https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog daily 0.75 2026-03-30 https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/is-your-mtss-system-outdated monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/c089f415-acd6-4e2a-bf72-e87946aa7dc8/Blog+Photos+-+2026+%2816%29.png BLOG - Is Your MTSS System Outdated? - The Shift: One unified MTSS system that looks at the whole student. The National Center on PBIS announced they are working on resources to support schools to integrate the two systems. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/886f0ab8-9ce3-4ac6-b65e-66eeb025c986/Blog+Photos+-+2026+%2818%29.png BLOG - Is Your MTSS System Outdated? One teacher used a marble jar. One teacher gave stickers. One teacher used a color-coded behavior chart. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/the-whos-in-charge-dilemma monthly 0.5 2026-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/7e1904a5-32e7-46b1-97e4-e69bbbceffa6/Blog+Photos+-+2026+%289%29.png BLOG - The “Who’s in Charge???” Dilemma - Agency runs deep. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/12383d49-d45e-4408-8133-f982ed61563d/Blog+Photos+-+2026+%282%29.png BLOG - The “Who’s in Charge???” Dilemma Different organisms contribute different strengths. Energy flows between participants. Conditions support growth of all. Diversity strengthens resilience. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/the-teacher-shortage-is-an-ecosystem-problem monthly 0.5 2026-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/ccb84630-7d67-4cc5-8eba-f76de9955c4d/Blog+Photos+-+2026+%282%29.png BLOG - The Teacher Shortage is an Ecosystem Problem https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/4950fea2-4d81-4cef-b2f4-3fb35f040d24/Blog+Photos+-+2026+%283%29.png BLOG - The Teacher Shortage is an Ecosystem Problem - They’re not leaving students. They’re leaving systems where: Collaboration is expected, but never structured. Inclusion is mandated, but never defined. Responsibility is shared in theory, but not in practice. Meetings are frequent, but clarity is rare. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/is-it-cheating-for-students-to-use-ai monthly 0.5 2026-02-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/0264febb-aa3e-4742-a0a0-1d2214560a88/Blog+Photos+-+2026+%2812%29.png BLOG - Is it Cheating for Students to Use Artificial Intelligence? - Side note: Last week the U.S. Department of Labor released its AI Literacy Framework - with five foundational content areas and seven delivery principles for AI literacy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/f4be271e-1981-4d99-b5dd-5f4c5b994f1d/Blog+Photos+-+2026+%2810%29.png BLOG - Is it Cheating for Students to Use Artificial Intelligence? - Now, I could jump in my car and circle the block. It would be faster, more efficient. Technically, I would have “gone around the block.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/f1572880-00a2-4610-9c5f-2e14a79c95f9/Blog+Photos+-+2026+%2813%29.png BLOG - Is it Cheating for Students to Use Artificial Intelligence? - But if a student engages their brain, using AI to: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/f45a1eff-433b-403e-a586-e352fe587099/Blog+Photos+-+2026+%2813%29.png BLOG - Is it Cheating for Students to Use Artificial Intelligence? If students never experience the productive struggle of wrestling with ideas, they miss the chance to build confidence in their own capacity. And that - more than any grade - is the real loss. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/four-mistakes-schools-make-with-inclusive-education monthly 0.5 2026-02-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/43d23b8b-63bd-424c-9964-4b846f27dae6/Blog+Photos+-+2026+%281%29.png BLOG - Four Mistakes Schools Make with Inclusive Initiatives (and How to Avoid Them) - Mistake # 1: Fix Our Special Educators “Our special educators are ineffective. Can you fix them?” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/59c439f2-2227-4e4d-8fbd-48fa92fc1528/Blog+Photos+-+2026+%282%29.png BLOG - Four Mistakes Schools Make with Inclusive Initiatives (and How to Avoid Them) - Mistake #2: Spare the Principal “Our principals are so busy, let’s take this initiative off their plate.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/4f999596-3c6b-47c3-974d-4dfd92518ca5/Blog+Photos+-+2026+%283%29.png BLOG - Four Mistakes Schools Make with Inclusive Initiatives (and How to Avoid Them) - Mistake #3: Give Them a Handout “Be sure to give our educators a workshop handout so they will use the new strategies.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/4949db46-e90e-447c-9747-6b832b0b5b23/Blog+Photos+-+2026+%284%29.png BLOG - Four Mistakes Schools Make with Inclusive Initiatives (and How to Avoid Them) - Mistake #4: Let’s Focus on Our Core Teachers “We’ll focus on teachers who teach the core subjects. That’s where inclusion happens.” https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/three-components-of-change monthly 0.5 2026-01-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/8aee243d-b331-4b56-ac5d-999df45ee9e5/Blog+Photos+%283%29.png BLOG - Three Components of Change - As you look from where you are now to where you want to be, ask 3 questions: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/4d12a65e-5947-4eb7-ad3c-81aeee40abf4/Blog+Photos+%284%29.png BLOG - Three Components of Change - Option 1: Begin with Knowledge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/134765dd-931d-4361-a607-5fc11e3fca9f/Blog+Photos+%285%29.png BLOG - Three Components of Change - Option 2: Begin with Mindset https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/352abcc5-c7f8-435b-b6cc-57b3a2457f31/Blog+Photos+%288%29.png BLOG - Three Components of Change What if there was something two teachers could do that would increase engagement of those struggling students? What if sharing the load could make their jobs easier? What if Ms. B led part of the lesson while Mrs. A added the scaffolding? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/1e977fa4-65d3-4301-9e49-0356f5354e27/Blog+Photos+%286%29.png BLOG - Three Components of Change - Option 3: Begin with Action https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/c8f6fb15-d71c-4bd0-a86b-455886dbe493/Blog+Photos+%287%29.png BLOG - Three Components of Change - Make it stand out By now, they have experienced the value of using the second person to scaffold instruction. Through action, they often shift their mindset. They’re now ready for the handout (knowledge) on scaffolding strategies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/bd6eaa90-2197-4c26-9c98-13010ce34e18/Blog+Photos+%289%29.png BLOG - Three Components of Change Here’s where it’s important to know your audience. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/power-of-praise monthly 0.5 2026-01-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/4904e26d-4567-463d-9f4f-1f3104061d79/Random+Pics+9+%282%29.png BLOG - The Power of Praise - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/0269a259-3a19-4cb2-93e0-7af308f29478/2026+Blog+Thumbnails.png BLOG - The Power of Praise - Group #1 who simply thought about how to bowl - improved their game scores by three to four pins. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/8414c1d5-d7fd-4323-9c0d-0ee2813c34c4/2026+Blog+Thumbnails+%281%29.png BLOG - The Power of Praise - Group # 2 - who were coached on how to improve their mistakes - improved their their game scores by 20 to 30 pins! What an improvement! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/13386fa7-56ca-4dd5-bc33-ad5256237a17/2026+Blog+Thumbnails+%282%29.png BLOG - The Power of Praise - Group # 3, who were coached to focus only on what they did right, improved their game scores by 90 to 100 pins! https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/new-year-dreams-of-impact monthly 0.5 2025-12-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/fe102f40-4068-43af-9dc4-d7651af132f7/Random+Pics+9.png BLOG - New Year Dreams of Impact Overall, special ed leaders are feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, and isolated. I think in this uncertain time, it’s easy to lose sight of the big dreams you had when you first took your position. As Simon Sinek said, we focus on the urgent rather than the important. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/33655ed2-58e5-4994-96c9-2d0d63594590/Random+Pics+9+%281%29.png BLOG - New Year Dreams of Impact We will meet virtually twice a month from January to June. Each session will focus on one Principle of Special Education Systems Change and one Skill of Influence. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/where-should-students-receive-special-education-services monthly 0.5 2026-02-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/39d3e5e0-97ae-46d5-88fe-e701f41e97f3/Random+Pics+9+%2823%29.png BLOG - Where Should Students Receive Special Education Services? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/a-place-for-uncertainty monthly 0.5 2025-10-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/f9d6cc5f-152c-4b20-b4c0-18ce41411a4f/Random+Pics+9+%2822%29.png BLOG - A Place for Uncertainty - Make it stand out Hagen goes on to explore implications of avoiding “I don’t know” in several aspects of our lives, including related to artificial intelligence. Worth a listen!! https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/whats-your-dream monthly 0.5 2025-09-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/a0b79583-f200-42c0-b655-37be8ac230bc/Random+Pics+9+%2820%29.png BLOG - What’s Your Dream? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/cc2ab2c3-a3a9-472f-9554-b6efd8ce6e09/Random+Pics+9+%2821%29.png BLOG - What’s Your Dream? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/back-to-school-reflections monthly 0.5 2025-08-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/75cc0c69-2403-4fd5-a646-54c2b1593eb3/Random+Pics+9+%2814%29.png BLOG - Back to School Reflections Setting up a classroom and writing lesson plans (1970 - 1983) Managing IEPs and meeting daily student needs (1978 - 1983) Providing school-level transition services (1984 - 1996) Serving as a state transition specialist (1997 - 2000) Preparing college syllabi (2000 - 2006) Supporting schools as Delaware’s state inclusion specialist (2006 - 2013) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/c4eb70c9-da79-4bfa-8688-a0756539f991/Random+Pics+9+%2815%29.png BLOG - Back to School Reflections - The launch of our Special Education Champions Mastermind This small-group experience is for visionary leaders ready to step into #5 - building influence, networks, and momentum for change. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/937f6a93-e28f-4a6b-87d4-b3d2deb0ed33/Random+Pics+9+%2817%29.png BLOG - Back to School Reflections - Our Joyful Inclusion Compass This new tool helps schools tackle #6 - evaluating progress toward being an inclusive community where all thrive. Stay turned for updates! https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/our-logo-story monthly 0.5 2025-08-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/901bb543-154d-4eb3-8889-57531ef3a943/Joyful+Inclusion+Logos+%281%29.png BLOG - Why We Chose the Tree of Life (with a heart!) to Represent Joyful Inclusion - Let’s take a moment to unpack the beauty, boldness, and deep roots of our logo: the Tree of Life with a bright red heart at its center. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/1056694b-9854-437d-bb8c-a1c444bc406d/Joyful+Inclusion+Logos+%282%29.png BLOG - Why We Chose the Tree of Life (with a heart!) to Represent Joyful Inclusion - We start underground, right where the real magic happens The roots of our tree represent the deep values that ground everything we do: belonging, connection, and purpose. These roots honor every teacher who entered this profession not just to “cover content,” but to change lives. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/ff675585-f476-4f57-a650-11422f00411e/Joyful+Inclusion+Logos+%283%29.png BLOG - Why We Chose the Tree of Life (with a heart!) to Represent Joyful Inclusion - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/54edba08-468d-45c6-a268-32b2cb543087/Joyful+Inclusion+Logos+%285%29.png BLOG - Why We Chose the Tree of Life (with a heart!) to Represent Joyful Inclusion - From that strong center our work branches out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/1a9b403c-a853-492e-a250-ade97bdda58d/Joyful+Inclusion+Logos+%286%29.png BLOG - Why We Chose the Tree of Life (with a heart!) to Represent Joyful Inclusion - Ah, the leaves. They flutter, they shine, and they grow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/78c49f01-a5b7-4259-9ed5-461f966cbe36/Joyful+Inclusion+Logos+%287%29.png BLOG - Why We Chose the Tree of Life (with a heart!) to Represent Joyful Inclusion - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/classroom-glow-up monthly 0.5 2025-07-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/8a695491-f698-45e8-90f2-f08c57250f1d/Random+Pics+9+%286%29.png BLOG - How Two Teachers Handed the Mic to Their Students - and Watched Them Crush It This year, co-teaching duo Brandon Marvel and Jesse Steele did something bold. They flipped the script from “teacher in charge” to “students, take the wheel!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/0139fa0a-24ab-408d-9b15-be3cc6e32fe3/Random+Pics+9+%285%29.png BLOG - How Two Teachers Handed the Mic to Their Students - and Watched Them Crush It Just before winter break, when students were counting down the days and teachers were counting their remaining sanity, Brandon and Jesse said: “Let’s use this moment.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/4a156ce1-eb77-4329-9460-c54ee36bb7cc/Random+Pics+9+%287%29.png BLOG - How Two Teachers Handed the Mic to Their Students - and Watched Them Crush It - “We told them this is a place to work - and your effort determines your outcome, just like in life,” Jesse said. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/492d7dea-7db2-4d55-9b01-2ae3359fc523/Random+Pics+9+%288%29.png BLOG - How Two Teachers Handed the Mic to Their Students - and Watched Them Crush It - “Middle schoolers are ready for responsibility - they just need to know you trust them with it,” Brandon explained. “And when they know that, they rise to the occasion.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/886e4de8-937d-49c9-ae12-cdf701896846/Random+Pics+9+%2810%29.png BLOG - How Two Teachers Handed the Mic to Their Students - and Watched Them Crush It - Wait, did someone say “friendly competition”??? Oh, yes! Let’s not forget one of the secret ingredients in this classroom transformation: good old healthy rivalry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/f08ebbd4-12f0-4a80-a262-c134f923f603/Random+Pics+9+%287%29.png BLOG - How Two Teachers Handed the Mic to Their Students - and Watched Them Crush It - “They were constantly checking to see how they were doing - and how the class was doing,” Jesse shared. “It built this sense of pride. They weren’t just growing individually. They were growing together.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/987476ef-cecf-4e16-9e4a-d8900c7b5f73/Random+Pics+9+%2811%29.png BLOG - How Two Teachers Handed the Mic to Their Students - and Watched Them Crush It - The results? Jaw-dropping. