Universal Design for Learning in Action

100 Ways to Teach All Learners

by

Whitney H. Rapp, Ph.D.

St. John Fisher College Rochester, New York

Contents

Section I Overview
Foundational Theories ... 2
How Do All of These Foundational Theories Fit Together? ... 11
What Does This Book Add to All of These Theories? ... 12
Addressing Barriers and Misconceptions ... 13
Format of the Book ... 15

Section II Strategies for Engagement
Providing Multiple Means of Engagement ... 18
Considerations ... 19
Engagement Through Space: Bulletin Board Borders ... 21
Engagement Through Space: Seating ... 22
Engagement Through Space: Lighting ... 24
Engagement Through Materials: Fidget Toys ... 25
Engagement Through Materials: Professional Equipment ... 26
Engagement Through Materials: Writing Surfaces ... 27
Engagement Through Classroom Management: Jobs ... 29
Engagement Through Classroom Management: Meetings ... 31
...

About the Author

Whitney H. Rapp, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Inclusive Education, St. John Fisher College, 3690 East Avenue, Rochester, New York 14618
Dr. Rapp is Associate Professor of Inclusive Education at St. John Fisher College, where she teaches courses on inclusive education pedagogy, assessment, classroom management, and diversity issues. Dr. Rapp holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and psychology from the State University of New York at Potsdam and master’s and doctoral degrees in special education from Michigan State University. Prior to her experience in teacher education, Dr. Rapp taught many grade levels in a variety of settings, from fully inclusive classrooms to residential special education schools. All of these experiences reinforced her belief that all children can learn and that all children should learn together in inclusive settings. Dr. Rapp’s current research interests include universal design for learning throughout the school years and college. She is the coauthor of the textbook Teaching Everyone: An Introduction to Inclusive Education (coauthored with K.L. Arndt; Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., 2012), and she presents at local, state, national, and international conferences on differentiation of instruction, teacher education, and inclusion. She serves on the Board of Directors of TASH. Dr. Rapp’s spare time is spent with her husband and three children, riding bikes, hiking, playing board games, reading, watching movies, and enjoying Owasco Lake.

SECTION II

Strategies for Engagement...

Through Space......................................................... 21
Through Materials....................................................... 25
Through Classroom Management........................................... 29
Through Technology..................................................... 37
Through Content Instruction............................................... 42
Through Social Interaction................................................ 47
Through Executive Functions.............................................. 52
Through Transition to Adulthood............................................ 57

Jobs

Create authentic classroom jobs. Job charts
are ubiquitous in classrooms. To engage all students, classroom jobs should be more than just busy work. Christopher Simmons, a fifth-grade teacher, has students apply and interview for positions of Class Captain, Archivist, Fire Chief, and others.

Why This Works

• Research base. Jobs that matter are part of caring classrooms that promote a sense of community, feelings of empowerment, and moral sensibility.
• Student involvement. Creating classroom jobs facilitates the highest level of student involvement. • Reasonable use. Training for the jobs will take more time at the beginning of the school year but will quickly diminish when students teach each other. • Expectations maintained. Classroom jobs up the ante for students in terms of responsibility and self-management.
• Equity and universality. The authentic nature of the jobs, the choices provided, and the expectation that all students will contribute send the message that the classroom belongs to everyone and is everyone's responsibility.