Overview of Professional Development Modules

Teaching Literacy to Students with Cognitive Disabilities

These six professional development modules were developed for use by teachers to support literacy instruction for students with significant cognitive disabilities by the Assessing Special Education Students (ASES) State Collaborative on Assessment and Student Standards (SCASS) of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).

In addition to the six power point modules there is a link to a series of video clips depicting Story-Based Lessons. These video clips support the information provided in Modules 3 and 4.

There are also several supporting documents including two adapted books, The Necklace and Tide Rises, and two handouts “Work it Across Biographies” and “Work It Across Template.”

Assessing Special Education Students SCASS (AA-AAS Study Group), 2008. Introduction to teaching literacy to students with cognitive

disabilities. Washington, D.C., Council of Chief State School Officers

Module 1 of 6

Introduction to Teaching Literacy to Students with

Cognitive Disabilities

Slide 5 of ___

Modules developed by Special Education Research Consultants under the direction of Lynn Ahlgrim-Delzell, Ph.D. with contributions by:• Tracie-Lynn Zakas, M.Ed.• Shawnee Wakeman, Ph.D.• Pamela Mims, M.Ed.• Katherine Trela, ABD• Ella Glass and• ASES SCASS AA-AAS Study Group Members

Slide 6 of ___

Content of the Modules

Module 1 - Introduction to Teaching Literacy to Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (SSCD)*• Why we teach academics• Summary of current research and

evidence-based practices • National Reading Panel (2000) & Put

Reading First (2003) recommendations• Theoretical foundation for literacy

instruction• Universal Design for Learning

* Within these modules, SSCD refers to students with significant cognitive disabilities

Slide 7 of ___

Module 2 – Literacy Development and Symbolic Communication• Stages of literacy development• Phonemic awareness and phonics skills• Levels of communication skills used by

students with significant disabilities• Embedding Alternative and Augmentative

Communication (AAC) devices

Content of the Modules

Slide 8 of ___

Module 3 - Elementary grade level literature • Elements of a story-based lesson (SBL) for

elementary students• Ideas for adaptation of grade level books &

using Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) devices

Module 4 - Middle and high school literacy • Elements of a story-based lesson (SBL) for

middle/ secondary students• Adapting grade level books & using

Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) devices

Content of the Modules

Slide 9 of ___

Module 5 - Literacy in the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) • Lesson planning. • Standards-based IEPs. • Developing literacy lessons that align with

general education content standards.Module 6 – Families• What is literacy and why it is important.• Literacy activities families can do at

home.• Homework.

Content of the Modules

Story Based Lessons Video Clips

Adapted books– The Necklace – Tide Rises

Support Documents– Work it Across Biographies– Work It Across Template