for teachers and classroom staff
Welcome Teachers and Classroom Staff. This page was designed just for you! Our website contains a wealth of information on supporting and including children with special needs in the classroom and home. We at the Head Start Center for Inclusion, have chosen a few key pieces of information to get you started. Please browse this page for all things related to teaching and organizing classroom staff in the inclusive Head Start classroom. Take a look around the other areas of the site for even more information on inclusion. Thanks for visiting!
Day in the Life of a Disabilities Coordinator
Watch a set of short videos demonstrating the process of a Disabilities Coordinator in Washington State. Follow along as she describes how she supports both teachers and children in inclusive classroom settings.
Day in the Life of a Disabilities Coordinator
Day in the Life of a Disabilities Coordinator
15 Minute Inservices
HSCI knows the busy schedules of educators! Provide this resource to supervisiors to maximize every spare minute by providing a training in just 15 minutes! These inservices contain a Powerpoint presentation, handouts, pictures or videos and more that can be viewed and completed in 15 minutes or less.
15 Minute Inservice Tip!Encourage staff to do one 15 inservice a month and implement the newly learned strategy.
IEP Basics
Inclusion Basics: Membership
Individualizing
Proactive Teaching Strategies
Zoning
15 Minute Inservice Tip!Encourage staff to do one 15 inservice a month and implement the newly learned strategy.
IEP Basics
Inclusion Basics: Membership
Individualizing
Proactive Teaching Strategies
Zoning
Classroom Visuals & Supports
To help support teachers in the classroom, we have created an ever-growing library of commonly used pictures and visual supports to help teach and support all of your students. From toys and art materials to daily schedule pictures, to even problem solving pictures and classroom certificates. Even better, by providing all of these visual supports here for you in one place, you can download the ones you need and use them immediately in your classroom.
Classroom Visuals & Supports Tip!All children benefit from the use of pictures and visual supports paired with your verbal classroom directions. TIP: Try creating a large classroom schedule for the kids to see with pictures from our website glued on next to each daily classroom activity listed. TIP: Try using large pictures of your classroom activities and transitions hooked together with a metal ring to hold up and show kids what activity is coming next. You can hold up the picture while you are giving your verbal directions. TIP: How about downloading learning center pictures for kids to choose from who have a hard time engaging in one area. TIP: Try printing out two of each learning center or two of several classroom materials and making a matching game or even a "bingo" game to help kids learn about what is available in their class during the first few weeks of school.
Classroom Visuals & Supports
Classroom Visuals & Supports Tip!All children benefit from the use of pictures and visual supports paired with your verbal classroom directions. TIP: Try creating a large classroom schedule for the kids to see with pictures from our website glued on next to each daily classroom activity listed. TIP: Try using large pictures of your classroom activities and transitions hooked together with a metal ring to hold up and show kids what activity is coming next. You can hold up the picture while you are giving your verbal directions. TIP: How about downloading learning center pictures for kids to choose from who have a hard time engaging in one area. TIP: Try printing out two of each learning center or two of several classroom materials and making a matching game or even a "bingo" game to help kids learn about what is available in their class during the first few weeks of school.
Classroom Visuals & Supports
HSCI Community Book Group
Here we have chosen several children's books which deal with disability, difference and inclusion in a child-friendly and accessible way. You can use these books in your classroom during your story time or also recommend them to families who are wanting to begin talking about these topics at home.
HSCI Community Book Group Tip!Got a child who learns differently or is from a culture different than those of your other students? Check out our Book Nook to find children's book related to celebrating differences and embracing other learning styles in the classroom and in the community.
HSCI Community Book Group
HSCI Community Book Group Tip!Got a child who learns differently or is from a culture different than those of your other students? Check out our Book Nook to find children's book related to celebrating differences and embracing other learning styles in the classroom and in the community.
HSCI Community Book Group
Social Stories
Social Stories are short 1-page "stories" tailor-made for a child who is having difficulty with a specific activity, rule of the class, transition, or a daily event. These social stories can be made for any child, on any topic both at school or even at home. We have posted some for you to use that we as teachers have commonly used for children in our classrooms, but you can also feel free to create your own social stories for children who need them, based on a specific child and a specific event or activity they are having trouble with.
Social Stories Tip!You may have a child who has trouble remembering the rules at circle time. How about create a positive little "story" all about him and what he needs to do at circle time. Use his name, put his picture on the top and read it to him each day before circle starts. He can even have his own little binder or clip board near his cubby where he can keep his "circle time story". TIP: You may have a child who is learning how to ask a teacher for a "break" from a challenging activity, instead of running away or yelling. Try writing a little story about her, which talks about the problem and also clearly describes how she can ask a teacher for a break from a hard activity.
Social Stories
Social Stories Tip!You may have a child who has trouble remembering the rules at circle time. How about create a positive little "story" all about him and what he needs to do at circle time. Use his name, put his picture on the top and read it to him each day before circle starts. He can even have his own little binder or clip board near his cubby where he can keep his "circle time story". TIP: You may have a child who is learning how to ask a teacher for a "break" from a challenging activity, instead of running away or yelling. Try writing a little story about her, which talks about the problem and also clearly describes how she can ask a teacher for a break from a hard activity.
Social Stories
Resources for Teachers
Here at HSCI, we have compiled a group of helpful resources which we hope will be useful to your in your classrooms. They range from videos showing different teaching strategies, helpful web sites and links to our partner sites.