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d3f00566-6480-4e77-a5e8-55cd9efe050a/Random+Pics+9+%2812%29.png BLOG - How Two Teachers Handed the Mic to Their Students - and Watched Them Crush It According to the state report card, in the 2023-2024 school year, 43% of all students in grades 3-8 were proficient in ELA. 77% of students hit the 6th-grade proficiency mark in Brandon and Jesse’s classes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/0789d047-ab5f-4b81-bd4a-8f8a41ffde54/Random+Pics+9+%288%29.png BLOG - How Two Teachers Handed the Mic to Their Students - and Watched Them Crush It - “Give it a shot,” Brandon said. “You’ll be amazed at what students can do when they have a clear understanding of expectations and a structured room to excel. Anything is possible for them - and this year was proof.” https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/ever-feel-like-giving-up-would-be-easier monthly 0.5 2025-07-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/1a6ca185-63af-4a49-859f-2e2137e18b86/Random+Pics+9.png BLOG - Ever Feel Like Giving Up Would Be Easier? - For two days, Amy was surrounded by authors, speakers, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists who shared stories of defeats turned into victories by refusing to give up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/14af91cd-6872-491d-9c9a-03367eff561f/Random+Pics+9+%281%29.jpg BLOG - Ever Feel Like Giving Up Would Be Easier? - We left our retreat with clarity and renewed commitment. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/why-this-why-now monthly 0.5 2025-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/4ef9a6e6-5f66-4d25-819f-baf0ace22491/2025+Blog+Thumbnails.jpg BLOG - Why This? Why Now? - Championing Inclusion starts with you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/a023e456-3d20-4bfa-8c16-1679e008885b/ThinkificWebsite++-+Leader+Circle+%281%29.png BLOG - Why This? Why Now? - Does this sound like you? Champions Mastermind is for those leaders. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/thriving-or-surviving monthly 0.5 2025-05-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/a972c15b-3500-41de-adab-3effc3e48887/Random+Pics+9+%2826%29.jpg BLOG - Thriving or Surviving? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/dad386b0-cc82-4da9-be05-bf096f0c79f8/Random+Pics+9+%2831%29.png BLOG - Thriving or Surviving? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/b56c0a67-4406-43c7-859f-d2498d332744/Random+Pics+9+%2833%29.png BLOG - Thriving or Surviving? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/we-need-a-community monthly 0.5 2026-02-04 https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/normalizing-our-world monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d013e479-4003-4914-b579-d167a5044949/Random+Pics+8+%281%29.png BLOG - Normalizing Our World - Make it stand out In these uncertain times, it’s vital that we create a sense of “normal” for ALL our stakeholders. One of my mentors, Dr. Claire Zammit, includes “normalizing” as one of the essential skills of a coach. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/bf8af388-5679-4570-b365-9a1939feaa21/Random+Pics+8+%281%29.jpg BLOG - Normalizing Our World - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/36f15e42-a9d0-4a1e-a963-098c7d3f7076/Random+Pics+8.jpg BLOG - Normalizing Our World - By normalizing our struggles, we can build community and shine the spotlight on the educational system we want to create! By normalizing our struggles, we can build community and shine the spotlight on the educational system we want to create! Better together! Amy https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/are-you-forming-your-2025 monthly 0.5 2026-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/a4d50af2-f7bf-48c2-b7d1-636fd0587194/Random+Pics+8.jpg BLOG - Are you FORMing your 2025? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/ef8c3b94-f95a-4103-afb4-a50f3ffd9ba3/457.jpg BLOG - Are you FORMing your 2025? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/sophies-journey monthly 0.5 2026-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/7ed002e8-68d4-40e3-a737-dc0e7a06662a/Pg+8+-+Alternative.png BLOG - Sophie’s Special Ed Journey ✅Consider these responsibilities: IDEA compliance requirements Staffing issues (teachers, support staff, & specialists) Expanding instructional capacity Family concerns and complaints State test score gaps District priorities and politics https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/c82d6201-599a-4e98-a891-9e2212f5c61f/Random+Pics+8+%281%29.png BLOG - Sophie’s Special Ed Journey - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/063f8a0e-f671-4154-9fd3-c4a443403a81/Random+Pics+8.jpg BLOG - Sophie’s Special Ed Journey - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/we-dont-want-a-solution monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/2ee5b8d1-243d-4895-95c7-13c8a2366cbc/Random+Pics+8.jpg BLOG - We Don’t Want a Solution - How many times do we feel misunderstood when someone tries to solve our problems? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/67f92823-9cc1-4e7b-8c60-5532c9704c00/Random+Pics+8+%281%29.jpg BLOG - We Don’t Want a Solution - Sometimes we can’t see our own solution because we are entangled in the self-judgements and emotions of the situation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/bca00910-0749-4d09-bbe5-70c0634e49e8/Random+Pics+8+%282%29.jpg BLOG - We Don’t Want a Solution - Make it stand out Speaking of solving your own problems… We are designing a brand new course for Special Education Leaders packed with empowerment and skills to solve their biggest problems. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/factory-model-for-pd monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/9ffa29dc-6124-463d-923e-fc43afa0e68b/Random+Pics+8+%282%29.jpg BLOG - Factory Model for PD? - To prepare students for that future, desks were arranged in orderly rows. Lessons were one-size-fits-all. Teachers stood in the front and children obediently followed directions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/edc0de80-35e2-4984-ad09-0ef9163ef8f5/Random+Pics+8+-+2024-09-27T113736.951.jpg BLOG - Factory Model for PD? - Engagement! Our best teachers structure their classes with problems to solve, with opportunities to collaborate, with multiple access points for learning, and with personalized feedback tailored to each student’s learning journey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/f54091ea-d95b-44d4-89f2-ba61cb39e178/Random+Pics+8+-+2024-09-27T115231.865.jpg BLOG - Factory Model for PD? - Too often, they still look like the factory model where teachers passively listen to a speaker. When do teachers get to uncover their preconceived assumptions, feelings, and beliefs underneath their resistance to change? https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/transactional-vs-transformational-change monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/5a16cbe6-d490-4d7c-ad81-b197ed1b5231/Random+Pics+8+%281%29.jpg BLOG - Transactional vs Transformational Change It’s learning that leads to a shift in a world view that fosters new ways of being, thinking, relating, & acting in the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d097a18b-cf5a-4d43-8a8e-67ede14c3348/Random+Pics+8+%281%29.jpg BLOG - Transactional vs Transformational Change - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/4d2464f5-87ac-40ab-b82a-9cd990807659/Random+Pics+8.jpg BLOG - Transactional vs Transformational Change - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/keep-the-question-open monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/98acee9d-a18f-4e43-858c-7f7c6d52ae50/E2CE69A9-B115-4E2D-A898-B3A6043EF2E6_4_5005_c.jpeg BLOG - Keep the Question Open! - I’m back home after our team retreat in the mountains of Virginia. You’ll see some pictures here, but they don’t capture the dynamics when 12 passionately dedicated individuals start brainstorming. I’m back home after our team retreat in the mountains of Virginia. You’ll see some pictures here, but they don’t capture the dynamics when 12 passionately dedicated individuals start brainstorming. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/c89cd238-c443-4027-bc10-4ad82e63cb21/IMG_6876.JPG BLOG - Keep the Question Open! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/71002787-da7e-41a3-8452-ff1dd7eee60d/20240814_113252.jpg BLOG - Keep the Question Open! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/0e68682d-a7c6-4d8c-a7d0-a85732164bb4/IMG_6845.JPG BLOG - Keep the Question Open! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/principals-tale monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/0a365f48-67dd-41ab-aa65-8461022e3eaf/Random+Pics+8+%2893%29.png BLOG - A Principal’s Tale She became a teacher and was very popular with her students because they knew they could learn in her class. She was also popular with other teachers because she smiled a lot - even when others complained - and really enjoyed bringing a joyful spirit into her school. Sometimes she would say something to make others laugh. Sometimes she just listened. Leaders saw her big heart, and - in time - she became an administrator. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/516e29ec-c361-4c46-a8b1-9b806949b82c/Random+Pics+8.jpg BLOG - A Principal’s Tale - Or was it? Now she was responsible for the school budget, listening to parent complaints, determining whether to hire an extra custodian, evaluating teacher performance, and improving special education test scores. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d7cbaa7d-70c8-46f6-8462-256f4d5a6453/Random+Pics+8.jpg BLOG - A Principal’s Tale - Chris’ quest took her on an epic journey - over tall mountains and across deep seas. She spoke with wise gurus and data wizards. She searched high and low in research databases, in leadership journals, and online courses. She found that every source had some answers, but how could she organize them all into her principal’s briefcase and help her faculty? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/a98745d6-9e1a-404c-9981-722cf817eee7/Accelerator+image+2.jpg BLOG - A Principal’s Tale - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/celebrating-growing-pains monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/ba498b94-0750-46b9-918d-30ce80e767d4/Random+Pics+8+%288%29.jpg BLOG - Celebrating Growing Pains - When I was a little girl, my mother would explain away my little aches as “growing pains” - something to be celebrated. She would say that my bones and muscles were growing and I was becoming a “big girl.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/2174dff3-1a41-425a-9287-82d5ba416c2d/Random+Pics+8+%289%29.jpg BLOG - Celebrating Growing Pains - Make it stand out We’re looking to add a few Inclusion Coaches to our team. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/what-support-do-you-need monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/b43f802f-1f6d-429d-ae00-6cc0e2b18758/Random+Pics+8.jpg BLOG - What support do you need? - I want to make it easier for you and I have an idea… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/49ca5309-a8b9-49a8-8cc3-5e685f1ce4a2/Random+Pics+8+%281%29.jpg BLOG - What support do you need? - In partnership with visionary leaders, I co-created experimental professional development approaches. Some of those approaches didn’t work and we abandoned them. Others sparked teachers’ creativity, and we expanded them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/cd1cfe3c-cd99-4dd1-a858-22dc1d704a56/Random+Pics+8+%283%29.jpg BLOG - What support do you need? - So here’s my idea… I want to offer a webinar in tailored to YOUR needs! https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/learning-from-cec monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/0e8db4f9-d66a-4f0e-a506-e2cb5288fdbc/IMG_3201.jpg BLOG - Learning from CEC - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/36fe56dc-108d-44e8-82e4-fa8d3644904e/IMG_1680001.jpg BLOG - Learning from CEC - Those who stopped by our poster session asked lots of questions about our JIVES approach to assessing the value of professional development over time. Rachel Juergensen is making final edits to our manuscript that we’ll submit for publication. More about that later… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/7b40fbc2-56f5-4521-b180-55bed41ed473/Lead+idea.png BLOG - Learning from CEC - Make it stand out Their five year grant commenced with a survey of leaders asking about gaps in their current support system. They will publish materials and tools that will be freely available to support leaders across the country. I’m excited to incorporate their resources into our Joyful Inclusion® materials. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/735bfb34-8ef3-4fc8-8d65-66841a7628b6/20240313_181153a.jpg BLOG - Learning from CEC - 2. The opening keynote was delivered by Dr. Curtis Hill on the Culture of Belonging and Inclusion. I knew I was in the right place as he started his highly interactive presentation, talking about the importance of belonging - a concept integral to Joyful Inclusion®. He’s a former teacher who now brings a culture of belonging into workplaces. His website https://cultureofbelonging.org/ is packed with valuable resources and videos. I’ll be integrating some of his ideas into the Joyful Inclusion® packages for sure! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/f5a85f53-3db2-4265-9261-65df170faf2a/Progress.png BLOG - Learning from CEC - 3. Do you use the resources at the Progress Center (also federally funded at AIR)? Somehow, I didn’t know about it, but I attended their breakout session and then stopped by their table. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/taking-a-beginners-mind-to-cec monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/37ee58ce-0d38-4040-9e96-d8be60e6ce9f/260.jpg BLOG - Taking a Beginner’s Mind to CEC - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/22d1979c-18fc-436f-ad14-321a82bc0b14/262.png BLOG - Taking a Beginner’s Mind to CEC - I am thrilled to present two sessions this year. One is a combined session with Dr. Stacey Crawford Bewley, called “Two Perspectives on Coaching in the High Leverage Practices.” I’m eager to share what we’re learning about coaching teachers in our Joyful Inclusion Schools. I’m equally excited to learn from Dr. Bewley’s experience, and expand my thinking from the questions and comments of our participants. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/e43f2f93-88d4-4b1c-b4e8-35b313052fe4/Random+Pics+8.jpg BLOG - Taking a Beginner’s Mind to CEC - Make it stand out Do you bring a beginner’s mind to your work? https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/irreversible-change monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/69e72b71-4504-430b-bd83-6d119ecf2e88/230.jpg BLOG - Does your professional development create irreversible change? - This webinar was a wake-up call. I can’t stop thinking about that question. What would it take to support our schools so that they create irreversible change? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/be79528c-3bca-4074-8524-0b4541cfa51f/Random+Pics+8+%281%29.jpg BLOG - Does your professional development create irreversible change? - We are committed to long term, lasting irreversible change. