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Bite Size PD

The Purpose of the 1-5-15 Bulletin

The purpose of the 1-5-15 is to offer quick notes on relevant educational topics. We can all agree that time is at a premium for every educator. Finding available time to complete meaningful PD can be difficult, although ultimately rewarding. That’s where the 1-5-15 bulletin comes in! The idea is to maximize the spare minutes we have when we can, and when we choose to.

My hope is that whether you have 1, 5, or 15 minutes that this bulletin, and the content within it will have an impact on you, and your classroom. Furthermore, I hope that the topics shared spur further conversation with your students, and colleagues. Enjoy!

1 Minute

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is not just a framework for curriculum design. It is a belief that all students are capable of learning and that instructional methods, when implemented intentionally, can help all students succeed.

5 Minutes

If Equity is a Priority, UDL is a Must

It may not be our intent to exclude our learners, but the reality is that many students do not have opportunities to learn at high levels or to access curriculum and instruction that is accessible, engaging, culturally sustaining, and linguistically appropriate.

“Luckily, there is a framework that rejects these one-size-fits-all solutions and empowers educators to proactively design learning experiences so all students can increase their brainpower and accelerate and own their learning. The framework is Universal Design for Learning (UDL).” In this article Katie Novak explains how UDL makes equity in education possible.

Click here for full article from Katie Novak

Click here for podcast with Katie Novak and Mirko Chardin

15 Minutes

UDL and Language Learners

“What’s good for a few, what’s good for some, is good for all within a learning community.”

Dr. Soomin Chao, Los Angeles County Office of Education

Universal Design for Learning addresses barriers in the learning environment, including those commonly encountered by English Learners. For example, UDL supports educators to anticipate barriers due to syntax, vocabulary, jargon, idioms, etc., and then providing support – visuals, reference materials, translation tools, etc. UDL also supports culturally relevant teaching practices by allowing the students to bring their whole selves to the classroom and to express themselves in ways that are authentic to them individually and culturally.

In this series of conversations, Dr. Soomin Chao and Elise Yerkey from the Los Angeles County Office of Education describe a variety of entry points and strategies for leveraging Universal Design for Learning to support language learning.