From Text Maps to Memory Caps

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100 More Ways to Differentiate Instruction in K–12 Inclusive Classrooms

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About the Authors

Paula Kluth, Ph.D., is a former special educator who has served as a general education co-teacher, inclusion facilitator, and instructional coach. Her professional interests include differentiating instruction, active learning, and inclusive schooling. Dr. Kluth is the author or coauthor of eleven books including: “You’re Going to Love This Kid!”: Teaching Students with Autism in Inclusive Classrooms, Second Edition; “A Land We Can Share”: Teaching Literacy to Students with Autism; and “Just Give Him the Whale”: 20 Ways to Use Fascinations, Areas of Expertise, and a documentary film titled “We Thought You’d Never Ask”: Voices of People with Autism.

Sheila Danaher, M.S.Ed., is a consultant for the Christopher L. & M. Susan Gust Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting all students by creating inclusive school communities. She is a former learning specialist and administrator in the Chicago Public Schools, where she focused on supporting students with autism and differentiating instruction for all students. As a consultant for the Gust Foundation, Sheila continues her work in the Chicago area by providing teachers with ideas for curricular adaptations, differentiating instruction.

Purposeful Puzzles

Materials

Description

Purposeful puzzles are so named because they are first and foremost a fun activity, but they can also be put into classrooms to serve a specific purpose or teach a particular piece of content. Puzzles are an especially helpful support for students who might fidget a lot during class or need to be “doing something” when they are listening or participating in a class.

Example

A student with Down syndrome was sometimes fidgety during his social studies class. A teacher created a blank puzzle page for him to draw lightly with a pencil so that any errors can be changed easily. Then, color with markers or colored pencils to make the image easy to assemble. Be sure to add any important vocabulary words and facts.

Reference

Teaching. San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass.

Vendors

1. Puzzle Warehouse
   You can order a 36-piece blank floor puzzle here, as well as a 99-piece tabletop jigsaw puzzle.
   Puzzle Warehouse

2. Puzzles for Sale
   Explore this site to find puzzles for all ages, of many different sizes, and for many different subject areas, including birds, folk art, the Titanic, and cities of the world.
   Puzzles for Sale

3. Yoyo.com
   This website offers 63-piece blank puzzles.

4. Jigsaw Puzzles
   Neok12