Designing Inclusive Literacy Lessons

Kontext / Contexte

What does inclusive practice look like in a literacy lesson? How can we accommodate all the complex needs that might arise in our classrooms and ensure everyone can reach the goal and make progress? Taking a Universal Design for Learning approach to literacy, it is possible to create lively, authentic and relevant lessons for all our learners and make sure we plan for variability by breaking down the barriers that create gaps in success and promote self-belief. On this course, we will look at some practical tools that can be added to lessons and work towards increased engagement and motivation of pupils.

Zielsetzung / Objectifs

Knowledge
The participants will learn about:
- Universal Design for Learning and how it can work well as a pedagogical tool for literacy lessons
- practical examples of the what, the how and the why of learning through literature to reach all three brain networks
- _thinking frames, rubrics, cooperative learning structures and more.

Know-how
The participants will be able to:
- break down barriers and find new pathways and methods in the teaching of literacy
- analyse lesson plans through the UDL framework
- use self-assessment tools in literacy
- understand how assessment can be meaningful for students and grow confidence and motivation.

Posture
The participants will:
- reflect on their teaching practice
- empower students towards taking responsibility for their own success.

Inhalt / Contenu

Participants will explore the Universal Design for Learning Framework and how it can open up creative ways for teachers to facilitate engaging and flexible literacy lessons to accommodate the different needs of students in the classroom, or in support lessons. Through teacher reflection, we will observe our own strengths and how we might use the skills we already have in differentiated instruction so that all learners have access to multiple means of learning, expression and assessment, activating the learner voice, Through examples of sources and planned lessons, we will examine the many the possibilities available. In the second session, we share best practice and use reflection tools to explore alternative teaching methods and tools in our work places. This exchange aims to encourage and support teachers in their journey towards teaching inclusive literacy lessons.

Arbeitsformen / Approche méthodologique

- Presentation
- group work
- practical activities.

Referent, Referentin / Formateur, formatrice

Hilda Sheehan