Communication.  We look forward to your feedback.  Enjoy! You can find the link to this module and others at: www.dlmpd.com