Course Curriculum

This online course will allow teachers to go at their own pace through 8 learning modules that explore the roles and responsibilities required of a special education teacher during the school year. This course is packed with practical information that is relevant to teachers all year long!

  • 1

    Welcome to DLC Virtual PD!

  • 2

    Jumpstart Introduction

  • 3

    The State of Special Education

    • What is Special Education?

    • Two Starting Points

    • Activity Directions

    • Thinking Map

    • Developing Highly Effective Special Education Teachers
  • 4

    Roles & Responsibilities

    • SPED Terminology Review

    • Defining the Role

    • Activity Directions

    • Responsibilities Checklist

    • Focus Checkpoint

    • Co-Teaching Overview

    • Co-Teaching Models

    • Co-Teaching Activity Directions

    • Benefits & Barriers

    • Beyond the Model
  • 5

    Starting the Year Strong

    • Co-Teaching Model Review

    • Setting the Foundation

    • Summer Preparation Checklist

    • Organizing Your Caseload

      FREE PREVIEW

    • Caseload Organization Template

    • Explore the Template

    • IEPs at a Glance

    • Template Example

    • Organizing Your Files

    • Preparing for IEP Meetings

    • Caseload Phone Call Introduction Script

    • Caseload Organization Template: Revisited

    • Preparation Reflection

    • Planning for Teaching

    • Creating Systems & Routines

    • Vision and Behavior Management Plan

    • Co-Teaching Collaboration Template

    • Lesson Planning

    • Lesson Planning Templates

    • Preparing the Learning Space
  • 6

    IEPs: The Roadmap for the Year

    • Aim to Succeed

    • Introduction to IEPs

    • IEP Narratives

    • Practice: Writing Meaningful IEPs

    • Present Levels of Performance (PLEPs)

    • Measurable Annual Goals (MAGs)

    • Accommodations and Modifications

    • Check Your Work!

    • Service Delivery

    • Service Delivery....While Remote

    • Progress Monitoring

    • Tying It All Together

    • Compliance Timelines & Terms

    • IEP Mastery
  • 7

    Data, Data, Data!

    • Data Collection

    • Data Tracking Templates
  • 8

    Taking the Next Best Step

    • Wrapping Up

    • Course Reflection

    • Closing Survey

Meet your Instructor

Program Specialist, Special Education

Mary Matthews

Mary Matthews is a Program Specialist for the Diverse Learners Cooperative. She works with school teams and teachers to design and facilitate meaningful programs that support students’ academic and behavioral needs. She received her B.A. in Elementary & Special Education from Providence College and her M.Ed. in Special Education at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College, with a focus on Intensive Intervention & Applied Behavior Analysis. Mary worked as a SPED teacher for Metro Nashville Public Schools. In 2017, she became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), and in 2019, she was named the Teacher of the Year at Norman Binkley Elementary for her work in serving students with disabilities and behavioral needs.

Need to register for someone else?

If you need to register on behalf of course participant(s) or would prefer an invoice to your school, please contact us. Please include course participant names and emails, as well as a billing contact.
Contact Us

One SPED jumpstart participant said:

"As a new teacher, it went into depth on some things I still needed clarity on. So I have a much better vision of the next few months!"