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/68f880c6-1236-42c2-bf50-9d589b98226d/Random+Pics+8+%282%29.jpg BLOG - Does your professional development create irreversible change? - Can you imagine irreversible change in your district? https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/janus-the-god-of-endings-and-beginnings monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/fa29f5ea-be77-4322-bcec-1cb7b98a6a9e/Random+Pics+8.jpg BLOG - Janus: The God of Endings & Beginnings He is pictured as having two faces — one facing backwards, one facing forwards. The month of January was named after him — for new beginnings, but don’t forget his other face — endings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/8cf7d821-9b98-4746-928a-b417ec306b5f/172.jpg BLOG - Janus: The God of Endings & Beginnings - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/a907f520-c4c5-49f2-b0f9-d4adfefada73/Random+Pics+8+%281%29.jpg BLOG - Janus: The God of Endings & Beginnings - For me, 2023 was a year of struggling with balance — learning how to manage time and energy conflicts that have pulled me in two compelling directions: first, rewarding 12 hour days with my consulting practice AND second, quality home time with my family in our garden and enjoying our grandson. I’ve learned to be in the “present” more, no matter what I’m doing. I’ve hushed that little voice that says I should be doing something different. It’s not perfect, but it helps! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/32cc5b9d-b3b0-465a-9a7e-2fbcac9ebc01/Random+Pics+8+%284%29.jpg BLOG - Janus: The God of Endings & Beginnings - Make it stand out At the same time, I intend to empower my team members to step forward as leaders so that I can step back. Before my 80th birthday, I want to become the Chief Visionary Officer and let others manage the operations. Then I can spend more time enjoying my garden and my family. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/coaching-capacity monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/8a710846-e9bb-4a53-bd6e-28a57660a809/135.jpg BLOG - Coaching Capacity: Are You Building It? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/8e744d3c-cc60-429f-8ef6-4361ba2fbeb0/Random+Pics+8+%281%29.jpg BLOG - Coaching Capacity: Are You Building It? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/43429621-5e49-491c-ab59-f7af68707022/Joyful+Inclusion+Package-RW-edit.png BLOG - Coaching Capacity: Are You Building It? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/inclusion-and-belonging monthly 0.5 2026-02-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/8cc3ff1d-2ae1-49f1-9d9f-46aa32577e38/Dimensions+of+Inclusion+%281%29.png BLOG - Inclusion & Belonging - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/2556ee70-1100-4d2d-95a4-76d1f1a3da5f/Random+Pics+8+%286%29.jpg BLOG - Inclusion & Belonging - EXCLUSION: If you don’t meet certain criteria, you are not granted access. Maybe you can’t participate in football practice if you didn’t make the team OR maybe you won’t meet with the English department if you teach another subject. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/3fdf421e-23c7-4afe-a4b7-f3642ed370f3/Random+Pics+8+%287%29.jpg BLOG - Inclusion & Belonging - INTEGRATION: You are granted access, but you have to fit in. We try to teach all our children appropriate behavior so they can “fit in” in public spaces without awkward moments. What parent hasn’t tried to subdue a 2-year-old temper tantrum in public? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d5f93e3a-cc26-455c-831e-ce54e069f3d4/Random+Pics+8+%288%29.jpg BLOG - Inclusion & Belonging - SEGREGATION: There is a special place for “people like you.” Most of us enjoy going home where we belong and where we are totally accepted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d311445e-6f18-4d07-a005-5e131ef7b8c8/Random+Pics+8+%2837%29.jpg BLOG - Inclusion & Belonging - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/structured-classrooms monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/38b845fe-a573-4612-88a5-80601fcca8cf/66.jpg BLOG - Structured Classrooms - They include graphic organizers, mnemonic devices, checklists, and mind maps. Initially, teachers model how to use a schema to take notes, clarifying the key vocabulary and using the organizer to visualize relationships. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/c0e7f4ee-6db2-4d7f-a032-8bc217a0bc42/67.jpg BLOG - Structured Classrooms - Teachers create routines for the start of a lesson (often with a warm up or writing prompt). There are other routines for how to access materials and how to move into paired or collaborative learning activities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/e7b5ee27-f6f1-4c97-be9e-a42b64d95553/Random+Pics+8.jpg BLOG - Structured Classrooms - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/celebrating-labor-day monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/b4b39792-739e-4c90-abd4-c91eae878a54/36.jpg BLOG - Celebrating Labor Day? Me Too! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d73d22be-33ab-40c4-9a71-d36d95de0463/37.jpg BLOG - Celebrating Labor Day? Me Too! - Then I became a teacher and Labor Day meant decorating my classroom and learning new curriculum. It also meant establishing routines so my students felt safe to take learning risks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/ed9e7cf3-3607-4c3d-a1e4-6a18659b26dc/Random+Pics+8.jpg BLOG - Celebrating Labor Day? Me Too! - As a parent, it meant shopping for school supplies and the perfect 1st day outfit. It meant sending my children off hoping they would have a teacher who cared about them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/133de095-6ff6-4e5a-bae7-ff1229b25256/IMG_3606.JPG BLOG - Celebrating Labor Day? Me Too! https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/working-together-cooperation-collaboration-and-coalition monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/95de6411-f1e9-4d1f-b1eb-9cca6462a306/20.jpg BLOG - Working Together: Cooperation, Collaboration, and Coalition - Children cooperate when they play in the sandbox side by side without knocking down each other’s sandcastles and without grabbing each other’s toys. We get along, each with our own projects or tasks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/b997faff-84cd-4459-bbc4-14942beec6e2/23.jpg BLOG - Working Together: Cooperation, Collaboration, and Coalition - When we collaborate, we join forces because we have a common goal. We share ideas and strategies. We may divide the tasks to be more efficient. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/b409a37a-96ef-4ba0-98d4-2d63a6e8ca01/30.jpg BLOG - Working Together: Cooperation, Collaboration, and Coalition - If we invite them to work together on a project, that involves other skills. They need to learn to listen to different perspectives, come to consensus, and make compromises. They need to divide responsibilities and trust each other to follow through. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/4dbad5d0-1949-40e8-a5be-f1900528cbf1/57.png BLOG - Working Together: Cooperation, Collaboration, and Coalition - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/memorial-day-for-teachers monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d2791ff0-8f07-4b66-b70e-52b37e58cf5a/Random+Pics+8.jpg BLOG - Memorial Day for Teachers - If I could find kindly old Mrs. Tinker, I’d tell her that I finally figured out which emoji image was happy, which was sad, and which was angry. That was the toughest part of first grade for me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/1a4a29ff-ab9a-49d9-ba77-56dcec08b3cf/7.jpg BLOG - Memorial Day for Teachers - If I could find Miss Cassidy, I’d tell her that being in her 10th grade English class with her love of literature inspired me to become an English teacher. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/f83d4d86-ca48-4dfa-8f54-73b0137c4e92/Random+Pics+7+%282%29.jpg BLOG - Memorial Day for Teachers - Make it stand out As usual, I’d love to hear from you - your memories or gratifying stories of students who came back. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/the-secret-ingredient monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/9af596c7-5cde-43c2-89f9-a9d3b978e577/265.jpg BLOG - The Secret Ingredient - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/0fdf8aec-7bb1-4775-9904-ca0e2f2c50d3/267.jpg BLOG - The Secret Ingredient - We can’t keep a secret!! It’s Self-efficacy! Another name for self-efficacy is agency or ownership of the learning process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/bad434bd-feb9-46d0-939a-6200663b605f/Random+Pics+7+-+2023-05-12T092255.891.png BLOG - The Secret Ingredient - Make it stand out If you want to make personal progress, it is important to believe in yourself and your ability to succeed. Self-efficacy is the secret ingredient that can help you achieve your goals. Without self-efficacy, learning is reduced to rote memorizing of information that won’t stick or be applied. What’s the point of that? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/9e8e1446-8dd8-4a61-b58c-901a200f316f/Random+Pics+7+%281%29.jpg BLOG - The Secret Ingredient Before we know it, teachers initiate brainstorming sessions about challenges and collaborate on new strategies they might try. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/lessons-learned-the-hard-way monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/b99e0b06-3ea6-46ad-863f-36e35c98707f/Random+Pics+7.jpg BLOG - Lessons Learned the Hard Way - Since the pandemic, we’ve appreciated the convenience of ordering most of our groceries online and then showing up at the store to have their attendants simply load our order into the trunk. It saves us time, trouble, and it’s cheaper! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/9d004c64-08df-4b2a-ab0f-48a12c967317/249.jpg BLOG - Lessons Learned the Hard Way - The first is work experience. These are the experiences we enter onto our resumes - middle school Special Education Teacher or Elementary Principal. I think there are two kinds of experience: The first is work experience. These are the experiences we enter onto our resumes -- middle school special education teacher or Elementary Principal. We often go into more detail in the job description, listing the specific skills and tasks we’ve learned to do. Our candidates for Inclusion Coach all have impressive resumes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d688b190-346c-4fcf-b2a2-f14dfcdeff9a/250.jpg BLOG - Lessons Learned the Hard Way - The other type of experience (perhaps the most valuable) is failure experience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/b069f1eb-9e48-4d2d-a396-25a8ac87168a/251.jpg BLOG - Lessons Learned the Hard Way - They may not be revealed during an interview, either. What questions should I ask during our interviews to learn about lessons learned the hard way? https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/expanding-the-joyful-inclusion-team monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/cd4ce462-3c61-45ac-8625-9bc154c1e6a1/225.jpg BLOG - Expanding the Joyful Inclusion Team - Make it stand out It’s time to expand our Joyful Inclusion Team again: Good news and bad news! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/32d37513-cf09-400c-bb78-507a2176d39b/224.jpg BLOG - Expanding the Joyful Inclusion Team - How do we use everything we’ve learned to support teachers who are already in motion? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/168369dc-2296-4a98-a606-48ecaa17832e/219.jpg BLOG - Expanding the Joyful Inclusion Team - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/2a99e22b-b886-4885-b745-ad51a3bfd34e/226.jpg BLOG - Expanding the Joyful Inclusion Team - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/joyful-or-happy monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/cef6cb79-caac-49f5-a5e1-4ddc80c132c4/210.jpg BLOG - Joyful or Happy? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/44ade2da-a894-469f-9f0a-864022610679/209.jpg BLOG - Joyful or Happy? - When you walk in the door and your dog greets you like you’re the most important person in the universe. When that struggling student lights up with “Hey! I get this!!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/01fabf64-0e72-435b-aab5-c7d192f49019/217.jpg BLOG - Joyful or Happy? - Joy comes from a growth mindset - the view that life will offer you exciting challenges to grow. It means you’re intentionally looking at life through a lens of gratitude and appreciation. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/braided-funding monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/401de641-f008-4302-879f-09fdad64c49c/192.png BLOG - Braided Funding - Special Education Director: Our special education funding isn’t big enough to cover Collaborative Teaching professional development for our whole faculty. Maybe we should just plan to include our special educators? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/ec2d41eb-ade9-4d7a-b5e2-d45ff9c03061/194.png BLOG - Braided Funding - When I was the Secondary Transition Specialist with the Maryland Department of Education, I collaborated with other state agencies to fund common transition goals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/1e6a2800-2a7e-406b-b740-c2b1c0306f2e/195.png BLOG - Braided Funding - As a section-chief for Specially Designed Instruction at the Maryland State Department of Education, I had the opportunity to work with local leaders in building the capacity of their staff in supporting children and youth with disabilities. Many of the initiatives included working with other departments and/or agencies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/44b7bb53-c072-45e8-867c-c9d3791d861f/197.png BLOG - Braided Funding - Make it stand out Whether you are looking for funding to support Joyful Inclusion® or some other initiative, ask yourself these questions: https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/free-flexible-grouping-workshop monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/b5104cc8-2ea9-497b-954e-c66d2409815d/175.png BLOG - Free! Flexible Grouping Workshop - Make it stand out I want to help school leaders! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d819492a-8595-4cc7-8cc6-d888cdd93116/unnamed.jpg BLOG - Free! Flexible Grouping Workshop - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/what-are-we-learning-today monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/4a138af2-c4d3-44e9-a7e4-508f317d30bd/Random+Pics+7+%284%29.png BLOG - What Are We Learning Today? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d72e6f41-3886-432b-924b-98e775570611/Random+Pics+7+%287%29.png BLOG - What Are We Learning Today? - Students routinely use these positive “I can…” statements as learning goals. Then they use formative assessments at the end to determine whether they indeed can demonstrate the lesson’s skill. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/special-education-staffing-two-problems monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/aaecefa5-3e1d-4e13-bd12-aaadbf7e7e37/146.jpg BLOG - Special Education Staffing - Two Problems - How are you managing? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/abd1d927-97ad-4d7b-8109-8979f051557d/150.jpg BLOG - Special Education Staffing - Two Problems - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/5f0fd8ea-b0ef-4d8c-81fa-0d7efd7bfa16/Random+Pics+7+%283%29.jpg BLOG - Special Education Staffing - Two Problems - How are things going in your district? Do you have a shortage of special educators? How are you managing? Are special educators being pulled to cover for lack of substitutes? https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/is-special-education-a-finite-or-an-infinite-game monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/aac66380-4954-4677-8c8c-645f7f3b3852/129.jpg BLOG - Is Special Education a Finite or an Infinite Game? - Make it stand out My poster banner at the DCDT Convention, Little Rock, Arkansas, Nov 2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/479fbfac-7f8d-47f8-9596-307e7a63e5c9/Random+Pics+7+%281%29.png BLOG - Is Special Education a Finite or an Infinite Game? - Make it stand out What would you add to these lists? https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/are-informed-parents-dangerous monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/852c1528-3592-4441-81b8-a1ffa7ffcab4/120.jpg BLOG - Are Informed Parents Dangerous? - That’s what a principal said to one of my graduate students when she asked for permission to provide a workshop on IEP team procedures to her families. She was a special educator. