Professional Development-“Resource Review”

Incorporating any article from the Widening the Circle series (or any other professional journal article) into a professional development program can be an investment in the growth and success of educators. By creating opportunities for collaboration and expanding knowledge, conducting a study of the Widening the Circle article (“Resource Review”) empowers teachers to become more effective educators. There are many benefits to holding “Resource Reviews” about instructional practices.

These include:

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Celebrating Neurodiversity in Faith-Based Schools

Neurodiversity is in every classroom, even in private faith-based schools! When a private school chooses to embrace inclusive educational practices for students with disabilities, the entire community grows richer in the faith. Here are some important considerations for school leaders who say YES to building systems and practices for families.

Lean in to the faith leaders in your community.

Pastors, Rabbis, Priests, and Nuns are valuable models of faith formation on your campus. Include these leaders...

Under the federal law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the public school where the private school resides is obligated to provide equitable services to any child who is in need of special education or related services. The public school, or Local Education Agency (LEA) is responsible for the process of “identifying, locating, and evaluating” students. This is called “Child Find.”

Steps to the Child Find process:

• When a private school student is suspected of having a disability, the parent contacts the LEA to request an evaluation....

Students with high-incidence learning differences such as ADHD, dyslexia, and the autism spectrum, are present in every faith-based school! Some classrooms may have 4-5 students with learning disabilities that benefit from intentional lesson design for engaging instruction and assessment. Planning for engagement may seem difficult, however, when educators prepare to meet the needs of students with learning disabilities, accessibility is increased and success is possible!

Know the impact

The impact of the neurological and/or biological learning...

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a neurobiological learning disability that affects a person's ability to read, write, and spell. It is not related to intelligence, and individuals with dyslexia have normal or above-average intelligence. Dyslexia can impact various aspects of a person's life, including academic performance, work, and social relationships. It is important to understand the characteristics of dyslexia in order to provide appropriate support and interventions.

According to the International Dyslexia Association, dyslexia affects about 20% of the...

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), which can also be referred to as Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) or School-wide Positive Behavior Supports (SWPBS) offer a comprehensive, preventative approach to managing student behavior. With this framework, the focus is on defining and teaching school-wide agreed-upon behavior expectations, promoted through positive reinforcement. PBIS schools collect behavioral data to identify students in need of additional supports and layer in the necessary interventions.

There are five steps to implementing PBIS which must be approached...

Check-In, Check-Out (CICO) is a research-based behavior intervention that can be utilized for many different target behaviors because it can be customized and the foundation relies on the relationship between the teacher and the student. With CICO, the teacher would work with the student to set an observable behavioral goal. These may be directly related to the PBIS school-wide expectations.

For example, perhaps the student is working on being prepared. In the morning, she would check in with a specific faculty member with whom she had a good rapport. That person would help her get...

Nothing is more trying to a classroom teacher than to work with a student with challenging behaviors. Other learning problems, like learning disabilities and speech issues, are easier for a teacher to engender a helping and caring response. The same is not true for students with behavioral issues. It is difficult to feel helpful and want to remediate behav- ioral difficulties when these behaviors are making the teacher’s life miserable. In many cases, the teacher just wants the “behavior problem” and, most often, the child to disappear. Who can blame them? However, this is not the response...

When a private school enrolls a child with a significant disability, the school needs to discern whether that student needs additional adult assistance to be successful. There are several factors that impact that decision: safety, medical needs, mobility, and finances. Adult assistants can be volunteers or hired aides that may take the title of Inclusion Aide, Paraprofessional, or Special Education Aide.

Safety

The paramount reason to hire an Inclusion Aide is to maintain a safe environment for the child, the class, and the school. The factors that can...

Understanding the WHY

Every teacher encounters students who exhibit challenging behaviors. While maintaining a positive and productive classroom environment is paramount, simply reprimanding these behaviors often yields temporary results. Faith-based school teachers, grounded in love and compassion, seek solutions that go beyond punishment. This is where Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) come in.

An FBA is a process that helps us understand the ABCs of a student's behavior: the Antecedent (what happens before the behavior), the Behavior itself, and the Consequences...

Teacher Problem-Solving Teams in the Classroom

The cornerstone of a thriving faith-based classroom is a nurturing environment that fosters academic success and spiritual growth for all students. However, every teacher encounters students who face academic challenges or exhibit disruptive behaviors. While our faith compels us to offer compassion and understanding, addressing these concerns effectively requires more than just good intentions.

This is where Teacher Problem-Solving Teams (TPSTs) come into play. These collaborative groups bring together educators from various...

An instructional coach is an educational leader who works in a school or district to support teachers in reaching their goals. Effective instructional coaches serve as thought partners, building relationships based on trust and mutual respect and providing reflective, inquiry-oriented feedback rather than making judgments.

The instructional coaching process has three important components:

The classroom teacher: • identify learning goals, provide data. • integrate new practices, invite feedback, meet with the coach weekly to reflect,...

Widening the Circle explores a valuable tool for faith-based schools committed to serving all learners: the program audit.

Why a Program Audit?

Imagine embarking on a grand adventure. You wouldn't just jump in a car and hope for the best, right? You'd check the map, pack essential supplies, and maybe even research the best route. A program audit for special education services operates similarly. It's a comprehensive review that helps us assess our current strengths and identify areas for improvement, ensuring we're equipped to effectively serve students with...

Guidelines on Person-First Language

Language is a powerful mechanism. Words can empower or diminish; affirm or dismiss. The words chosen when referring to individuals with disabilities hold importance. The term “disability” implies a disadvantage, which influences the way many people think about individuals with disabilities.

In truth, all people are made in the image of God, and each is unique and unrepeatable. However, human beings are predisposed to discomfort in the face of difference. As stated in the USCCB’s “Pastoral Statement on Persons with...

Building a Bridge to Inclusion with a Special Education Manual

We all know the importance of providing a quality education for every child, regardless of their abilities. But navigating the world of special education can feel overwhelming, especially for smaller schools with limited resources. Here's where a diocesan Special Education Manual can be a game-changer!

Why Faith-Based Schools Need a Different Approach

While public schools have established processes for special education mandated by law (IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), these procedures...