December UDL Connections

Each month this periodical will 1) highlight critical UDL practices, 2) make connections to the UDL guidelines and checkpoints, 3) connect you with great tools and resources, 4) share some ways schools are putting this practice into action and 5) offer additional approaches to utilize this highlighted practice.

This month we are focusing on Design Clear Goals and 1.2 of the practice profile reminds us that we should make consider and make connections to the goals of our learners as well.

This build relevance.

Additionally 1.3 asks us to break down these goals into success criteria so we can recognize our monvement towards the goal in our learning. Moving through each criteria or step should be exciting, motivating, and empowering!

This helps to builds a growth mindset.

In Consideration 7.2, CAST guides us to:

• Design activities so learning outcomes are authentic, communicate to real audiences, and reflect a purpose that is clear to the participants.

• Provide tasks that allow for active participation, exploration, and experimentation.

• Invite personal response, evaluation, and self-reflection to content and activities.

• Include activities that foster the use of imagination to solve novel and relevant problems, or make sense of complex ideas in creative ways.

Growht Mindset it Key! ~ and you can help to cultivate that through these Proficiency Scale Templates.

Invite your studentst to reflect on their growth and where they want to be next. These templates and examples are way to engage students as you facilitate this conversation.

Jake Boll, a curriculum specialist, from CESA5, shared this wonderful way to engage students in the co-creation of proficiency scales.

Have you ever wondered:

Where are you on a scale of ... Jedi? See the second image below for this example.

Use these engaging graphics/images like the Jonas example pictured below in your template to help your students make sense of their growth while also co-creating what that looks like in relation to your standard.

As the Holiday season approaches, clarity around goals seems increasingly important for the upcoming year. Reflection on growth, fuels next steps for the future.

I (Cherie) am exceedingly thankful for some of experiences my director provided our staff this year and I'd like to share them with you in this month's UDL Connections.

We’ve all heard the saying, you can’t pour from an empty cup. As educators, we spent so much of our time teaching, training, coaching - pouring into others; I was reminded recently how important it is that we take the time to refill our own cups too. The reminder came by way of a retreat the State Support Team 6 took a this summer.

Led by Darci Williams, founder of Wayfinding and pictured above, we took two full days to zoom out, recharge, reconnect, and recommit to our journey forward. It was the breath of fresh air we didn’t know we desperately needed.

A certified executive coach, Darci brings a background in Human Resources and Corporate Strategy and Innovation - using the tools she’s picked up along the way (i.e. Design Thinking!) to design retreats and workshops for her clients.

She prides herself on designing experiences that elevate teams by

1) meeting them where they are and

2) empowering them to move forward with an inspiring shared vision and clearly outlined next steps.

Yes! What I loved about this retreat is that it felt so similar to what we coach our educators on every day! ~What a novel concept for teams to embrace - Wayfinding!

Darci explains that it’s simply a matter of figuring out where you are, where you want to go, and figuring out the right first steps - testing (or experimenting!) your way forward. Stopping often to ask, what are we learning - and incorporating those lessons as you iterate along the way. Letting little progress build to big progress + little wins build to big wins.

One of my favorite quotes from the retreat – “When you approach the work with a spirit of experimentation, you can never fail! It either works, or you LEARN.” How freeing!

Darci listened to the goals for our goals for our time together which were

1) to connect with each other,

2) align goals for the year, and

3) come up with a clear path forward

~ and the retreat delivered that and so much more.

In addition to team strategy sessions, Darci incorporated elements like yoga (ask me about breath of fire!) and even sound healing. It was incredible!

We walked away stronger as a team, each with a more clear and compelling purpose, and wildly inspired to move forward. It was an unforgettable experience; one that continues to feed our inspiration as a team.

If you haven’t done a retreat with your team, I highly recommend it. And I highly recommend Darci + Wayfinding Workshops + Retreats as your partner!

It’s so true, you can’t pour from an empty cup – so find a way to refill!

If you have questions and would like to contact Darci use the information below:

Email: darci@wayfindingwdw.com

Website: www.wayfindingwithdarciwilliams.com

IT's FREE!! Register HERE for a calendar invitation to our 1 hour UDL Chat!

JANUARY 30, 2025

11:00 - 12:00 EST

Next,

Dont' miss out on the great webinars from CAST! Click HERE to learn more.

Finally, save the date for the OETC Conference Feb. 11-13

Consider completing this short survey to let us know:

• what UDL 3.0 topics you'd like to learn more about and
• which day/times work best for you.

Everyone who completes the survey and attends the January session will be put in a drawing for a FREE UDL Book!

We have several free resources to share in the upcoming year!

Cherie Smith began working at State Support Team Region 6 in July 2015. She has a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and the Inclusive Classroom. Most of her experience has been in special education as a supervisor and an Intervention Specialist at the secondary level. She has taught students wtih disabiliteis in both Florida and Ohio.

Cherie is currently a co-chair of Universal Design for Learning Implementation and Research Network's Implementation Special Interest Group and is a member of the Ohio UDL Collaborative.

As an SST6 Consultant, she supports districts in the Ohio Implementation Process as a Regional Data Lead. She leads Universal Design for Learning and supports districts with IDEA Internal Monitoring, Postsecondary Transition, PBIS, and College and Career Readiness.

Email: csmith@sst6.org
Website: https://www.sst6.org/UniversalDesignforLearning.aspx
Location: 1045 Dearbaugh Avenue, Wapakoneta, OH, USA
Phone: 419-739-0170
Facebook: facebook.com/SST6ohio
Twitter: @Smith43326

Heidi Orvosh, Ph.D., is an instruction and technology integration specialist/consultant/coach with Northern Buckeye Education Council. She works with schools around the region to build the capacity of local educational agencies to engage in systemic and sustainable improvements for students. Her primary focus is in the area of technology integration and Universal Design for Learning. She has over 20 years of professional expertise in the area of education. Her previous experience includes consultant with State Support Team Region 7, administrator, and teacher at the secondary and post-secondary level. Her doctorate is in Curriculum and Instruction from New Mexico State University.

Email: orvosh@nwoca.org

Website: https://www.nwoca.org
Phone: Cell (575) 202-5856
Facebook: facebook.com/SST6ohio
Twitter: @HeidiOrvosh

Jenny (she/her) is an educational consultant and Regional Data Lead for SST 16. In addition to her membership in the Ohio UDL Collaborative, her work involves supporting leadership teams with the Ohio Improvement Process, assiting with attendance work, and co-leading regional Each Child on Track initiatives. Prior to joining SST, Jenny spent thirteen years as a secondary science teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Earth Science Education and a Master of Education in Cultural Studies in Education.

Email: jenny.lang@sst16.org
Website: https://www.sst16.org/
Location: 21 Birge Drive, Chauncey, OH 45719, USA

Phone: 740-797-0150

Favorite Dinosaur: Parasaurolophus