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Ready, Aim, Now What?!?!?...
Well... FIRE at the target, of course! For children that need instructional modifications to access grade level content, it is possible...

DJ Nicholson
Jun 27, 20222 min read


Once Upon a Time at the Pool...
"I gave up teaching after three years." Yesterday was the first officially hot day of the summer season in Florida, so off to pool I...

DJ Nicholson
May 27, 20222 min read


What Do You Mean “Not Fully Funded”?
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has never been fully funded. When Congress passed IDEA, they promised to cover 40%...

DJ Nicholson
May 18, 20222 min read


Separate... and Definitely Not Equal...
When I first moved to Florida in 1998, there was still self-contained programming for students with physical disabilities. 1998. Let...

DJ Nicholson
May 11, 20222 min read


How Would You Like to Be Led?
Traditionally, teaching has been teacher-led. The teacher stands mostly in the front of the room, perhaps in front of a board. Students...

DJ Nicholson
May 4, 20222 min read


Did I Read That Right?
Wait a minute... What year is it? I'm a pretty grounded individual, so I'm certain that it is 2022. Not 1950. Last week, I had some ugly...

DJ Nicholson
Apr 27, 20221 min read


Is Child's Play Still a 'Thing'?
With all of the demands, expectations and standards thrown at children, I wonder if this is still an active expression. Growing up, this...

DJ Nicholson
Apr 11, 20222 min read


Flip It.
NO! Not that kind of flip... Flipped learning. Never heard of it? Flipped learning can be a game changer for children that need more...

DJ Nicholson
Apr 1, 20222 min read


Redefining the Word "Pencil"
As someone who truly appreciates a good #2 pencil, the traditional pencil is my tool of choice when I am writing and has been since I was...

DJ Nicholson
Mar 18, 20222 min read


The What, How and Why of Inclusion
You actually do know WHAT to do. As an educator, you know what inclusion is. You can define it and talk about it. You can even say "We...

DJ Nicholson
Mar 15, 20222 min read


The Blue Fleece Blanket
Creating a sense of belonging makes all the difference. Every child wants to belong to their school community. In school communities,...

DJ Nicholson
Mar 10, 20222 min read


The Midnight Rider Mindset
Take a page from this little guy's playbook to live your best life! THIS is The Midnight Rider. The Midnight Rider is a 12 1/2 year old...

DJ Nicholson
Mar 5, 20222 min read


No Need to Be So Formal...
Tired of the same ol' assessments that don't give you enough information? Or so much information that it's impossible to trudge through...

DJ Nicholson
Mar 3, 20222 min read


"I Don't Know Anyone with a Disability"
During a recent presentation to a group of non-educators, a member said just that. "I don't know anyone with a disability." You might...

DJ Nicholson
Feb 25, 20221 min read


What did you say? I didn't catch that...
I am not an auditory learner. I know this about myself, so I am able to compensate by writing things down and making sure that I am...

DJ Nicholson
Feb 19, 20222 min read


High Frequency Words: It's Time to Differentiate
If they already know the word, why do you keep teaching it?! High frequency words are those that are most common and can be recognized by...

DJ Nicholson
Feb 9, 20223 min read


Instructional Design: Explicit and Systematic Instruction
Now that we have a handle on how to determine Present Levels of Performance/Function (PLoP/F)s and have relevant goals that align, let's...

DJ Nicholson
Feb 4, 20222 min read


So... What is Specially Designed Instruction?
It's time to consider how we're addressing academic skill gaps. (Note: For the purpose of this article, the focus will be on academic...

DJ Nicholson
Jan 31, 20222 min read


Can't Stop, Won't Stop... Moving.
It is natural for children to be in motion. Some children need more opportunities to move than others, often during times of the...

DJ Nicholson
Jan 16, 20222 min read


The Blue Chair
We've all seen it. Rows of the classic blue classroom chair... Whether it's in the cafeteria, the classroom or set up for an assembly,...

DJ Nicholson
Jan 7, 20222 min read
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