Lay the foundation for inclusive, impactful classrooms where every student thrives
Every student deserves an education that is meaningful, memorable, and built for them. When we design learning with intentional, universal support, the impact extends beyond individual students—it transforms entire classrooms.
In Every Child Deserves a Special Education, the authors introduce five powerful mindframes that reshape the way we think about teaching, learning, and inclusion. These mindframes spark a cycle of reflection and growth, shifting not just what we do, but how we see our students, our classrooms, and our role as educators. Inside, you’ll find:
- Five essential educator mindframes—helping you plan for both diverse learners and the diversity within each learner
- Stories and examples that bring these mindframes to life through real classroom experiences
- Reflection tools to help you examine and refine your own beliefs and practices
True inclusion starts with how we think, not just what we do. Every Child Deserves a Special Education will help you build the mindset every classroom needs for all students to thrive.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Mindframe One: Every Child Is Special
Necessary for Some, Good for ALL
Thinking Strategically
Mindframe Two: All Students Can Achieve at High Levels
Labels as Opportunity Thieves
Expecting Successful Inclusion
An Infused Skills Grid
Mindframe Three: Differentiation Provides Multiple Pathways to Succeed
What is differentiation?
Differentiation is NOT a Set of Activities
Differentiation Focuses on Time and Pathways
Differentiation is NOT Tracking
Personalization and Individualization are Not the Essence of Differentiation
Mindframe Four: Instruction Can Prevent Gaps and Intervention Can Close Them
A Decision-Making Model
Data Meetings
Mindframe Five: Assessment Has the Power to Promote Growth
Misunderstandings of Formative and Summative
Multiple Means of Representation
Mastery Rubrics
Assess WITH Students
Feedback
Self Assessment
Connecting Self-Assessment and Feedback
Conclusion