As the school year resumes, many students and families are transitioning back to virtual special education services after a summer break. To ensure a smooth and successful return, it’s essential to have the right tools, resources, and strategies in place. In this blog, we’ll highlight top resources that can support a productive virtual learning environment and help students with special needs thrive.
Communication Tools
Effective communication tools are crucial for maintaining engagement and ensuring clear interactions between students, parents, and educators.
Zoom: A popular video conferencing platform that offers features like breakout rooms, screen sharing, and chat functions, making it ideal for virtual classrooms and one-on-one sessions.
Google Meet: Another reliable video conferencing tool that integrates with Google Workspace, providing a secure and easy-to-use platform for virtual meetings and lessons.
Microsoft Teams: This platform combines video conferencing with collaboration tools, allowing for seamless communication, file sharing, and real-time collaboration.
Learning Management Systems (LMS)
LMS platforms help organize and manage educational content, assignments, and student progress, providing a central hub for virtual learning.
Google Classroom: A user-friendly platform that allows teachers to create, distribute, and grade assignments, as well as communicate with students and parents.
Canvas: A comprehensive LMS that supports course management, assignment tracking, and communication, offering a range of tools for both educators and students.
Schoology: An LMS that provides a flexible and interactive environment for managing coursework, assessments, and communication with students.
Educational Apps and Tools
A variety of apps and tools can enhance learning experiences and support individualized instruction for students with special needs.
Khan Academy: Offers a wide range of free educational resources, including video lessons and practice exercises, across various subjects.
ClassDojo: An app that facilitates communication between teachers, students, and parents, and supports classroom management and student engagement.
Epic!: A digital library with thousands of books and educational resources, designed to engage students in reading and literacy activities.
Assistive Technology
Assistive technology tools help address specific learning needs and provide support for students with disabilities.
Read&Write: A literacy support tool that offers features like text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and screen masking to assist with reading and writing tasks.
Ghotit Real Writer: An app designed for individuals with dyslexia and dysgraphia, providing advanced spell-check and grammar correction.
Kurzweil 3000: A comprehensive reading, writing, and study skills tool that offers text-to-speech, word prediction, and other features to support students with learning disabilities.
Behavioral and Emotional Support Resources
These resources provide support for managing behavior, social-emotional learning, and mental health.
Mojo: An app that offers social-emotional learning activities and tools to help students build emotional intelligence and resilience.
Calm: A mindfulness and meditation app that provides guided meditations, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques to help students manage stress and anxiety.
The Zones of Regulation: A framework and curriculum designed to help students understand and manage their emotions and behaviors.
Parent and Teacher Collaboration Tools
Collaboration tools facilitate effective communication and coordination between parents and teachers, ensuring that students receive consistent support.
Remind: An app that enables teachers and parents to communicate through text messages, providing updates, reminders, and important information.
Seesaw: A digital portfolio and communication platform that allows students to showcase their work, and parents and teachers to provide feedback and engage in conversations.
ParentSquare: A communication platform that integrates messaging, announcements, and event management to support school-home connections.
Specialized Learning Resources
These resources offer targeted support for students with specific learning needs or disabilities.
Learning Ally: Provides audiobooks and other resources for students with reading difficulties, including dyslexia.
N2Y: Offers curriculum and assessment tools specifically designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
Boardmaker: A tool for creating visual supports, including communication boards and visual schedules, to assist students with autism and other communication challenges.
Returning to virtual special education services requires careful planning and the right resources to ensure a successful transition. By utilizing communication tools, learning management systems, educational apps, assistive technology, behavioral and emotional support resources, collaboration tools, and specialized learning materials, parents and educators can create an effective and supportive virtual learning environment. With these resources at your disposal, you can help students with special needs thrive as they navigate the upcoming school year from home.
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