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/7c4607c5-76a6-4d8f-a330-066f5fd3db57/121.jpg BLOG - Are Informed Parents Dangerous? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/60f8c7cd-e4ad-4622-8841-c458a224d33e/125.jpg BLOG - Are Informed Parents Dangerous? - We can’t achieve school improvement without our families! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/9517ad95-19cf-4555-987a-d488c0fa9432/Random+Pics+7.jpg BLOG - Are Informed Parents Dangerous? - When they return home, they may need to interact with individuals who hold the “dangerous parents” mindset. So my presentation will arm them with legal and evidence-based practice reasons for inviting families into partnership roles. I’ll share the Endrew F. Supreme Court decision and recent special education caselaw. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/is-your-school-board-on-board monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/2fa61c57-98ed-4488-8241-662163a12f9a/101.jpg BLOG - Is Your School Board on Board? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/aeee9856-f527-4a93-9e8a-4eb82ce9e50c/100.jpg BLOG - Is Your School Board on Board? - “School board members are tasked with an important responsibility: educating nearly 50 million children - almost nine out of every 10 students - who receive their education in public schools. Board members are more than policy-makers and administrators; they are advocates for students and their parents are entrusted to engineer a better future.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/76f02bca-b2db-4a24-94f4-b7e519257d11/99.jpg BLOG - Is Your School Board on Board? - If they are going to make informed decisions that will impact the current and future lives of students with disabilities, their families and all the professionals who work with them, what do they need to know? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/aba59a12-8f4d-4124-9e58-40aa1d3449e2/Random+Pics+7+%281%29.jpg BLOG - Is Your School Board on Board? What do you think? Have I summarized the key points that school board members should know? What else should we tell them? https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/the-joyful-inclusion-coaching-team monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/04005bb2-c9a9-490f-9318-1e7ee7ce3c37/20220822_175817.jpg BLOG - The Joyful Inclusion Coaching Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d21a80bd-7ab2-40db-8087-19146d1769eb/20220822_103011.jpg BLOG - The Joyful Inclusion Coaching Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/eb35fbb2-897b-4846-a7a4-63610410a140/20220823_160633.jpg BLOG - The Joyful Inclusion Coaching Team - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/67dfcba3-966e-44c6-8964-14e4dcbae401/20220822_175604.jpg BLOG - The Joyful Inclusion Coaching Team Introducing our Joyful Inclusion Coaching Team for the 2022-23 school year! https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/learner-voice monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/50bad286-a51a-48c2-9c41-8a7ce37b1e48/81.jpg BLOG - Learner Voice - I have always thought that I stand for empowerment of youth voice, but this conference was a wake-up call. We have so much more we could do! And what a difference it would make! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/de0b8dd5-4de4-4b1c-b128-d99783f9e9ca/Back+to+School+Classroom+Decor+-+Modern+Boho+Voice+Level+Display.png BLOG - Learner Voice I’ve combined both of those into the organizer at the left. Apologies to her for selecting and simplifying her key concepts. I wish you could have heard her whole presentation, including the stories of her journey! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/2daf0fb7-8c15-492a-842c-3f69d8198fad/85.jpg BLOG - Learner Voice - What could you do to welcome student voice? There is research evidence that student voice is a key ingredient of student engagement in learning and student mastery. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/the-joyful-inclusion-pilot-story monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/647921a3-648c-4820-a98d-045da7278e26/73.jpg BLOG - The Joyful Inclusion Pilot Story - Make it stand out Pilot A was a middle school with 53 participating teachers, supported by 3 school-based coaches. Pilot B was a district with 8 schools, 193 participating teachers and 3 district level coaches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/e948147f-f1e3-4b41-9278-d0594352c3ae/74.jpg BLOG - The Joyful Inclusion Pilot Story - We were especially excited to see the huge growth in the number of classrooms where we saw engagement methods that involved all students in learning, rather than one student called on at a time and the increase in graphic organizers and other scaffolding structures to support student mastery of concepts. We were especially excited to see the huge growth in the number of classrooms where teachers were implementing engagement methods that involved all students in learning, rather than one student responding at a time and the increase in graphic organizers and other scaffolding structures to support student mastery of concepts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/49d0e7e6-c5d7-467d-9126-768122ccdeb4/75.jpg BLOG - The Joyful Inclusion Pilot Story - Make it stand out More teachers experimented with (and gained proficiency in) the six co-teaching structures, including with their paraprofessionals. We couldn’t wait to see what our May Inclusion Rounds would reveal! But that was spring 2020. Covid-19 shut down schools, and there would be no walkthroughs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/37e6d48a-abb4-495f-a589-bb7437150255/Joyful+Inclusion+Data+Summary+%286%29.png BLOG - The Joyful Inclusion Pilot Story - Make it stand out What is the story these data tell? Teachers are amazingly resilient and committed to doing their best to support students. Not surprisingly, the COVID pandemic had a negative impact on teachers’ effectiveness. Our approach for fostering teacher growth in four inclusive indicators and 6 co-teaching structures seems to be working, even during adverse circumstances. Most importantly, the growth in teacher proficiency is a tribute to Pilot A’s school leadership team and coaches who were determined to form a caring safety net for teachers to see them through. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/stories-behind-the-data monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/bd403a02-7f27-4dc0-a85c-59b81540a990/54.jpg BLOG - Stories Behind the Data - I loved teaching the unit on Greek myths when I was an English teacher, especially the stories behind the constellations. Students were always fascinated, and I was able to integrate a variety of reading, thinking, and writing skills while they were busy looking at the stars. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/2f726c95-69f8-4b9c-83c6-e35612144d0b/53.jpg BLOG - Stories Behind the Data - I’ve been telling the story that connects all four points: If we want to improve the employment rate of adults in this country, we should provide opportunities for students with disabilities to practice self-advocacy daily in inclusive classrooms. But I’m not talking mythology here - I’m passionate about it, and I’ve embedded that story in all my work. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/f147d69f-ff16-43f5-b422-4dc063ee6587/58.jpg BLOG - Stories Behind the Data - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/a7e5176d-f5a1-4cd3-b7a8-064e2acbf1e1/Course+Covers+2+%289%29.png BLOG - Stories Behind the Data - 4. The school leader’s role in endorsing and reinforcing professional growth. 5. Student engagement and empowerment since the learning is all about them. 6. The family’s role in the student’s network of support 7. Coaching support for teachers as they experiment with new practice. Without ongoing encouragement and feedback, new practices won’t become routine in the classroom. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/whats-your-inclusion-score monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/3230f03c-83a2-4419-9819-65693ab50088/43.jpg BLOG - What’s Your Inclusion Score? - By the way, let’s face it, the renovation process is messy! Sometimes the decisions are difficult to make - especially when we don’t know all the options. And then it’s hard for everybody to get used to the changes — “Where are the cups now?” Eventually, we adjust and we create a new normal that is much improved. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/670de243-5470-4dc8-b800-b28f04eacce1/Lady-thinking.png BLOG - What’s Your Inclusion Score? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/88bc4193-dfb5-497e-a6df-79d75f0b1529/50.jpg BLOG - What’s Your Inclusion Score? - I hope you have been fortunate to experience the positive impact of an encouraging leader who set high expectations and provided collaborative supports to the faculty! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/62336c16-3cf8-45d7-836a-17243e689ac7/Copy+of+AmyPleet.com++Website+Makeover.png BLOG - What’s Your Inclusion Score? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/im-hiring monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/22b1b55e-c87e-4c35-946b-9901b0efc1f2/I%E2%80%99m+Hiring%21%21.jpg BLOG - I’m Hiring!! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/who-moved-our-goal-posts monthly 0.5 2026-02-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/3fccf23a-f17e-49e5-b65c-6d0e602cb135/16.jpg BLOG - Who Moved Our Goal Posts? - But wait - the goal posts have been moved! That’s not the end zone -- he’s only at the 50 yard line. What the heck??? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/1e3d4741-0e77-4bf8-b968-28171a238a5d/11.jpg BLOG - Who Moved Our Goal Posts? - The Goal Posts were moved in 2017 with the Endrew F. v Douglas Co. Supreme Court decision and subsequent case law. It is no longer sufficient to simply comply with student and family rights and provide services. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/5022ff4d-4c26-4384-be6b-429e77e4d8d8/22.jpg BLOG - Who Moved Our Goal Posts? - More importantly, are you providing needed professional development and coaching for school leaders, teachers, and staff to address the new game we’re playing? More importantly, are school leaders, teachers, and staff receiving professional development to address the new results driven game we’re playing? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/4b764289-33a0-4313-ba36-c651036f0bc9/21.jpg BLOG - Who Moved Our Goal Posts? - The mission of my company, Inclusion Focused Coaching, LLC is to create Joyful Inclusion® School Communities that empower leaders to lead, nurture teachers’ best teaching, engage families as partners, and foster breakthrough results for learners. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/percentage-or-percentile monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/f9b81c55-8e74-48a5-a6d5-a23a5f938f09/1.jpg BLOG - Percentage or Percentile? - I usually see percentages. That means we’re using a short term, episodic view of the child’s progress. With percentages, it would be hard to determine whether the child is making progress compared to their peers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/7142bfa4-5dda-41d8-930f-8096e3f80822/78.png BLOG - Percentage or Percentile? - Burden shared that in Wyoming he encourages IEP teams to target 40 percentile for any student without a cognitive impairment. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/inclusion-coaches-on-my-team monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/7f2c0d0e-9d3b-4790-94f5-98992edd2bfc/98.jpg BLOG - Inclusion Coaches on My Team! - But two roadblocks soon emerged. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/953a20dc-f483-43d9-beeb-682b710f1d13/Random+Pics+6+%2845%29.jpg BLOG - Inclusion Coaches on My Team! - So, I started brainstorming about expanding my team to include on-site Inclusion Coaches as part of my professional development packages. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/when-does-a-student-graduate monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/5949c5e2-3694-41a5-8cad-191adbe21d70/91.jpg BLOG - When Does a Student Graduate? - First, some background: When a student with an IEP reaches age 16 (or 14 in many states), the IEP team must add transition planning to the IEP process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/ddf108d1-d86a-480f-b0ca-85a512ea7521/89.jpg BLOG - When Does a Student Graduate? - Johnson recommended that this discussion begin at the first transition planning IEP meeting and be revisited each year. The criteria will include discussion of high school graduation credits (for all students) as well as additional individualized criteria for this student. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/e5e38bf4-6b15-4529-a308-788fe750311f/90.jpg BLOG - When Does a Student Graduate? - Note: Johnson reminded us that the final graduation decision is NOT a vote; the decision is made by the district representative on the IEP team, after considering all the data, including input from all team members. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/joyful-inclusion-action-network monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/e407360a-5060-441c-8106-6ed30177fbd1/unnamed.jpg BLOG - Joyful Inclusion Action Network - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/335c127a-7ab9-4edb-8f84-f4f33db6f90d/Random+Pics+6.png BLOG - Joyful Inclusion Action Network - This won’t be one of those groups you join and forget about! I plan to post valuable tools, resources, and links at least 4 times a week. I plan to stop by our group daily (almost) to see what YOU are posting and to offer my thoughts. I plan to experiment with regular facebook live events where I can share some new insights or or highlight some emerging leaders in the field and what they’re doing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/e981bd57-7430-4e6a-b02c-367f09630aac/86.jpg BLOG - Joyful Inclusion Action Network - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/covid-made-us-stronger monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/263a72fa-46d9-468f-a595-596f715772d4/Random+Pics+6+%2855%29.png BLOG - Has COVID Made Us Stronger? - Of course, at the same time, we always have a choice. We can hunker down in survival mode and just try to make it through, OR we can take the courageous path to grow in our compassion, empathy, resilience, and connection. We can explore new possibilities for transforming schools and becoming stronger. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/c683e0de-9016-48b1-a328-d1630843121e/Random+Pics+6+%2856%29.png BLOG - Has COVID Made Us Stronger? