NBPTS Standards- Proposition 4: Teachers Think Systematically About Their Practice and Learn from Experience

Artifact 4: Case Study Part 1 and 2 UDL for Learning

RATIONALE: This lesson is based upon a research-based framework that approaches learning in a way that is accessible for all learners. The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an innovative and new technique that I had not yet fully implemented in my classroom and was ready to attempt with my co-teacher. The foundation on which UDL is devised from, that a lesson should be accessible for all learners to achieve success, is a fundamental principal of inclusive practices. The lesson planning and mini-research element on UDL opened up new avenues to reach all learners, gave me fresh skills to scaffold and provide success for all of my students. The set up of the CAST site makes it important for an educator to know and understand the needs of their learners. This allows for the appropriate supports to be put into place and connects with how a teacher should constantly examine how they are skillfully implementing curriculum. REFLECTION: In retrospect, this lesson was engaging and lots of fun to team teach with my co-teacher. It was amazing to see how the students used the supports that were built into place in the story to support their understanding. Some students started out with the maximum supports in the online story and then went back and read it again with less supported structures. It is important to realize that there are supports out their for educators to use that help make their jobs more effective. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. I realized that by investigating and being willing to try new things, my perspectives on how students best learn are only enhanced.