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Anthony Rebora

Four biologists who volunteer for the Vashon Nature Center have come to Gay Roselle's McMurray Middle Schoo class this week. They are helping train the 6th-graders to identify the island's stream invertebrates for a long-term Citizen Science project.

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Perspectives / Making Space for Learning Differences thumbnail

Perspectives / Making Space for Learning Differences

Teaching Strategies

Thomas Armstrong

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Neurodiversity: The Future of Special Education? thumbnail

Neurodiversity: The Future of Special Education?

Barbara Boroson

U.S. Deputy Marshals escort six-year-old Ruby Bridges from William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, La., in Nov. 1960. The first grader is the only black child enrolled in the school, where parents of white students are boycotting the court-ordered integration law and are taking their children out of school. (AP Photo)

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Inclusive Education: Lessons From History thumbnail

Inclusive Education: Lessons From History

Advocacy, Policy & Funding

Jeffrey Benson

Humanities teacher Colleen Sweeney and Librarian Julia Jaffe work together to enhance their students' note-taking skills.

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Finding Common Ground thumbnail

Finding Common Ground

Carrie C. Snow

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If You Show Up, They'll Surprise You thumbnail

If You Show Up, They'll Surprise You

Social-Emotional Learning

Thomas Hehir

Rear view of a college graduate. A young woman wearing a cap and gown.

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How Did You Get to Harvard? thumbnail

How Did You Get to Harvard?

Opportunity Gaps

Lee Ann Jung

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In Providing Supports for Students, Language Matters thumbnail

In Providing Supports for Students, Language Matters

Janice Fialka

FGEYAR Senior Businesswoman Addressing Team Meeting Around Table

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IEP Meetings: Building Compassion and Conversation

Michael F. Giangreco

DY9HN3 Non-disabled and disabled pupils (in this case a boy suffering from Down's syndrome) learn together in the same class.

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Expanding Opportunities for Students with Intellectual Disability

Spencer J. Salend

Catharine R. Whittaker

Grungy technical blueprint illustration on blue background

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UDL: A Blueprint for Learning Success

Kyle Redford

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Dyslexia: Disability or Difference? thumbnail

Dyslexia: Disability or Difference?

Christina Yuknis

Joseph Santini

Thangi Appanah

Secondary school deaf student has signing help from her assistant as she participates in class discussion

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Supporting Deaf Students—And All Students

Deborah Wolter

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From Labels to Opportunities thumbnail

From Labels to Opportunities

Bryan Goodwin

Heather Hein

Bigfoot in the middle of a dirty road in north carolina, back lit shot.

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Research Matters / Learning Styles: It's Complicated thumbnail

Research Matters / Learning Styles: It's Complicated

Douglas Fisher

Nancy Frey

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Show & Tell: A Video Column / Digital Tools to Broaden Learning thumbnail

Show & Tell: A Video Column / Digital Tools to Broaden Learning

Catlin Tucker

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The Techy Teacher / When Students Drive the Pace, Space, and Path thumbnail

The Techy Teacher / When Students Drive the Pace, Space, and Path

Student Engagement

Thomas Hoerr

Thomas R. Hoerr

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Principal Connection / Leadership Lessons from the South Pole thumbnail

Principal Connection / Leadership Lessons from the South Pole

Instructional Leadership & Coaching

Carol Ann Tomlinson

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One to Grow On / Recognizing Personal Quests thumbnail

One to Grow On / Recognizing Personal Quests

EL Logo

Educational Leadership Staff

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Tell Me About … / How You Support Students' Differences thumbnail

Tell Me About … / How You Support Students' Differences

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ASCD Community in Action

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EL Takeaways thumbnail

EL Takeaways

Alison Venter

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What I've Learned as a Teacher with a Disability thumbnail

What I've Learned as a Teacher with a Disability

Fernette Eide

A child reading pages of text and fine print.

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Recognizing Dyslexia's Strengths in the Classroom thumbnail

Recognizing Dyslexia's Strengths in the Classroom

DY9K46 Non-disabled and disabled pupils (in this case a boy suffering from Down's syndrome) learn together in the same class.

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EL Study Guide thumbnail

EL Study Guide

All too often students are defined by their disability—a label affixed to their IEP, student records, and, over time, their identity. A growing movement seeks to shift the paradigm from “learning disabilities” to “learning differences.” This small semantic change signals a shift in acknowledging that no two brains are the same, so no two students learn in the same fashion. We’re interested in research into the science of various learning differences as well as articles on skills-based strategies that help students learn. Instead of labeling ADHD, autism, or dyslexia as deficits, how can we use all students’ strengths to help them learn? How can approaches like Universal Design for Learning meet the unique needs of all? Tell us how you have embraced learning differences and the effect it has had on student achievement and school climate. 

Instead of labelling  ADHD, autism, etc. as deficits, can we use new approaches--and tap students' strengths--to help each one learn best? Articles present research on learning differences and strategies that help kids with such differences learn.

elmagazine DifferencesNotDisabilities Apr 2017

Differences, Not Disabilities

Differences Not Disabilities

Differences Not Disabilities

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