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/5c1c8963-a233-4cce-98c7-c15922b729e5/dvdcasestandingclosed.png BLOG - Has COVID Made Us Stronger? - You don’t have to do it alone! I’ve created a 5 Step Roadmap and cleared time in my schedule to have (FREE) Possibility Calls with school leaders. If you’re a school leader and you’d like to use this COVID disruption to make your school or district stronger, let’s talk! https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/making-memories monthly 0.5 2025-04-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/b520784d-d2d4-405f-981e-d7d1f54d2a47/Random+Pics+4+%2868%29.png BLOG - Making Memories - Make it stand out Little girl with big glasses thinking. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/40c14062-a203-46b8-baf5-8ff806e7f764/Random+Pics+4+%2866%29.png BLOG - Making Memories Boy and girl enjoying putting electronics together while teacher watches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/7468ea51-b360-41cf-b637-62fad519619b/Random+Pics+6+%2843%29.png BLOG - Making Memories - Make it stand out Maya Angelou quote https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/ive-given-birth monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/b0e5eaa3-3700-4a06-9fef-313274a809a9/Random+Pics+6+%2835%29.jpg BLOG - I’ve Given Birth!! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/whos-the-hero-in-your-story monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/374c342c-fed1-49a1-89a9-6fb99fa01d71/Heroes.png BLOG - Who’s the Hero in Your Story? - I had no trouble thinking of a few turning points. But then, the challenge was to write two versions of that story as: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/1106eaff-9cdd-43a4-bc60-6ed24ef4a534/Who%E2%80%99s+the+Hero+in+Your+Story+%281%29.png BLOG - Who’s the Hero in Your Story? - Give yourself credit for being a courageous hero! https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/nothing-about-me-without-me monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/3cbbdd96-b1b6-453f-a4dc-71f89569bd2b/nothing_about_me_without_me.png BLOG - Nothing About Me Without Me! - According to Google, the phrase has its roots way back in European unrest in the 1500s, but America shouted the same message from the rooftops during the American Revolution with, “No Taxation Without Representation!” So it has become an American tradition. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/1b670d41-f77e-4c26-85c2-bff19bb7219e/Participatory-Evaluation-2.png BLOG - Nothing About Me Without Me! - This graphic was created by one Youth Evaluator. He saw himself as the ear for many voices with the responsibility of advocating for them. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/one-teach-one-whisper monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/8c44c3d2-b54d-4cdc-98a2-f19889eb973f/One+TeachOne+Whisper.jpg BLOG - One Teach/One Whisper - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/back-home monthly 0.5 2025-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/c3083249-cd1a-42dd-9e07-2124a01c26ab/Picture1.jpg BLOG - Back Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/830a4bac-218c-4cbe-b7aa-722dca6944d5/Back+Home.png BLOG - Back Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/special-needs-families monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d0731a14-491d-485e-8d9e-c25e352c0519/Random-Pics-5-24.jpg BLOG - Special Needs Families - What should we call them: “special needs families”? “families with special needs”? or “families of children with special needs”? - I’m not asking about political correctness here! What should we call them? “Special needs families”? “Families with special needs”? Or, “families of children with special needs”? - I’m not asking about political correctness here! https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/more-than-a-goal monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d76c3cd3-2fa8-42e2-b152-d61c75be8c33/morethanagoal.jpg BLOG - More Than a Goal - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/american-rescue-plan-which-voices-will-influence-decisions monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/a554ecc9-2fae-4ab1-8164-4ad5bd2095c3/American+Rescue+Plan.png BLOG - American Rescue Plan: Which voices will influence decisions? Don’t you wonder how each district will decide how they will use their share? Whose voices will they listen to when these decisions are made? Do you have ideas? Maybe it’s time for YOU to speak up?? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/4ce5cc9d-5e82-4c1e-be9f-56c197cc3852/American+Rescue+Plan+Which+voices+will+influence+decisions.jpg BLOG - American Rescue Plan: Which voices will influence decisions? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/announcing-my-launch monthly 0.5 2025-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/4764c13d-52b3-4da1-83f4-cc8d78f72354/img1.png BLOG - Announcing My Launch - What’s so special about the Joyful Inclusion Course for Teachers? Well, I’m so glad you asked. Let me tell you how it happened and all the influences I’m grateful for. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/f4582d28-d767-4fac-905d-3d8a02ca07d6/Announcing+My+Launch.jpg BLOG - Announcing My Launch We met online weekly for 6 months and listened to each member share how the world of inclusion looked from their viewpoint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/22d85c4b-8236-47df-8447-6047ae8ed74c/march-2021.png BLOG - Announcing My Launch - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/mastermind-website-launched monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/86bdedba-de85-4357-a4b7-cb8b89ab46af/Mastermind-Website-Launched-Featured-Image.jpg BLOG - Mastermind Website Launched - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/bf48e7c4-3093-4286-a4ac-42ece4e34d67/Mastermind-Website-Launched-Image1.jpg BLOG - Mastermind Website Launched - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/tribute-to-teachers monthly 0.5 2025-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/9d24c31e-5fe9-4b9b-8f90-2493b4fb1355/Picture-1.png BLOG - Tribute to Teachers Practically overnight, they had to learn all sorts of new technology and figure out how to teach their students remotely. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/114c1df1-a536-4ac8-90a6-14f09ec1b7f1/Picture-2.png BLOG - Tribute to Teachers They had to strengthen their flexibility muscles when schools were closed — then opened — then hybrid — then closed, etc. I’m tired just thinking about it! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/1a4aa624-c135-4805-a2b2-fb2b03995306/Picture-3.png BLOG - Tribute to Teachers I am inspired by the teachers who painted a smile on their masks and kept on teaching. Please take a moment to thank a teacher. If I’m talking about YOU – Thank you! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/92afa515-2dd4-490c-b4c6-04b075133e8d/Picture-4.png.jpg BLOG - Tribute to Teachers - I decided to offer another FREE Webinar. 5 Elements of Joyful Inclusion https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/fostering-engagement-online monthly 0.5 2025-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/e08c9988-3ff2-4871-8714-faa4d012651a/Picture1.png BLOG - Fostering Engagement Online - And then the COVID pandemic changed everything! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/792d0e1c-6273-4cf2-92f8-8349fbb3cce4/padlet-OnlineEngagment-e1610994673501.png BLOG - Fostering Engagement Online - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/46b66610-cba1-4a1c-b0c6-dc22fdc95bba/Fostering-Online-Engagement.png BLOG - Fostering Engagement Online - You can access my Padlet by scanning the QR code or through the link below. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/no-more-good-ole-days monthly 0.5 2025-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/e05c5aeb-1f57-4eca-9533-ca68e91d8a24/Janus.jpg BLOG - No More “Good Ole Days” What words should we use to describe what we’ve been through? Uncertain? Confusing? Unsettling? Scary? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/8964d104-06fd-4dbb-8c05-4f2bd330005c/Copy-of-Thank-you-terms-2.png BLOG - No More “Good Ole Days” - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/91a0f78d-edd0-4c65-84a2-00dcf0e103f8/No+More+%E2%80%9CGood+Ole+Days%E2%80%9D.png BLOG - No More “Good Ole Days” So, what does this mean for the future of schools? https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/giving-thanks-for-school-leaders monthly 0.5 2025-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/421f23c8-d3dc-4d23-9ea0-e0ef631c557e/Teacher.jpg BLOG - Giving Thanks for School Leaders - Think about it! In the face of confusion, fear, and sorrow, school leaders are called upon to be compassionate, decisive, and flexible all at the same time. I’m sure it’s not easy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/76d55972-2e21-466a-8ec4-616da547473d/Random-pics-2-1-e1606615028496.png BLOG - Giving Thanks for School Leaders - School leaders are charged with managing safety protocols for their buildings, creating schedules that work for everybody, listening to parent concerns, supervising effective instruction, ensuring all regulations are followed (like IDEA), monitoring school data, and being accountable to district personnel and school boards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/974473a5-830d-4f87-8249-1e33b635b906/Problem-or-Opportunity.png BLOG - Giving Thanks for School Leaders - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/are-you-on-hold monthly 0.5 2025-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/9a232c55-8388-45b0-a7f9-065452ac7cbd/1-2.png BLOG - Are You on Hold? But let me ask you this – what do you do while you’re waiting? I never know what to do. I don’t want to answer an email or start on a project because I may get distracted and forget why I called. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/5294124b-7f77-496d-bfdd-2fd68a0ca16c/Lady-thinking.png BLOG - Are You on Hold? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/4c42e87b-4f2a-4ebe-8dd9-97e96f7508b6/2-2.png BLOG - Are You on Hold? Who has the power here? Yes, politicians and policymakers may make decisions that affect whether schools are open or closed, whether we wear masks, what our schedule looks like, and when our favorite restaurant will be open. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/fdf2a67d-da5d-4450-9bae-76301952ae9e/4-2.png BLOG - Are You on Hold? Yes! It’s a serious concern - and so are thousands of students who are unaccounted for. More power to those who are working on that! But what are we doing for those who DO show up? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d5e336c8-9f31-4735-9576-cea5fb542649/3-3.png BLOG - Are You on Hold? It’s like arriving at a destination and not remembering anything about the ride. Who says I have to wait to chase my goals and dreams? This is the moment I’m alive – right now. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/creative-flexible-grouping monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/49a342e6-9634-4e08-b910-45aede240532/Creative+Flexible+Grouping.jpg BLOG - Creative Flexible Grouping It was heartwarming to see evidence that it’s working in classrooms where teachers creatively used flexible grouping. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/does-your-school-build-resilience monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/03709a8e-6cf0-4e47-8461-3f68b1eefd91/Resilience-Workshop-4.png BLOG - Does Your School Build Resilience? - Has your school talked about question 6? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/7dd2215b-4ced-441d-9065-2cc733c0ba1d/IFC+Packages.png BLOG - Does Your School Build Resilience? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/july-4-reflection-3-top-priorities monthly 0.5 2025-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d020539e-8c8a-4d3a-b488-703dfcaf7f25/July+4+Reflection+3+Top+Priorities.jpg BLOG - July 4 Reflection: 3 Top Priorities https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/7147b6d2-5df7-4251-939e-79fd8f3d7c67/Person_wearing_flip_flops.jpg BLOG - July 4 Reflection: 3 Top Priorities - I wonder what it’s like for teachers, school leaders, students, and families out there? What’s it like in your shoes (or flip flops)? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/4b4b32b6-2a9d-494e-8ab2-8634f8f4479f/joining-770559_960_720.jpg BLOG - July 4 Reflection: 3 Top Priorities - Relationships When schools reopen in the fall (whatever that may look like where you are), the most critical factor will be relationships. The disruptions of this pandemic and the outcry for equity have been traumatic for everyone. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/c9a13265-7120-4cef-8e04-25bb8e281ad1/authority-collaborate-collaboration-command-royalty-free-thumbnail.jpg BLOG - July 4 Reflection: 3 Top Priorities Collaboration Let’s look at what that term really means. It combines “co” meaning together and “labor” - so it literally means labor together to accomplish a common purpose. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/9be13f6d-d0b9-4194-911f-8e6a17e47a8c/Student_during_Coronavirus_in_Mexico_%28cropped%29.jpg BLOG - July 4 Reflection: 3 Top Priorities - Student learning When we get to the heart of it, the whole purpose of education is student learning, right? But there is a huge difference between learning because an adult gives you something to learn and learning that comes from curiosity and drive within the learner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/c671a38d-2edc-42ff-a574-fb307bcd623e/IFC+Packages.png BLOG - July 4 Reflection: 3 Top Priorities - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/is-it-time-to-re-set-inclusion monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/dbd8a1e9-5357-4df3-8459-a7801dbbc836/Reset-Webinar.png BLOG - Is It Time to Re-Set Inclusion? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/3f059c07-ec68-49b4-b208-f6ecf2516210/Is+It+Time+to+Re-Set+Inclusion.png BLOG - Is It Time to Re-Set Inclusion? 5 Themes: Over the last few months, I’ve enrolled in countless webinars and virtual conferences. I reached out to respected leaders and long time colleagues. We’ve engaged in deep conversations about possibilities. I think there are 5 themes we need to address to transform inclusive practices. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/page/distance-remote-online-learning monthly 0.5 2025-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/855adde6-4c58-49af-8194-6e2b451b7a81/DistanceRemoteOnline+Learning.png BLOG - Distance/Remote/Online Learning? - It appears (as Mark Twain’s quote indicates) that it’s pretty important to use the correct term. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/872983e1-096e-4196-9729-40911e3991ad/DistanceRemoteOnline+Learning+%281%29.jpg BLOG - Distance/Remote/Online Learning? - Virtual or online school: A school that is designed for students to receive their education at home from certified teachers, integrating technology, personalized learning, and one-to-one interactions with teachers. Often these smaller schools can flexibly address special needs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/303885ad-3548-4276-b283-a8e9ede2d560/IFC+Packages.png BLOG - Distance/Remote/Online Learning? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/teachers-need-to-log-your-interactions monthly 0.5 2025-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/ed1269ac-8437-441c-b8f5-778552efaf33/Teacher-log.png BLOG - Teachers: Need to Log Your Interactions? If we’re being asked to document what we do, let’s give it to them – all of it! Let’s provide documentation of the heart-felt commitment of teachers. But let’s keep it simple so we don’t add to our load. