Meryl

Yesterday's workshop reminded me of the fact that the curriculum is not always accessible to all students and it is our jobs as teachers to break down any barriers that students may have to learning new content. A "UDL classroom" features variability in expression, engagement levels, and representation of the content so that the needs of every student are being served. Additionally it is important to look beyond the students' disabilities and acknowledge that at times the curriculum or a specific activity/lesson may have a "disability" that we must accomodate and at times modify. The NAILS activity that we opened with allowed the teachers to feel a sense of frustration and helplessness that many students, especially those who have learning difficulties, experience when they are given a task without the proper supports in place.