In this age of accountability, statewide student assessments have become a central focus every spring for students, teachers and families.  High-stakes testing requires the school community to invest significant amounts of time and attention in this process, and so we want to ensure that students with and without disabilities have the best possible outcomes.  For students with disabilities, it is important to make sure that testing accommodations are properly implemented so that they can fully demonstrate their knowledge and skills on these assessments.  Preparation is the key to success!  Click on the title or "Read more" to view tips for teachers, test coordinators and test administrators.

Khooneh takouni, which translates to "shaking the house" is a Persian ritual of spring cleaning that precedes the Persian New Year each spring.  The ritual of spring cleaning, in many cultures, provides a fresh start as we enter the season of new beginnings. As trees bloom and flowers blossom many people enjoy a renewed sense of empowerment and life.

Unfortunately, many of our students see the spring only as the beginning of the end of the year and the last hurdle before summer vacation.  Students who have not experienced academic or social success during the early part of the school year will often "cash out" in the spring while they await the reprieve of the summer months.  With the same enthusiasm evoked by spring cleaning and renewal, teachers can motivate students to consider this season a time of new beginnings.  Click on the title or "Read more" for ideas about renewing your students' sense of interest, enthusiasm and eagerness to succeed.

Common planning time among educators is a crucial element in the success of an inclusive school.  Planning time helps improve instruction by allowing teachers to share best practices, look at students' work, and plan curriculum and lessons together.  In order for planning to contribute meaningfully to curriculum development and implementation, sufficient time should be built into the schedule rather than carved out of before and after school time.  Common planning time should be considered a district-wide and school-wide matter. Click on the title or "Read more" for ideas about how districts, schools and individual teachers can maximize the time and resources that they have available.

At the heart of inclusive practices is the goal of meeting the needs of every child. In a classroom of diverse learners, this can be a challenging task.  Click on the title or "Read more" to read about involving students in the planning process.

Collaboration among people is one of the most important factors in successful inclusive schools. Inclusive Schools Week happens during a time that many cultures consider a season of celebration and giving. This is a perfect time to celebrate the people who you credit with being supportive of inclusive education in your school and community—the teachers, families, and students who work together to make your school successful. Collaboration isn’t always easy…so click on the title or "Read more" to view tips on celebrating all of the hard work your team has done together.

Differentiating instruction for students with varying abilities within a classroom can be challenging. This is especially true in middle and high school classrooms. Assigning independent study projects related to the course content can be an effective and fun strategy to promote mastery of content while allowing students to showcase their talents.  Click on the title or "Read more" for tips on how to successfully implement independent study projects.

Click on the title or "Read more" to view the Inclusive Schools Week 2007 announcement and tips on planning an Inclusive Schools Week celebration in your school, district, or community.

Many students have difficulty reading printed text and therefore have limited access to learning through books. Click on the title or "Read more" to learn about Book Share, an organization with the purpose of making text available to students with vision impairments or other print disabilities.

Most teachers would probably agree that there is no better way to start a school year than to be well prepared and organized.  Click on the title or "Read more" for some helpful hints.

Most human beings enjoy sharing information and stories about themselves. Students are no different. Revealing special things about themselves can help students develop confidence and trust among their peers. This sharing of information can also assist teachers in finding out more about their students and plan lessons that tap into the needs and preferences of their class. Click on the title or "Read more" for sample questions you can use to build a more cohesive classroom and learn important information about your students.