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/300fd338-c47c-4acf-bafa-e846ad513039/IFC+Packages.png BLOG - Teachers: Need to Log Your Interactions? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/how-to-co-teach-online monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/100bbd42-23ce-4d7f-a346-cebf4b11cb4b/How+to+Co-Teach+Online+%281%29.png BLOG - How to Co-Teach Online - So… I created a 5 step process and am putting on a Live Webinar! https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/finding-your-compass monthly 0.5 2025-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/260a2b2b-8315-47e8-b1d8-6a4168391005/Finding+Your+Compass+%281%29.jpg BLOG - Finding Your Compass - While medical and political leaders are doing their best to control the outbreak with information and advice to the public, most of us are struggling to find our direction in all the confusion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/1611e239-e68c-494e-9ce0-e641329e7a6f/Finding+Your+Compass+%282%29.jpg BLOG - Finding Your Compass - Kids are at home, doing what? This isn’t an extended snow day – they can’t make snowmen and snow forts. This isn’t spring vacation – they can’t visit relatives, hang out at malls, go on day trips, or have sleepovers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/5968b2cf-54db-40f3-bbe2-1507194ce499/Finding+Your+Compass.jpg BLOG - Finding Your Compass - Imagine if families and schools become valued allies in educating “our” children? https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/always-off-course monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/649fac44-a43c-4acc-8c42-87015845cd3d/michelle-woodson-howell-ouZj1RPPiTU-unsplash-scaled.jpg BLOG - Always Off Course - On the other hand, if you are under sail, you are totally at the mercy of wind and currents AND your skill. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/1cbea02f-1938-43d1-aba5-774f7876a215/Always+Off+Course+%281%29.png BLOG - Always Off Course - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/232f9c07-f54c-45ce-8803-5d8510615c2f/Always+Off+Course+%282%29.jpg BLOG - Always Off Course - Chances are, when you head off on a sailing trip, you are not deeply aware that you are changing the life of a child – everyday! https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/parents-rules monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/42c14641-3445-4ac6-b69f-9ad31132abe6/Parents%E2%80%99+Rules.png BLOG - Parents’ Rules - The commonly held belief in the faculty room is that being a “problem parent” is negative. We want them to play by our rules and not cause us problems. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/gotta-share monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/ff39d5d5-b7d0-414f-839c-146e8afac087/6.jpg BLOG - Gotta Share! - I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the long road ahead for our students. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/29add5c3-c6d9-452b-89d8-cf7f02345b36/5.jpg BLOG - Gotta Share! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/finding-joy monthly 0.5 2026-01-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/97d2b91c-d862-42b3-b4ff-5ed837937588/Finding+Joy.jpg BLOG - Finding Joy - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/7dab9839-386f-4ea4-a7e9-3e63f12a1cd3/ben-white-83tkHLPgg2Q-unsplash.jpg BLOG - Finding Joy - Instead, effective coaching is built on carefully structuring learning opportunities so that students CAN be successful, encouraging them to put forth courageous effort, and celebrating their effort with them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/3b5e817e-a581-4e56-8816-dcc99049ba8f/Finding+Joy+%281%29.jpg BLOG - Finding Joy - Joy is an inside job! As teachers, we have to look for ways to reclaim the joy in teaching – for our own well being and for the contagious benefits for our students and their families. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/coaching-the-uncoachable monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/11ae888f-0eaf-402a-9c43-f3569ee290bd/Coaching+the+Uncoachable.jpg BLOG - Coaching the Uncoachable - What do you do? What do you do? https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/other-teachers-opinions monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/2ec81d99-0417-45ba-967a-a73b8931260e/_Other+Teachers%27+Opinions.jpg BLOG - Other Teachers’ Opinions - At the beginning of the year, do you check with other teachers to get their perspectives on your class list? I think this is a universal practice that we’ve been doing as far back as I remember. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/twitter-chat-highlights monthly 0.5 2025-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/895a1f18-1d81-4456-8ec2-f84dce6f33ee/Twitter-chat_8.19-2.jpg BLOG - Twitter Chat Highlights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/61276383-bd5c-4342-b369-3d674c7d6be7/Screenshot_20190831-153726_Twitter-2.jpg BLOG - Twitter Chat Highlights - Question 1: What does it mean to transform, and how does that relate to education? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/65a655e3-71b4-4430-ab86-19fc59f63763/Screenshot_20190831-162226_Twitter-2.jpg BLOG - Twitter Chat Highlights - Question 2: What does it look like to make education inclusive and accessible for all? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/82539141-b2e7-4c54-8893-e6166a2e2ea7/Screenshot_20190831-154055_Twitter-1.jpg BLOG - Twitter Chat Highlights - Question 6: To transform communities & neighborhoods, what kind of education institutions should we build? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/9b7fd94f-7923-4165-91f3-9dbe298cb161/Screenshot_20190831-154150_Twitter-1.jpg BLOG - Twitter Chat Highlights - Question 7: Transforming education cannot be done without involving educators; how can educators be equipped and empowered in their mission of developing the next generation of lifelong learners? https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/join-our-twitter-chat monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/c695514f-0c1d-4837-9677-881e97cd563c/Twitter-chat_8.19-2.jpg BLOG - Join Our Twitter Chat - Sometimes life gives you unexpected opportunities… https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/bringing-out-the-best monthly 0.5 2025-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/1279829f-8bf1-42b8-8c47-57e0e8b1d588/Bringing+Out+the+Best.png BLOG - Bringing Out the Best - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/e423f3ce-360c-45af-a68f-3dc080f0491d/4ce1fa36-8352-4cd6-af32-7f0e77d0c6c1.jpg BLOG - Bringing Out the Best - First, he taught me the power of distinctions – to unleash the power in pivotal words. The example he liked to give was “snow.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/6f6a06d8-48cd-4232-aedb-dd4c8d2d4c6e/Bringing+Out+the+Best+%281%29.jpg BLOG - Bringing Out the Best - When I met Art, I was a special educator struggling to make a difference with my students and their families. I felt something like a bottle floating in the ocean. I knew something was wrong. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/bbdce49d-35e7-4438-a8ea-627dfa90df02/Bringing+Out+the+Best+%282%29.jpg BLOG - Bringing Out the Best - It’s like he plucked me out of the ocean and read the message deep inside my heart. I am so grateful. Who are the individuals who could blossom if only someone would uncork their possibilities – students, colleagues, family members? https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/youth-in-charge monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/4edadd5f-5cc7-46be-a3ad-c95c902c5cc6/Youth+In+Charge.jpg BLOG - Youth In Charge - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/5acd735c-ed92-4e28-af47-3350ef440b9e/Youth+In+Charge+%281%29.jpg BLOG - Youth In Charge - Instead, Carol Guthrie, a Special Educator in Florida, told me that she teaches students to monitor their own grades online weekly. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/why-not-inclusion-coaches monthly 0.5 2025-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/4856d72b-ab85-4f9a-94d5-73ab37910386/Why+Not+Inclusion+Coaches.jpg BLOG - Why Not Inclusion Coaches? - The term coach is related to the historic meaning for the word coach – a device to carry people from their present location to their desired location. So a person who becomes a coach provides supports (knowledge, skills, and dispositions) to carry you to your desired destination. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/5c0ff824-75e3-4ff1-9b7e-37913a415573/5387c533-eabd-4e2e-a22f-39a18d7d2b4a.png BLOG - Why Not Inclusion Coaches? - This fall, I am launching wraparound supports for Inclusion Coaches to help those with inclusive special education experience develop their skills with coaching, leadership, and cutting-edge special education practices. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/help-wanted monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/ef6ed0fa-191d-481a-93d6-26d057d5b7db/Help+Wanted.jpg BLOG - Help Wanted - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/flowers-or-thorns monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/02876f17-39b5-4a2b-80c2-81969c32739a/rose_cactus.jpg BLOG - Flowers or Thorns? - I discovered this drawing on social media and stopped to reflect. Pause a moment to notice what each sees in the other. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/2fad6676-b34c-46d3-8811-8b6d711c1982/KeysA-2.png BLOG - Flowers or Thorns? - 5 Keys to Transforming Your Special Education Results Tues. June 4, 3:00 EST https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/what-if-or-what-if monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/f7cfb30a-28b3-4412-a5a8-79f4877ae980/What+If+or+What+If.jpg BLOG - What If or What If? - On the other hand, if the question is asked with hope, we ask “What if….” and eagerly anticipate all sorts of amazing outcomes that could occur if we just go for it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/36a0783c-5341-4f3c-9bae-8fbc62e0b46d/20190405_091619.jpg BLOG - What If or What If? - Last week, I was working with a group of dedicated secondary special educators in Washington County Public Schools, Maryland, led by my longtime friend, Transition Coordinator, Marianne Mooney. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/empowering-youth monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/574d3395-415b-4092-9df2-0aa285192d43/20190330_101529.jpg BLOG - Empowering Youth - Who says you can’t go back? Last Saturday, I was the keynote speaker at the Baltimore County Transition Expo in Timonium. It’s been 20 years since their last Transition Expo, and I was probably there. Deja vu! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/ae7b5015-f6fb-4e49-b2ef-7c2d357415bb/20190330_141736.jpg BLOG - Empowering Youth - I was impressed with the size of the transition team. We did it all with a staff of ten when I was on the team. How many are in this picture? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/f8110031-2745-415a-93e1-371a81258451/20190330_103535+%281%29.jpg BLOG - Empowering Youth - The best part for me was my individual conversations with people who shared about their challenges and struggles. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/transforming-inclusive-practices monthly 0.5 2025-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/ad626fe6-fe1e-44b6-8899-63d388fb5d92/d9352f12-e53d-4d2d-a523-0286f88032d6.jpg BLOG - Transforming Inclusive Practices - Why is there such a gap in that right hand column? Why aren’t more adults with disabilities employed? https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/second-followers monthly 0.5 2025-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/c27b26c5-30fb-4ec6-a93c-42a7bde52ae8/Second+Followers+for+Family.jpg BLOG - Second Followers for Family - You know you can’t accomplish your mission if you’re doing it alone, but where are the others going to come from? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/f6f648ac-2a97-4ebf-8917-99a0391e7ac8/2798a7e5-7ac3-4d2d-8b16-80e38e7edac5.jpg BLOG - Second Followers for Family - I was encouraged by the response to my poster session at the Council for Exceptional Children Convention in January. I reviewed the frameworks for family engagement that have been used to conceptualize our work, including ones that I helped create. Then I shared my new Partnership Matrix. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/are-you-ready monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/a299e180-9585-4bd3-a3d9-ab5ece6453cb/Tsunami+of+Change.png BLOG - Are You Ready for the Special Ed Tsunami of Change? - This is going to be huge, folks! Are you prepared? Don’t get me wrong! I think these changes will be good. There is a common belief that we need to make some fundamental changes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/6cf6a4a0-74f4-4ad1-9eba-70f7c88ca03f/c70cdf53-ba38-4c18-b111-53a34de4ac25.jpg BLOG - Are You Ready for the Special Ed Tsunami of Change? - At CEC, Melinda Burchard presented the IEP Quality Inventory that she developed to help preservice and inservice teachers evaluate their IEPs in light of the new expectations. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/joy-of-professional-growth monthly 0.5 2025-04-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/10479abb-5d6e-49c5-98ab-02474185e297/20190124_085436-e1548690466564.jpg BLOG - Joy of Professional Growth - Last week I attended the Delaware Women’s Leadership in Education Conference. I was thrilled to be surrounded with hundreds of energetic women bravely striving to improve education across the state. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d2ff6eec-6a21-4fc0-a205-9351d576b261/Joy+of+Professional+Growth.jpg BLOG - Joy of Professional Growth - Now that I have a sense of what’s possible, I choose to associate with others who know the joy of vulnerability, courage, empathy, accountability, and authenticity within professional growth. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/new-year-new-beginnings monthly 0.5 2025-04-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/92da616e-09a0-4af3-84c9-f6a6c1e28754/New+Year+-+New+Beginnings.png BLOG - New Year - New Beginnings - Suddenly I looked up and noticed, we’re back! 2019 is in full swing and it’s time for my new year’s blog. This morning I searched for a quotation about beginnings and discovered the one above. It got me thinking about the power of collective dreaming. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/family-partnership-cadre-an-invitation monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/1792980c-67ec-43b5-8c6c-37df2b37c402/Family+Partnership+Cadre+-+An+Invitation+%281%29.jpg BLOG - Family Partnership Cadre - An Invitation - Feel free to share the recorded webinar with colleagues. The more perspectives we can gather, the more we all benefit! And – ultimately – the more youth with disabilities will benefit! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d581dc0e-49c6-47fa-b854-ecdbd9411bba/FamilyPartnershipCadreGraphic.jpg BLOG - Family Partnership Cadre - An Invitation - Make it stand out Check out this flier for more details. