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Early Literacy Abilities and Strategies Presentation

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Early Literacy Abilities and Strategies Presentation

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Sensory Abilities and Strategies Presentation

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Sensory Abilities and Strategies Presentation

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Motor Abilities and Strategies - Presentation

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Motor Abilities and Strategies - Presentation

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Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Presentation

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Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Presentation

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Speech and Language Abilities and Strategies

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Speech and Language Abilities and Strategies

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Video on Interactive Read Aloud- Benefits of Shared Reading and what it can look like

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CECE Early Childhood Videos at Eastern CT State U.

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Utilizing Interactive Read-Alouds to Support Oral Language Development

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Example of CROWD strategy

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Resource with video mentioned in the PowerPoint

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Resource with video mentioned in the PowerPoint

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Universal Design for Learning helps us to create and set the growth and flexible mindset we need to foster inclusive education environments for all students.

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Universal Design for Learning (UDL) — The Nora Project

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Universal Design for Learning takes the principles of Universal Design, where we design with all people’s needs in mind, and applies it to the way that we approach the creation of curriculum in schools. It is a tool that teachers can use to make their classrooms more inclusive of all learners, no ma

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sensory circuit info and ideas for home (1) (2)

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Amazon link: https://a.co/d/7rY7FIm

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Colorful Illustrated Retail Opening Facebook Post

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Link to playlist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6Jqy6NUuuZ1tW2eX8fMMnuvmAFLiTAPS

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Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/28JR0R4T5V6ME?ref_=wl_share

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Helpful guidelines for incorporating UDL.

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Helpful guidelines for incorporating UDL.

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As you review the videos and resources, click this link to write your questions. The faculty will review all questions.

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UNICEF Train-the-trainer: Summer 2025 - Montserrat

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Please use this form to ask questions of the faculty. Questions will be reviewed when we meet for our live session in August 2025.

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6 Ways to Engage Every Learner Using UDL -- THE Journal

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Universal Design for Learning can make your lessons more accessible and your lesson-planning more fun.

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Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework developed by CAST, an Understood founding partner. UDL guides the design of learning experiences to proactively meet the needs of all learners. When you use UDL, you assume that barriers to learning are in the design of the environment, not in the student. UDL is based on brain science and evidence-based educational practices. It also leverages the power of digital technology.

Imagine this: Your students are going to write an essay on the stages of butterfly metamorphosis.

Some students have seen butterflies grow through the different stages at a local science museum. These students are excited to share what they know. Other students don't know anything about butterflies and are nervous about writing on this topic. And some students don't like to write - they dread this activity from the moment you say "essay."

In any class, you know there's a wide range of enthusiasm, background, and skills among your students. When you plan with this range in mind, you can approach the lesson in several ways.

You could share a mini-lesson on butterfly metamorphosis and have students use a guided worksheet as they write. Or you could set up stations where students are grouped using flexible grouping around understanding of the topic, language ability, or reading level.

But take a step back. In any lesson or task, you can anticipate this range of variability among your students. There's another approach you can take to plan for this variability in all your lessons: Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

Why use Universal Design for Learning?

The ultimate goal of UDL is for all learners to become "expert learners." Expert learners are purposeful and motivated, resourceful and knowledgeable, and strategic and goal-directed about learning.

UDL is a powerful approach because from the very start of your lesson, it helps you anticipate and plan for all your learners. It can help you make sure that the greatest range of students can access and engage in learning - not just certain students.

You don't need specific tools or technologies to follow UDL's principles either. Instead, your students choose from the tools and resources you already have. They might use them in different ways.

Also, UDL may change how you think about what prevents students from learning. Instead of thinking that something needs to change about the students, UDL looks at the learning environment. The learning environment can include barriers to learning, like the design of the curricular goals, assessments, methods, and materials. In this way, the learning environment itself can be "abled" or "dis-abled."

UDL gives you a framework to follow so you can reduce the barriers to learning. The main way to do this is to prepare a learning environment where students have what they need to flexibly meet learning goals.

What does UDL look like in the classroom?

Universal design can be found just about anywhere you look - both inside and outside your school. Curb cuts change sidewalks so that they're accessible to the greatest range of users, including people who use wheelchairs and those pushing strollers. Closed captions make television accessible to people who are deaf or who have hearing loss, as well as people at the gym or spouses who can't agree whether or not to keep the TV on at night. No two forms of universal design are the same.

Universal Design for Learning looks different in every classroom. But there are commonalities. To start with, there's always a focus on building expert learning for all. Other common elements of a UDL experience include:

All learners knowing the goal

Intentional, flexible options for all students to use

Student access to resources from the start of a lesson

Students building and internalizing their own learning

In a UDL environment, students rarely do the same task in the same way at the same time. The flexible options will differ across developmental ages. But the framework for having clear goals and flexible options is consistent no matter the grade level or content areas.

How can I use the three principles of UDL?

UDL describes human variability based on parts of the brain that manage the "why" (affective network), the "what" (recognition network), and the "how" (strategic network) of learning. Watch as CAST co-founder David Rose explains why UDL emphasizes variability instead of disability.

CAST developed UDL guidelines that are based on three main principles that align with these learning networks. The three UDL principles are engagement, representation, and action and expression.

The chart below includes the three UDL principles adapted from CAST. It also gives you some questions to consider and lists some examples of the principles in action. You can print a one-page version of this chart to have on hand while planning a lesson, activity, or routine for your students.

How can families support this at home?

Families may not be familiar with the concept of students being active participants in setting their learning goals. They may have questions about letting students make their own learning choices.

Explain at back-to-school night or in a class that you'll be using Universal Design for Learning. You can even share a family-friendly article about the UDL approach to teaching.

Assure families that you have high expectations for all students to become expert learners in your classroom. And explain that you'll keep working with the students and their families to build the skills and interest to make that happen.

Additional CAST resources to explore

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Universal Design for Learning (UDL): A teacher's guide

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UDL stands for Universal Design for Learning. When you teach using UDL, your lessons are designed in flexible ways to meet the needs of individual learners. Read more about UDL.

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Project Orientation (presented in person as well)

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Project Orientation (presented in person as well)

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What's our mindset about educating children with special and additional needs? (presented in-person as well)

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What's our mindset about educating children with special and additional needs? (presented in-person as well)

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Phonological Awareness Activity- Rhyming Cue Card

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Phonological Awareness Activity- Rhyming Cue Card

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Infographic - Classroom Aide Quick Guide (1)