The KEES presentation is a deep dive on Brevard Counties Tier 1 Key Elements checklist. The KEES is a resource guide to support all students with disabilities in all settings with behavior management, instructional, and rapport building strategies, resources, and interventions.
Attendees will learn strategies grounded in evidence-based practices for students with intellectual/developmental disabilities and autism to design and operate self-contained classrooms. Topics that will be addressed in this multimedia presentation include creating appropriate environmental arrangements, using explicit instruction to teach academic and functional content, establishing classroom management protocols that account for students and paraprofessionals, and supporting students’ receptive and expressive language development.
For years, dyslexia has been unnamed and misunderstood, especially in public school settings. Due to new legislation, dyslexia is coming to the forefront of the conversation in Florida, especially as it relates to the Science of Reading. Katie and Brittany have been presenting this workshop for the last 2 years for preservice educators at the University of Tampa as part of their Human Exceptionalities class, as well as at conferences for FCIS (Florida Council of Independent Schools). We've also shared this presentation as we have consulted with independent schools, charter schools and VPK programs around the Tampa Bay area to dispel myths about dyslexia, to help educators better support learners with dyslexia in their classrooms, and to raise awareness of the importance of early intervention.
In this hands-on session, participants will explore the importance of multiplication fact fluency and its impact on students' overall mathematics performance and confidence. Participants will learn techniques to assess students' baseline knowledge and methods for progress monitoring. Strategies for implementing the concrete, representational, abstract (CRA) framework and phases of learning in fluency practice will be covered, including examples across grade levels and disabilities. Practical tips for integrating fluency practice into classroom routines will be provided, and participants will leave with links to digital resources.
Friday June 20, 2025 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT Hawthorne
Presenter:Sandra DeWitt The United States is facing a teacher shortage, and statistics show that many newly qualified educators leave the profession within the first five years. While these educators enter the field with the goal of positively impacting students' lives, a significant number report feeling underprepared for the challenges of inclusive classroom settings. The 22 High Leverage Practices (HLPs) serve as foundational strategies for effectively teaching students with exceptionalities and are essential in preparing pre-service teachers.
My scoping literature review examines the instructional methods used to teach HLPs and their effectiveness in bridging the gap between theoretical learning and practical application. By categorizing teaching approaches into four key groups, including Practice-Based Methods, Professional Development and Self-Analysis Methods, Collaborative and Reflective Methods, and Technology-Enhanced Methods, the presentation provides a structured analysis of how different methodologies contribute to teacher readiness. It also introduces a qualitative-based algorithm designed to assess the effectiveness of these methods based on feasibility, scalability, resource intensity, transferability, and user acceptance.
The findings of this review provide valuable insights into improving teacher preparation programs to promote equity, inclusion, and high-quality education for students with exceptionalities. My research encourages educators and policymakers to refine training programs that better equip new teachers to thrive in diverse, inclusive classrooms through meaningful discussions on policy and practice. Findings emphasize the need for systematic, hands-on HLP instruction within teacher preparation programs to ensure educators enter the workforce with the skills and confidence needed to succeed. Strengthening preparation programs and mentorship opportunities can support teacher retention and improve classroom outcomes for all students.
Sometimes you attend sessions, but leave not knowing where to start when you return to work-that will not be the case after this session! We’ll share tips and tricks for implementing assistive and educational technology, deep diving into some programs for increasing the engagement of your learners. How do you know what is the right tool for your student/classroom? Free may or may not mean it’s best! Come and learn and implement tomorrow!
Saturday June 21, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am EDT Hawthorne
