The FIN Services is a compilation of FIN sponsored learning opportunities available to educational personnel, families and community members.
To obtain more information, contact the FIN Facilitator in your area.
Here are some ways that FIN helped schools this year:
- Assisted teachers and staff as they develop schedules that ensure every student gets the support they need.
- Planned with teachers and family members to include a child with Down Syndrome in the regular first grade.
- Facilitated the development of study groups to help teachers learn about and apply differentiated instructional strategies for students at all ability levels.
- Worked with a middle school develop a program where peers support students with disabilities in general education settings.
- Guided a team of teachers as they adapted the high school English curriculum for students with learning disabilities.
- Supported teacher teams as they designed methods of planning and teaching together.
- Advised district staff on ways to support schools implementing inclusive practices.
What can a FIN Facilitator do for you?
- Help your district and school identify needs for inclusive practices
- Meet with teams of staff and family to plan for inclusion
- Conduct study groups and develop communities of learning
- Provide training on a variety of topics related to inclusion and student achievement
- Help you select suitable materials and resources for inclusive classrooms
- Guide teams through problem-solving
What professional learning opportunities does FIN offer?
Collaborative Planning and Teaching: This two-day workshop provides education teams with practical information and strategies to support the collaborative teaching process. Collaborative instructional models offer schools the structure and flexibility to ensure that all learners have access to general education curriculum and instruction, resulting in increased student achievement. Participants in this workshop will learn how to work together to plan and implement flexible supports for students with and without disabilities in inclusive classrooms. This training is designed for school teams including school administrators, general and special education teachers, support staff, and family members.
Differentiated Instruction: This workshop provides an orientation to the topic of differentiated instruction in mixed-ability classrooms. The key principles that guide the planning and implementation of differentiated instruction are examined within the context of the general education curriculum for grades K-12. A variety of approaches are explored including flexible grouping, curriculum-based assessment, tiered lesson plans, and “low-prep” instructional strategies that can meet the needs of all learners across all ability levels. Teachers who attend this training leave with an array of practical strategies that they can apply immediately in any classroom.
Peer Supports for Inclusive Classrooms: This workshop provides education teams with tools and strategies to unleash the power of peers to support students with disabilities in inclusive settings. Participants in this training will learn how to plan and implement a formal peer support program that can result in positive outcomes for students with and without disabilities. Schools receive a guide that includes useful tools for implementing peer supports such as peer training outlines, permission letters, grading criteria, student applications, student documentation, and evaluation forms. Schools will leave this workshop with a plan and resources to get peer supports started on their campus.
Building Learning Communities: A learning community is described as “an interdisciplinary team of educators that meet on a regular basis for the purposes of learning, joint planning, and problem-solving. These teams operate from the assumption that there is a commitment to adhere to the norms of continuous improvement and experimentation as they engage in their daily work.” (National Staff Development Council, 2006). The Florida Inclusion Network can help your school create and maintain learning communities that support inclusive practices and higher achievement for all students. Learning communities may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- study groups on a variety of topics such as differentiating instruction and inclusive best practices
- collaborative teaching teams
- data analysis and school improvement teams
- family-involvement teams
Click here to find out what other learning opportunities FIN offers in your district or region.
How can you get FIN services?
Click here to contact your local FIN facilitator for more information!
"But it's not just learning things that's important. It's learning what to do with what you learn and learning why you learn things at all that matters." Norton Juster