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/family-partnerships-from-finger-pointing-to-handshakes monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/fa2b5d1b-7d12-41c1-8ad5-89573f9e910e/pointing-finger.png BLOG - Family Partnerships: From Finger Pointing to Handshakes - At the same time, I heard the typical finger pointing that happens at events like this when stakeholders from differing orientations get together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/e3749ae6-15a6-43ad-889f-9fab55c79743/From+Finger+Pointing+to+Handshakes.jpg BLOG - Family Partnerships: From Finger Pointing to Handshakes - All of these statements reveal US vs THEM polarizing thoughts. We need to notice how often the finger of blame absolves us from taking responsibility. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/50-years-5-lessons monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/59e3ec04-b20b-4f84-94dd-0bb3f836fb71/Amy-1981.jpg BLOG - 50 Years - 5 Lessons - How young I look in this 1981 picture! After teaching middle school English for 8 years, I was in my third year of teaching special education. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/40a4312c-16d4-4bb0-b0cd-6edb94b36f92/AmyPleet08.jpg BLOG - 50 Years - 5 Lessons - In 1997, I was thrilled to be hired as the Transition Specialist for the Maryland St DOE. Midway in my doctoral program (Leadership for Full Participation at George Washington University), I was immersed in coursework and internship experiences that expanded my view of what is possible. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/78ba0624-b559-40d1-ae94-d1b10c02b710/MCIE-2010-Pleet.jpg BLOG - 50 Years - 5 Lessons - Over the last ten years, I have provided professional development and coaching to teachers in seven states. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/revealed-riches-in-your-classroom monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/5e6a4782-9e87-4278-87bc-f11cd5582d30/Revealed+Riches+in+Your+Classroom.jpg BLOG - Revealed Riches in Your Classroom - Most teachers would say their calling is bigger than that. We don’t just teach “how to” knowledge and skills. We teach the underpinnings of how to learn. We open the door to future possibilities. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/does-civility-have-a-place-in-our-schools monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/c1edc4e7-441e-4dce-9ebd-8343fd9d8df9/Does+Civility+Have+a+Place+in+Our+Schools.jpg BLOG - Does Civility Have a Place in Our Schools? - Establishing patterns of respectful, appreciative interactions could have long term impact on bullying, student concentration and achievement, teacher satisfaction and productivity, and meaningful family engagement. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/family-partnerships-whos-at-the-table monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/b8dccdbd-29dd-46da-ab0e-4b460dc6ca0f/Family+Partnerships+Who%E2%80%99s+at+the+Table.jpg BLOG - Family Partnerships: Who’s at the Table? - That topic has been my focus in more than 60 presentations/workshops across the country, 8 book chapters, 4 journal articles, and graduate courses taught at 2 universities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/9783c8f2-9755-42ad-9543-f6366332a406/Engaging-Families.jpg BLOG - Family Partnerships: Who’s at the Table? - People often tell me how much they appreciate the book that Donna Wandry & I wrote/edited (with some awesome guest authors), but when I ask what they were able to DO with the book – what actions they have taken - they hesitate. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/do-you-seek-delight monthly 0.5 2025-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/2b716789-2286-4cb9-99d4-b9bd5b79f3f2/delight1.jpg BLOG - Do You Seek Delight? - Trees embraced each other… a squirrel scavenged for acorns…colorful mushrooms sprouted from a log… and stray beams of sunlight filtered through the leaves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/5cdc1a3d-2ade-4b1b-891f-70e893bf5dc9/Do+You+Seek+Delight.jpg BLOG - Do You Seek Delight? - Decide that today you will seek delight in learning, in discovery, in relationships. Look for delightful comments from your students, meaningful exchanges with your colleagues, precious moments of discovery. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/become-a-jeweler monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/a880d0bd-b5e1-4d55-ad86-59c47fbea5f6/kids_foreground-e1539705480434.png BLOG - Become a Jeweler - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/19f4ea4e-e839-4bde-9000-33efb81e4e1f/Become+a+Jeweler.jpg BLOG - Become a Jeweler - She challenged us - “Rather than looking for diamonds, let’s become a jeweler.” Instead of chasing after the end results, focus on the skill and craft required to create them. Think on that! https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/do-your-students-take-learning-risks monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/9f917803-7c08-434f-97ff-989b2a534aa0/Do+your+students+take+learning+risks+%281%29.png BLOG - Do Your Students Take Learning Risks? - But what about the others like the boy in the image? He would tell you that he’ll get up and play when he gets good at throwing baskets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/bb4e907c-95b9-42e5-a9a9-b96c9d62d2c7/Do+your+students+take+learning+risks.jpg BLOG - Do Your Students Take Learning Risks? - Would they be surprised to hear that teachers need to take courageous action in order to become better teachers? What would they think if they saw YOU welcome constructive criticism? https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/what-matters monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/890d91a8-50fc-4f23-a242-1621cb6f23b3/What+Matters+%281%29.jpg BLOG - What Matters? - I have come to the conclusion that what matters is focusing on those who matter. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/addressing-co-teachng-struggles monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d3064564-2580-4f51-97cd-a7b2b2a0075b/Addressing+Co-Teaching+Struggles.jpg BLOG - Addressing Co-Teaching Struggles - I based the e-Course on the assumption that teachers are more likely to change their practices when they can proceed in small, incremental steps. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/the-art-and-science-of-instructional-coaching monthly 0.5 2025-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/96e29c30-e2ee-4aa7-8f0e-735ef3c82343/The+Art+and+Science+of+Instructional+Coaching.png BLOG - The Art and Science of Instructional Coaching - It’s clear to me that there is art and a science to coaching. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/top-5-special-educator-actions monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/f569be20-e190-4264-b85b-f315fa459b39/Top+5+Special+Educator+Actions+.png BLOG - Top 5 Special Educator Actions - Here are my Top Five Special Educator Actions. I welcome your comments, and suggestions! https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/inclusive-coaching-cadre monthly 0.5 2025-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/cffc91c4-8c14-4b50-960b-cb31d7663e10/Inclusive+Coaching+Cadre.jpg BLOG - Inclusive Coaching Cadre - Walkowiak (2016) indicates that effective coaches are “likely to influence change and professional growth among teachers” if they use five essential communication practices: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/1387c8ff-c42a-418f-ba01-8025fe96b865/InclusiveCoachingCadre2018.png BLOG - Inclusive Coaching Cadre - These skills are the focus of my Inclusive Coaching Cadre, which will be offered online over the next school year. Instructional coaches and teachers who want to develop coaching skills can participate online, working collaboratively with colleagues across the country to sharpen their interpersonal and personal leadership skills. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/family-partnership-matrix monthly 0.5 2026-01-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/2d1881c2-fa94-417b-ac7f-00125f82a26d/Random+Pics+9.jpg BLOG - Family Partnership Matrix https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/leaders-dont-know-where-theyre-going monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/a5ccaf49-25ff-4b92-9876-60bda8bc7810/leader-cartoon.jpg BLOG - Leaders Don’t Know Where They’re Going - Leaders are the ones who step forward, when needed, to chart a new path. We all have opportunities to take a stand as leaders on our own personal path, in our families, within our communities, and in our careers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/c7869e16-5ecd-40f0-9c1c-1613ae290ea0/Leaders+Don%27t+Know+Where+They+are+Going.jpg BLOG - Leaders Don’t Know Where They’re Going - As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/shine-a-bright-light monthly 0.5 2025-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/7f43a600-e6da-48c2-b69a-17fd43224242/Shine+a+Bright+Light+%281%29.png BLOG - Shine a Bright Light - What if we tried the “shine a bright light” approach? Let’s shine a bright light on our inclusive practices to see how we could change the culture. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/goal-setting-vs-visioning monthly 0.5 2025-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/3dfcef3d-5829-4700-9ea6-811b729d8489/Goal+Setting+vs.+Visioning.jpg BLOG - Goal Setting vs. Visioning - It goes something like this: “I feel guilty that I’m not doing_______. So I’ll make it my new year’s resolution!” https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/brain-based-inclusive-teaching monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/fd6364df-d370-47bc-a647-3d612467c92f/Module2_Brain01-e1510193763415.png BLOG - Brain-Based Inclusive Teaching - Our current digital lifestyle has dramatically altered the brain development of today’s learners. Here are four ways described by Marilee Sprenger (2010) Brain-based teaching in the digital age. ASCD. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/178e1f7c-ed04-4e48-97f2-222c80611dbe/Brain-Based+Inclusive+Teaching.png BLOG - Brain-Based Inclusive Teaching 4. Social Skills: Because of increasing technology use, a growing number of youth find it difficult to connect to others. With fewer opportunities to directly interact, their social and emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills are less developed, and depression is in the rise. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/about-frustration monthly 0.5 2025-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/257901d3-1cf9-42de-a73e-76ac166abf86/About+Frustration.jpg BLOG - About Frustration - Congratulations! These are all signs that you have a bigger vision of what is possible. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/welcoming-our-challenges monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/0b678655-81f2-4242-82ca-e25f9a0edb2d/Welcoming+Our+Challenges.jpg BLOG - Welcoming Our Challenges - After all, for a tree trunk to become strong, it needs wind. What new challenge could you embrace for you to strengthen your skills as a teacher, a therapist, a parent, a mentor, a transition coordinator, an administrator? Information and skills sets are constantly evolving. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/2432c221-1dbf-4970-97ea-d8d2cfd1df94/Welcoming+Our+Challenges+%281%29.jpg BLOG - Welcoming Our Challenges When they are engaged with productive struggle and discover their own resilience, they continue to expand their willingness to risk the next challenge. This isn’t just true for gifted students; it’s true for all of them. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/brain-waves-and-community-building-in-schools monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/c5f20267-dfe3-4924-8d2e-204cd3786cd6/Brain-waves-e1503089034238.png BLOG - Brain Waves & Community Building in Schools - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/80be30dd-a3a0-4ff1-82a6-6f0c9c5d7961/Brain+Waves+%26+Community+Building+in+Schools.jpg BLOG - Brain Waves & Community Building in Schools - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/mindful-solution monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d350a87f-b76a-4413-9e36-017f795361be/Mindful+Solution.png BLOG - Mindful Solution - Thomas Hoerr (2017) wrote, “We must teach students to read, write, and calculate, but that’s only the beginning; those goals should form the floor, not the ceiling, of their education. Our timeline is too short and our aspirations are too low if we limit our curriculum and pedagogical focus to tests, grades, and diplomas. We must step back and look at what’s needed to achieve success in the real world, not just in school.” https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/a-culture-of-caring monthly 0.5 2025-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/02c14cc9-8b19-4b5b-91ba-2790fb536ad8/A+Culture+of+Caring.jpg BLOG - A Culture of Caring - This was perfect timing – preparation for my visit next week to Dr. Joshua Aronson’s Mindfulness Lab at New York University. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/rerouting-our-practice monthly 0.5 2025-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/f4f6e7a0-7a85-4cfe-9739-01ea09d0f1f2/Rerouting+Our+Practice.png BLOG - Rerouting Our Practice - Let’s look at what happens in schools during rerouting — the change process. The National Academy for Academic Leadership (2016) notes that change falls into two categories: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/296327ba-248e-49f6-ac8b-86e83c85a0e0/Rerouting+Our+Practice+%281%29.jpg BLOG - Rerouting Our Practice - How could we do a better job of supporting our school community during stressful change, including ALL those impacted by the changes – teachers and staff, leaders, business partners, families, and students? https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/informational-vs-transformational-pd monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/c2facc2b-ca64-4312-b5c9-f0180477ff08/Informational+vs+Transformational+PD.jpg BLOG - Informational vs. Transformational PD - Most of the time, I celebrated when those attending my learning sessions came with an open mindset to learn new information. They leaned forward, took notes, asked clarifying questions, and engaged in my planned learning activities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d2e7ec9f-f5cb-4abd-b4ff-663d0358ccd8/Informational+vs+Transformational+PD+%281%29.jpg BLOG - Informational vs. Transformational PD - I love it when professionals attend my sessions with the clear intent of finding at least one new strategy or approach to transform their practice. I’ve looked deeper to figure out what made those folks tick. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/are-your-students-coachable monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/46913d45-292f-4fd1-8e4b-0458ca93e800/horse-2293538_640.jpg BLOG - Are Your Students Coachable? - Teachers tell me they’re discouraged. What’s happening in their classroom is a far cry from those wistful dreams of making a difference that enticed them into this profession. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/dffa475d-3586-4b05-a7d5-532206d2aa92/Are+Your+Students+Coachable.jpg BLOG - Are Your Students Coachable? - The intention of personalized learning systems is to put each student into the driver’s seat – to coach them to develop the routine learning habits of a life-long self-starter who takes ownership of their own mastery. