Thurgood Marshall is a school that is diverse in every way. We want to be sure that each of our learners feels supported and engaged, and we want to adapt our teaching and our classrooms to help create an environment where every student can thrive. Across the district, schools are working to do a better job supporting student needs, and this year a focus district-wide is on Universal Design for Learning, or UDL. UDL is a framework that champions diversity in education by acknowledging and embracing the varied needs of all learners.
At its core, UDL rests upon ten fundamental focus areas, each serving to guide us toward fostering an environment where every student can thrive. While these ideas are not new to TM staff, this year, we are keeping UDL strategies at the forefront of our planning from classroom set-up, to materials used, to the way we assess students.
Here are the 10 focus areas of UDL, based on the work of Katie Novak, a consultant with our district and author of many books about UDL:
Learning Objectives—Firm grade-level learning objectives are visible to students and referred to throughout the lesson.
Student Identity—The learning environment and lesson design affirms the identity of all students.
Social Emotional Learning—The environment and lesson design addresses social/emotional needs of all in the classroom.
Collaboration and Community—The classroom fosters engagement, collaboration, and community.
Flexible Methods—Teachers provide students with flexibility in how they learn, make sense of language, and build understanding.
Flexible Materials—Teachers provide students with flexibility through scaffolds, strategies, and tools to work toward learning goals.
Formative Assessments—Formative assessment data is used to target instruction and frame feedback.
Flexible Assessments—Assessments are flexible and relevant, so students have options for how they share their thoughts, ideas, and skills.
Self-reflection—Students are offered options to self-reflect on their choices and their work.
Feedback—Feedback from students, formal and informal, is encouraged and welcomed.
By embracing these ten focus areas, we aim to foster an environment where every learner feels valued, supported, and inspired. Together, let’s champion individuality and diversity, ensuring that each student can reach their fullest potential.
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