Learning Ideas Tipsheets

A list of Learning Ideas Tipsheets covering a variety of topics related to Pre-K and school-aged children.

Elementary students with teacher.LEARNING IDEAS: Building Educational Support for Children and Youth in Foster Care (PDF) – Education is a change agent for children and youth in foster care…[education] creates hope for succeeding in the adult world. Former youth in foster/surrogate care emphasize that placement stability and high expectations from teachers were related to their educational attainment. (Adapted from http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/cw/policy/index.html?v__k_3__school_transfer_policy.htm)

Elementary students studyingLEARNING IDEAS: Special Education Tips for Foster Parents Who are Surrogate Parents (PDF) – Surrogate parents are appointed to represent children with disabilities whenever the birth parents or guardian of a child with a disability cannot be identified, located, or when the child is in the custody of the state. They have all the rights of birth parents for educational matters, e.g. permission for evaluation and placement, release information and request for educational hearing. The primary responsibility of surrogate parents is to ensure that children with disabilities are provided with a free, appropriate public education. (Adapted from http://www.maine.gov/doe/specialed/programs/surrogate/index.html)

Boy reading from an iPad.LEARNING IDEAS: Understanding Accessible Educational Materials (AEM) and Their Use: Tips for K-12 Educators (PDF) – Students arrive in classrooms with a variety of skills, interests and needs. For many learners, the typical curriculum—including instructional methods, classroom materials, and assessments of knowledge—may contain barriers to educational participation and achievement. Students who are unable to access print materials face particular challenges. Accessible educational materials reduce barriers and provide rich supports for learning. By using accessible educational materials, educators enable all learners to gain knowledge, skills and enthusiasm for learning.

Pre-K students using computers.LEARNING IDEAS: Universal Design in Pre-K and Early Elementary Classrooms (PDF) – Universal design is an approach to designing environments and products so that the greatest number of people can use them. When applied to curriculum, teachers consider the potential barriers inherent in materials and activities, and plan many avenues to learning. This way, the greatest number of children can participate in the content and activities without adaptation.

Updated: 09/25/2019