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/teaching-students-to-ask-questions monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/f44b6b7e-c713-47bf-bc78-b08a868096e2/autism_kid_distracted-e1493746679102.png BLOG - Teaching Students to Ask Questions - Some students look up expectantly to see what’s next; others stare out the window or fidget with something at their desks. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/how-to-have-a-bad-day monthly 0.5 2025-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/2bac01b6-ebad-41a4-8f56-0c9b26d95e7b/How+to+Have+a+Bad+Day.png BLOG - How to Have a Bad Day - To make my point, I’ve created a list of five habitual – and unconscious – actions so many of us take that create our bad day. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/have-you-tried-planned-ignoring monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/1e6460d2-3f25-4c96-9e85-36d74469ee3a/Ignoring.png BLOG - Have You Tried Planned Ignoring? - Most teachers have experienced scenarios like this at some point in their career. It didn’t help that spring break was late this year, and the sun promised summertime freedom outside. Our tendency is to address each problem behavior individually, but that’s the worst thing we can do. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/the-power-of-bad-habits monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/dae5805b-d6f8-4430-a78e-8d40dd4944bf/The+Power+of+Bad+Habits+%281%29.jpg BLOG - The Power of Bad Habits - But first, let’s make this personal: Have you ever tried to change a bad habit yourself? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/eb95ae76-c447-437c-98fc-1da47111723b/The+Power+of+Bad+Habits.jpg BLOG - The Power of Bad Habits - I’m making progress, but it’s not easy. Checklist Girl is always poised to jump in if I let my awareness drop. I have deep respect for the power of a bad habit to reappear. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/rethinking-isolated-professional-learning monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/e51464ac-d4e5-457e-b1fa-e132e1374acc/iStock-640962870.jpg BLOG - Rethinking Isolated Professional Learning - Let me use an exaggerated analogy to make my point. Suppose we decided to teach your faculty how to ski. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/school-transformation-pulling-the-weeds monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/9c01e62b-8a74-4f7e-b3db-db63c6ebc507/GooglePickerAPI_IMG_9219.jpg BLOG - School Transformation: Pulling the Weeds - This was my overgrown garden on a sunny day last July. Sadly, with my neglect, the weeds had taken over. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/5e28f179-e786-4482-9742-24bc14165dc7/School+Transformation+Pulling+the+Weeds.jpg BLOG - School Transformation: Pulling the Weeds - So they evaluate whether expending scarce time and energy to learn and implement new approaches, strategies, and technology would significantly improve their own effectiveness with students or simply waste their time and increase change associated stress and headaches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/62d25d95-1751-48d0-aaac-0c7113a4fbee/GooglePickerAPI_IMG_9230.jpg BLOG - School Transformation: Pulling the Weeds - Check out the second picture of my garden one hour later. With the suffocating weeds pulled, we can enjoy the sweet little pink and white vinca blossoms. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/practical-notes-for-udl monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/00bd14e7-9a70-4a2e-ae89-7afa6ea50071/Blank-Diagram-Page-1-e1488210243847.png BLOG - Practical Notes for UDL (Instead of Differentiation) Their framework is based on the work of neuroscientists who view the brain “as a complex web of integrated & overlapping networks… learning is seen as changes in the connections within & between these networks” (2014). https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/differentiating-for-all-my-kids monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/0ced7cc6-da82-4932-94c2-a5fb70f151e7/Instructional+Frameworks+Blog+Thumbnails+%283%29.png BLOG - Differentiating for All My Kids? Every Day? Impossible! - Differentiating is the process of adapting the learning process for individual student needs. In this process, a teacher is responsible for knowing each student’s individual profile – his reading, math, and writing skills and deficits, his prior knowledge, his interests, and his mindset about learning. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/but-my-kids-cant-do-that monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/aec0f370-defe-4d9d-90fa-d3665c0c345f/GooglePickerAPI_Inattention_kid_01-e1487257958447.png BLOG - But My Kids Can’t Do That! - So today I say to teachers, “You’re right. They can’t do it…YET! That’s why they have YOU. Your job as a teacher is to figure out what parts they’re missing and to use all the creative tools in your instructional toolbox to help them fill in the gaps in their skills and knowledge.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/b5d8e293-ce67-456a-995a-f5d6cec067a1/But+My+Kids+Can%27t+Do+That%21.jpg BLOG - But My Kids Can’t Do That! - Most importantly, I invite teachers to question their own beliefs. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/persuasion-vs-attribution-which-changes-behavior monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/f4bae853-e9de-48ab-978d-c74765764902/Persuasion+vs.+Attribution.jpg BLOG - Persuasion vs. Attribution: Which Changes Behavior? - He’s a social scientist who has published research findings relevant to education. He described one experiment comparing the impact of persuasion versus attribution that surprised me. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/how-do-you-get-every-pupil-responding monthly 0.5 2026-01-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/1e849835-3abe-4fc8-a0e3-3a8537d62ffe/How+Do+You+Get+Every+Pupil+Responding.jpg BLOG - How Do You Get Every Pupil Responding? - I first heard about Every Pupil Response (EPR) strategies when I was working with Delaware’s Capital School District. I immediately wondered why I wasn’t hearing about them everywhere! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/dda076df-0422-472a-b889-c7146414748c/WhatsApp+Image+2025-03-03+at+18.16.09_910be165.jpg BLOG - How Do You Get Every Pupil Responding? - Place Your Hand – On your head (or another named place) if you can hear me. This is a great way to pull students back from collaborative learning activities. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/do-schools-tolerate-stealing monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/3a16c683-1a34-4a9b-93a9-19d2f7fd99f9/Socorro.jpg BLOG - Do Schools Tolerate Stealing? - “Yes,” she said. “School is closed today. It has to be open tomorrow because I have a meeting with the school.” She was talking about a different school, but her story has haunted me and her courage inspired me. You see, her 13 year old daughter came home last Wednesday in tears because her new iPhone – a Christmas present – had been stolen from her backpack. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/4094f9d9-993b-4f56-bc19-7cab345ea79d/Do+Schools+Tolerate+Stealing.jpg BLOG - Do Schools Tolerate Stealing? - Mrs. Flores is making an issue of this, and I admire her for it. It takes courage to take a stand for your values and say, “we won’t tolerate stealing,” just as, “we won’t tolerate bullying,” or any other behavior that makes students feel devalued or unsafe. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/foldable-graphic-organizers-for-secondary monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/46b42b47-d753-4da5-91f8-acd744c8ca67/Instructional+Frameworks+Blog+Thumbnails+%284%29.png BLOG - Foldable Graphic Organizers for Secondary? - Foldable graphic organizers come in many sizes and configurations. Like traditional graphic organizers, they are used to help students organize notes into meaningful bits. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/2c96cd54-b2a7-493e-a306-cae53250bb42/Instructional+Frameworks+Blog+Thumbnails+%286%29.png BLOG - Foldable Graphic Organizers for Secondary? - Our brains seek patterns to sort and store information into chunks. When teachers provide the chunks via the use of a foldable, it helps students grasp the key concepts as a framework for additional, deeper learning. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/the-learning-plateau-myth monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/d5ff03bf-ed4c-4007-a5e5-571a6e55d9e7/plateau.jpg BLOG - The Learning Plateau Myth - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/personalized-professional-development monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/0ff41add-24e8-4865-8b68-7e3fb809b6ed/FilmShoot3_12.19.16.jpeg BLOG - Personalized Professional Development - I recruited the skills of a professional videographer (Rob Zogby) and my web designer/animator (Richard Wright). This week it all came together when we gathered in my home “studio” to film video clips to introduce each module. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/are-you-a-cheerleader-or-coach monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/b765337d-fd2c-4b64-9c9c-fea8061a050e/Self-EfficacySelf-Advocacy+Blog+Thumbnails.jpg BLOG - Are You a Cheerleader or a Coach? - There is a lot of noise to keep team spirits up, but ultimately, a cheerleader has little impact on any player’s performance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/3311c2a4-7da7-4eab-ba55-7df0a0f10013/Self-EfficacySelf-Advocacy+Blog+Thumbnails+%282%29.jpg BLOG - Are You a Cheerleader or a Coach? - A coach invents all sorts of creative methods to empower the player to see new possibilities for his future that translate into current action. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/just-one-piece-of-the-puzzle monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/f9530dbe-1129-46ab-8600-7ff411136883/Strategic+Improvement+Blog+Thumbnails.png BLOG - PD: Just One Piece of the Puzzle - For the last nine years, I have been providing professional development in schools and school districts related to inclusive practices, secondary transition, youth empowerment, and family engagement. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/6cdf6b10-8057-4ef7-9412-15461c88c57e/Strategic+Improvement+Blog+Thumbnails+%281%29.jpg BLOG - PD: Just One Piece of the Puzzle - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/co-teachers-whats-your-story monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/2f6596de-a29a-4425-bf55-f7fa8d504334/Co-Teachers+What%27s+Your+Story.jpg BLOG - Co-Teachers: What’s Your Story? - While researching implications of new brain research on memory, I stumbled upon this information: https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/destigmatizing-effect-of-personalized-learning monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/23f83ee0-cb4a-4c39-b091-815a6b67e693/iStock_personalized-lrng.jpg BLOG - The Destigmatizing Effect of Personalized Learning - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/do-we-help-students monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/ce6795f0-ad73-4e45-a928-605b9c10b279/Michael-B.jpeg BLOG - Do We Help Students Before They Learn to Deal With Their Challenges? - The opening keynote speaker at the CEC Division on Career Development and Transition Conference in Myrtle Beach was Michael Bortolotto. His clarion call message rang through the audience. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/is-what-do-you-want-to-be-the-wrong-question monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/5c74b3a4-5407-4920-9d92-89dc27b65965/iStock_50551340_MEDIUM.jpg BLOG - Is “What Do You Want to Be” the Wrong Question? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/3f3e1fa2-ec2b-4727-ad54-20c4fe7bc1d5/Is+%E2%80%9CWhat+Do+You+Want+to+Be%E2%80%9D+the+Wrong+QuestionIs+%E2%80%9CWhat+Do+You+Want+to+Be%E2%80%9D+the+Wrong+Question.jpg BLOG - Is “What Do You Want to Be” the Wrong Question? - As students get older and have identified some possible career areas for themselves, both schools and families can encourage them to explore a variety of careers through talking with individuals about their work, touring workplaces, shadowing real work on job sites, and participating in internships. Influential adults can foster youth’s ownership of those activities. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/family-engagement-doesnt-happen-by-accident monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/44636727-a936-48e2-a0c1-fbaedf150192/FCPS-FamNight2016_3.jpg BLOG - Family Engagement Doesn’t Happen by Accident - Frederick County Public Schools in Maryland recognized the importance of family engagement early on and invited youth and their families to an evening discussion of a new approach to fostering self-advocacy for youth with disabilities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/e87036eb-b2e2-475c-a4c8-65e5a97132cd/FCPS-FamNight2016_5.jpg BLOG - Family Engagement Doesn’t Happen by Accident - Parent Universities are exploding in communities across the country with hundreds of families attending courses taught by volunteer community allies and parents. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/special-educators-job monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/3e79ee60-19d9-453d-8153-d993d2fb2a79/Special+Educators%E2%80%99+Job.jpg BLOG - Special Educators’ Job is Not to Raise Test Scores - The problem comes from what they DO with that commitment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/bd3a52d0-7357-4e21-a361-b91e98c409d6/iStock_82760033_MEDIUM.jpg BLOG - Special Educators’ Job is Not to Raise Test Scores - Within the context of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, the job of the special educator is to provide “individualized and specialized instruction” that will “prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.” https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/integrating-inclusion-and-transition monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/8cd9bb93-53e9-455a-9e4e-477268d22600/Book-Cover-1.jpg BLOG - Integrating Inclusion and Transition - When I talk with special educators, I recall prospective graduate students who shared stories of children with disabilities who had changed their lives. Their wistful visions of what could be stand in stark contrast with special educators I see now hovering on the perimeter of classrooms. https://joyfulinclusion.com/blog/teaching-purpose-become-invisible monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/6cb5fd6e-7739-4e16-b3aa-c779bccfcf8f/20160827_175045.jpg BLOG - Does Our Teaching Purpose Become Invisible? - I had an opportunity to travel to Scottsdale to be a national expert for the Arizona Transition Conference. But I learned something from the breathtaking countryside. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/c5a45a82-5d48-43a3-8ce0-6c4adcb9a5ff/20160828_Sedona1.jpg BLOG - Does Our Teaching Purpose Become Invisible? - Through sunglasses, I marveled at the tenacity of the tiny tree clinging to the top of the precipice. I wondered what it would be like to live here with these awe inspiring surroundings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6177d0d4dca61a7f6f819d10/e0603255-8db1-46f6-9c47-039cf684724b/Does+Our+Teaching+Purpose+Become+Invisible.jpg BLOG - Does Our Teaching Purpose Become Invisible? - So easily we lose sight of our humanity and the priceless value of connections. The opportunity may become invisible to them. But I can see. 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