Teaching Students with Special Needs in the Mainstream Classroom Grades K-6
This course teaches K-6 educators how to address students with special needs in the general classroom. This online course for teachers begins by providing a clear definition and scope of special needs. Then, the course provides information about teacher involvement in the special education process in terms of assessment, intervention, and collaboration. A variety of suggestions for working with students who have special needs such as learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, communication disorders, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, sensory impairments, and low-incidence disabilities are provided. Also included are strategies to assist English language learners, students who are considered at-risk, and gifted and talented students. Each special need is defined, and common causes and characteristics are identified, along with suggested instructional strategies. Intervention strategies and classroom adaptations are also provided to help teachers accommodate students with special needs in an inclusive classroom.
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Reading and Writing Strategies for Students with Special Needs Grades K-5
| This online course for teachers is specifically designed to address the myriad literacy needs of students with learning disabilities who are present in general education K-5 classrooms. The course begins by introducing teachers to the science of reading so that they can understand why so many students with learning disabilities tend to struggle with reading and writing. From there, an overview of the MTSS framework is provided to help teachers understand the process of moving struggling students through the various literacy interventions throughout the tiers. Teachers will take a deep dive into all the foundational components of literacy as they explore numerous strategies and interventions to help students with special needs succeed and exceed in the areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing. Throughout this course, teachers will learn how to use developmentally-appropriate activities, lessons, and interventions to help students with learning disabilities increase their literacy skills, often using a multi-sensory approach.
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How to Reach and Teach Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder Grades PreK-5
This online course for teachers of grades PreK-5 is specifically geared toward educators who want to explore a wide variety of strategies so that they are better positioned to meet the needs of students with autism in the least restrictive environment. Teachers will take a deep dive into autism spectrum disorder, otherwise known as ASD. As they progress through the course, teachers will learn how to adapt their instruction so that it can be differentiated to meet students with ASD at their level. Teachers will learn about the social aspects of ASD and how it can lead to anxiety, especially if there is a comorbid diagnosis. Teachers will learn strategies to help students with ASD remain structured. The basics of behavior are discussed, and teachers will learn about the various functions of behavior and the primary role that reinforcement plays in behavior intervention plans. Social skills deficits are discussed in detail, as this is one of the cornerstone characteristics of students with ASD. Teachers will learn a variety of strategies for helping students with ASD cope academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally in the least restrictive environment. Teachers will learn the importance of collaboration, and they will take a deep dive into the various co-teaching models.
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Focused Interventions to Improve Executive Function Skills Grades K-12
This online course for teachers begins by explaining what executive functioning is and how critical it is to the learning process. Teachers will take a deep dive into eight core EFs that control not only students’ ability to think metacognitively, but their ability to respond appropriately using their social-emotional skills. The role of working memory is explored first, as it is an essential element in the processing, storing, and retrieval of information. Teachers will learn how this critical executive function interacts with seven additional EFs — task initiation, planning and prioritizing, organization, self-monitoring, impulse control, shift (a/k/a cognitive flexibility), and emotional control. Teachers will be provided with thorough background information on each executive skill, as well as the implications for teaching and learning. Within each executive function, the course takes a deep dive into strategic focused interventions that help students who have these executive deficits. By the end of this continuing education course, teachers will feel more confident and successful in their quest to incorporate explicit, direct, and strategic instruction within reading, writing, and mathematics so their students with EF deficits can succeed academically and achieve a growth mindset.
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Classroom Management Survival Course Grades K-8
| This online course for teachers focuses on helping educators explore a variety of classroom management strategies including learning how to develop and establish a discipline plan. Teachers will learn many useful and practical techniques for working with students. A particular focus is effective strategies for working with special populations such as difficult students, English language learners, and students with learning disabilities. Teachers will also spend time learning about the importance of establishing clear and concise classroom rules and routines. Character education will also be introduced as it relates to classroom management. Teachers will also learn the benefits of cooperative learning in creating a positive classroom environment. Conflict resolution strategies that can be taught to students will also be explored, particularly within the context of bullying situations. Finally, teachers will learn how to properly and effectively create individualized behavior plans. |
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Content Area Multi-Sensory Teaching for Students with Special Needs Grades K-5
This online course for teachers is designed for K-5 educators who wish to explore strategies and initiatives for incorporating a variety of multi-sensory strategies into their teaching repertoire in an effort to help those students with special learning needs. Teachers will be introduced to the basic outline of multi-sensory teaching as well as its benefits in the classroom for students with special needs. Then, teachers will learn a variety of strategies to “meet students where they are” in terms of their visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile learning preferences in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. Teachers will also learn how to integrate the arts in multiple ways during reading, writing, and math in order to support these learning preferences. By the end of this continuing education course, teachers will feel more confident implementing a variety of multi-sensory teaching techniques (including the incorporation of the arts) into their classrooms so that their most at-risk students can find success.
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Conquering the Behavioral Challenges of Special Needs Students Grades K-2
| This online course for teachers is designed for K-2 educators who want to learn how to incorporate a variety of behavior interventions for students who have been diagnosed with disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, emotional and behavioral disorders, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The role of executive functions is examined, including how executive dysfunction can lead to classroom behavior problems. Information on behavior management is shared with a specific focus on a tiered system of behavioral support, implementing IEPs, functional behavior analysis, and behavior intervention plans. Specific strategies are introduced to help teachers support special education students who struggle behaviorally. Teachers will learn the importance of developing routines, utilizing reinforcement techniques, teaching social skills, and the role that effective praise plays in behavior management. Teachers will be introduced to a variety of team-teaching models as a form of collaboration, and they will learn techniques to better involve parents by establishing a robust school-home connection. |
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Addressing the Needs of Diverse Populations Grades K-5
This online course for teachers is designed for K-5 educators who are looking to expand their current toolbox of strategies to address the diverse learning needs of students with ADHD, anxiety, linguistically diverse students, as well as those who have been identified as gifted and talented. Teachers will learn specific strategies to empower their students to succeed while simultaneously understanding their specific academic and social challenges. Additionally, teachers will learn the important role that culture plays in a diverse classroom, as well as specific strategies for engaging all learning styles in every lesson (visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic). Teachers will also learn how Tier 1, 2, and 3 interventions can be used to address the diverse learning needs of their students vis-à-vis the MTSS (multi-tiered system of support) framework. Finally, teachers will learn specific strategies for engaging families and the overall school community so that all learning needs can be identified, encouraged, and supported.
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Embracing Technology to Empower Students with Special Needs Grades K-12
This online course for teachers begins with a discussion on the critical role technology plays in special education and how educators must break the cycle of inaccessibility students with special needs face. Differentiated instruction and Universal Design for Learning are explored as teaching strategies for meeting the various needs of students. Teachers will learn about digital accessibility and be provided with many practical strategies for creating accessible learning materials. From there, teachers are provided with various technology tools that can be used to support students with challenges in verbal expression, communication, written expression, reading comprehension, math, and executive function. Teachers will also learn how to create a sensory-friendly environment for students with sensory processing disorder as well as learn about strategies and tools for teaching social-emotional learning to students with special needs. Finally, teachers are provided with tips for keeping students safe online and tools for promoting digital citizenship.
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MTSS Building Implementation Team Module 2: Effective Teams
This module is recommended for educators who are currently working in schools and want to create an MTSS Building Implementation Team (BIT) at their school. There are 11 courses in MTSS BIT modules series. To fully implement MTSS in your school, it is advised that you take all 11 modules to develop a solid understanding of a MTSS framework.
| For more information, contact Anne Carpenter anne.carpenter2@mt.gov |