The objective of this course is to provide you with basic strategies we are familiar with in dealing with special needs and diverse students in our classrooms in the United States. These will require different methodologies as your schools serve more and more students with special needs in the classroom. We will rely on information from a number of sources including Carol Ann Tomlinson, Ross Green, Jim Wright and a number of authors who have researched and formulated inclusive strategies. A focus of this course will be hands on activities and group work to create practical materials for your use in the future.
(PLEASE NOTE: If you would like to take part in this class, please make sure to take part in the introductory session on Tuesday, April 9, as it is mandatory for participation.)
The class will be taught by Mary Ann Thomas and James Thomas form Ithaca/Lansing School District in New York State, USA. Both have extensive experiences of inclusive teaching in the American School system, where inclusion has been practiced for several decades.
Mary Ann Thomas is an ASHA certified Speech and Language Pathologist (M.S.). She has worked for 30 years as a public educator, a speech and language therapist, and as an expert for reading and writing for special needs students in South central New York State, in elementary schools and at the Franziska Racker Special Children's Center.
James Thomas is a New York State certified School District Administrator (M.S., S.D.A), whose work experience includes 23 years as a secondary science teacher in Ithaca School District with a high level of cultural, ethnic, socioeconomic diversity, and inclusion, and, subsequently, 12 years as a middle school principal at Lansing Central School District. |