Literacy Beyond Picture Books: Teaching Secondary Students with Moderate to Severe Disabilities

‘I was rejuvenated by the opportunities for exciting and meaningful instruction. My creative thoughts ran rampant with how I could use these ideas with my novice teachers as well as within my classroom’ - Jayne Englert-Burns, Consulting Teacher, Special Education Montgomery County Public Schools, Germantown, MD. ‘The authors have done a nice job of describing how to make teaching student-centered by focusing on individual student interests and learning styles and by making classroom instruction exciting and fun’ - Dennis H. Reid, Director Carolina Behavior Analysis and Support Center. Teaching literacy to secondary students with significant disabilities can prove challenging when available reading materials often don’t match students’ reading levels and interests. This accessible, step-by-step guide shows teachers how to match students with appropriate texts and develop inventive themed units that encourage literacy learning. Teachers can build whole units around a selected text and create hands-on activities that engage multiple senses. This valuable resource includes sample activities and lesson plans, ideas for adapting general education materials, and essential information on how to: build vocabulary and use retelling and guided reading; teach functional skills on a daily basis; incorporate media and assistive technology; coordinate with general education teachers and involve parents; and, assess students’ learning and meet IEP goals. Perfect for special education and inclusive classrooms, this resource features everything teachers need to motivate students with disabilities and help them develop literacy skills!